TAMPA, Fla. -- Shannon Sharpe retired after the 2003 season as the owner of three Super Bowl rings and of the NFL records for catches, yards and touchdowns by a tight end. But that may not be enough to get him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Sharpe said today that he's not expecting to be chosen when the Hall of Fame's Board of Selectors meets on Saturday. And based on the Hall of Fame voters I've spoken with this week in Tampa, he's probably right: Sharpe isn't very likely to be picked.
On Tuesday, the NFL announced the finalists for the 2009 Hall of Fame class, a list that contains the NFL's all-time sack leader, a current owner, a former commissioner, and six first-time finalists.
The voters will select a minimum of four and a maximum of seven new members on January 31. The complete list of finalists after the jump.
After a blazing start, the Packers are now 2-3, and inevitably, the conversation has turned to "what's wrong with Aaron Rodgers." Since, you know, he's responsible for the disappearance of the running game and a tackling-optional defense.
According to Football Outsiders, through five weeks, Rodgers and his bum throwing shoulder are 17th in the league in quarterback efficiency, just behind Peyton Manning and two spots ahead of Ben Roethlisberger. And while Brett Favre ranks 11th, there's the little issue of offensive balance and pass protection that also factors into the rankings.
Whatever, most rational people can agree that Green Bay's recent slide has nothing to do with Rodgers' performance. Which is why it makes perfect sense to hear Dan Marino blabbering on during this afternoon's CBS Pregame Show:
You know what, they shouldn't have traded away Brett Favre because, look it, last year, they were 13-3 with him, they went to the NFC Championship game -- what more does that prove? He's a guy who still has ability -- you saw what he's done for the New York Jets. He's healthy, you gotta go with the guy, the veteran that's there. ... I'm saying [the Packers] made a mistake trading away Brett Favre.
Wow, the stupidity is blinding, really. Look, I know this is a contrived segment made for television, and I don't even know if Marino believes what he's saying. But, jeebus, the fatuousness burns.
Tony Gonzalez, with a first quarter reception against the Carolina Panthers, passed Shannon Sharpe for all time career yardage by a tight end. Sharpe retired with 10,060 yards, and Gonzalez just jumped him with his first catch of the day.
This is important because now Gonzo is the all time leader for yardage, receptions and touchdown receptions by a tight end. He is arguably the greatest tight end of all time, and his success really defined the change in the position that we've seen over the past few years, that has led to guys like Antonio Gates and Jason Witten emerge.
Of course, it also led to the Niners burning a first round draft pick on Vernon Davis, but hey, they can't all be winners. Additionally, it's nice to see a loyal guy like Gonzo find some form of success while being forced to suffer on this 2008 Kansas City team.
Paul Zimmerman of Sports Illustrated has written an interesting article in which he examines the players eligible for the 2009 Pro Football Hall of Fame class, with former Packers general manager Ron Wolf providing some insight.
The first name that comes up in the discussion is former Broncos and Ravens tight end Shannon Sharpe. Here's what Wolf has to say:
"Well, he made the tight end position more of a receiving position," Wolf said. "Performed well in big games. For what he accomplished, I guess you'd have to say he was a game-changer. I think he belongs."
I agree that Sharpe was a good receiver and agree that he played well in big games, and his three Super Bowl rings will go a long way toward convincing the Hall of Fame voters. And yet I just don't think he's getting in. Last year Cris Carter couldn't sway the voters. Does anyone really think Sharpe was a better player than Carter?
One of the things you can look forward to when you run a franchise into the ground is that everybody has an opinion on how to fix things. You don't hear much about Bob Kraft, Bob Irsay or Dan Rooney getting unsolicited advice since, you know, their teams are annually competitive.
"Mr. Blank needs to understand that you hired [general manager] Tom Dimitroff and [head coach] Mike Smith to do a job. Let them do their job," said Sharpe ... "Mr. Blank, you don't need to be the face of the Falcons, because everybody knows you own the Falcons. We don't need to see your face to confirm that.
"I know who owns the Steelers. I don't see Dan Rooney. I know who owns the Giants. I don't need to see his face. I know who owns the Patriots. We don't need to see you to confirm how much money and how much authority you have."
Whatever your thoughts on Sharpe (I actually like the guy), he makes a lot of sense here. You get the impression that some people get in the "owning my own football team" business to play Madden on a much larger scale. Blank isn't a meddlesome busybody like the Redskins' Dan Snyder, but he's done plenty to put the Falcons in their current predicament.
We'll see if Blank has learned anything from firing Dan Reeves and Jim Mora, or coddling Michael Vick. I have my doubts, but, hey, maybe this is the year he finally gets it.
"I think Mike (Shanahan) will relieve himself of that situation. It's not going to get any better there for Walker. Javon isn't the No. 1 anymore there, and it's not going to change. He kind of showed where he is coming from by saying what he said."
Sharpe's right about Walker's attitude but wrong about Denver's best chance for success. The Broncos offense would be better with Walker in the lineup. Brandon Marshall will demand much attention from opposing defenses, leaving ample chances to exploit weaker coverage against the talented Walker.
Two things stand in the way of that happening, though. His huge salary and his bigger ego will make it very difficult for Denver to keep him in town. You could adjust the former but only if Walker adjusts the latter. History says that won't happen and intuition says he'll be playing elsewhere in 2008.
Ah, yes, media day at the Super Bowl. Good times. ESPN does a nifty job of compiling some of the best moments from recent media days, although sadly, Joey Porter clowning Jerramy Stevens didn't make the cut.
Records are meant to be broken. Just ask Dan Marino. He has had to sit and watch Brett Favre top some of those awesome numbers that he put together during his Hall of Fame career. A career that ended without a Super Bowl ring (Favre has one), but saw that collection of records keep him in the conversation of best QB ever.
Some records of his that have been broken in 2007:
Most pass attempts, by Brett Favre
Most passing yards, by Brett Favre
Most TD pass, by Brett Favre
Most games with 3 or more TD passes, by Brett Favre
He still owns the single season passing yards mark, plus most games with 400 yds passing and some other records. But most of those big ones are gone. Also:
His 1984 Miami Dolphins record for most TDs scored in a season was broken by New England
His 48 TD passes in 1984 (which is second all time) was tied by Tom Brady.
You have to feel a bit for ol' Dan. He's had to sit in those CBS studios and hear marbles falling out of Shannon Sharpe's mouth as he ribs him about those records being passed.
On this morning's CBS Pregame Show, the host, James Brown, posed this philosophical conundrum to the panel:
To recap: brothers don't shake hand, brothers gotta hug. Well, unless you're Shannon Sharpe, then you do shake hands. Kissing cheerleaders is acceptable, however.
TAMPA, Fla. -- Shannon Sharpe retired after the 2003 season as the owner of three Super Bowl rings and of the NFL records for catches, yards and touchdowns by a tight end. But that may not be enough to get him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 
Javon Walker didn't endear himself to any of the current Broncos when he said that he wanted to leave the team and find a "better fit" elsewhere. He backtracked a bit but his inital comments weren't well received by former Broncos either. Shannon Sharpe told the Denver Post that the first step back toward the playoffs is losing Walker.
Records are meant to be broken. Just ask Dan Marino. He has had to sit and watch Brett Favre top some of those awesome numbers that he put together during his Hall of Fame career. A career that ended without a Super Bowl ring (Favre has one), but saw that collection of records keep him in the conversation of best QB ever.
