Big leak from voters --- story on ESPN

[rewing84]

To be honest, its amazing more leaks dont get out ... especially from disappointed players and families.

Its almost as if ESPN is slightly twisting the knife on Kraft considering the negativity from the Hall "quest" article. I feel Kraft could be regretting the Dynasty series on the team, which I havent seen but was criticized by players as being anti-Belichick.

im thinking it was a series of things that hurt krafts chances again

[Brian wolf]

Maybe not leaked information, but cryptic "slips of the tongue"on possibly eight of the nine seniors?

Can John, Ken, Jack or anyone else, confirm that ...

K Anderson
Baughan
Craig
Hayes
Matthews Jr.
Sharpe
Tyrer
Wistert
??

Have made the finalist list?

[JeffreyMiller]

I wouldn't have voted for kraft, but seriously, Hay is a weak candidate. He hosted the organizational meeting and owned the Bulldogs for only a few years. Not sure what else qualifies him to be in the HOF.

[rewing84]

I wouldn't have voted for kraft, but seriously, Hay is a weak candidate. He hosted the organizational meeting and owned the Bulldogs for only a few years. Not sure what else qualifies him to be in the HOF.

In agreement with you 100% Jeffrey in terms of hay being a weak candidate Just curious who would have been your contributor nominee

[readjack]

Maybe not leaked information, but cryptic "slips of the tongue"on possibly eight of the nine seniors?

Can John, Ken, Jack or anyone else, confirm that ...

K Anderson
Baughan
Craig
Hayes
Matthews Jr.
Sharpe
Tyrer
Wistert
??

Have made the finalist list?

I've heard similar rumors but nothing substantial.

[JeffreyMiller]

I wouldn't have voted for kraft, but seriously, Hay is a weak candidate. He hosted the organizational meeting and owned the Bulldogs for only a few years. Not sure what else qualifies him to be in the HOF.

In agreement with you 100% Jeffrey in terms of hay being a weak candidate. Just curious who would have been your contributor nominee

I'm more inclined to look at some assistant coaches if the HOF is to include contributors (which I believe should be a totally separate thing from players, but that's an argument for another day). Clark Shaunessy is the first that comes to mind. But with regard to Hay, there were a few other owners who were more important in the early years of the league (and before), such as Carl Storck of Dayton, Frank Nied of Akron and Leo Lyons of Rochester. They all had longer associations and made greater contributions to the league.

[readjack]

I wouldn't have voted for kraft, but seriously, Hay is a weak candidate. He hosted the organizational meeting and owned the Bulldogs for only a few years. Not sure what else qualifies him to be in the HOF.

In agreement with you 100% Jeffrey in terms of hay being a weak candidate. Just curious who would have been your contributor nominee

I'm more inclined to look at some assistant coaches if the HOF is to include contributors (which I believe should be a totally separate thing from players, but that's an argument for another day). Clark Shaunessy is the first that comes to mind. But with regard to Hay, there were a few other owners who were more important in the early years of the league (and before), such as Carl Storck of Dayton, Frank Nied of Akron and Leo Lyons of Rochester. They all had longer associations and made greater contributions to the league.

My view on Hay is that he has a unique lane that doesn't open the door for anyone else, so he's a clean one-and-done candidate. As a team owner, he has an impact that matches others, as you note. Obviously less impact as just a 1920s owner alone than Halas and even Mara. And Hay was not the only person trying to form a league in 1920; Carr was working on it, and Halas reached out to Hay independently.

So while someone else *could* have done it, and certainly a ton more had to happen for that meeting to have historical significance, Hay did organize the August meeting and then the key 9/17/20 meeting, which he hosted. Worthy of a bust in my opinion. If they had elected him in 1963 I don't think it would get much pushback today.

[JeffreyMiller]

My view on Hay is that he has a unique lane that doesn't open the door for anyone else, so he's a clean one-and-done candidate. As a team owner, he has an impact that matches others, as you note. Obviously less impact as just a 1920s owner alone than Halas and even Mara. And Hay was not the only person trying to form a league in 1920; Carr was working on it, and Halas reached out to Hay independently.

So while someone else *could* have done it, and certainly a ton more had to happen for that meeting to have historical significance, Hay did organize the August meeting and then the key 9/17/20 meeting, which he hosted. Worthy of a bust in my opinion. If they had elected him in 1963 I don't think it would get much pushback today.

Putting someone in for a singular event ... I don't see it. But I have been wrong on my judgments in the past, so ... (I supported Rob Johnson over Doug Flutie, lol)

[TanksAndSpartans]

I’d vote Jack Cusack over Hay. My thought process would be along the lines of thinking about the events that positioned pro football to be in a position to start a league in 1920 rather than who organized the meeting. Peggy Parratt was important as well. I think it could be argued he is also a better choice than Hay. Some have credited Grange with being the one who opened the floodgates for former college AAs to play professionally, but Thorpe may have been a more important player in that regard, imo. I'd say Cusack then Parratt, but I could be persuaded to flip them as long as the focus was on Parratt the contributor and not Parratt the player.

[PFHOFlover]

If it’s true and I hope it isn’t I can’t believe Robert Kraft got snubbed again

I’m happy for Ralph Hay but if we saw what happened with Buddy Parker then imagine what will happen with Ralph Hay the voters have never heard of him and the selection committee as Rick Gosselin said is getting younger not older I think he won’t be elected

I really want to see Robert Kraft with a gold jacket when I go to Canton in 2028 for Tom Brady’s Hall of Fame induction and I hope he gets elected before 2028