10 Reasons Why Cris Carter Should Be In The Pro Football Hall Of Fame

This past week the newest Hall Of Fame class was announced and once again former Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter was excluded. In this week’s 10 Reasons Why, we explore why the Hall Of Fame committee got it wrong.

1. Stats Don’t Lie

Based on stats alone, Carter should have been in the Hall Of Fame long before now. He ended his 16-year career with 1,101 receptions (second all-time),  130 touchdown receptions (fourth all-time) and 13,899 receiving yards (eighth all-time). On those numbers alone he should be in.

2. The notion of inducting two Vikings in the same year is ridiculous

One of the reasons brought forward for Carter’s not being nominated is that Kris Doleman is getting in this year. I find this to be not only preposterous, but insulting. Since when have you ever seen NFL players truly be successful without the help of their teammates? If Carter deserved to be inducted, something as frivolous as this shouldn’t be a factor.

3. It’s only going to get tougher

As the years wear on, more and more players get added to the pool of nominees. Players like Carter sometimes get passed over because they will have further opportunities in the future. However, when a player is worthy of being inducted now, it can do them a disservice to make them wait when the players being added to the pool may prevent Carter from getting in later.

4. Doesn’t the Pro Bowl matter?

Carter was elected to the Pro Bowl eight times. Now obviously there is a certain amount of popularity in the Pro Bowl selection process, but when a player goes to the game eight times you know that he must have been doing something right.

5. His accolades go further than standard awards

Carter was elected to the NFL 1990s All-Decade team by those in the Hall Of Fame. Only four wide receivers made the cut — two in the first team and two in the second. Carter was elected to the first-team, along with Jerry Rice. By contrast, Michael Irvin was elected to the second string team and he is already in the Hall Of Fame, so doesn’t this suggest Carter should also be inducted?

6. His position isn’t in the Hall Of Fame as much as others

Currently there are 21 wide receivers in the Hall Of Fame. Of those, only four have been inducted since 2003 — James Lofton, Michael Irvin, Art Monk and Jerry Rice. These four are the only wide receivers who played in the past 35 years that have been inducted. Of the various positions, only tight end, place kicker and punter have fewer inductees. It’s fair to say that the Hall Of Fame voters haven’t shown much favor to wide receiver. One might almost say the voters are biased — although I would never suggest such a thing.

7. Times have changed

The phenomenon of the high octane passing offense that has come about in recent years make some of Carter’s numbers look less impressive. However, the change in offensive philosophy should in no way influence how good Carter was. When he retired, he was second in NFL history in both receptions and touchdowns and third in total yards and total touchdowns. If the Hall Of Fame committee doesn’t take this into account, then they are doing Carter a great injustice.

8. Reliability

One of the more underrated, but equally important parts of Carter’s career, is the fact that he played week after week and could be relied upon by his team. In 15 seasons — I exclude one from this due to the fact that he was held out in his rookie year — Carter missed a total of just four games. When you think of all the great players who have seen their careers crumble over the years due to injury, this is a quality that should be considered.

9. The man still holds records

Here are just some of the record marks that Carter holds to this day:

• Most receptions in a season (Vikings) – 122 (1994 and 1995)
• Most receptions in a career (Vikings) – 1004
• Most receiving yards in a career (Vikings) – 12,383 yards
• Most receiving touchdowns in a season (Vikings) – 17 (1995)
• Most receiving touchdowns in a career (Vikings) – 110
• Most seasons with 5 or more touchdowns (NFL) – 11 (1991-2001)
• Most consecutive games of 3 ore more receptions (NFL) – 58 (1993-1997)
• Most consecutive seasons with 120 or more receptions (NFL) – 2 (1994-1995)
• Most games of 12 or more receptions in a season (NFL) – 4 (1995)
• Most consecutive games of two or more touchdown receptions (NFL) – 4 (1995)

10. The Hall of Fame is supposed to be for the very best

When it comes right down to it, Chris Carter has proven himself to be one of the best the game has ever seen as has been shown here. Strangely, whether a player is one of the best isn’t actually how a player is chosen. A player is chosen for the Hall Of Fame primarily because Hall Of Fame voters want him in. This is the worst part of all about the process. The choice of who deserves to be in the Hall Of Fame should in no way be marred by prejudice or politics. It should be about who deserves to be there.

Cris Carter should be in the Hall Of Fame. If this group of voters cannot put him in then they aren’t qualified to choose who should be inducted.

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