Sports Illustrated’s Jim Trotter was in the room for this year’s Hall of Fame voting and has his thoughts on how and why some notable names were left out. Many were perplexed when Bill Parcells, Cris Carter, Andre Reed and others did not make the final cut, and Trotter tries to explain why this happened.
2012 NFL Hall Of Fame Voting: An Explanation For Some Of The Perplexing Snubs
The problem is the numbers, with only five modern-era candidates inducted each year. Further compounding the problem, Trotter hypothesizes, is the candidates that will become eligible in the near future. Which led him to this.
Some thoughts on today’s voting: It sure had the feel of a good old-fashion housecleaning. That may sound terrible, but in no way is it meant to demean the players who were selected. Each of them is most deserving. But voters were aware of what’s coming down the pike, and if certain positions weren’t addressed this year it would create major logjams going forward.
He continued by pointing out the battles that would’ve taken place over the coming year, had some of the candidates who gained the necessary votes for induction not been approved this year. For the wide receivers, the problem seemed to be a split vote: Trotter said it was impossible for voters to agree which of the corps was “better,” causing a split.
Go read the whole piece for an inside look at the process and a deeper explanation of the voting. It’s the system we’re stuck with, and there will always be snubs, but it’s tough to take when so many deserving candidates are left out, like they were on Saturday.
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