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Heinzerling: Broncos Robbed Again For Hall Of Fame

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Jan 31, 2009 8:31 pm US/Mountain

Heinzerling: Broncos Robbed Again For Hall Of Fame

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Reporting
Brett Heinzerling

DENVER (CBS4) ―

Click to enlarge 1 of 2: Shannon Sharpe No. 84 of the Denver Broncos catches a pass during the game against the Indianaplois Colts on December 21, 2003 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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We hear it all the time: "Tonight's program will air at 8-7 Central," or "Live in the Eastern and Pacific time zones." I get it. Colorado doesn't exist. We in the Centennial State got a little full of ourselves this election season when the esteemed candidates seemed to land at DIA weekly. But then came the Pro Football Hall Fame voting, and we again learned our place.

We have two Hall members to call our own. The first, John Elway, had to have a career that will forever be remembered as one of the best in the history of the game, and the other, Gary Zimmerman, started his great career in Minnesota ... that's the central time zone for those keeping track.

Shannon Sharpe revolutionized the tight end position in the NFL. Before the Mouth from the South, tight ends were blockers (essentially extra linemen) who were occasionally lucky enough to catch a pass here and there. Green Bay wide receiver Sterling Sharpe was the supposed to be the pass catcher in the family, but when he retired, Sterling's kid brother held every major record at his position ... receptions, yards, touchdowns, everything.

Imagine Jerry Rice, holder of all receiving records, not making the Hall on his first attempt. That thought is so ridiculous I almost feel like I should hit the delete key before my computer has a meltdown. Now, I'm not suggesting that Sharpe is on par with Jerry Rice, no one is, but for his specific position, Sharpe is Rice.

If he's so great, how could the voters not recognize him? Well, if not for an extremely strong class of eligible players, this probably would have been his year, but that shouldn't matter. The Hall can admit seven players -- six got in. I majored in journalism, not math, but to me, that adds up to Shannon Sharpe getting robbed of a spot in Canton.

He'll get in, I'm confident of that. But I leave you with a question. If Shannon Sharpe had been a career Cowboy, Giant or Steeler, would he be writing his induction speech right now? I thought so.

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