Darrell Green is eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame next year. Amazingly, this will be the fifth fall without the Washington Redskins cornerback. It seems time passes even quicker than the NFL’s fastest man.
My first question over Green’s potential election to the hall of immortals isn’t whether he’ll make it (probably), but whether Green knocks out former teammate Art Monk’s bid (possibly). If a door opens for one, does it close on the other?
If it’s so hard for even one Redskin to make the Hall of Fame off those three Super Bowl winners, will two high-profile candidates compromise each other? And if Monk failed last time to even make the final 10 despite a heated push, does Green further push him back?
I’m not a conspiracy theorist that 49 writers are purposely keeping Redskins out of the Hall of Fame while seemingly building an express lane for those from Pittsburgh and Dallas. I know many of the voters and talked to a few recently over Monk and Green. They’re unbiased over the Redskins chances, but also stubborn and occasionally ignorant. At least the latter two are coachable.
John Riggins and Joe Gibbs are the only Redskins of the championship era in Canton, Ohio, and Riggo only played on one Super Bowl championship team. Six Redskins were on all three champions and only guard Russ Grimm and Monk are ever mentioned for the Hall. Grimm’s 11-year career might have been a little too short to gain enshrinement — the same obstacle that denied former Redskins running back Larry Brown — despite earning all-decade honors in the 1980s. Monk’s snub is definitely a slight against Redskins fans for not earning passage, though.
Let’s go over the key points. Monk retired as the NFL’s all-time leader with 940 receptions. That he has been since passed shouldn’t matter. Critics say he didn’t score enough touchdowns. First, it wasn’t his role. Second, he caught three more than Michael Irvin, who was selected last year. Even Cowboys fans can do the math. And don’t bark that Monk played longer. It’s career stats.
Monk faces two more hurdles in the next vote — Cris Carter and Green. Carter is a first-ballot player and two receivers in the same Hall class of five to seven players isn’t probable.
Some of the Redskins lobbying must shift to Green, who played under owner Dan Snyder. Snyder tried to help Monk, but many in the press hate Snyder even more than the uncooperative Monk, so the former isn’t helping any. Now Green gets some push from the Redskins. I think he’ll need a few years before being elected, but will ultimately do so. Monk looks like a veterans committee push a decade from now.
Oh well, maybe Deion Sanders will go in as a Redskin after one season in Washington. He could wear that burgundy suit again.
Rick Snider has covered local sports since 1978. Contact him at [email protected].
