Post by TheShadow on Feb 4, 2006 6:45:48 GMT -5
www.signonsandiego.com
Hall of Fame voters not supposed to consider his television career
By Jerry Magee
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
DETROIT – John Madden's candidacy is expected to represent the most contentious issue when members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's selection committee gather today to weigh the merits of 15 finalists.
One bloc of committee members is known to be preparing to move to block the election of the TV sports commentator and former coach of the Oakland Raiders on the basis that Madden had stellar athletes in Oakland and won only one major championship, Super Bowl XI.
There also is the issue of to what degree, if at all, Madden's contributions to the game as a broadcaster should be considered. The hall's rules dictate that his candidacy should be debated only as a coach.
“It's a tough question,” said Joe Horrigan, vice president, communications and exhibits, of the Canton, Ohio, shrine. “I don't know if I have the answer. It's a very gray area. I don't know if we want to define it definitively.”
Madden's nomination as a finalist came through the hall's veterans committee, which also advanced the name of Dallas offensive tackle Rayfield Wright. The other 13 finalists include defensive lineman Reggie White of Philadelphia and linebacker Derrick Thomas of Kansas City, both deceased.
Scheduled to be considered with them are Dallas quarterback Troy Aikman, New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson, Pittsburgh defensive end L.C. Greenwood, Washington guard Russ Grimm and Atlanta defensive end Claude Humphrey.
Also, Dallas wide receiver Michael Irvin; Miami guard Bob Kuechenberg; Washington wide receiver Art Monk; Houston, Minnesota, Seattle and Kansas City quarterback Warren Moon; Buffalo running back Thurman Thomas; and Minnesota offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman.
In Madden's 10 seasons in Oakland, his Raiders went 112-39-7, including postseason games, and won seven AFC West championships. Six times his Raiders won 10 or more games.
But only his 1976 team claimed a Super Bowl victory, which it did with a 32-14 triumph over Minnesota in Pasadena.
Those who champion Madden's election are arguing that Madden's teams frequently in the playoffs had to engage the Steelers, who won four Super Bowls between 1975 and 1980.
“Look at who he was playing – a team with nothing but Hall of Famers,” said Ron Wolf, a former member of the Raiders personnel staff who went on to become the ranking officer of the Green Bay Packers.
Madden's squads further won two-thirds of their games against teams coached by persons currently in the Hall of Fame. No other coach is more than four games over .500 against such competition.
The hall's rules call for the finalists to be reduced by vote from 15 to 10, then from 10 to six. Each of the final six is voted on individually. Should from 35 to all 39 members of the committee be present, eight negative votes would eliminate a candidate. The committee is made up of media representatives from the 32 NFL cities, plus seven at-large members. No fewer than three nor more than six of the finalists can be chosen.