10 NFL Gridiron Greats who should be in Hall of Fame

10 NFL Gridiron Greats who should be in Hall of Fame

August, 8^th 2016

There is a group of 46 that votes new members into the great Pro Football Hall of Fame each year. This 46-person committee, consisting of media members from the various market areas where there is an NFL franchise, is referred to as the Selection Committee. They can choose up to eight players, coaches, and contributors.

Among the final eight, they can if they choose ,select up to two nominations from a separate seniors committee, who year after year put forward the case for the many great players who are still waiting for that call.

Considering the 5 year waiting period for players and coaches, after a while there's bound to be a backlog. As the years go by, many of our gridiron greats end up passed over for someone newer and end up forgotten. While some are forgotten, many have been clearly snubbed.

As a result, many worthy candidates wait years for their rightful day in the sun, while many others may never see that light. The whole selection and election process is often criticized for the not inducting players the fans deem worthy. I would have to agree with most criticisms regarding the HOF practices, because it's really recognition of players, and the HOF belongs to the fans.

Many are gone now, but the REAL Fans of Football will never forget, even if the 46 voters do.

No. 1. Jerry Kramer, Offensive Line

* 11-year NFL career

* Five-time All Pro (1960, '62-63, '66-67)
* Three-time Pro Bowler
* Member of NFL's All-Decade Team (1960s)
* Kicked 29 NFL field goals
* Nine-time Hall of Fame finalist
* One of the most heralded offensive guards in NFL history
* Helped the Packers win five NFL championships and two Super Bowl titles
* Delivered the most famous block in NFL history, leading the way for Bart Starr's game-winning touchdown in the famed 1967 Ice Bowl.

No. 2. Alex Karras, DE

* 12-year NFL career
* Three-time All Pro (1960-61, '65)
* Four-time Pro Bowler
* Member of NFL's All-Decade Team (1960s)
* Four career interceptions
* Former announcer on ABC's Monday Night Football

No. 3. Jim Marshall, DE

* 20-Year NFL career
* Two-time Pro Bowler
* NFL-record 30 fumble recoveries
* NFL Holds record for consecutive starts by a defensive end (270)
* Member of NFL's All-Decade squads for 1960s and 1970s (2nd team)
* Member of Minnesota's famed "Purple People Eaters" defense

No. 4. Morten Andersen, Kicker

* 25-year NFL career
* Three-time All Pro (1986-87, 1995)
* Seven-time Pro Bowler
* All-Decade Team For 1980s and 1990s
* All-time leader in points (2,544), field goals (565), games played (382)
* Game-winning kick in 1998 NFC Championship (Falcons)

No. 5. Ricky Watters, RB

* 10-year NFL career
* Career: 14,891 total yards (10,643 rushing) and 91 total TDs
* Five-time Pro Bowler
* Member of NFL's All-Decade Team (1990s)
* Nine straight seasons of 1,200-plus total yards (1992-2000)
* Scored three TDs in Super Bowl XXIX
* Won one Super Bowl title (1994 Niners)

No. 6. Andre Reed, WR

* 16-year NFL career (15 seasons with Buffalo Bills)
* Career: 951 catches, 13,198 yards, 87 touchdowns
* Currently ranks 13th in all-time receiving yards
* Seven-time Pro Bowler
* Helped the Bills claim four straight AFC championships (1990-93)

No. 7. Ken Anderson, QB

* 16-year NFL career
* One-time All Pro (1981)
* NFL MVP (1981)
* Two-time NFL passing leader (1974-75)
* Led Bengals to 1981 AFC championship
* Career: 32,838 yards passing, 217 total TDs (197 passing)

No. 8. Drew Bledsoe, QB

* 14-year NFL career

* Super Bowl Champion (XXXVI) as Back-up QB

* 4× Pro Bowl (1994, 1996, 1997, 2002)

* 2× AFC Champion (1996, 2001)

* NFL passing yards leader (1994)

* New England Patriots Hall of Fame

No. 9. Jim Plunkett, QB

* 15-year NFL Career

*2× Super Bowl champion (XV, XVIII)

* Super Bowl MVP (XV)

* NFL Comeback Player of the Year (1980)

* AFC Rookie of the Year (1971)

* 8-2 Career playoff record (Wins when it counts)

* Heisman Trophy (1970)

No. 10. Donnie Shell, DB & SS

* 14-year NFL Career

* 5× Pro Bowl (1978–1982)

* 3× AP First-team All-Pro (1979, 1980, 1982)

* AP Second-team All-Pro (1981)

* 4× Super Bowl champion (IX, X, XIII, XIV)

For sure the above listed are worthy, the order of this list is not so important, but all ten listed deserve a place in Canton's HOF. The list could never be complete or all inclusive, because there are so many others that deserve recognition for their contributions to the game of Football, far too many to list.

Special Teams player that should be in the Hall of Fame

1. Steve Tasker

Coaches that should be in the Hall of Fame

1. Marty Schottenheimer
2. Tom Flores

Contributors that should be in the Hall of Fame

Buddy Ryan, I propose that Buddy be considered an NFL contributor because, his biggest impact on the game was as an assistant coach.

Another group of players worthy of induction include:

1. Terrell Owens, WR

2. Sterling Sharpe, WR

3. Kurt Warner, QB

4. L.C. Greenwood, DE

5. Clay Matthews, LB

6. Priest Holmes, RB