Pro Football Hall of Fame voters give Seau proper salute

PHOENIX — I understand both sides of the debate.

On one, those who select a myriad of Hall of Fame classes never played the sport by which they are deciding its immortal figures. This includes football.

It’s impossible to fathom those who write and talk on the best players to wear an NFL uniform have any real clue about the toughness and work ethic required to dominate at the game’s highest point. Not anyone who didn’t strap on a helmet at such a level.

We just don’t get it.

On the other hand, there is a saying that often rings true in these matters: Those reporters who cover the White House on a daily basis never have been president, but many do a pretty damn good job.

Whatever you believe about the process from which new members of the Professional Football Hall of Fame emerge at this time each year, rarely do those selected draw negative reactions.

It’s almost always a deserving group in its entirety, far more than a sport such as basketball, where I’m pretty sure the qualifications for some begin and end with the ability to tie one’s hightops and dribble with both hands.

Sometimes, just the dribbling part.

On the eve of Super Bowl XLIX between Seattle and New England at University of Phoenix Stadium, the latest Hall of Fame class was announced and, in a twist of irony, led by a player whose death has prompted a lawsuit by his family against the NFL.

Roger Goodell just can’t catch a break.

It has been that kind of year for the NFL commissioner.

Junior Seau was a 12-time Pro Bowler in his 20-year career as a linebacker for three teams, in which he posted 56½ sacks. He committed suicide in 2012, and in later filing its wrongful-death suit, his family alleged that the NFL ignored and concealed evidence of risks associated with traumatic brain injuries.

He was the only first-ballot enshrinee this year.

An easy pick.

It’s also true that his family’s lawsuit could pose a huge threat to the NFL unlike similar cases, given Seau’s popularity and medical records and now Hall of Fame status.

“Since 2012, concussions in regular-season games have dropped from 173 to 111, a decrease of more than one-third,” Goodell said Friday. “But there’s more to do on player health and safety. Carefully reviewing and approving our concussion protocols will be a focus of our medical committees this offseason.”

Seau was one of eight voted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday.

The other four modern-era enshrinees: guard Will Shields, another 12-time Pro Bowler; running back Jerome Bettis; wide receiver Tim Brown; and defensive end Charles Haley.

Mick Tingelhoff, a center for the Vikings, was a seniors committee nominee selected, and two others, former general manager Bill Polian and longtime executive Ron Wolf, found a Hall of Fame home in the contributors category.

But headlines today will begin with Seau, the energetic, emotional player who spent 13 of those 20 seasons with the Chargers. He also spent time with the Dolphins and then four years with New England and the quarterback (Tom Brady) and coach (Bill Belichick) who go for a fourth Super Bowl championship today.

“(Seau) was a phenomenal player, teammate, friend,” Brady said. “His attitude was infectious. He brought enthusiasm every day to practice. He showed up in the locker room and he’d be the first person there at 6 in the morning on the treadmill running, going into his 18th year in the league. He had a love for life, and he’s missed by all of his family and friends, and certainly by me and the guys that had a chance to be around him. He was a special person.”

Said Belichick: “I can’t imagine a Professional Football Hall of Fame without Junior Seau in it.”

It’s not a perfect process for selection, but what is?

It begins with 15 modern-era finalists being trimmed to 10 and then five over a long day of presentations and discussion. Finalists must receive 80 percent of the vote from the 46-member selection committee to be enshrined. There can be no fewer than four selected and no more than eight in a given year. If the minimum amount doesn’t receive 80 percent, those with the top four votes received make it.

Which is sort of crazy.

Finalists who didn’t make the cut this year included quarterback Kurt Warner, offensive lineman Orlando Pace and linebacker Kevin Greene. All should be in, but now must wait at least another year, when a no-brainer first-ballot name such as Brett Favre becomes eligible.

I’ve just always supported the theory that if you’re a Hall of Famer today, that’s it.

Time doesn’t change anything.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday on “Gridlock,” ESPN 1100 and 100.9 FM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.