Tingelhoff, Marshall Passed Over For Hall Of Fame Again

The Minnesota Vikings have placed players that are, largely, identified with the team into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in five of the past six years, with Cris Carter, Chris Doleman, Randall McDaniel, John Randle, and Gary Zimmerman making their way into Canton.

Barring something coming from way, way out of left field, they will not make it six out of seven.

The Seniors Committee of the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their two selections that they will put forth for nomination this February, and neither of those names were former Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff or defensive end Jim Marshall. Rather, the Seniors Committee selected former Los Angeles and Oakland Raiders punter Ray Guy and former Atlanta Falcons defensive end Claude Humphrey.

Guy has always been a bit of a controversial figure when it comes to the Hall of Fame. He has been a finalist for induction a whopping seven times without making it in. . .1992, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2007, and 2008. You may remember former Vikings' punter Chris Kluwe putting a patch promoting Guy's Hall of Fame enshrinement over a regular patch on his uniform, drawing the ire of special teams coach Mike Priefer.

Humphrey has also been up for induction several times, including having been put up by the same Seniors Committee in 2009. He was also a finalist in 2003, 2005, and 2006.

The two Seniors Committee inductees don't have to compete against the "modern era" nominees for a spot in Canton, but they still have to get 80% of the vote to make it. So, in Guy's case, this should finally show once and for all whether or not the Hall of Fame Committee thinks a punter belongs in the Hall of Fame. Guy isn't being placed against other players in this instance. . .it's pretty much him against the selectors.

Frankly, I don't think either of these guys has the Hall of Fame credentials of a Marshall or a Tingelhoff, particularly Tingelhoff. Tingelhoff was, apparently, going to get "serious consideration" from the Seniors Committee this time around. I'm not sure how "serious" it could have been if he lost out to a guy that the Seniors Committee put up less than five years ago. . .unsuccessfully.

We've gone over Tingelhoff's accomplishments before. The man deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. But, as we've been saying about old number 53 for many years now. . .maybe next year.