Ray Guy Named 2014 Finalist...

On August 21st, 2013, Ray Guy (along with Claude Humphrey) was nominated by the Senior Selection Committee for the Professional Football Hall of Fame.

Could this be it? Could this finally be the year Guy goes into the Hall?

Maybe.

There is still the mandatory 80% approval by the entire committee come February, but there is plenty of reason to be optimistic:

The Hall's track record of voting in the Senior Committee's choices are extremely high, and the cause for Ray Guy has picked up significantly in the last few years. NFL fans, former players, current players as well as coaches have all thrown in their two cents on the matter. It was simple.

Put him in.

The argument that Guy is NOT a hall of famer usually goes one of two ways:

1) He was a punter
2) Statistics were not good enough

Juvenile?

To say the least.

For one, saying that one does not belong in the Hall of Fame due to his position is truly ridiculous. The fact that you would consider eliminating someone due to their position and fail to recognize their respective achievements in the league is egregious.

Any position on the field should be recognized. Especially when it is done with excellence.

As for the latter point, they have already contradicted themselves. Let's take Jan Stenerud for example:

As some of us know, Jan revolutionized how we saw the kicking game with his unique soccer-style approach. Although he was not the first one to introduce it, you could argue he was the first to do so with most efficiency. People began to see the advantages to such a style, and it is now practiced among 100% of today's place kickers.

Some of Stenerud's NFL career statistics and notables are as follows:

- 66.8 Field Goal Percentage

- 1,699 Points Scored

- 4X Pro Bowl Selection

- Super Bowl Champion.

Let's first examine the field goal percentage. By today's standards, 66.8% is poor. There are countless kickers whom most would not even begin to think of including in the Hall of Fame discussion with that number alone.

1,699 points scored? There are 11 placekickers in front of him.

4X Pro Bowl selection? I guess Guy's 7 Pro Bowl's are not enough.

As for Super Bowl's, Guy has won two more than Jan.

Now what is the point of me saying all of this? Is it to argue that Jan Stenerud is not a Hall of Fame kicker?

Not at all.

He was a revolutionary, and played the game at the highest level from the time he was playing, until he retired. Times change, players get bigger and records were once seen as untouchable fall.

Sound familiar?

Ray Guy may not have a greater average as some of today's punters, but the statistics do not tell the full story. The statistics do not tell of the man who revolutionized the position. The statistics do not tell of the man who put 'hang time' into the modern-day football lexicon. The statistics do not tell of the comfort level the Raiders had in Guy that they felt so comfortable in letting their quarterback throw it out of bounds if nothing is there.

The difference is that he was the revolutionary of the punting position.

Just like Stenerud.

This is the year. I truly feel it is. The train has gained speed, and it's not slowing down. The committee is set to meet the day before the Super Bowl and they will conduct a vote.

This is a no-brainer.

Put him in.

Selection Committee Passes Over Guy......Again....

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of times that the Hall of Fame Selection Committee can pass over Ray Guy. It was announced this morning that he was not one of the finalists for the top 15. I look forward to continuing a push for Guy in 2012 and I will not stop making a case for him until his bust is in Canton.

Having said this, I would like to congratulate the 15 finalists that made it. The finalists are:

Jerome Bettis– Running Back – 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers

Tim Brown – Wide Receiver/Kick Returner – 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Cris Carter – Wide Receiver – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins

Dermontti Dawson– Center – 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers

Richard Dent – Defensive End – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles

Chris Doleman– Defensive End/Linebacker – 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers

Marshall Faulk – Running Back – 1994-98 Indianapolis Colts, 1999-2005 St. Louis Rams

Charles Haley – Defensive End/Linebacker – 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys

*Chris Hanburger– Linebacker – 1965-1978 Washington Redskins

Cortez Kennedy– Defensive Tackle – 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks

Curtis Martin – Running Back – 1995-97 New England Patriots, 1998-2005 New York Jets

Andre Reed – Wide Receiver – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins

*Les Richter – Linebacker – 1954-1962 Los Angeles Rams

Willie Roaf– Tackle – 1993-2001 New Orleans Saints, 2002-05 Kansas City Chiefs

Ed Sabol– Founder/President/Chairman – 1964-1995 NFL Films

Deion Sanders – Cornerback/Kick Returner/Punt Returner – 1989-1993 Atlanta Falcons, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-99 Dallas Cowboys, 2000 Washington Redskins, 2004-05 Baltimore Ravens

Shannon Sharpe – Tight End – 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens

Hall of Fame Cuts...

I have received word that the NFL Hall of Fame Selection Committee will announce the next set of cuts tomorrow on Sunday (January 9th). If Ray Guy makes it to the final 15, then he will only have to survive one last cut. The NFL Network will have a one-hour special revealing the newest enshrinees on February 5th, at 7 P.M (ET). I remain optimistic to Guy and his chances!

Ray Guy for Hall of Fame 2011!

Thank You Tom Lorenzo...

I would like to thank Tom Lorenzo and the attention he gave my petition in his latest article about Franco Harris and his belief that Ray Guy deserves serious consideration for the Hall of Fame.

Here is the link to this fantastic article: http://nfl.fanhouse.com/2010/12/08/franco-harris-believes-ray-guy-deserves-hall-of-fame-considerati/

Thank you Franco for being a supporter!!

Guy Among 2011 Semi-Finalists...

Ray Guy has once again made the list of 26 semi-finalists for the 2011 Hall of Fame class. I plan on keeping contact with some of the selection committee members regarding Guy's induction and I also plan on continuing this campaign to help raise awareness to Guy and his accomplishments in his 14-year NFL career.

The Hall will reduce the 26 semi-finalists to 15 some time in January (the Hall has yet to confirm the exact date of when they will do so).

Please support me in the push to make Ray Guy the first pure punter in the Hall!

The Fans Have Spoken...

Ray Guy is now ranked 2nd, only behind Jerry Rice in the Van Heusen sponsored "Voice Your Choice" campaign! Thanks to all that have voted!! Being in second place behind Rice is impressive enough, gaining ground on him (even possibly overtaking first) is even more incredible! Please continue to vote for guy, sign the petition, join the "Ray Guy for Hall of Fame" Facebook group, and be sure to encourage others to do so as well. Let's make a strong push down the stretch for Guy and make this known to the Selection Committee as we near the 2010 Hall of Fame class.

Ray Guy Makes Top 25...

I am delighted to say that Ray Guy has survived the first of three eliminations! He is accompanied by 24 other NFL legends, and it will be a dogfight til the end. I will be looking forward to seeing who makes the second cut that will take place on January 7th, 2010 (this will be a jump from 25 to 15). However the list increases by two when you take into account the Senior Nominees of Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little. Be sure to keep the votes going on Voice Your Choice, send e-mails to the committee, write letters and let the Selection Committee know who we want enshrined come 2010!