Why isn’t Randy Gradishar in the HOF?

[pgconboy]

For whatever reason it has largely been politics and voter preferences. Ron Wolf in particular was a name that caused issues. Originally it was his 10 years being on the short end. Wolf tanked him by saying Tom Jackson was better.

As for his tackles, gamebooks are are a much better resource than coach totals (where he had the absurd 2,049). In gamebooks he averaged right around what era HOF'rs Lambert and Harry Carson did ~9 per game.

He finished 4th-6th in last years voting (1-3 were inducted Klecko/Riley/Howley) so it stands to reason he's got a pretty good chance this year.

[mortimer brewster]

An even bigger omission is Jim Marshall. Why isn't this man in the Hall of Fame? Playing 289 consecutive games in the NFL as a starting Defensive end between 1961 and 1979?
Highly decorated. Sure, he played on 4 losing Super Bowl teams, which means he was the victor in 4 NFL\NFC Championship games. How good would Carl Eller and Alan Page be without this man?

The NFL has inducted over 120 players the past 10 years into their bloated Hall of Fame. They have turned the induction notification into a media circus, insuring 6 or 7 inductees every year.

Hopefully deserving old timers like Gradishar and Marshall will eventually get in.