"I'm thrilled. I can't tell you how pleased I am to be selected," Robinson shared after he learned the news form Hall of Fame President David Baker.
Robinson now moves on to the 48-member selection committee. All of the Hall of Fame voters will descend on Atlanta on the eve of the Super Bowl to determine the the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2019. If he receives 80% of vote, he's on to Canton. The Senior Committee Finalists have seen very good success in the final Hall vote and Robinson's chances are probably better than most. He's one of the best safeties to ever play the game. His absence from Canton has been nearly as absurd as that of last year's Seniors Finalist Jerry Kramer.
If he gets past the final vote, and he should, Robinson will join former Chiefs defenders Buck Buchanan, Curley Culp, Bobby Bell, Willie Lanier, and Emmitt Thomas in the Hall of Fame. That was a nasty, loaded defense. For a league that was known mostly for it's offense the AFL had some very impressive defensive players. The Chiefs had more than a fair share of those players.
I've been very critical of the Hall of Fame voters over the years. I was especially critical of them during the five years that Cris Carter didn't make it. From listening to voters such as former Sports Illustrated writer Peter King and Talk of Fame Network's Ron Borges, Rick Gosselin, and Clark Judge I've gained a better understanding and greater respect for the task placed in front of them. The existing rules don't allow the voters to elect every deserving player, coach, and contributor in a given year. That should seem obvious but it's a restriction that eludes every critic. It's a tough job. While I have greater respect for the job that they do I still find it astonishing that a Hall of Fame voter would ever vote against Robinson, or Jerry Kramer, or Mac Speedie. Robinson has been a finalist before and didn't make it. He should've made it soon after he was first eligible in 1976. Kramer and Speedie have been Senior Finalists before and not made it. That's inconceivable! Kramer finally made it last year after missing in 1997. Speedie is still waiting after missing in 1983.
While I absolutely approve of Johnny Robinson as the Seniors Finalist for the next Hall of Fame class I wish that the Senior Committee would take a closer look at a few long-neglected players from the league's first 30 years.
Duke Slater
Lavvie Dilweg
Al Wistert
Mac Speedie
The voters can't close the door on deserving players from the early days.
Here's a list from the Pro Football Hall of Fame website of all Senior Finalists and their voting fates.
SENIOR FINALISTS (ALL-TIME)
Those elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame are indicated in caps.
1972 – ACE PARKER
1973 – Ole Haugsrud
1974 – TONY CANADEO
1975 – No senior candidate selected.
1976 – RAY FLAHERTY
1977 – BILL WILLIS
1978 – TUFFY LEEMANS
1979 – Marshall Goldberg
1980 – Lou Creekmur
1981 – RED BADGRO
1982 – GEORGE MUSSO
1983 – Mac Speedie
1984 – ARNIE WEINMEISTER
1985 – FRANK GATSKI
1986 – DOAK WALKER
1987 – JOHN HENRY JOHNSON
1988 – Lou Rymkus
1989 – Henry Jordan
1990 – BOB ST. CLAIR
1991 – STAN JONES
1992 – Willie Galimore
1993 – Dick Stanfel
1994 – LEROY KELLY
1995 – HENRY JORDAN
1996 – LOU CREEKMUR
1997 – Jerry Kramer
1998 – TOMMY McDONALD
1999 – BILLY SHAW
2000 – DAVE WILCOX
2001 – NICK BUONICONTI
2002 – GEORGE ALLEN
2003 – HANK STRAM
2004 – BOB BROWN, Bob Hayes
2005 – BENNY FRIEDMAN, FRITZ POLLARD
2006 – JOHN MADDEN, RAYFIELD WRIGHT
2007 – GENE HICKERSON, CHARLIE SANDERS
2008 – Marshall Goldberg, EMMITT THOMAS
2009 – BOB HAYES, Claude Humphrey
2010 – DICK LeBEAU, FLOYD LITTLE
2011 – CHRIS HANBURGER, LES RICHTER
2012 – JACK BUTLER, Dick Stanfel
2013 – CURLEY CULP, DAVE ROBINSON
2014 – RAY GUY, CLAUDE HUMPHREY
2015 – MICK TINGELHOFF
2016 – KEN STABLER, DICK STANFEL
2017 – KENNY EASLEY
2018 – ROBERT BRAZILE, JERRY KRAMER
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