Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2011

This coming Saturday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will name the individuals to be inducted into the Hall this coming summer. The 17 finalists have been chosen. This is an interesting year, to me. Some years are easier than others to pick inductees to the Hall.

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There have been some seasons in which I have thought, “Wow, they were kind of reaching with that one. Very good player, but among the best ever…? Hall of Famer?” In other seasons, I have scratched my head wondering why certain players did not get elected on the first eligible ballot. This year is unusual in that I cannot say, “no way,” regarding any of the nominees and there only a few among the 17 that I think are not “no brainers” to be enshrined eventually.

The Hall of Fame’s ground rules state that between four and seven players will be enshrined each year, with a maximum of five players from the modern era. Two players may be “senior selections” (those whose careers ended 25 years ago or more). Today, The Daily Hat Trick will reveal its selections. I have kept the committee in Canton, Ohio waiting long enough!

We're waiting on a vote from WHO? The Daily WHAT? "MAGIC" TRICK?!?!? 2

Marshall Faulk, Running Back; Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams (1994-2005)

The man was simply unstoppable. 3

This, far and away, was the easiest pick for me. Faulk was a player who could dominate a game by himself and, often, it appeared that there was nothing defenses could do to stop him. While with the Colts in the earlier part of his career, some of the Colts teams were good and some were very bad, yet Faulk dominated, both as a rusher and receiver. The perfect offensive powder keg came together when Faulk was traded to the St. Louis Rams prior to the 1999 season to hook up with quarterback Kurt Warner, wide receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt, and offensive coordinator Mike Martz in what became known as “The Greatest Show on Turf”.

Being the Saints fan I am, it pains me to admit it, but there was never anything quite like the Rams from 1999 to the mid-2000s. Ironically, this current cast of Saints is the closest offensive cast I have seen to being like those Rams teams. However, being a New Orleans man, like Faulk, I took pride in seeing a local man achieve so much success. The Rams would appear in two Super Bowls in the next three seasons, winning one. Faulk finished his career sixth all-time in yards from scrimmage, with over 19,000 yards.

Fellow Saints fans: Don't hate the player; hate the game! 4

Deion Sanders, Cornerback; Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins, Baltimore Ravens (1989-2000, 2004-2005)

PRIME-time! PRIME-time! PRIME-time! 5

Last name, “Ever”…first name, “Greatest”. I think that Deion Sanders is the greatest cover corner in the history of the NFL and I doubt that I am sending any shockwaves by saying so. Before Nnamdi Asomugha…before Derrelle Revis and his island, Deion “Prime Time” Sanders changed the standard of the cornerback position. He did not just cover receivers like a blanket, his never before seen quickness took an entire side of the field away from opposing offense. You could throw the ball his way, but you may as well hand the ball off to Sanders and save him the trouble of running, because that miscue would result in an interception…often, with nine returned for a touchdown in his career.

On top of his role as an absolute shut down corner, he was perhaps the most feared punt returner in the league. Punt it higher, but shorter. Punt it out of bounds and leave 10 or 15 yards on the table. Whatever you do, do not punt the ball to Prime Time or YOU WILL PAY with your defense defending a really short field or with Deion taking it to the house and then dancing to your demise, as he did six times in his career. He also returned three kickoffs to pay dirt.

Nobody could say they were never warned. 9

For all of his individual greatness, Prime Time impressed me most with how he enabled teams to reach the Lombardi Trophy. The topic is open for debate, but I think that Deion Sanders was the difference between the 1994 49ers and the 1995 Cowboys being Super Bowl champions and those teams being bridesmaids.


Cris Carter, Wide Receiver; Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, and Miami Dolphins (1987-2002)

This is Cris Carter’s fourth year of Hall of Fame eligibility and, frankly, I think it is a travesty that it has taken this long and could take longer for him to be enshrined. I would think that anyone that watched the man play would not need any statistical evidence to influence one’s vote, but since the Hall of Fame committee has failed to see the forest from the trees three times already, I feel obligated, as a person in the community of football spectators whose head is not lodged in his rectum, to present the following evidence. There was less evidence of OJ’s guilt!

The fact that Carter's induction is even up for debate is ridiculous, to me. 6

Madden NFL 11

• Career receptions – 1,101, 3rd all-time (Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison)
• Eight consecutive 1,000 yard receiving seasons
• Forty-two 100 yard receiving games
• 130 career touchdown receptions, 4th all-time (Jerry Rice, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss)
• 122 receptions in 1994, a single season record at that time
• Eighth all-time in receiving yards

There are only two active players, T.O. and Randy Moss, who could so much as make an argument for having had a greater career than Carter and only three who are young enough to have a long shot (a very long shot) at finishing with similar statistics in one or two of the aforementioned categories (Larry Fitzgerald, Reggie Wayne, and Chad Ochocinco). I would be stunned if Owens and Moss were not enshrined in their first year of eligibility. What is the problem with Carter?


Curtis Martin, Running Back; New England Patriots, New York Jets (1995-2005)

Speaking of monikers, does anyone remember Chris Berman giving him Curtis "My Favorite" Martin? 7

If the moniker “Steady Eddie” ever applied to an NFL running back, it would apply to Martin. Only Martin and Hall of Famer Barry Sanders (the greatest ever running back in the opinion of many, including me) began their careers with 10 consecutive 1,000 yard rushing seasons. In an era in which primary running backs either walk away from the game or slow down, substantially, around year 8 of their careers, Martin was still going strong in year 10. The NFL’s fourth all-time leading rusher, if Martin is not enshrined in 2011, due to the extraordinarily strong field of finalists, I do not believe he will have to wait very long.


Martin in Super Bowl XXXI 8


Ed Sabol, contributor; creator of NFL Films (active from 1962-present)

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I know that this is not a popular choice. As my fifth non-senior selection (an ironic distinction, as Sabol is 94 years old), I am effectively saying that I would pass over Shannon Sharpe, Willie Roaf (of my New Orleans Saints), Jerome “The Bus” Bettis, Tim Brown (all of whom I think should be enshrined sooner than later), and others for the 2011 enshrinement.

Most, if not all, of the foundation of what I know about the history of the NFL, before I was old enough to comprehend it, is from NFL Films. Thank you, Mr. Sabol. 10

However, NFL Films was one of the most powerful marketing tools used to spread the popularity of the National Football League. Speaking from personal experience, NFL Films made the game feel larger than life to me as a child. Sabol’s filmmaking methodologies revolutionized how sporting events were shot, covered, and presented. I do not believe that the National Football League would enjoy success at its current level, even if it would still be the king of American sports, were it not for the revolutionary filmmaking of Ed Sabol and his son Steve, who actively carries on the NFL legacy.

Too many people, over the years, have been enshrined after their deaths. Ed Sabol is still alive. But, at age 94, for how much longer…? I know that my opinion of enshrining Sabol is not a popular one, but I believe it is right.

Chris Hanburger and Les Richter, senior finalists

Hanburger (left) and Richter (right) 12

These men, both linebackers, played before I was old enough to comprehend the game of football. Neither were marketing legends. Neither played offense (hence neither scored touchdowns). And neither played in an era in which the NFL was as wildly popular as it is today. However, both of these players, from what I have been able to read, dominated at their LB positions. Richter was selected to eight straight Pro Bowls and Hanburger was selected to a total of nine Pro Bowls during his career. Both men received numerous all-conference and All-NFL honors. Richter passed away last year. I did not see either of these men play, but the case for these men is too strong to ignore. I scratch my head wondering why they were not inducted sooner.


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2) Image from life.com

3) Image from 6magazineonline.com

4) Image from nola.com

5, 10) Images from bleacherreport.com

6) Image from vikings.com

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8) Image from boston.com

9) Image from playerpress.com

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