Post by JetRepulsion1 on Sept 30, 2019 10:12:42 GMT -5
From Rich Cimini @ ESPN.com:
Joe Must Go (to Canton): I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Joe Klecko belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His best shot is coming up because the Hall of Fame, in honor of the NFL's 100-year anniversary, will have an expanded class in 2020. Instead of inducting the usual one or two senior candidates, the Hall will welcome 10 seniors. Klecko has been in the senior category since 2013, because he didn't make it in his 20 years of eligibility as a modern-era candidate.
A 25-member, blue-ribbon panel was formed last week to determine the Centennial Class of 2020, which will consist of 10 seniors, three contributors and two coaches. The 48-member selection committee will select the five modern inductees on Feb. 1. These next few weeks are critical for Klecko, because the blue-ribbon panel will start to narrow the field.
"Not getting in the Hall of Fame is extremely disappointing because it is the pinnacle," Klecko said on ESPN's "Flight Deck" podcast. "It is the top. Only 300-something players have been elected in the 100 years of the game. It would be astounding to be part of that. As for the years I didn't get it, I followed it to a tee. I was hoping to get in. When it didn't happen, it wasn't as devastating to me as people might have thought. I'm pretty good in my own skin."
Make no mistake, Klecko wants this badly -- and he deserves it. From 1977 to 1981, he recorded a remarkable 50.5 sacks. Unfortunately, the sack didn't become an official statistic until 1982, so his NFL.com bio lists him with only 24. In reality, he has 74.5, a crazy number when you consider he spent much of his career as an interior lineman. Peers such as John Hannah, Dwight Stephenson, Joe DeLamielleure and Anthony Munoz -- Hall of Fame offensive linemen -- have stumped for Klecko.
"For John Hannah to come out and say Howie Long and Joe Klecko were the two toughest guys he ever played against, I think that [has] some credibility," Klecko said.
Joe Must Go (to Canton): I've said it before, and I'll say it again: Joe Klecko belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His best shot is coming up because the Hall of Fame, in honor of the NFL's 100-year anniversary, will have an expanded class in 2020. Instead of inducting the usual one or two senior candidates, the Hall will welcome 10 seniors. Klecko has been in the senior category since 2013, because he didn't make it in his 20 years of eligibility as a modern-era candidate.
A 25-member, blue-ribbon panel was formed last week to determine the Centennial Class of 2020, which will consist of 10 seniors, three contributors and two coaches. The 48-member selection committee will select the five modern inductees on Feb. 1. These next few weeks are critical for Klecko, because the blue-ribbon panel will start to narrow the field.
"Not getting in the Hall of Fame is extremely disappointing because it is the pinnacle," Klecko said on ESPN's "Flight Deck" podcast. "It is the top. Only 300-something players have been elected in the 100 years of the game. It would be astounding to be part of that. As for the years I didn't get it, I followed it to a tee. I was hoping to get in. When it didn't happen, it wasn't as devastating to me as people might have thought. I'm pretty good in my own skin."
Make no mistake, Klecko wants this badly -- and he deserves it. From 1977 to 1981, he recorded a remarkable 50.5 sacks. Unfortunately, the sack didn't become an official statistic until 1982, so his NFL.com bio lists him with only 24. In reality, he has 74.5, a crazy number when you consider he spent much of his career as an interior lineman. Peers such as John Hannah, Dwight Stephenson, Joe DeLamielleure and Anthony Munoz -- Hall of Fame offensive linemen -- have stumped for Klecko.
"For John Hannah to come out and say Howie Long and Joe Klecko were the two toughest guys he ever played against, I think that [has] some credibility," Klecko said.