Time for another classic Redskin to get the gold jacket

Skinsfan55 · Post by **Skinsfan55** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 12:28 pm

Fan campaigns have finally gotten Art Monk and Chris Hanburger recognized for their talents and enshrined into the National Football Hall of Fame. It's time to right another wrong and get one of the all-time great Redskins the gold jacket. Jerry Smith.

Smith was arguably the best tight end of his era. He's in the Redskins ring of fame and he was a two time pro bowl athlete. He was Sonny Jurgensen's most trusted receiver, and he ended his career with a then record 60 touchdowns as a tight end. He was a star performer in the George Allen era who helped take them to Super Bowl VII. Why was the record setting, pro-bowl caliber, star tight end never enshrined in Canton? Because he was gay.

This is a wrong much more egregious than the temporary snubs of Hanburger and Monk. Jerry Smith was a man who was an undoubted Hall of Famer before th allegations hit. Just today I paid to sponsor Jerry Smith's football-reference page (it will take a day or two for them to clear it) @ http://www.pro-football-reference.com/p ... itJe01.htm.

He was THE guy for the Redskins of the 60's and early 70's. The main red zone target for Sonny and Billy, the guy who was the first choice when you needed a first down or if you needed to score.

I'm not much of an organizer, I'm not even sure who to contact to try to help support Smith's cause for enshrinement. However I do know that things start from the ground up. Tell people, read about Smith, make sure Redskins fans everywhere are aware of his greatness and the contributions he made. Fans helped Monk, Hanburger, and Grimm to be elected into the Hall of Fame. We can do the same for Jerry Smith... and we should.

Skinsfan55 · Post by **Skinsfan55** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 12:30 pm

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1544 ... erry-smith

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 12:36 pm

From my HogBlog of July 12:

Michael Irvin has taken a stand in favor of gay rights (ESPN: Michael Irvin Champions Equality). This is certainly a courageous statement on his part. A stand that is likely to be unpopular among many in football, especially among the fanbase in the Dallas area, and those who look for any reason to pile it on.

If he really believes what he is saying, I have a good place for him to start.

Read the rest here

Skinsfan55 · Post by **Skinsfan55** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 12:49 pm

http://washingtonexaminer.com/sports/nf ... -whos-next

Couldn't believe this writer did a story about Redskins deserving Hall of Fame membership and didn't mention Smith so I wrote him a letter:

-----

Mr. Loverro,

I read your article today on who should be the next Redskins enshrined in Canton. While to made some excellent arguments for some of the best players to ever wear the burgundy and gold I feel there was one particularly egregious omission: Jerry Smith.

As a TE for the Redskins from 1965-1977 smith was one of the most dangerous receivers of his era. He was the go-to guy for Sonny and Billy, he was the first choice in the red-zone and when you badly needed a first down, he retired with the most TD receptions ever by a tight end and only six shy of Mike Ditka's record for total receptions. In an era where the Redskins featured Larry Brown, Sonny Jurgensen, Bobby Mitchell and Charley Taylor, Smith was the dependable possession guy who could dominate defenses and create those opportunities for his teammates. There was no question upon his retirement that he had punched his ticket to the Hall of Fame.

Many believe he has been repeatedly denied the call because he was gay.

Of all the great players you mentioned in your article none has as convincing a case for, nor as insidious a reason denying their status as a Hall of Famer.

I would have expected that in an article naming possible Redskins for the Hall of Fame the list begins and ends with Jerry Smith, the key cog in one of the most dynamic offenses in NFL history. I don't expect you to carry a torch for Jerry Smith, but I was shocked that a Redskins writer wouldn't take this story as an opportunity to at least educate fans young and old about one of the worst Hall of Fame snubs of all time.

-skinsfan55

KazooSkinsFan · Post by **KazooSkinsFan** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 1:04 pm

I agree with the article that my #1 choice for next Redskin would be Joe Jacoby

InsaneBoost · Post by **InsaneBoost** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 2:17 pm

He was gay wasn't he? That's probably the reason why he'll never make it, or at least that's why I BELIEVE he won't. Such a shame it seems to be that one thing is the reason he doesn't get in.

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 2:47 pm

Skinsfan55 wrote:http://washingtonexaminer.com/sports/nfl/2011/08/thom-loverro-hanburgers-so-whos-next

Couldn't believe this writer did a story about Redskins deserving Hall of Fame membership and didn't mention Smith so I wrote him a letter:

-----

Mr. Loverro,

I read your article today on who should be the next Redskins enshrined in Canton. While to made some excellent arguments for some of the best players to ever wear the burgundy and gold I feel there was one particularly egregious omission: Jerry Smith.

As a TE for the Redskins from 1965-1977 smith was one of the most dangerous receivers of his era. He was the go-to guy for Sonny and Billy, he was the first choice in the red-zone and when you badly needed a first down, he retired with the most TD receptions ever by a tight end and only six shy of Mike Ditka's record for total receptions. In an era where the Redskins featured Larry Brown, Sonny Jurgensen, Bobby Mitchell and Charley Taylor, Smith was the dependable possession guy who could dominate defenses and create those opportunities for his teammates. There was no question upon his retirement that he had punched his ticket to the Hall of Fame.

Many believe he has been repeatedly denied the call because he was gay.

Of all the great players you mentioned in your article none has as convincing a case for, nor as insidious a reason denying their status as a Hall of Famer.

I would have expected that in an article naming possible Redskins for the Hall of Fame the list begins and ends with Jerry Smith, the key cog in one of the most dynamic offenses in NFL history. I don't expect you to carry a torch for Jerry Smith, but I was shocked that a Redskins writer wouldn't take this story as an opportunity to at least educate fans young and old about one of the worst Hall of Fame snubs of all time.

-skinsfan55

Thanks for sharing your letter to Loverro. It was well written and right on. Jerry Smith should have been on Loverro's list.

Thom Loverro:

It's a simple formula -- if you are one of the best of your time at the position you played, then there should be a place for you in the Hall of Fame. There should be a place for Joe Jacoby.

Jerry Smith was one of the best of his time.

Red_One43 · Post by **Red_One43** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 2:56 pm

Here's an extensive research by a fan concerning is who are the best TEs of all-time. He comes up with his own formula using number of all pro selections and other all star voting to compile his ranking.

Jerry Smith isn't in the top ten but he made it on the overall list.

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=546

KazooSkinsFan · Post by **KazooSkinsFan** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 3:51 pm

InsaneBoost wrote:He was gay wasn't he? That's probably the reason why he'll never make it, or at least that's why I BELIEVE he won't. Such a shame it seems to be that one thing is the reason he doesn't get in.

What you say could be true in that the people who remember him were old school. OK, they're old farts. And they are more inclined to be bothered by it. I'm in my 40s and I don't care, but I also barely remember him so younger people who don't care don't really know of him. So in that way it could even though it wouldn't directly make much difference anymore.

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 5:24 pm

KazooSkinsFan wrote:
InsaneBoost wrote:He was gay wasn't he? That's probably the reason why he'll never make it, or at least that's why I BELIEVE he won't. Such a shame it seems to be that one thing is the reason he doesn't get in.

What you say could be true in that the people who remember him were old school. OK, they're old farts. And they are more inclined to be bothered by it. I'm in my 40s and I don't care, but I also barely remember him so younger people who don't care don't really know of him. So in that way it could even though it wouldn't directly make much difference anymore.

The voters are arrogant, and ignorant... and, being football "fans", probably a bit homophobic. It will take a stand from someone like Michael Irvin to get consideration for Smith... who was clearly the model for the modern pass catching tight end.

TCIYM · Post by **TCIYM** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 5:55 pm

If you're serious about making a case for Jerry Smith (or anyone else):

Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee
Arizona Kent Somers, Arizona Republic
Atlanta Len Pasquarelli, The Sports Xchange
Baltimore Scott Garceau, WMAR-TV
Buffalo Mark Gaughan, Buffalo News
Carolina Darin Gantt, Rock Hill Herald
Chicago Dan Pompei, Chicago Tribune*
Cincinnati Joe Reedy, Cincinnati Enquirer
Cleveland Tony Grossi, Cleveland Plain Dealer
Dallas Rick Gosselin, Dallas Morning News*
Denver Jeff Legwold, Denver Post
Detroit Tom Kowalski, Booth Newspapers
Green Bay Cliff Christl, Green Bay Press-Gazette
Houston John McClain, Houston Chronicle*
Indianapolis Mike Chappell, Indianapolis Star
Jacksonville Sam Kouvaris, WJXT-TV
Kansas City Bob Gretz, KCFootballReport.com
Miami Edwin Pope, Miami Herald
Minnesota Sid Hartman, The Minneapolis Star-Tribune
New England Ron Borges, Boston Herald*
New Orleans Pete Finney, Times-Picayune
New York (Giants) Bob Glauber, Newsday
New York (Jets) Gary Myers, New York Daily News
Oakland Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange
Philadelphia Paul Domowitch, Philadelphia Daily News
Pittsburgh Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
St. Louis Bernie Miklasz, St. Louis Post-Dispatch*
San Diego Nick Canepa, San Diego Union Tribune
San Francisco Nancy Gay, FoxSports.com
Seattle Mike Sando, ESPN.com
Tampa Bay Ira Kaufman, Tampa Tribune
Tennessee David Climer, The Tennessean
Washington David Elfin, AOL Fanhouse
PFWA Darryl Ledbetter, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
At Large Howard Balzer, The Sports Xchange
At Large Jarrett Bell, USA Today
At Large John Clayton, ESPN/ESPN Magazine
At Large John Czarnecki, FOXSports.com*
At Large Dave Goldberg, AOL Sports/Fanhouse*
At Large Peter King, Sports Illustrated
At Large Ira Miller, The Sports Xchange*
At Large Len Shapiro, Miami Herald*
At Large Vito Stellino, Florida Times Union
At Large Jim Trotter, Sports Illustrated
At Large Charean Williams, Ft. Worth Star Telegram

* Also serves on the Senior Selection Committee.

yupchagee · Post by **yupchagee** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 7:06 pm

InsaneBoost wrote:He was gay wasn't he? That's probably the reason why he'll never make it, or at least that's why I BELIEVE he won't. Such a shame it seems to be that one thing is the reason he doesn't get in.

I wonder if gay rights groups would lobby for his inclusion.

SKINS#1 · Post by **SKINS#1** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 9:13 pm

I am 1 of the "old farts" and I remember that everyone in the stadium knew the next play would be Sonny to Smith and the D still could not stop the play. Yes, he belongs in the HOF.

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Sun Aug 07, 2011 10:12 pm

SKINS#1 wrote:I am 1 of the "old farts" and I remember that everyone in the stadium knew the next play would be Sonny to Smith and the D still could not stop the play. Yes, he belongs in the HOF.

+1

Mississippi Hog · Post by **Mississippi Hog** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 11:19 am

Never heard of him before, so I don't really have an opinion. Would like to see Lachey, Jacoby, Mosely, Charles Mann, and maybe a few others get in there as well.

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 3:07 pm

The thread is about 87. Not Big Joe Jacoby... Not Gary Clark... Not Dexter. I can add several names in addition to Smith that a bunch of y'all would go "aineverheerdohim" too. All are worthy... but this is not about them.