Scott Garceau: Inside The Hall Of Fame Selection Room
On Super Bowl Saturday I spent 9 hours at the Phoenix Convention Center selecting the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015. The annual selection meeting was all business, no lunch break; a box lunch served and we ate as the debate continued among the 46 members of The Board of Selectors.
Here's the process that started at 7 A.M., 18 finalists were on the ballot with a maximum 8 spots available (1 Senior, 2 Contributors and 5 Modern-Era players or coaches). First up was Senior Finalist Mick Tinglehoff the former Vikings center never missed a game in 17 years, In fact he never missed a practice, preseason, regular season or playoff game. He was selected to 6 straight Pro Bowl's and played in 4 Super Bowls. A secret yes/no vote was taken with at least 8o percent yes needed for election.
This year, for the first time, a sub-committee nominated 2 Contributor Finalists. This group has been under represented with only 9 Contributors elected in the last 50 years. Ron Wolf is recognized as one of finest personnel men in pro football. He helped the Raiders record 17 winning seasons.
In Green Bay the GM rebuilt the ailing Packers in the early 90's trading for Brett Favre, signing free agent Reggie White and overseeing teams that went to back to back Super Bowl's. Bill Polian is a 6-time NFL Executive of the Year and built Super Bowl teams in Buffalo and Indianapolis. After discussing both contributors the 46 selectors voted with the same 80 percent needed for election. Senior and Contributor Finalists stand-alone meaning their election has no bearing on the 5 Modern-Era spots available.
The Selection Committee then reviewed the 15 Modern-Era Finalists. After a lengthy discussion of all 15 it becomes an elimination vote reducing the finalists from 15 to 10. Representatives of the accounting firm Deloitte & Touche collect our ballots leave the room and tabulate the votes. The five eliminated were Morten Andersen, Don Coryell, Terrell Davis, Jimmy Johnson and John Lynch.
After one last round of discussion, the final 10 finalists are then reduced to five. Removed at that point were Tony Dungy, Kevin Greene, Marvin Harrison, Orlando Pace and Kurt Warner. The five remaining finalists – Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Charles Haley, Junior Seau, and Will Shields were then voted on individually and all received the necessary 80 percent vote to earn their Gold Jacket and historic busts in Canton. I should add that the selectors vote on the final 5 but don't know the results until shortly before they're announced on NBC's Honors show later Saturday night.
There were more than 5 Hall of Famers on my ballot but I had no problem voting yes for the final 5 as well as Tinglehoff, Polian and Wolf. I felt Junior Seau was best in class and the one lock on the ballot. I felt the time was right for 5-time Super Bowl champ Charles Haley and wide receiver Tim Brown.
Maybe a mild upset with Will Shields over Orlando Pace, but how can you deny Shields who made 12 straight Pro Bowls, the All-Decade Team and never missed a game in his 14 year career. The fifth spot was my wildcard with at least 4 or 5 strong contenders. The Bus stopped here, and why not. Jerome Bettis had a Hall of Fame career, at the time of his retirement, his eight 1,000-plus yard seasons was tied for third-best in NFL history and his 13,662 rushing yards ranked 5th.
Those that didn't make it tell you how good the class of 2015 is, consider these resumes:
*Morten Anderson — NFL's all time leading scorer.
*Tony Dungy — Higher winning percentage than Belichick, Walsh and Gibbs.
*Kevin Greene — 160 sacks third all-time in the NFL.
*Marvin Harrison — Four 100 plus catch seasons with an NFL record 142 in '02. Third all-time in receptions.
*Orlando Pace — Protector of "The Greatest Show on Turf". Seven Pro Bowl's, five times All-Pro.
*Kurt Warner — Two-time MVP, lead 3 teams to Super Bowls and owns the three highest passing yardage games in Super Bowl history.
It took 106 Cardinals to elect the last Pope it took 46 of us to elect 8 members to the Hall of Fame Class of 2015. We aren't perfect and we're not saints but I'm proud to be part of this group.
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