Hall of Fame Selections

Very few offensive linemen are in the hall of fame, but it's utterly amazing how the doors at Canton have failed to open for Art Monk. Is it really any failure on Monk's part or more of a reflection on some of those eligible to vote?

When you compare Monk to his peers on pure statistics you can still make a great case for him. Monk often gained more than one thousand yards. He also scored a bevy of touchdowns and traditionally caught many of his passes for first downs dispelling the notion of only being a possession receiver.

He was ahead of the game and passed Largent for the record of most receptions in a season at that time. Monk was double teamed often in his career. He was a constant on a team that relied on him heavily. He only had downtown Charlie Brown for a few years in the mid '80s.

After Brown's departure, it took a couple of years for Clark to develop and a couple years after that for Sanders to emerge as the third wide out and threat in the late '80s. I'm sure we all remember the failures before Clark's arrival on the scene as the Redskins tried desperately to acquire receiver and often found themselves on the wrong end of a trade or free agent pick up from the Raiders for wide receiver help.

The quarterbacks may have changed, but Art Monk was a constant. From a deep threat early in his career to an intermediate route runner with superb skills at running patterns with very soft hands. He was a quarterback's best friend from Theisman to Rypien. It was Monk's consistantcy and clutch performances that helped the Redskins make the playoffs so often during his tenure.

Some argue that he was a possession receiver and others argue that he had too much talent around him to get in the hall. Well which is it b/c he was as good if not a better possession receiver than Largent and had as much talent and did as much for his team as an Irvin or Rice.

Rice had Montanna & Young and Irvin had Aikman. Both of these receivers had great offensive lineman and hall of fame quarterbacks. Irvin even had a hall of fame running back to take the pressure off of him. Monk had constant changes at all the skill positions around him and always excelled no matter who was around him.

Now let's not forget what a class act he was on and off the field. Some may not have appreciated his quiet and reserved demeanor when it came time for interviews. Monk always seemed professional and respectful to the media. For individuals to hold a grudge against him for not being as accessible as say a Portis or a quote machine as a Smoot of today then it reflects upon them and not on Monk because he's the epitome of a hall of famer in every sense of the word.