NEW
Edited
#1
Martha Careful
Member
Joined: Jan 28, 2022
Posts: 1,183
Martha Careful
Member
Joined:Jan 28, 2022
Posts:1,183
Sterling Sharpe is finally a Pro Football Hall of Famer
After an agonizing wait, Sharpe is going to Canton
By Justis Mosqueda
Feb 6, 2025, 9:42pm CST
6 Comments / 8 New
The Green Bay Packers have their 29th Pro Football Hall of Famer. After a long wait, former three-time first-team All-Pro receiver Sterling Shape has finally made it to the Hall of Fame as a senior candidate. He will join his brother, Hall of Fame tight end Shannon Sharpe, in football history.
Sharpe was originally drafted by the Packers in 1988 out of the University of South Carolina. In his seven seasons in the NFL, Sharpe recorded 595 receptions for 8,134 yards and 65 touchdowns. In his final year in the league, he recorded 18 touchdown receptions, which at the time was the second most in any season in NFL history.
Unfortunately, a neck injury — which required him to wear modified chin straps that attached the back of his helmet to his shoulder pads — led to Sharpe retiring before his age 30 season.
Below is Packers president and CEO Mark Murphy’s statement on Sharpe’s election to the Hall of Fame:
“On behalf of the entire Green Bay Packers organization, I want to congratulate Sterling on his long overdue election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He left an indelible mark as one of the greatest players of his generation, while also directly contributing to the revival of the Packers during the 1990s. We are extremely happy for Sterling and his family and are forever grateful for all that he gave and accomplished with the Packers.”
Only four players will be enshrined into Canton this summer, which makes this the smallest class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 2005. The other inductees are cornerback Eric Allen, defensive end Jared Allen and tight end Antonio Gates. Allen played for three teams and Allen played for four squads during their NFL careers, so there’s a good chance that the Packers, Sharpe’s only team, will be facing off against the Chargers, Gates’ only team, in the Hall of Fame game.
Sharpe beat out linebacker Maxie Baughan and tackle Jim Tyrer for the senior nomination. Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Holmgren, the sole coach category finalist, was not elected by the committee. With Bill Belichick becoming Hall of Fame eligible next year, Holmgren will likely have to wait until at least the 2027 class to be enshrined.
0
SlickVision, Methodikal, Kevin and 5 others
NEW
#2
wpr
Preferred Member
Joined: Aug 08, 2008
Posts: 20,215
wpr
Preferred Member
Joined:Aug 08, 2008
Posts:20,215
I am happy for Sterling. When he was healthy he was one of the best. I often think about the Favre pass to him to beat the Lions in the playoffs and smile.
Still I can't help but think he got some sympathy votes.
He played 7 years. He needed roughly another three to be truly a hall of famer.
The game is a lot different than when he played. Even so,
He is 109th in reception yards.
90th in total receptions.
67th in receiving tds.
Not really Hall material.
If he played 3 more years and averaged another 1000 yards, 90 receptions and 15 tds a year he would have jumped up to 42, 35 and 8th in those categories. THAT would make him worthy. At those numbers he would be what Davonte Adams has been over his whole career.
Still I can't help but think he got some sympathy votes.
He played 7 years. He needed roughly another three to be truly a hall of famer.
The game is a lot different than when he played. Even so,
He is 109th in reception yards.
90th in total receptions.
67th in receiving tds.
Not really Hall material.
If he played 3 more years and averaged another 1000 yards, 90 receptions and 15 tds a year he would have jumped up to 42, 35 and 8th in those categories. THAT would make him worthy. At those numbers he would be what Davonte Adams has been over his whole career.
0
SlickVision, Methodikal, Kevin and 5 others
NEW
#3
wpr
Preferred Member
Joined: Aug 08, 2008
Posts: 20,215
wpr
Preferred Member
Joined:Aug 08, 2008
Posts:20,215
Stupid petty NFL. What difference does it make to them if we watch it here or on youtube?
0
SlickVision, Methodikal, Kevin and 5 others
NEW
#4
beast
Select Member
Joined: Oct 05, 2008
Posts: 14,470
beast
Select Member
Joined:Oct 05, 2008
Posts:14,470
I'm absolutely shocked that the Hall Of Fame didn't maximize their available spots (as they have been doing for a number of years) and putting as many as possible in. That's a big change, and I wonder what caused it?
Maybe too many HOFs complaining that they have lowered the bar too much to get in? Or just they ran out of what they thought were even low bar candidates?
Also surprised that Mike Holmgren didn't make it, as he did take two different teams to the Super Bowl. It appears that Homlgren is the only one that fits into all the following categories that isn't in the HOF.
1) Taken two different teams the Super Bowl
2) Won at least one Super Bowl as a head coach
3) Is Retired (aka Andy Reid isn't in the HOF yet)
Sadly for them, the coaches that took two teams to the Super Bowl, but didn't win any of them haven't made the HOF. So that seems like a requirement, but he won it with the Packers.
=================================
If they select POF Allen and Allen's first teams,
then the Hall Of Fame game will be a repeat of the Super Bowl matchup.
Though I think you could easily argue that Jared Allen's most remembered team was the Vikings (6 years), not the Chiefs.
Looks like the Hall of Fame attempts to get AFC vs NFC, but it's not a must.
So I'm guessing the Chargers with TE Antonio Gates is a lock, and then they'll select from Packers, Vikings and Eagles.
Last time they have had these teams:
1994: Chargers
2003: Packers*
2006: Eagles
2015: Vikings
2016: Packers*
* 2016 is the last time the Packers were invited to play in the HOF game, but due to poor field conditions, the game was not played. So 2003 is the last time they played in the HOF game.
So my first guess would be Chargers vs Eagles, BUT considering the Eagles had a long Super Bowl season and Packers fans travel well and we're cheated out of their last HOF game, my final guess is Chargers vs Packers.
Maybe too many HOFs complaining that they have lowered the bar too much to get in? Or just they ran out of what they thought were even low bar candidates?
Also surprised that Mike Holmgren didn't make it, as he did take two different teams to the Super Bowl. It appears that Homlgren is the only one that fits into all the following categories that isn't in the HOF.
1) Taken two different teams the Super Bowl
2) Won at least one Super Bowl as a head coach
3) Is Retired (aka Andy Reid isn't in the HOF yet)
Sadly for them, the coaches that took two teams to the Super Bowl, but didn't win any of them haven't made the HOF. So that seems like a requirement, but he won it with the Packers.
=================================
If they select POF Allen and Allen's first teams,
then the Hall Of Fame game will be a repeat of the Super Bowl matchup.
Though I think you could easily argue that Jared Allen's most remembered team was the Vikings (6 years), not the Chiefs.
Looks like the Hall of Fame attempts to get AFC vs NFC, but it's not a must.
So I'm guessing the Chargers with TE Antonio Gates is a lock, and then they'll select from Packers, Vikings and Eagles.
Last time they have had these teams:
1994: Chargers
2003: Packers*
2006: Eagles
2015: Vikings
2016: Packers*
* 2016 is the last time the Packers were invited to play in the HOF game, but due to poor field conditions, the game was not played. So 2003 is the last time they played in the HOF game.
So my first guess would be Chargers vs Eagles, BUT considering the Eagles had a long Super Bowl season and Packers fans travel well and we're cheated out of their last HOF game, my final guess is Chargers vs Packers.
0
SlickVision, Methodikal, Kevin and 5 others
NEW
#5
Zero2Cool
Elite Member
Joined: Oct 14, 2006
Posts: 44,952
Zero2Cool
Elite Member
Joined:Oct 14, 2006
Posts:44,952
I've been watching Sharpe highlights. Kind of neat that I remember seeing each one. Something I didn't notice back then was he (much like Barry Sanders) didn't celebrate TD's.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzygEEyLPpo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzygEEyLPpo
0
SlickVision, Methodikal, Kevin and 5 others
NEW
#6
NEW
#7
dhazer
Veteran Member
Joined: Sep 14, 2008
Posts: 5,858
dhazer
Veteran Member
Joined:Sep 14, 2008
Posts:5,858
All I can say is Choo Choo Baby
0
SlickVision, Methodikal, Kevin and 5 others