NFL Preseason Week 2 – The Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame Seniors Committee has nominated former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Chuck Howley, former New York Jets defensive deal with Joe Klecko and former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Ken Riley for enshrinement within the 2023 PFHoF class.
All three nominees have to be voted upon by the final choice committee after they meet someday after the NFL playoffs, however that vote has been thought of a formality for a few years.
Howley was the MVP of Tremendous Bowl V. He was a five-time All-Professional choice from 1966 by 1970. It’s price mentioning that the NFL and AFL had separate All-Professional groups for many of that span, making an All-Professional choice roughly equal to a Professional Bowl choice.
Joe Klecko was the center of the New York Sack Change protection which additionally included Mark Gastineau, Marty Lyons and Abdul Salaam. He’s unofficially credited with 20.5 sacks in 1981, when he completed second to Lawrence Taylor within the Defensive Participant of the Yr voting. Sacks turned an official statistic in 1982, thanks partially to the recognition of the Sack Change.
Riley ranks fifth on the all-time NFL checklist with 65 profession interceptions. He began at cornerback for the Bengals playoff groups of the mid-70s and the 1981 AFC championship group. He solely earned All-Professional discover as soon as, partially as a result of his peak overlapped with the peaks of Corridor of Famers like Mel Blount and Michael Haynes.
Mike Tanier’s Take: I’m not one to quibble an excessive amount of with Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame votes, significantly relating to the Seniors committee, who’re dipping a tiny ladle into an enormous stewpot of missed greats.
However …
Riley looks like the odd alternative of this group. Lemar Parrish earned extra Professional Bowl discover than Riley after they had been teammates within the mid-70s, then went on to some glorious years in Washington. I get the sense that Riley obtained extra help due to his standing as an “All-Time Bengals nice,” whereas Parrish’s profession was cut up, and he simply missed the Washington Tremendous Bowl period.
Denver Broncos cornerback Louis Wright additionally earned extra Professional Bowl nods than Riley after they had been contemporaries, in addition to a spot on the All-70s group. Broncos observers are predictably upset that Randy Gradishar was missed, however Gradishar simply doesn’t have the help of his friends and previous coaches that followers suppose he has. Wright has a stronger case, I feel, than both Riley or Gradishar.
As all the time, I might fairly see Howley, Klecko, Riley, Parrish, Gradishar and Wright all get in than advocate for anybody to be disregarded.
