Monk finally joins football greats

I don't normally pay too much attention to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies, but this year will be a little different. I'm going to watch on TV or find some sort of web feed to take in the long, drawn out speeches. The reason? Two of my favorite players will be wearing gold jackets this weekend in Canton, Ohio.

Washington Redskin greats Art Monk and Darrell Green join Fred Dean, Emmitt Thomas, Andre Tippett and Gary Zimmerman in the Hall's Class of 2008. Monk, a 16-year veteran receiver, is finally getting inducted in his eighth year of eligibility after being snubbed for half-a-decade. Darrell Green, an undersized cornerback who was known as the NFL's fastest man for many years, got the nod in his first year of eligibility.

Monk's induction is better late than never, even when the latter seemed a bigger possibility than the prior after each snub. I'd love to think all of my campaigning and complaining helped right the wrong. Unless someone in Winthrop votes, it didn't make a difference.

Monk was an outstanding receiver for the Redskins during one of their most storied periods. He played on four Super Bowl teams that won three championships. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder was selfless in leading Washington. He led by example. No showboating, complaining or trouble. He took the field with a job to do and he did it. He did it well.

 Monk finished his career with 940 receptions, 12,721 yards including a 13.5 yard average, 68 touchdowns and five 1,000 seasons. He became the third receiver to eclipse 100 catches in a season and the first in 20 years when he grabbed a then-record 106 in 1984. Monk caught passes in a then-record 183 straight games, which equals a catch a game for more than 11 straight seasons.

Excuse my language, but what the hell took them so long? Receiver after receiver ran fly patterns through the Hall's front doors while Monk was teased with the "honor" of being a finalist. He was ripped for being standoffish with media and some so-called experts had the audacity to claim he was just a possession receiver and wasn't a No. 1 receiving option.

I know the Redskins inside and out. As much as I love Charlie Brown, Gary Clark, Ricky Sanders, Clint Didier and Don Warren, none were the team's No. 1 receiver. Monk did a lot of things (blocking linebackers, going across the middle, coming through in the clutch) that freed others up for bigger, grander plays. Hall of Fame Coach Joe Gibbs knew who he needed to get the ball to in key situations.

He had the mentality, statistics, accomplishments and the class of a Hall of Famer. Now, Monk finally has the bust of one as well.