To me, it's between him and Jerry Rice for best outside-inside threat. Monk was great on those sideline dodge patterns that Joe Gibbs loved so much. He was also excellent going across the middle of the field. He was one of the toughest WRs to ever play the game. He also would regularly come up with big catches in key situations late in games.
Andre Tippett is a friend of mine and a decent man. Humble, soft-spoken, and very deserving. I was hoping for him and his family that he didn't have to come away without enshrinement this year. It wouldn't have been easy. Doesn't make for comfortable discussions between us, but you'd be surprised at how easy it is to avoid the subject when the Jets are on the losing end.
clips from Monk's 9-152-2 game against the Bears in 1989- [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU6No4OoTVY[/YOUTUBE]
Thomas was a bit better as a pass rusher. Tippett was better in other areas (coverage, against the run, etc.). As an all-around player, I give the edge to Tippett. I don't need to see Derrick Thomas in the HOF.
That would be minority position for the last three years, of course. Tippett was more dominant for his era, but, for me, it's less about stats and performance and more about supporting a friend.
I have good comments to add on Dean later tonight. I have to head out for a while after this post. I think Carter was kept out due to his 12.6 average yards per catch. Monk's detractors were always quick to bring up his 13.5 number. That's obviously almost a full yard better per reception, plus Monk has three Super Bowl rings. Carter was also less dynamic than Monk. If people take shots at Monk for being a possession receiver, than they really have to kill Carter. I think both should not have had to wait. Carter should make it in 2009 or 2010. It's interesting to look at the career numbers for average per catch. Only five Hall of Famers are in the top 50- 6. Paul Warfield, 20.1 15. Lance Alworth, 18.9 19. Don Maynard, 18.7 25. Elroy Hirsch, 18.4 26. James Lofton, 18.3
Re: Fred Dean Dean was a devastating defensive end for the Chargers from 1975-1981. He played with the 49ers from 1981-85. He was a starter with the Chargers and a situational player with the 49ers. In 1983 he only started two games, but led the NFC with 17.5 sacks. In 1979 the Chargers were arguably the best team in the regular season. They tied the Steelers for the best record in the league at 12-4. The Chargers had the tiebreaker advantage by defeating the Steelers 35-7. One of the key plays in that game was made by Dean. The Steelers were trailing 21-7 late in the third quarter. The Steelers had the ball at the San Diego 37-yard line. Dean breezed by left tackle Jon Kolb. Terry Bradshaw had to throw the ball or take a sack. He threw the ball. It was intercepted and brought back the other way for a TD. Game over. The Chargers outscored their opponents by 165 points that year, which led the league. In 1980, the Chargers were 11-5 and hosted the AFC title game. The defense slipped up a bit. It allowed 81 more points than it had the prior year. Dean was traded after three games in early 1981 due to a contract dispute. He was sent up the coast to San Francisco. The 49ers defense really started to gel when Dean arrived. The 49ers began the season 1-2. They won 12 of their final 13 games. San Francisco went on to win the Super Bowl that season and did the same in 1984. After Dean was traded away, the Chargers defense was shot. The Chargers allowed 390 points in 1981. (They did win their division with a 10-6 record due to their lethal offense.) In 1982, the Chargers allowed 221 points. Only one of the other 15 playoff teams allowed 200 points (Raiders, 200). The Chargers defense was complete garbage from 1983-85.
The best part about these highlights are the celebrations by Monk after every play. What you didn't see them? I forgot he didn't need to pound his chest after every little play and draw attention to himself. Great player.
The Hall of fame is such a complete joke, Art Monk has no business getting in w/o a ticket but the media frenzy to get him in through the years finally paid off. He was a good to very good player, he had 1 great year, he wasn't even the skins best receiver for most of his career(Gary Clark was). I like Monk but he doesn't belong in the Hall, just another in an incredibly long line of undeserving HOFers.
Art Monk played 15 full seasons and while he compiled excellent overall #s he wasn't consistently near the top during his career. he is a classic compiler, a consistently good player who compiled excellent overall #s but was rarely great(1984). In 15 full seasons: -Made 3 Pro Bowls, made all-pro 3 times -Top 10 in receptions just 4 times(led league once) -Top 10 in rec yards just 3 times -Top 10 in rec TDs just ONCE(and he tied for 10th) -In 3 Super Bowls he caught just 9 passes for 179 yards and ZERO Tds. That averages to 3 recs, 60 yds and ZERO TDs. The Hall of Fame is a joke, it should be for the best of the best and it clearly is not.
