Shannon Sharpe Makes Hall of Fame Finalist List: Why He Should Be Inducted

For the third straight year, Shannon Sharpe has made it to the finalist list for the NFL Hall of Fame.  If you take a look at his illustrious career, there is really no reason why he shouldn't be enshrined in the hallowed halls of Canton, Ohio.  To prove it, let's take a look back at his career.

At the time of his retirement, Shannon Sharpe was the all-time yardage leader among tight ends in NFL history, with 10,060.  He was recently surpassed by Tony Gonzalez.  He was the first tight-end in the history of the NFL to reach the 10,000-yard mark. 

In his 14-year career, Sharpe made the Pro Bowl eight different times.  He was voted an AP First team All-Pro four times, as well as a Second team All-Pro once.

Sharpe was part of three Super Bowl teams.  He helped Denver win back-to-back titles in Super Bowl XXXII and XXXIII and was part of the Baltimore Ravens when they won their title in Super Bowl XXXV.

His 62-career touchdown receptions was the most all-time by a tight end at the time of his retirement, which has also recently been past by Tony Gonzales.  The same can be said of his 815 career receptions.

It wasn't just the number of his catches but also the situations.  Shannon Sharpe became a favorite target of John Elway, who constantly found him when the team needed a clutch first down.  The most notable reception came in the 1997 AFC Championship Game in Pittsburgh. 

Denver had seized control of the game, only to see Pittsburgh storm back in the fourth quarter.  Clinging to a three-point lead, Denver faced a long third down in the late stages of the fourth quarter. Shannon Sharpe was the one who got open and converted that first down.  After that, the Broncos were able to run out the clock, and eventually went on to win their first Super Bowl in franchise history.

If these accomplishments and statistics, which are all in the Top Two of the tight end position of all time, aren't enough, the icing on the cake comes from this final accomplishment. 

Shannon Sharpe was named a member of the first team All-Decade team of the 1990s.  Other players on that roster include: John Elway, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Gary Zimmerman, Bruce Matthews, Randall McDaniel, Willie Roaf and Dermontti Dawson.  All but four of those players (Sharpe, Carter, Dawson, Roaf) are members of the Hall of Fame.  That is some pretty good company.

The numbers don't lie.  His career most definitely speaks for itself.  There can be absolutely no argument, Shannon Sharpe is deserving of and should be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.