faba Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Matthews heads list of 17 Hall of Fame hopefuls Associated Press MIAMI -- Not often is an offensive lineman best described as versatile. For Bruce Matthews, it's the perfect description. Matthews spent 19 seasons with the Oilers/Titans franchise, playing more games than any positional player in NFL history when he retired in 2001. He did it as a guard, tackle and center. He did it so well that he is the only first-time eligible player to make the final cut in this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame balloting. Matthews is one of 17 finalists. From that group at least three, but no more than six, candidates will be chosen Saturday by a panel of 40 voters. "Obviously my opinion goes without saying. His credentials are as good or better than anybody in the Hall of Fame," said former teammate Mike Munchak, who is enshrined in Canton. "He's got all the numbers. He's been in a Super Bowl, went to 14 Pro Bowls, All-Pro, played all the positions. "I don't know what else he could do that could better his cause." Matthews is one of five offensive linemen being considered this year. Unlike tackle Gary Zimmerman and guards Bob Kuechenberg, Russ Grimm and Gene Hickerson, Matthews was multidimensional. He made 99 starts as a left guard, 67 at right guard, 87 at center, 22 at right tackle and 17 at left tackle. His 14 consecutive Pro Bowls is tied for the most ever with Hall of Fame defensive end Merlin Olsen. Matthews never missed a game because of injury. Two mainstays of the Buffalo teams that dominated the AFC in the early 1990s also are finalists: running back Thurman Thomas and wide receiver Andre Reed. Thomas was the league's most valuable player in 1991, when he gained more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage. His 13 seasons with 50-plus receptions, nine of them in a row, are exceeded only by Jerry Rice. Jim Kelly, who made the Hall of Fame in 2002, couldn't believe Thomas didn't get in 2006, his first year of eligibility. "Without a doubt, he is the best all-purpose back in the history of the NFL," Kelly said. "The big reason I made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame was because No. 34 was behind me. ... He needs to join the elite because Thurman Thomas was an elite and special player." Other nominees are defensive ends Fred Dean and Richard Dent; linebackers Andre Tippett and Derrick Thomas; punter Ray Guy; receivers Michael Irvin and Art Monk; cornerback Roger Wehrli; and tight end Charlie Sanders. From the non-player's category, former commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who retired last year, is the only nominee. Tagliabue's legacy is strong, including labor peace throughout his 18 seasons as commissioner; enhanced diversity in the hiring of coaches and front office personnel; television deals that now bring the NFL more than $25 billion in revenues; expansion to 32 teams; establishment of the NFL Network; and a rising global presence. Tagliabue also had to deal with a myriad player issues off the field, including one involving Irvin, who pleaded no contest in 1996 to felony cocaine possession in exchange for four years of deferred probation, a $10,000 fine and dismissal of misdemeanor marijuana possession charges. He also was arrested on drug possession charges in 2000, but they were later dropped. Hall voters have been criticized by, among others, Irvin's former teammates Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman, for bypassing the wideout, who retired in 1999. They believe Irvin failed to make the Hall of Fame because of his off-field transgressions. "This is the Pro Football Hall of Fame, not the Life Hall of Fame," Smith said last year. "His stats are what they are. They are not going to change." Hickerson and Sanders were nominated by the Hall's seniors committee. Hickerson played 15 seasons for the Browns as the lead blocker for three Canton enshrinees -- Jim Brown, Leroy Kelly, and Bobby Mitchell -- and has been eligible for 29 years. Sanders spent a decade with the Lions and was one of the few outstanding receivers among tight ends on his way to seven Pro Bowls. Guy would be the first pure punter ever inducted. He was the first player at his position drafted in the opening round (23rd overall by Oakland in 1973) and made the All-Pro team six straight years. Of the 17 finalists, several have been on the list before: Dent, Grimm, Guy, Hickerson, Irvin, Kuechenberg, Monk, both Thomases, Wehrli and Zimmerman. Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drago Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 "Without a doubt, he is the best all-purpose back in the history of the NFL," Kelly said. "The big reason I made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame was because No. 34 was behind me. ... He needs to join the elite because Thurman Thomas was an elite and special player." What? Has this guy seen Cedric Houston run? Come on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afosomf Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 What? Has this guy seen Cedric Houston run? Come on. My predictions Ray Guy Bruce Matthews Art Monk Finally Thurman Thomas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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