Chuck Howley deserves and should have already been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I do not believe his legitimacy is questionable in any way. However, Howley should not be used as a hedge against Drew Pearson possibly getting into the Hall before 'someone more deserving'.
The Hall's Selection Committee is the exact same group of individuals who proclaim a player as the best of a decade and the best of a career. The all-decade teams are the committee's stamp of approval for the league's best at their respective positions during a ten-year period.
Certain committee members (some people also) have quibbled over Pearson's career numbers. His numbers are comparable to Lynn Swann, so that nonsense has always been <expletive>. The usual nonsense is further compounded by the rational that 'great players elevate their game in the playoffs'. Well, football is not golf. It is a team game and any player's individual great moments are a combined opportunity produced by their own skill and their teammates' effort. Swann had a few additional opportunities to shine than Pearson but Pearson's career was not devoid of shining moments either.
Swann was enshrined in 2001. How old was he at the time? How long has Swann soaked in his enshrinement glory? How much time has the Selection Committee robbed from Pearson of the same glory?
Life is never a certainty. There are always hazards in even seemingly perfect lives. Heck. Perfectly healthy young people climb behind the wheel of their vehicles every day, just like every other day of their life, and never drive back home. That is life.
Bob Hayes D-I-E-D seven years short of the deserved recognition the Selection Committee finally allowed him to not enjoy while he was breathing. Pearson is in consideration as a Senior Committee nominee. He has an excellent opportunity to get in but it is not a certainty. His name is in a pool that will be reduced in number towards a smaller group of finalists over several consideration sessions. Then the finalists, including senior nominees, are decreased to actual inductees via 80% approval of the Senior Committee.
There is not any reason I can think of that will prevent Pearson from hearing his name POSSIBLY called this February. Then again, it ain't February yet. People can 'whine' about Pearson's exclusion if-and-until then because nothing has changed yet. Even more importantly, Pearson is not wearing and enjoying his gold jacket. Personally, I will exhale only after seeing Pearson with that huge smile of his. A smile knowing what has always been rightfully his finally became true.
Those making 'someone more deserving' counters against Pearson should consider one other name in particular. Harvey Martin. I slighted Martin earlier when I stated Pearson was the only player from the 1970 All-Decade Team not in the Hall but he was an offensive omission from that distinguished squad. Martin has been in the same boat as Pearson but on the defensive side of the ball, named the best of a decade but barred from the Hall by the same group making the distinction.
Martin died later the same year Swann gave his enshrinement speech in Canton. Hopefully, Martin's Cowboys and NFL 1970s All-Decade teammate will enjoy what he could not in life two decades after his death.
/rant
Good for him. I hope he considers Roger as his presenter and I hope Roger agrees to it.
