The NFL plans to announce their inductees into the 2012 NFL Hall of Fame class on Feb. 4, and they have whittled it down to a list of 15 finalists. However, looking at that list, I see a number of players who are not in the NFL Hall of Fame that deserve to be there more than some of the names on the finalist list. Here are the Top 5 glaring omissions from the NFL Hall of Fame that did not make the 2012 finalists list.
1. Lee Roy Jordan, Dallas Cowboys
Lee Roy Jordan might be the greatest Dallas Cowboys' player to ever play the game. He joined the Cowboys in their third season of existence and helped them become a dominate team in the NFL, playing in five of the Cowboys' Super Bowl matchups. He finished his career with 32 interceptions, 18 fumble recoveries and three touchdowns. He also ranks second on Dallas' all-time tackles list with 1,236. How he is not in the NFL Hall of Fame is beyond me.
2. Jim Plunkett, Oakland Raiders
Jim Plunkett won two Super Bowl titles for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders over his career and he is the only eligible quarterback to win two Super Bowls that is not in the NFL Hall of Fame. After Plunkett joined the Raiders in 1978, his career skyrocketed. He won the MVP in Super Bowl XV by throwing for 261 yards and three touchdowns. He is also the second of only four men to win the Heisman Trophy and Super Bowl MVP. He then went on to beat the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XVIII.
3. Lester Hayes, Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders cornerback Lester Hayes finished his career with 39 interceptions and six fumble recoveries while also scoring four defensive touchdowns. He remains one of the best shutdown corners in NFL history and quarterbacks rarely threw his way, proving his dominance. The fact that he is not in the NFL Hall of Fame is actually quite a surprise.
4. Chuck Howley, Dallas Cowboys
How Chuck Howley never made it to the NFL Hall of Fame is a mystery to me. He finished his career as one of the greatest linebackers to ever play for the Dallas Cowboys, intercepted 25 passes, recovered 18 fumbles, recorded 26.5 sacks, was a five-time All-Pro while winning the MVP in Super Bowl V, the only time a player on a losing team won the MVP. Tom Landry said it best when he stated, "I don't know that I've seen anybody better at linebacker than Howley."
5. Ray Guy, Oakland Raiders
The reason Ray Gay may never get into the NFL Hall of Fame is because he is a punter. That is ridiculous because, last I checked, a punter was an official member of every NFL football team. Guy was a finalist seven times but never made the cut. That is tragic because Guy is the greatest punter to ever play in the NFL, a three time All-Pro who averaged 42.4 yards per punt over his career.
Author Shawn S. Lealos has been an NFL fan since he was a child, starting out his obsession by watching football on his grandfather's lap in the 1970's.
