I am 30 years old...so my Golden Age of football was 1982-1992. For a Redskins fan...the means Joe Gibbs, Darrell Green, Riggo, Charles Mann and Art Monk were my idols. Joe Gibbs is in the Hall of Fame. So is John Riggins. Darrell Green will eventually be there. Mann won't....but Monk should. Art Monk is a finalist [again] for the Hall of Fame. The fact that he isn't is a JOKE!
When Monk retired, he held the NFL record for receptions, consecutive games with a reception and single season receptions. Not bad. Since then, Jerry Rice has smashed his career records [with guys like Chris Carter, Andre Reed and Tim Brown also passing him] and the pass-crazy era of football was brought upon us. So, just as the 1980s baseball players have problems with their smaller numbers by comparison....so do many of the QBs and WRs of that same time periof of football.
The fact is....no one who finished his career before Art Monk could hold a candle to his career.
No one currently in the Hall of Fame has caught more passes than him.
He has the stats....he has the three Super Bowl rings [and was in a 4th]...and he is one of the classiest guys in the NFL. The fact that you don't hear much whining from him says so.
I always have referred to Monk as the "offensive lineman of receivers"....meaning he just did his job and never really drew attention to himself. He was a possession receiver...so he doesn't have the huge yards [though he is 9th] or TD numbers that critics crave. He wasn't that electric deep ball threat or the gazelle-like Jerry Rice....but if you needed that first down, an 8-yard slant to Monk would do it. And the fact that he was so good at that gave guys like Ricky Sanders and Gary Clark the ability to get those deep plays.
So, please......go to Elect Art Monk Petition and sign on the line to help show the "fame" of Art Monk.
Also, go to DC Sports Guy's newest blog, electartmonk.com, and read up on Monk.
2 comments:
Sportz,
I think Art Monk was indeed a great player. I know he had awesome numbers.
But what about Drew Pearson?
Drew Pearson was an undrafted free agent out of Tulsa who joined the Dallas Cowboys in 1973. Drew made an immediate impact with the Cowboys and became a starter in 1974 while catching a career high 62 passes for 1087 yards! Drew was known as Mr. Clutch for his big time catches during crucial moments of big games! When Roger Staubach needed a big play, he always found Drew Pearson down the field! Most folks remember the Hail Mary catch by Drew during the 1975 Cowboys playoff run but that play wouldn't have been possible if not for a big catch Drew made earlier in the drive on 4th and 17! From Bob Hayes to Michael Irvin and Golden Richards to Tony Hill, no Cowboy Wide Receiver made more big catches than Drew Pearson, Mr. Clutch! Drew was NFL 1st team all decade for the 1970's and although his statistics may not be as impressive as some other receivers of his time, most fans know what Drew meant to the Cowboys and thier success during the 1970s and early 80s. I don't hear his name mentioned much for the NFL hall of fame and thats a shame.
I think Drew Pearson has also been hurt by the receiving explosion of the 1990s. Those absurd numbers of that era have completely skewed the numbers of the guys who went before them. Larry Centers, a fullback that was primarily with the Cardinals, is currently NINTH in all-time receptions. That's what I am talking about "skewed"!
As I said a long time ago, when Monk broke the NFL record for receptions in a season....he broke it by 13 catches!!! Amazing. Pearson's stats of 489 catches for 7822 yards and 48 TDs is nothing compared to guys over the last 20 years...but should be recognized for the era it was in.
-Sportz
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