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Pro Football Hall of Fame: 7 biggest snubs from 2018 class

By Patrick Schmidt

25 Oct 1998: Tony Boselli #71 of the Jacksonville Jaguars pushes Maa Tanuvasa #98 of the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Jaguars 37- 24. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport
25 Oct 1998: Tony Boselli #71 of the Jacksonville Jaguars pushes Maa Tanuvasa #98 of the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium in Denver, Colorado. The Broncos defeated the Jaguars 37- 24. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Dunn /Allsport /
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The 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class is as loaded as they come but there were still some worthy candidates who were snubbed because of a numbers game.

There were double-digit Hall of Fame finalists this year but only five can get in per the Pro Football Hall of Fame rules. The Hall of Fame has always been more exclusive than the other four pro sports and that’s all well and good, but this year, it resulted in a number of Hall of Fame-worthy players having to wait at least another year for their shot to get in the most exclusive fraternity in football.

The 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame class includes Ray Lewis, Randy Moss, Brian Urlacher, Brian Dawkins, Terrell Owens and Jerry Kramer, Bobby Beathard and Robert Brazile who were elected via the senior committee.

A pretty loaded group, right? All are worthy and deserving and I’m so happy to see the senior candidates, especially Kramer get in. Having said that, just think how loaded it would be if there wasn’t a restriction that limits the enshrinees to a handful.

As a former offensive lineman myself, I was a bit disappointed that there weren’t any linemen selected this year, excluding the senior committee, and that’s where the Hall of Fame snubs begin.

Tony Boselli, tackle – The greatest Jaguar of all time didn’t have the longest career but when he was healthy, he was the standard at left tackle in one of the best periods in modern NFL history at the position. In an era when Jonathan Ogden, Walter Jones and Orlando Pace were on their way to Canton, it was Boselli who was a five-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro who played in two AFC Championship Games for the team that took him No. 2 out of USC when they were beginning play as an expansion team. With Terrel Davis making the Hall after injuries derailed his career, I think it’s only a matter of time until Boselli’s six remarkable years are rewarded with a call to the Hall.

Steve Hutchinson and Alan Faneca, guard– Arguably two of the best guards of their era. It’s not a glamorous position and doesn’t come with a ton of notoriety or press, but these guys were instrumental in their team’s successes. It could be a waiting game for both, but I like both to eventually get in.

John Lynch, safety – Lost his spot this year to Brian Dawkins, but Lynch should find his way in, but may have to wait until Ed Reed, eligible for the first time next year, gets in. A fierce-hitter in Tony Dungy’s Tampa-2 scheme on the Buccaneers with Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks, he helped revolutionize the position as the Cover 2 defense spread across the league. I think Lynch will be in by 2020.

Isaac Bruce, wide receiver – Receivers have to wait their turn, and much more in this era where the position has seen numbers explode with the advances in the passing game. Bruce has the stats, a Super Bowl, and one of the greatest Super Bowl catches of all time, but he had to wait as Marvin Harrison, Andre Reed, Terrell Owens and Randy Moss got the call before him. He should get in and shouldn’t have to wait as long as Reed who had to wait nearly a decade before he got in.

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Ty Law, cornerback – One of the best shutdown cornerbacks of his generation who even had a rule named in his honor because of his physical nature of play on the perimeter. I thought he was going to get in last year, but Jason Taylor may have taken his spot. Nevertheless, one of the members of the early Patriots dynasty days should get in next year or the year after.

Edgerrin James, running back – Edge was one of the most underappreciated players of his generation and on his own team during his peak. The former Colts back was one of the best all-around backs who could beat teams as a runner and a receiver. He was overshadowed by Peyton Manning and his receivers, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne and maybe even tight end Dallas Clark. He was a workhorse and a player of a bygone era. If he played in this era, he would be a perennial top-three pick in fantasy leagues because of his durability and dual-threat ability.

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