Should Art Monk be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame?

Question

He at one point had the NFL records for receptions for a season and a career. I don't get why he isn't in the Hall of Fame. I'm a huge Redskins fan and I grew up watching Art Monk play.

Answer 1

As to the arguement of, If he hangs around long enough, he'll get some records. Hellooo?!?!?! Emmitt Smith mean anything to you? No one questions whether Emmitt will be a 1st ballot Pro Bowler, but too many people dont use the same analyzing when it comes to Art Monk.
This shouldn't be a questions because we should be already be referring to Art Monk as Hall of Famer, Art Monk.
It is sad that those writers, etc. that vote for the Pro Bowl continue to be set in their ways. Art Monk has more receptions then Hall of Famers John Stallword and Lynn Swann combined. It's not as if Monk didn't get to the Super Bowl either. He was on the Redskins for 4 of them, winning 2 (1 he was injured). While he never had more than 8 TD's in a year, he caught a pass in 183 straight games.

Here are some more stats concerning Art Monk:

Lifetime Statistics

Receiving Rec. Yards Avg. Long TD
1980 58 797 13.7 54 3
1981 56 894 16.0 79 6
1982 35 447 12.8 43 1
1983 47 746 15.9 43 5
1984 106 1,372 12.9 72 7
1985 91 1,226 13.5 53 2
1986 73 1,068 14.6 69 4
1987 38 483 12.7 58 6
1988 72 946 13.1 46 5
1989 86 1,186 13.8 60 8
1990 68 770 11.3 44 5
1991 71 1,049 14.8 64 8
1992 46 644 14.0 49 3
1993 41 398 9.7 29 2
1994 46 581 12.3 N/A 3
1995 6 114 19.0 N/A 0
Total 940 12,721 13.5 79 68

Seasons among the league's top 10

Receptions: 1984-1, 1985-2, 1988-9t, 1989-3t

Receiving yards: 1984-4, 1985-3, 1989-10

Receiving TDs: 1991-9t

Among the league's all-time top 50

Receptions: 5

Receiving yards: 9

Receiving TDs: 29t

Yards from scrimmage: 26

Consecutive games with at least one reception: 2(183)

All-Rookie: 1980

3-time Pro Bowler: 1984, 1985, 1986

2-time All-Pro: 1984, 1985

What is it about these stats that should not include him in the HOF? I don't have an answer.

Answer 2

Yes, he absolutely deserves to be in. The wide receivers of today benefit from overwhelmingly beneficial rules against defenders. Art Monk battled for balls back when corners could hang all over receivers without drawing a flag. Now, if a corner taps the shoulder of a WR, it's a penalty.

He's 5th all-time for receptions. He's 9th all-time for receiving yards. He owns a couple of Super Bowl rings. And, of course, the consecutive-games streak.

Both Art Monk AND Henry Ellard deserve to be in, despite not being superstars.

Answer 3

He should be in the Hall of Fame, but then again, like you, I am a Reskins fan. He also held the record for consecutive games with a reception as well. It's too bad people can't see that he was a great player.

Answer 4

Obviously. But there's politics in sports, too, and a lot of the people who vote on the Hall of Fame nominees are dummies.

Answer 5

Hell yea Big "ART" should be in the hall of fame. He was a big time player and very consistent. SHEN8724 ...............your an idiot!! If your logic were correct then Jerry Rice should not be in the hall of fame either.

Answer 6

No ! I was a Baltimore colt fan and no one mentions Benny Pulaski. No redskin should ever make it to the hall of fame.

Answer 7

Yes he should absolutely be in the Hall of Fame.

Oh and I hate the skins so no bias here.

Answer 8

YES! NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! It's been a long time coming, but you Better Beleive he will get in. ... If he don't, I'm sure us Redskin Fans will do somthing about this!!!

Answer 9

He is clearly on the bubble, but I don't think he should be in. If you hang around long enough, you will get the numbers. He caught at least one ball in about 1 million games in a row, but I don't think that gets him in.

Answer 10

Yeah he should be and I'm sure it is politics keeping him out orginally. I think now it is slowly getting to be so much time they are just forgetting how great he was.