Aikman, White, Madden lead six-man Fame class

NFL News ^ | Feb. 4, 2006 | NFL.com wire reports

[infidel29]

DETROIT (Feb. 4, 2006) -- Troy Aikman made it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame's biggest class in years. The guy he threw to -- Michael Irvin -- will have to wait once again.

Reggie White, Warren Moon, Harry Carson, John Madden and Rayfield Wright also were elected. Not since 2001 had the maximum number of candidates been chosen

[mainepatsfan]

It's too bad that McMahon got hurt that year. A Bears-Giants NFC title game would have been awesome.

[Our man in washington]

Good points. I thought Gary Zimmerman should have gone in this year ahead of Warren Moon. Although if the Hall could have taken seven players, I would say that both deserved to go in.

The one player who is not in who most deserves to go in is Joe Klecko. In his Hall of Fame profile, Center Dwight Stephenson said the two toughest linemen he faced were Howie Long and Joe Klecko. Long is already in the Hall of Fame.

[commish]

Only disagreement I have is Warren Moon getting in before Thurman Thomas.

[fedupjohn]

It's too bad that McMahon got hurt that year. A Bears-Giants NFC title game would have been awesome.

If your talking about the 1986 season, I spoke to Mo Carthon at summer camp the following year, and after the loss in 1985 to Chicago, they wanted a rematch in Giants Stadium.

[mainepatsfan]

We can only speculate but I suspect the Giants would have gotten their revenge.

[MissouriConservative]

I am happy for those who made it, but very sad that my favorite player, Derrick Thomas of the KC Chiefs, did not make it on his second attempt. A great player who died before he was through with his football career.

I will hope for his name to be called next year.

[Robert A Cook PE]

Aikman? Hall of Fame? Maybe in the Dallas Hall, but he's not that good.

White?

Madden, of all these guys, should really be there: years as player, as coach, as TV host set him apart.

The rest? Good, very good players. But not Hall of Fame level players.

[Diddle E. Squat]

Yeah, I would have been ok with Moon just missing out to someone like Thurman Thomas, but of course am thrilled to see him get in. Also glad that Rayfield Wright finally got in.

[infidel29]

...very sad that my favorite player, Derrick Thomas of the KC Chiefs, did not make it...

I agree, I loved D.T. back then and was very saddened by his passing. I hope they vote him in next time around.

[infidel29]

White?

You're not questioning Reggie White's qualifications for the Hall are you?

Aikman I can see questioning although I agree with his induction, but Reggie White was a champion on and off the field. The all-time sack leader (yes, I discount Bruce Smith hanging on just to break the record). He may have made some laughably stupid remarks after his retirement, but that cannot detract from his great career.

[TEEHEE]

Goodonya, Rayfield.

[fedupjohn]

We can only speculate but I suspect the Giants would have gotten their revenge.

The guys that I went to games with, we always thought the Giants road to the Super Bowl started with that loss in Chicago. The look in Mo Carthon's eyes when we asked him about it confirmed it. No question, we would have beat em' up. GO GIANTS.

[Robert A Cook PE]

OK. White, makes sense from that regard.

But can you see what I mean by Aikman (and the others in this group)?

At least one HOF criteria in any sport should be an immediate "Him/Her? Of course, no doubt. There's nobody better in that category" type sentiment. Aikman's (the others) are good, but not superbly great.

But, that's my opinion, not the HOF votes though.

[mainepatsfan]

Especially considering the game would have been at the Meadowlands.

[Alberta's Child]

Of all the players who didn't make it in this year, I think Art Monk is more deserving than anyone else. For the life of me, I don't understand how a guy who retired among the all-time NFL leaders in a number of different receiving categories doesn't get into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot.

[Richard Kimball]

The reason Reggie White was demonized was because he made a comment that wasn't complimentary to homosexuals. Like Anita Bryant, he found out that homosexuals pretty much control the media.

They gave their marching orders, and the press demonized him.

[Richard Kimball]

I like Madden, and like his broadcasting. He should probably go into the hall of fame as a broadcaster, though. What gets some people into the hall is their popularity, not their accomplishments. I think this is somewhat true of Madden, although I also think he was a good coach.

BTW, if Dan Fouts belongs in the Hall of Fame, Johnny Unitas, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana and Roger Staubach belong on Mount Rushmore. If Fouts belongs, Kenny Stabler definitely should be in there.

[Bender2]

Re: "I wouldn't have put Irvin in anyways..."

That may explain some of the Cowboy bias... (more at http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1567387/posts )

When discussing Irvin's off field drugs use, there is not any excuse, but if Lawrence Taylor can get in with his very high profile drug use, then Irvin should be a lock!

[Bender2]

Re: "...no team has been OVERrepresented more than the Dallas Cowboys."

Gad! Are you sure you are from Texas?

Or are you just another Jerry Jones hater?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Stop making excuses ... I'm sorry but they were ignorant comments. I don't care who made them or at what time.

What excuses? So White wasn't exactly skilled in the oratory department. But smart people (conservatives) knew what he was talking about. Calling White's comments "ignorant" or racist is straight out of the liberal playbook.