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View Full Version : QB Marino likely to headline Hall of Fame selections



ALinChainz
02-04-2005, 12:22 PM
February 4, 2005


JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Ticker) - Dan Marino played in his only Super Bowl 20 years ago. On Saturday, the NFL's most prolific passer will likely be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.

Marino headlines a list of 15 finalists under consideration for the Class of 2005. Quarterback Steve Young, wide receiver Michael Irvin and linebacker Derrick Thomas are the other finalists in their first year of eligibility.

Although he never won a Super Bowl, Marino rewrote the NFL record book in his 16-year career with the Miami Dolphins. The nine-time Pro Bowler holds records for passing yards (61,361), completions (4,967) and touchdown passes (420). He set single-season marks with 5,084 yards and 48 touchdown passes in 1984. Peyton Manning surpassed Marino's touchdowns record this season with 49 for the Indianapolis Colts.

"No other athlete is more synonymous with South Florida sports than Dan Marino," NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue said. "He was, without doubt, one of the greatest passers and toughest competitors in the history of the NFL. Dan combined a fiery will to win with an unmatched ability to take charge at the most critical juncture."

Young began his career in the USFL, then entered the NFL in 1985 with Tampa Bay, where he played for two seasons. He eventually replaced Hall of Famer Joe Montana in San Francisco, where he spent the final 13 years of his career.

With San Francisco, Young made seven Pro Bowls and led the 49ers to a victory in Super Bowl XXIX, when he threw a record six touchdown passes in a 49-26 victory over San Diego.

One of the NFL's best scrambling quarterbacks, Young was forced to retire following the 1999 season due to concussions. He threw for 33,124 yards and 232 touchdowns and added 4,239 rushing yards and 43 scores in his career.

The brash Irvin was the primary receiver on three Super Bowl-winning teams for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990s. He was forced to retire following the 1999 season due to a neck injury.

A five-time Pro Bowler, Irvin finished his career with 750 catches for 11,904 yards and 65 touchdowns.

The late Thomas, one of the NFL's best pass-rushing linebackers, played with the Kansas City Chiefs from 1988 to 1999, recording 127 1/2 sacks in 169 games. He died at the age of 33 on February 8, 2000 from complications following a car crash that left him paralyzed.

Joining the four first-year eligible players as finalists are eight other modern-era players, a highly successful team-league administrator, and two players nominated earlier by the Hall of Fame's Senior Committee.

The Senior Committee nominees, who were announced in August, are Benny Friedman and Fritz Pollard.

The other modern-era player finalists include defensive ends Richard Dent, Claude Humphrey, and L.C. Greenwood; linebacker Harry Carson; offensive linemen Russ Grimm and Bob Kuechenberg; cornerback Roger Wehrli and wide receiver Art Monk. The team-league administrator is George Young.

Carson, Dent, Greenwood, Humphrey, Kuechenberg, Monk and George Young have all been finalists in previous years. Although they have been eligible prior to this year, this is the first time that Friedman, Grimm, Pollard and Wehrli have been finalists.

A maximum of six new members will be selected.

Enshrinement of the class of 2005 will take place at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton on August 7.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=halloffame2005&prov=st&type=lgns

Lou
02-04-2005, 03:29 PM
I don't think Michael Irvin deserves to be in the hall of fame. Only 65 TD's his entire career? He was a very good receiver overall and a #1 receiver in his time but I just don't see him as a HOF'er. I think Art Monk deserves to go before Michael Irvin.