Read opposing arguments from Babe Ruthless and Loyal Homer.
There was no surprise that Jerry Rice was going to be voted into the Hall of Fame, in his first year of eligibility. There is a surprise, though, in that no other receiver even get a second glance, despite several very worthy candidates.
There were several players among the list of the final 15 candidates whose careers were built around absolutely dominating performances as receivers in the league. In addition to Rice there was Tim Brown of the Oakland Raiders, Cris Carter of the Minnesota Vikings, and Shannon Sharpe of the Denver Broncos and Baltimore Ravens. Yet, none of those players even made it out of the preliminary rounds of selection, despite very impressive credentials.
During his 14-year career, Sharpe completely redefined the tight end position. Sharpe was the most dangerous, explosive tight end to play the game since Ozzie Newsome. In fact, Sharpe surpassed Newsome in every single noteworthy statistic over the length of his should-be hall of fame career. In terms of statistics, Sharpe was the first tight end in NFL history to amass more than 10,000 receiving yards. Read the article from Babe Ruthless for further proof of Sharpe’s greatness.
Tim Brown has more career receiving yards than HOFers like James Lofton, Steve Largent, and Art Monk. He ranks FOURTH on the NFL’s all-time list of receiving yards and also ranks FOURTH on the all-time receptions list. He ranks SIXTH on the all-time receiving touchdowns list.
Brown, who is already a College Football Hall of Fame inductee, was named to nine different Pro Bowls during his 16-year career. He is the only NFL receiver to catch at least 75 passes in ten consecutive seasons, and is the oldest player in NFL history to return a punt for a touchdown.
Like Tim Brown, Cris Carter was one of the most prolific wide receivers during his career. His performance places him EIGHTH all-time on the NFL’s career receiving yards list, FOURTH all-time for receiving touchdowns, EIGHTH all-time in combined rushing/receiving touchdowns, and THIRD all-time in total receptions.
The Jerry Rice Factor
Each HOF nominee was to be considered on their own merits. Factors such as statistical success and big-game performances are measured. Sharpe, Brown, and Carter are each among the greatest players ever to suit up at their positions, they share 25 combined Pro Bowl selections, and were each named to the NFL’s all-decade team of the 1990s.
So what kept them out of the Hall of Fame? The answer is Jerry Rice.
This was the first year that Jerry Rice was eligible for induction. It does not matter how great Sharpe, Brown, and Carter were in comparison to the rest of NFL history because they were nothing when matched up against Rice. Fair or unfair, these players just do not compare to the greatest wide receiver (and perhaps the greatest player) who ever stepped onto the gridiron. Realistically, that is a standard that no one can match (except maybe Terrell Owens – IF he had a good quarterback, that is).
It is a shame that the voters were unable to separate the careers of Rice and his peers (and that is what Sharpe, Brown, and Carter were – peers). The Hall of Fame is where competition ends. It is no longer about determining who the best is, because they were all the best. The Hall of Fame is a fraternity of the best players to play the game, and yet three of the greatest ever were excluded.
I can only hope the voters get it right next year.
Posted by Bleacher Fan 
