When Harry Carson retired from the New York Giants after the 1988 season, he was widely considered by his contemporaries one of the very best middle/inside linebackers in NFL history and a shoe-in for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Carson served as team captain of the Giants’ defense 10 of his 13 seasons, and led the team in tackles five times. During his NFL career, he was voted to nine Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro six times. But for 13 straight years, Carson was passed over by a Hall of Fame selection process that relies on a committee of sportswriters, the so-called “experts.” Behind-the-scenes articles written by national sportswriters Paul Zimmerman and Peter King on the committee debate regarding Carson cast doubt on the qualifications of sportswriters to make informed decisions. It suggests that the Hall of Fame should seriously consider staffing the committee with more qualified evaluators such as former coaches and players.
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