Last season was “The Year of the Upset” in college football. Oklahoma, Florida, Ohio State, Georgia, and USC will be in the hunt to play in Dolphin Stadium on January 8th, 2009.
The offseason has changed the fantasy landscape slightly, so what better time than now to unveil the second version of RealGM’s 2008 Fantasy Football rankings?
While everyone focuses on the marquee players that will be drafted on day one this Saturday, the key to building a winning team is by acquiring 5-7 impact makers. It was Marques Colston last year, who will it be this year?
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By John McMullen
It's pretty obvious that players like Cris Carter and Derrick Thomas are far more worthy of a spot in Canton than say, Art Monk and Andre Tippett.
That's why I could care less about the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
It's not about who deserves to go in -- it's all about ego and good old-fashioned reverence among the Hall's 44-person Board of Selectors... Not for the players mind you -- the selectors.
No city in pro football proves that more than Minneapolis.
Let's look at Carter and Monk. The Redskins' wideout finished his career with 940 receptions for 12,721 yards and 68 touchdowns. Carter had 1,101 catches for 13,899 yards and 130 TD's. No, Carter didn't collect any Super Bowl rings -- the only argument Redskins' supporters can cling too -- but he found the end zone 62 more times than Monk.
So why is Monk in the Hall now, and Carter isn't?
Well, you have to understand the selection process first. The Board making these decisions consists of one media representative from each pro football city with two from New York. A 33rd member is a representative of the Pro Football Writers of America (an organization I belong too), and there are 11 at-large delegates.
The selectors then meet with the media representatives introducing and making the case for players from the team they cover. In Washington that means David Elfin, the great Washington Times' writer and the former PFWA President. For Minneapolis and people like Carter and Randall McDaniel -- it means their fate is in the hands of a doddering old-fool by the name of Sid Hartman.
Apologists for the other 42 voters talk about "taking care" of previously forgotten guys like Monk, Tippett, Fred Dean, and Gary Zimmerman before the coming crush of big-name Hall-eligible players arrives.
But, here's the bottom line. Monk wasn't elected to the Hall of Fame until this year because Elfin didn't put his stamp of approval on him until now. It's not the player who is up for enshrinement; it's the media representative's reputation. If Elfin was touting Carter and Hartman was championing Monk, the results would be reversed.
Don't think so? Let's look at McDaniel and Zimmerman. They actually played next to each other in Minnesota for five years (1988 to 1992.) In those five seasons, McDaniel was an All-Pro for four years and made four Pro Bowls. The only year missing from his resume was 1988, his rookie season. Zimmerman-- a worthy Hall of Famer by the way -- made two Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro once.
McDaniel went on to start 12 consecutive Pro Bowls in his career -- an NFL record -- and is one of the top two or three guards ever to play the game. The two players remain great friends to this day, and Zimmerman would be the first to admit McDaniel was the better player.
So why did Zimmerman get the call before McDaniel? Simply put, Jeff Legwold of the Rocky Mountain News is well-liked. Hartman is not.
The 87-year-old Hartman had been Minnesota's media representative in the Hall selection process forever, and his lack of respect among the other voters has been evident for a long time.
Fran Tarkenton retired after the 1978 season as the NFL's all-time leader in completions, passing yardage, and touchdowns. He led the Vikings to three Super Bowls but had to wait three years before being enshrined. Dan Marino, who ended his career with the same records and just one Super Bowl appearance, was a slam-dunk, first-year selection.
Legendary players like Carl Eller, Ron Yary, and Paul Krause, the all-time interception leader, had to wait over a decade for induction. Jim Marshall, the Lou Gehrig of the NFL, and Mick Tinglehoff, one of the game's great centers, are still not in.
Their absences and the snubs of Carter and McDaniel not only expose a stunning lack of respect for Hartman, it also magnifies just how little the rest of the voters know about their league as a whole.
John is the managing editor of The Phanatic Magazine and the co-host of the highly rated 'Johns on Sports' radio show on WTBQ in New York. Every Saturday from 5-7 p.m. (et) you can hear John along with his co-host John Gottlieb talk to the movers and shakers in the sports world. Recent guests have included Darelle Revis of the New York Jets, ESPN's Buster Olney, and ComcastSportsnet's Ron Burke. You can listen on the internet at wtbq.com or call 845-651-1110 to be part of the program.
John is also the author of the upcoming book on Philadelphia Eagles football titled, Philadelphia Eagles football: An Interactive Guide to the World of Sports. The book will be released by Savas Beatie in September 2008. You can reach John at jmcmullen@phanaticmag.com.
