Carter, Doleman On Track To Get Screwed By Hall Of Fame Again

by Christopher Gates on Jan 7, 2012 1:28 PM CST in Minnesota Vikings

The National Football League has announced its list of 15 modern-day finalists for potential induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The voting will be held February 4, the day before the Super Bowl, in Indianapolis.

Once again, there are two Minnesota Vikings on the list of players, and they're the ones we all know. Cris Carter, one of the five greatest receivers in the history of the National Football League that has somehow managed to get passed over on three separate occasions already, is on the list. Carter retired with more receptions, receiving yardage, and touchdown catches than any wide receiver not named Jerry Rice, and despite not having played in the NFL since 2002 still ranks in the top ten in all three of those categories (fourth in receptions and receiving touchdowns and eighth in receiving yardage).

Chris Doleman, who was inducted into the Vikings' Ring of Honor this season, is also on the list of finalists. Doleman played fifteen NFL seasons for three different teams (Minnesota, Atlanta, and San Francisco). He finished his NFL career in fourth place on the all-time sacks list with 150.5, and until a week ago had held the Vikings' single-season record for sacks with 21.

This doesn't look like a particularly strong class, to be honest, and there's really no good excuse for at least one of these two former Vikings to not get the call to Canton in a few weeks. That doesn't mean that the voters won't find one, but whatever excuse they do find likely won't be a terribly good one.

Here is the entire list of finalists for the 2012 class.

Jerome Bettis, RB -- 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
Tim Brown, WR/KR -- 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Jack Butler, CB -- (1951-59 Pittsburgh Steelers) (senior nominee)
Cris Carter, WR -- 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
Dermontti Dawson, C -- 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Owner -- 1979-2000 San Francisco 49ers
Chris Doleman, DE/LB -- 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers
Kevin Greene, LB/DE -- 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
Charles Haley, DE/LB -- 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
Cortez Kennedy, DT -- 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks
Curtis Martin, RB -- 1995-97 New England Patriots, 1998-2005 New York Jets
Bill Parcells, Coach -- 1983-1990 New York Giants, 1993-96 New England Patriots, 1997-99 New York Jets, 2003-06 Dallas Cowboys
Andre Reed, WR -- 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Willie Roaf, T -- 1993-2001 New Orleans Saints, 2002-05 Kansas City Chiefs
Will Shields, G -- 1993-2006 Kansas City Chiefs
Dick Stanfel, G -- (1952-55 Detroit Lions, 1956-58 Washington Redskins) (senior nominee)
Aeneas Williams, CB/S -- 1991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 2001-04 St. Louis Rams

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I think this has gone on long enough

Hopefully both will get the nod

"You can write articles and do whatever you want, you can break down every player. Good, bad or ugly. But we just aren't good enough as a team, as a group. Offensively, defensively and special teams, from the No. 1 on the roster to the last man on the roster. We just aren't good enough. It's as simple as that." - Chad Greenway

by Grape Drank on Jan 7, 2012 3:27 PM CST reply actions

Hopefully both will get in...

if not this year, next. Both should have been locks long ago, especially Carter. He was the 2nd best WR ever when he retired, behind only Rice.

Clayton was on the radio this morning saying that there are two weak years in a row so it will be a good opportunity to get guys like this in (maximums for HOF classes are ridiculous anyway). So I’d expect both to get in either this year or next.

by DJSkillz on Jan 7, 2012 4:28 PM CST reply actions

Carter might have trouble again!

T. Brown has pretty nice #’s. Not sure if he has a ring or not, that will be the deciding factor.

by chaosg on Jan 7, 2012 4:49 PM CST reply actions

he doesn't...

but Carter was clearly a better WR than him IMO.

Of course I’m biased; Carter is my favorite football player of all time.

by DJSkillz on Jan 7, 2012 5:10 PM CST up reply actions

I agree,,,BUT!

The HOF tends to favor guys with SB-Rings….if none of the other WR’s have a ring, then Carter is a shoe-in!

by chaosg on Jan 7, 2012 7:03 PM CST up reply actions

Carter was head and shoulders above Brown

Brown was the exclusive go-to guy for the Raiders for almost every year.

Carter put up great numbers in spite of having to share catching duties with Reed, A.C., and Moss.

No one else, especially Rice, ever had put up numbers while sharing with other consistently high-ranked Pro-Bowlers…

by liveforadrenaline on Jan 10, 2012 11:13 AM CST up reply actions

Of course..

everyone and their brother knows championship rings, for those who played a TEAM game, should not be apart of the criteria for getting into an indivdual honors club. But, for some reason, the writers get away with it every year without being called out. Utterly ridiculous!

by eyeguy81 on Jan 9, 2012 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

As long as Carter gets in, I'll be OK

If not, I’ll be besides myself in anger.

But for now—GO BISON!!!!! FCS CHAMPS!!! :)

Proud contributor to Daily Norseman and SB Nation Minnesota.
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by Eric J. Thompson on Jan 7, 2012 6:10 PM CST reply actions

Carter's career

Isn’t fully captured by his stats (even though stats alone are enough for him to be in). People forget how revolutionary his play was at the sidelines in terms of body control. He did things that hadn’t been done before, and few do today. He was unbelievable and I can’t think of anyone in the league today who is even close.

But then Moss came along and changed the game again so people forget.

by amiller92 on Jan 8, 2012 4:35 PM CST via iPhone app reply actions

somewhat true...

though I’d say Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson and Fitz are pretty damn good. I think Calvin will actually pass Rice when it’s all said and done for the best all-around WR ever, personally.

But ya, CC’s the man. Best hands to ever play the game IMO. And people also forget that he played with a poo poo platter of qb’s, while Rice played with Montana and Young, 2 of the 5 best of all-time.

by DJSkillz on Jan 9, 2012 8:12 PM CST up reply actions