More on Michael Irvin missing out on being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame (like yours truly) in his first year of eligibility. And why Cris Carter won’t be inducted in 3-years time either.

As I wrote on Saturday, Irvin's failure to qualify on the first try was not that unusual for a wide-receiver. If Irvin had actually received enough votes this year, he would have joined Raymond Berry and Steve Largent as the only receivers to get in on the first try. But Berry and Largent, unlike Irvin, retired with most of the career receiving records on their resume’. They also weren’t jerks….not that that has stopped anyone getting in before (see Lawrence Taylor).

Irvin might have thought that his blend of solid career numbers plus three Super Bowl rings would be enough to facilitate him to make it. If so, he failed to take into account another guy who could make the same argument. And this former player is still waiting. That player being former Washington Redskins great Art Monk. Let me explain.

Monk has more catches than Irvin.

Monk has more yards than Irvin.

Monk has more touchdowns than Irvin.

Monk also has three rings.

So while Irvin got his three rings as a member of the so-called triplets, with Troy Aikman throwing the passes and Emmitt Smith moving the chains, Monk earned his trio of trophies with Joe Theismann, Doug Williams, and Mark Rypien throwing the passes, and John Riggins, Timmy Smith, and Earnest Byner/Gerald Riggs moving the chains.

And as Irvin was left on the outside looking in on his first year of eligibility, Monk retired nearly a full decade ago.

Could it be that Monk's delay likely has been fueled by the fact that he kept a low profile, during his career and after it? Monk wasn't showy or flashy (or coked up or pimped up). Today, Monk isn't on the television screen wearing $5,000 suits, flashing a million-dollar smile, and using two-bit verbiage.

So Monk waits. And if Monk ends up waiting longer than Irvin, the irony will be that Monk's demise was his resolution to live his life in a manner that upholds the morals that any Hall of Famer is supposed to sanction.

What's the message that this sends to all the impressionable youngsters out there? Be loud and controversial. Sin big. Be remorseful only after the fact. Because while guys like Joe Buck always will rant about wideouts being “disgusting”, the sad reality might be that, if a receiver doesn't bring attention to himself, no one else is going to do it for him.

Cris Carter’s numbers are also amazing. Number two all-time with 1101 receptions. Number four all-time with 13,899 receiving yards. Number three all-time with 11-seaons of 50 or More Pass Receptions in a season. Carter once held the record for most pass receptions in a season with 122…and it did it twice (1994 and 1995)! He had 8-seasons of 1,000 or More Yards, Pass Receiving. And Carter is number two all-time with 130 career reception touchdowns.

Carter isn’t as flashy as Irvin. He isn’t as loud or controversial. But he didn’t even reach the Big Show and that, in the end, may prevent him from being a first-year eligible inductee. And that will be a shame.

It's Not Football.....

...but it's still fantasy! I've played the NASCAR Auto Racing fantasy game on Yahoo for a couple of years now. Always fun and always competitive. Now, this year you can compete with me.

In order to join the group, just go to the game front page and click on the "Sign Up" button to create a team. After completing registration, or if you already have a team, click the "Create or Join Group" button and follow the path to join my existing private group. Then, when prompted, enter the following information...

Group ID#: 24451
Password: purple

Good luck! And let's have some clean racing!

Links and Tidbits

Chad Pennington throwing deep to Randy Moss again?

If Red McCombs sells the Vikings, it's expected to take three months before the sale is official. Gateway computer founder Ted Waitt, who has been interested in acquiring the Vikings, reportedly plans to sell $97 million worth of Gateway stock. Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor's handful of primary limited partners in his attempt to buy the Vikings are expected to invest at least $50 million apiece.

The Vikings issue another round of exasperated denials of another national report regarding the future of receiver Randy Moss.

Super Bowl Ads Test Limits of Credulity.

From the Sidelines

From my 7-part series on how to be married and stay alive, I bring you a review of Key Female Words. Study these and you'll live to be 80:

1. "Fine"
This is the word women use at the end of any argument when they feel they are right but can't stand to hear you argue any longer. It means that you should shut up. (NEVER use "fine" to describe how she looks. This will cause you to have one of those arguments.)

2. "Five minutes"
This is half an hour. It is equivalent to the five minutes that your football game is going to last before you take out the trash, so women feel that it's an even trade.

3. "Nothing"
"Nothing" means something and you should be on your toes. "Nothing" is usually used to describe the feeling a woman has of wanting to turn you inside out, upside down, and backwards. "Nothing" usually signifies an argument that will last "Five Minutes" and end with the word "Fine."

4. "Go Ahead" (with raised eyebrows)
This is NOT permission; it's a dare! If you mistake it for permission, the result will be the woman will get upset over "Nothing" and you'll have a "five-minute" discussion that will end with the word "Fine."

5. "Go Ahead" (normal eyebrows)
This is NOT permission, either. It means "I give up" or "do what you want because I don't care." You will get a raised eyebrow "Go Ahead" in just a few minutes, followed by "Nothing" and "Fine" and she will talk to you in about "Five
Minutes" when she cools off.

6. "Loud Sigh"
This is not actually a word, but is still often a verbal statement. Very frequently misunderstood by men. A "Loud Sigh" means she thinks you are a complete idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you over "Nothing!."

7. "Soft Sigh"
Again, not a word, but a verbal statement. "Soft Sighs" are one of the few things that some men actually understand. It means she is momentarily content. Your best bet is to not move or breathe in the hope that the moment will last a bit longer.

8. "Oh"
This word -- followed by any statement -- is trouble. Example; "Oh, let me get that". Or, "Oh, I talked to him about what you were doing last night." If she says "Oh" before a statement, run, do not walk, to the nearest exit. She will tell you that she is "Fine" when she is done tossing your clothes out the window, but do not expect her to talk to you for at least two days. "Oh", as the lead to a sentence usually signifies that you are caught in a lie. Do not try to lie more to get out of it, or you will get a raised eyebrows "Go ahead," sometimes followed by acts so unspeakable that I can't bring myself to write about them.

9. "That's Okay"
This is one of the most dangerous statements that a woman can say to a man. "That's Okay" means that she wants to think long and hard before deciding what the penalty will be for whatever you have done. "That's Okay" is often used with the word "Fine" and in conjunction with a raised eyebrow "Go Ahead." Once she has had time to plan it out, you are in for some mighty big trouble.

10. "Please Do"
This is not a statement, it is an offer. The woman is giving you the chance to come up with an excuse for what you have done. In other words, a chance to get yourself into even more trouble. If you handle this correctly, you shouldn't get a "That's Okay."

11. "Thanks"
The woman is thanking you. Don't faint and don't look for hidden meaning. Just say "you're welcome."

12. "Thanks A Lot"
"Thanks A Lot" is dramatically different from "Thanks." A woman will say "Thanks A Lot" when she is really ticked off at you. It is usually followed by the "Loud Sigh." This signifies that you have hurt her in some callous way. Be careful not to ask what is wrong after the "Loud Sigh," as she will only tell you "Nothing."

Posted by maasx003 at February 6, 2005 08:19 AM | TrackBack