Spotlight On Monk's Candidacy

MIAMI, Jan. 31 -- It has become a trying annual ritual for those who support the candidacy of former Washington Redskins wide receiver Art Monk for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Their hopes build as the vote taken on the Saturday before the Super Bowl nears, and then they're bitterly disappointed when the results are announced.

It is that time of the year again and Monk, in his seventh year of Hall of Fame eligibility, once more is a candidate for enshrinement in Canton, Ohio. Once again, hopes have been raised as Monk's supporters eye a less-than-overwhelming field of candidates. But they say that shouldn't even matter because Monk, in their estimation, should have been selected long ago.

"I think Art Monk was a Hall of Fame player," former Redskins general manager Charley Casserly said. "He's a Hall of Fame person. He had a class about him as a player that reminded me of what people said about Joe DiMaggio. I always said he was the Joe DiMaggio of the Redskins. He had such a grace about his movements that he made it look easy. His statistics speak for themselves. He retired as the leading receiver in the game. He caught 100 balls in a season when no one was doing that."

Those who have opposed Monk's candidacy have pointed to the fact that he had few signature moments, that it was Gary Clark and not Monk who made some of the biggest catches for those Redskins teams. But Monk's supporters point to his quiet dignity, workmanlike approach and ceaseless production. He had a then-record 106 catches for the Redskins in 1984 and was the leading receiver in league history when he ended his NFL career in '95.

Monk, who did not return calls seeking comment, and former Redskins teammate Russ Grimm are among 17 finalists who will be considered by the media members who serve as the Hall of Fame selectors during a meeting scheduled to begin Saturday morning at the Miami Beach Convention Center. They are to elect three to six inductees.

Grimm, a guard on the team's "Hogs" offensive lines, is in his 11th season of eligibility. Being selected to the Hall of Fame would be a glitzy consolation prize for Grimm just after he was passed over for the Pittsburgh Steelers' head coaching job in favor of Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Mike Tomlin. Grimm left the Steelers' coaching staff and took a job as the offensive line coach of the Arizona Cardinals.

Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin also are among the 15 modern era nominees who will be considered by the electors. The others are Fred Dean, Richard Dent, Ray Guy, Bob Kuechenberg, Bruce Matthews, Andre Reed, Derrick Thomas, Thurman Thomas, Andre Tippett, Roger Wehrli and Gary Zimmerman.

The selectors also will consider seniors committee nominees Gene Hickerson and Charlie Sanders.