Hall of Fame Odds Changing for Monk?

WHEN Art Monk is inducted to the Hall of Fame, I say, every man woman and child who has ever cheered for this man should make plans to be in Canton. Fly, carpool, endure Greyhound, whatever. Motels are dirt cheap. I don't know how it all works at the HOF, and how much access is allowed for fans, but when Art steps up to the podium, it would be good to send our love, RFK style. You know what? I've always wanted to post what you just posted and it would be awesome if fans would show up in mass to support this man and the injustice of him not being there already. Count me in! I will fly from San Francisco for this event and I just might shed a few tears. I love Art Monk, he was the most underrated, classiest and most humble player ever. I say a 15 minute standing ovation would send the message.

That's a great point that I'm sure HOF voters don't consider. The Belichick coached Giants D, and the Buddy Ryan coached Eagles D were arguably the two best defenses in the 80's with the exception of the '85 Bears.

And the 1985 Bears are probably the most overrated team in modern NFL history, considering how weak the opposing teams they faced were.

The argument that I've heard most often is that he was only a 3-time Pro Bowler ('84, '85, & '86) and that he wasn't even the most feared receiver on his team (King and Zimmerman have argued that Clark was). For those of us who watched Monk week in and week out, we know better. He was the guy who the Skins almost always seemed to go to on 3rd down passing plays to sustain drives. He also had far superior hands than Clark. I recall Clark having some big drops at times, often using his arms and body to catch the ball. Monk always had the best hands on the team. Monk also was the best blocking WR of his generation, a big key for the Redskins power running attack. I agree that you can make an argument for Clark also. Clark and Monk clearly would have had better stats had the other not been on the team, much like Swann and Stallworth had to share the ball in Pittsburgh. Monk alone retired with more receptions than the Steelers duo COMBINED, yet they are both in the HOF. Monk's day will come.

good points i'm a youngin so i just saw monk and clark as a kid but it seems like its like the reggie wayne marvin harrison where recently wayne is puttin up better #s ok mh is a lil injured but even earlier in the season it was the same and tj & 85. HOF is haters man. michelle irvins shoulda waited on 81 to get in there.

I disagree.

Clark hurt Monk's numbers, but Monk helped Clark's numbers.

Think about this. If we had Monk now, would Santana's (and RE's) numbers go up or down? Do you think we would have had as many 3-and-outs as we had today? And with all those extra plays, would they have had better numbers or worse (God forbid.) On the other hand, Monk set the single-season reception mark before those guys showed up (and the mark lasted a LONG time.)

By the way, the play-calling at the end of the game was the most attrocious I have seen them do. Considering what was going on, they should have been calling high-percentage passes on first down. That would have almost certainly kept the clock going after each down and would have had a much better chance for first down. It was very clear that they weren't getting enough yardage running to get a first down without passing on at least one of the downs. Why not try it on first down? And then instead of a high-percentage pass, they try a low-percentage pass on second down. So they went 3-and-out with an all-too-predictable 1st-down run, followed by 2 incomplete passes!

... Clark and Monk clearly would have had better stats had the other not been on the team, much like Swann and Stallworth had to share the ball in Pittsburgh. Monk alone retired with more receptions than the Steelers duo COMBINED, yet they are both in the HOF. Monk's day will come.

You know what? I've always wanted to post what you just posted and it would be awesome if fans would show up in mass to support this man and the injustice of him not being there already. Count me in! I will fly from San Francisco for this event and I just might shed a few tears. I love Art Monk, he was the most underrated, classiest and most humble player ever. I say a 15 minute standing ovation would send the message.

You're in. Last year, when Art was denied, a harvard med student wrote a moving oped in The Post about why Art should be in the HOF. It started with him running into #81 in the grocery store, and ended with what you've said about him being classy and humble, and why in this case it should count for induction. If I find it, i'll post. Guar-un-tee, you'll squeeze a tear.

And the 1985 Bears are probably the most overrated team in modern NFL history, considering how weak the opposing teams they faced were.
this arguement is lame. while the competion may not have been stiff, you still have to beat the teams you play. and they beat a very good 49ers team in the playoffs

this arguement is lame. while the competion may not have been stiff, you still have to beat the teams you play. and they beat a very good 49ers team in the playoffs

Huh?

They beat the Rams and the Giants in the playoffs (http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/chi1985.htm).

I also think the '85 Bears are a tad overrated. In terms of balance there have been plenty of other Super Bowl Champs who were far more balanced on each side of the ball. Yes the Bears had an incredible defense that year, but offensively especially in the passing game they really weren't very scary. They won with a nasty D and a good running game.

this arguement is lame. while the competion may not have been stiff, you still have to beat the teams you play. and they beat a very good 49ers team in the playoffs

Sure, and this is why they won a Super Bowl. I'm not arguing that the team was good, or that they deserved the Super Bowl at all. Just that the legend of the 1985 Bears is much larger than reality, and when you start comparing teams from different times you must take those other factors into account.

Anyway, this is a total threadjack, back to the real discussion...

What I don't understand about the probowl argument is why Monk seems to be the only player whom it applies to?