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On Wednesday afternoon, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the two finalists that were identified by its Seniors Committee. Those two former players will be considered for induction as potential members of the 2016 Hall of Fame class.
While both players are worthy of consideration, there is one name that continues to go unrecognized and and un-nominated by the Committee.
First up is the official announcement:
Ken Stabler & Dick Stanfel named #PFHOF16 Finalists by our Seniors Committee. Must receive 80% support on eve of #SB50 for election.
— Pro Football HOF (@ProFootballHOF) August 19, 2015
As has become the tired refrain over the last several years, Packers legend Jerry Kramer will have to wait yet another year for a possible induction into the Hall.
Stabler, who passed away in early July, was a four-time Pro Bowl quarterback for the Raiders and helped lead the team to a victory in Super Bowl XI following the 1976 season. He was a first-time All-Pro once, in 1974, when he led the NFL in touchdown passes.
Stanfel, an offensive guard, had a seven-year NFL career with Detroit and Washington from 1952-58, which featured five Pro Bowl honors and five first-team All-Pro nods. Stanfel also recently passed away, in June of this year. He was a starter on the Lions' back-to-back NFL championship teams during his first two years in the league.
We at Acme Packing Company are admittedly biased towards former Green Bay Packers, but with no disrespect intended to Stanfel or his great career, we believe Kramer's case for enshrinement in the Hall of Fame is objectively better. Kramer, also a right guard, played eleven NFL seasons, earning first-team All-Pro honors five times himself. He also won five NFL titles with the Packers, and showed his versatility by serving as the team's kicker for a few seasons as well.
Sadly, Kramer, his family, and Packers fans everywhere will continue to wait and lobby for him to have his chance to be enshrined in Canton. We at Acme Packing Company continue to hope that the Hall of Fame gives him that chance while he is still able to experience and enjoy it.