Football Hall of Fame Committee Nominates the Wrong Steve Smith
How did Steve Smith become a Hall of Fame nominee?
Read more: https://t.co/TMe5SgW5Y4#sports #football pic.twitter.com/6TydgoZ2Sg— Sandra Sturgeon (@mixadj3a) September 13, 2017
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When the Pro Football Hall of Fame nominations came out last night, along with the expected first-time nominees like Randy Moss, Ray Lewis, Brian Uhrlacher and Matt Birk, was wide receiver Steve Smith. Funny thing about that though, is that the Steve Smith who is probably a mortal lock for Canton thanks to his 16-year career featuring over 1,000 receptions, nearly 15,000 receiving yards and 81 touchdowns.
So really, the only surprise in Steve Smiths’s nomination is that Steve Smith retired this past year. Meaning the Hall committee didn’t put that Steve Smith on the ballot. They put some other Steve Smith on the ballot. Namely, this Steve Smith:
That Steve Smith. He of the 29 career starts and 12 TDs is not only on the ballot for football immortality, he’s joined the elite group who’ve been nominated in their first year of eligibility. And now, because of how the voting process works, whichever Giants beat writer (I’m assuming this Steve Smith would be going in as a Giant) is on the committee, will be asked to stand up and argue Steve Smith (2007-2012) to the other members. I imagine he’ll put an emphasis on that legendary, career-defining 2009 Pro Bowl season. Or maybe point out how those 8 catches in his rookie season were instrumental in the Giants’ march to the Super Bowl. I’d argue that his 2,600 yards would be an NFL record, if he had them in one season and not spread out over six.
Either way, I wish this Steve Smith luck. And if the world were a perfect place and fans got a vote, I’d be leading his campaign now. The way Stern’s people almost got Sanjaya to win American Idol and successfully got Hank the Angry, Drunken Dwarf voted People’s “Sexiest Man Alive.” But sadly, it’s out of our hands.
Still, way to go, nomination committee. It’s comforting to know immortality is in such good hands. You had one job.