coolhandgopher
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Let's start with this--the Chicago contigent must have had a hell of a Power Point presentation this year. Selecting Patrick Willis, Dwight Freeney, Andre Johnson, and Julius Peppers raises no eyebrows for me. Randy Gradishar is interesting, given how long its been since he's played (retired in '83), but over a relatively short 10 year career, he made the Pro Bowl 7 years, was the face of the Orange Crush defense, five years All-Pro first/second team, and Defensive Player of the Year in '78, so I can't argue those credentials too much.
When we turn to the Bears though--I guess you could make a good argument for Hester as a unique and elite specialist--a Ray Guy or taking it to baseball, a Mariano Rivera level kickoff/punt returner who changed the game. Okay, maybe.
But Steve "Mongo" McMichael? Solid player on a great defense, but HOF'er? If so, where's Jim Marshall? Neil Smith? Karl Mecklenburg? Clyde Simmons? Simeon Rice? I know McMichael was a DT and overshadowed on that Bears defense by Dan Hampton, Richard Dent, and Mike Singletary (among others), but c'mon. If he's a HOF'er, I think you have to bust those doors open pretty wide.
Edit: I wrote all that up without realizing that Jared Allen was also up for consideration this year--another glaring omission in comparison to McMichael, IMO.
When we turn to the Bears though--I guess you could make a good argument for Hester as a unique and elite specialist--a Ray Guy or taking it to baseball, a Mariano Rivera level kickoff/punt returner who changed the game. Okay, maybe.
But Steve "Mongo" McMichael? Solid player on a great defense, but HOF'er? If so, where's Jim Marshall? Neil Smith? Karl Mecklenburg? Clyde Simmons? Simeon Rice? I know McMichael was a DT and overshadowed on that Bears defense by Dan Hampton, Richard Dent, and Mike Singletary (among others), but c'mon. If he's a HOF'er, I think you have to bust those doors open pretty wide.
Edit: I wrote all that up without realizing that Jared Allen was also up for consideration this year--another glaring omission in comparison to McMichael, IMO.
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