Tippett Denied by HOF

[pats1]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

February 03, 2007
Tippett denied

Former Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett was not elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame today. The meeting broke at 2:11 p.m. and Tippett was not among the final six candidates.

Tippett, who entered the day as one of 17 finalists, made the cut down to 10.

The final six candidates are offensive lineman Bruce Matthews; running back Thurman Thomas; cornerback Roger Wehrli; wide receiver Michael Irvin; and Senior Committee candidates Gene Hickerson (offensive lineman) and Charlie Sanders (tight end).

If any of the final six candidates receive eight or more "no" votes, they will not be elected to the Hall of Fame.

A press conference is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. We'll have more from the press conference.

Posted By: mreiss | Time: 02:15:45 PM

 

[unoriginal]

Wehrli is big news, he's never really gotten close before and this is his last year of elligability.

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

Irvin, harumph.

 

[pats1]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2753109&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

Updated: Feb. 3, 2007, 2:47 PM ET
Irvin, Matthews among six voted into Hall of Fame
ESPN.com news services

MIAMI -- Michael Irvin was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday despite a troubled past, though voters denied entry to retired NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

The former Dallas Cowboys receiver, who won three Super Bowls in the 1990s, got in on his third try.

Irvin pleaded no contest in 1996 to felony cocaine possession. Four years later, he was arrested on drug possession charges, but they were later dropped.

The 40 Hall voters were criticized by two of Irvin's former teammates, Emmitt Smith and Troy Aikman, for previously bypassing the wideout, who retired in 1999.

They didn't ignore him this time.

Tagliabue was eliminated in the first round of voting.

Also voted in were running back Thurman Thomas, offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, defensive back Roger Wehrli and two nominees of the veterans' committee -- tight end Charlie Sanders and guard Gene Hickerson.

A 40-member panel deliberated Saturday to determine who among the 17 finalists would be enshrined. Two votes were taken, reducing the finalists from 17 to 11 and then from 10 to 6 finalists, who were each voted on individually.

Finalists Tagliabue, Russ Grimm, Ray Guy, Bob Kuechenberg, Andre Reed and Gary Zimmerman lost out in the first reduction vote. Fred Dean, Richard Dent, Art Monk, Derrick Thomas and Andre Tippett lost out on the second reduction ballot.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

[PatsRI]

So there telling me that Irvin was better at his position in his era then Tippett was in his. BS

 

[Box_O_Rocks]

So there telling me that Irvin was better at his position in his era then Tippett was in his. BS

Not to mention Art Monk.

 

[pats1]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

February 03, 2007
Tippett reaction

Former Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett was not elected to the Pro Hall of Fame today. He was one of 17 finalists entering this morning's lengthy meeting.

“There is disappointment," Tippett said via phone from Massachusetts. "But it was an honor to be this far along in the process. I've been sitting around here today, waiting for a call, and it was sort of like waiting for that call on draft day all over again."

The following six candidates were elected to the Hall of Fame: offensive lineman Bruce Matthews; running back Thurman Thomas; cornerback Roger Wehrli; wide receiver Michael Irvin; and Senior Committee candidates Gene Hickerson (offensive lineman) and Charlie Sanders (tight end).

Tippett made the first cut from 17 to 11. The first cut is usually to 10, but there was a tie.

Tippett was one of four pass rushers to make the cut to 11, a group that also included Richard Dent, Fred Dean and Derrick Thomas.

"All four pass rushers advanced, but what happened is that they sacked each other," said the Boston Globe's Ron Borges, one of the 40 Hall of Fame voters.

Tippett expressed thanks to those who made his candidacy possible.

"There are a lot of people to thank. One is the Hall of Fame voters themselves. I want to thank Ron, Robert Kraft and the Patriots organization, and [executive director of media relations] Stacey James and all his people, who put together some material to be sent out. There are a lot of people very close to me and I want to say thank you."

Posted By: mreiss | Time: 02:53:19 PM

 

[pats1]

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/patriots/?p=954

February 3rd, 2007
News not all bad on Tippett
Posted by John Tomase at 3:13 pm

Just talked to a number of Hall of Fame voters who all told the same general story about Andre Tippett. While he may have missed election, nary a bad word was said about him. He was mainly a victim of numbers. With two senior selections virtually guaranteed a spot in the final six, that left four slots and no shortage of candidates, from Tippett to Michael Irvin to Thurman Thomas to Bruce Matthews to Russ Grimm.

One voter said he’s been told that once a candidate reaches the final 10, as Tippett did yesterday, he’s basically assured of enshrinement at some point. The argument on Tippett’s behalf, which won over most of the voters, is that during the 1980s there was Lawrence Taylor, then Tippett, then everyone else.

New England fans need not worry about Tippett becoming the football version of Jim Rice. His induction appears to be a matter of when, not if.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Borges was talking about what would transpire yesterday on Felger's show. He thought Andre had a 50-50 chance in what he felt was a weak class.

He predicted Tags would not get a nod because it took Rozelle 8 tries to be enshrined, and while he has managed the league well with the exception of engineering an unworkable CBA of convenience as his parting gesture, he was just that - a manager.

He said that if Andre made the cut to 10 however it would make it a lot easier to generate and maintain a focus on his career among the voters for next year. He did acknowledge that a rift with Will was behind Andre not being pushed back at a time when his accomplishments were fresh and it would have been easier to promote them. He also faulted Patriots ownership and management (of that era) for not promoting enshrinement in spite of Will as they can do so in writing to any HOF voter.

Depending on the quality of the class next season it would seem he has a better shot out of the gate after making the cut to ten this season. I think Borges for all his faults has advocated pretty strongly for him going so far as to say if he played in NY and LT played here their positions would be reversed.

 

[taltos]

I don't want to hear any more bs about character being a factor with the election of Irvin. If a convicted felon and racist beats out Art Monk and Andre Tippett, character does not matter. I guess that the next big one will be Lewis so that a murderer can keep Irvin company.

 

[Tunescribe]

*sigh* Irvin's head and mouth just grew a few more inches ... Now we'll NEVER get rid of his circus act.

 

[PatsMyBoyz!]

http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/patriots/?p=954

He is deserving so it's good to know it's just a matter of time for him.

 

[PatsMyBoyz!]

Michael Irvin-he's such an idiot.

 

[primetime]

Michael Irvin wasn't as good as Art Monk or Andre Reed. Ridiculous.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

So there telling me that Irvin was better at his position in his era then Tippett was in his. BS

I don't read it that way. Tippett did fine. If I were betting, I'd bet he makes it next year or the year after. Let's make sure we make a lot of noise for him next year.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

*sigh* Irvin's head and mouth just grew a few more inches ... Now we'll NEVER get rid of his circus act.

that might be. and, i can't stand listening to him either. but his numbers say he belongs in Canton, without a doubt.

 

[dhamz]

Tippett should be in. It really is a terrible oversight that he isn't.

I hate Michael Irvin as much as anyone but:

1. The Hall of Fame voting in football instructs voters that they cannot consider character.
2. He was a GREAT WR.

His 5 year span from 91-95 stacks up favorably with any WR who ever played. Aikman, Emmitt, and Jimmy Johnson all say he was the emotional leader of those Cowboy teams. He played great in the post season. Hall of Fame player on the field, total jack--- off it, worst commentator ever.

Andre Reed was really good but with only 4 1000 yard seasons (Irvin had 7), he is probably never going to get in. He also will be hurt because the Bills never won and to put Kelly, Smith, Thurman and Reed in is going to be too many players from a team with no rings. Not sure that is fair but it is how the voting goes.

Art Monk was a great guy who has big career totals and played well for a long time on some good teams but I don't see him ever getting in unless it is later by the veterans committee. The only argument for him is longevity. He spent a lot of his career as the #2 threat at WR on his own team. You don't hear anyone talking about Gary Clark for the Hall. Clark was in the top 10 in the NFL in catches 4 different seasons , yards 5 different seasons , and TDs 5 as well. Monk was in the top 10 in catches 3 times, yds 3 times and TDs once in his career. Monk never gets the votes of the writers who covered those great NFC East match-ups of the 80s and early 90s and the reason you hear from them is the other teams in the division did not consider him to be more of a complimentary player on the Redskins offense compared to Clark and the running game.

One last word from me on Monk:

Player 1 - 940 rec 12,721 yds 13.5 avg 68 TDs
Player 2 - 851 rec 12,785 yds 15.0 avg 84 TDs

Player 2 looks like an equal or possibly even more productive player.
Player 1 is Monk who is every year talked as a HOF snub.
Player 2 is Irving Fryar whose career is considered by most to be a disappointment.

 

[Sean Pa Patriot]

Andre Tippet is a hall of famer, and this was a travesty...Mike Irvin is not a hall of famer.. Thurman Thomas is ok, but what did he do in the clutch??? Forget his helmet, ask out of games , was good in super bowl 25 but that was it.. Irivin should not even got past monk, but he did, because well its all politics... I guess Chris Berman will be in his glory, with Irvin and Thomas both at the hall.. Irvin will need a bigger tie , for his big head now..

 

[Ghost of Ben Dreith]

I don't want to hear any more bs about character being a factor with the election of Irvin. If a convicted felon and racist beats out Art Monk and Andre Tippett, character does not matter. I guess that the next big one will be Lewis so that a murderer can keep Irvin company.

OJ already beat Lewis to the HOF.

Irvin is an arseclown but he was a great receiver on a great team. He had a lot of help in advocacy from his fellow Cowboy HOF'ers.

Congrats to Tippett for getting the final 10 and lets hope he goes in next year during a Patriot SB weekend!

 

[denverpatsfan]

The HOF is a fraud. Players get in that shouldn't just because they were on a winning team. It is a heck of alot tougher to recognize a great player who toiled on losing teams for much of his career.

Tippet also could have played several more years and "padded" his stats that the voters like so much, but he chose to go out on top of his game.

I have no repsect for the football HOF.