Dallas Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones and former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue took the roles they are most
Courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
known for in the same year and they could go into the Hall of Fame at the same time, as well.
Voters selected the pair as Contributor candidates for 2017 enshrinement in Canton, OH.
Jones bought the Cowboys in 1989, hiring Jimmy Johnson in controversial fashion to replace Tom Landry as head coach. The duo endured a tough first season but, thanks in part to fleecing Minnesota in a deal for Herschel Walker, enjoyed a few really good seasons and two Super Bowl championships before the relationship soured.
Tagliabue succeeded long-time commissioner Pete Rozelle in 1989 and presided over one of the longest eras of labor peace in the league’s modern era.
Tagliabue and Jones join Kenny Easley as finalists for 2017 induction. Easley was announced Monday as the senior candidate.
More on this later. My initial thoughts: I think Tagliabue belongs, but as with many of these picks, I’m not sure he’s the best candidate awaiting enshrinement at this time. Regarding Jones … I’m not sure I understand this one at this time. He’s definitely involved in league matters behind the scenes but outside those first few years with Johnson, the team itself has mostly been mediocre under his watch. Why he’s a better choice than Pat Bowlen in Denver or even (as mentioned by Zoneblitz commentators Paul, Rasputin and maybe others) Cowboys scouting legend Gil Brandt, I’m not sure I understand.
Hall of Fame voters selected Jerry Jones and Paul Tagliabue as 2017 Contributor candidates. That's ...
- ... Terrible. Neither of these two are obvious candidates. (40%, 12 Votes)
- ... Meh. Tabliabue is worthy, but Jones doesn't deserve it. (33%, 10 Votes)
- ... Great - both are well deserving. (17%, 5 Votes)
- ... Meh. Jones is great, but what did Tagliabue do? (10%, 3 Votes)
Total Voters: 30
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What these selections (along with Easley yesterday) also tell me is that the members of the two selection committees care little about public preferences, support and interest in other candidates
I was fortunate enough to live close to the Hall throughout the nineties and the one person that the fans would boo mercilessly every year was….. Paul Tagliabue! I felt so sorry for the guy every time he would stand up and start to speak. The fans were relentless. The guy would have to stand there for several minutes and just take it. This kind of pick is just going to leave the door wide open for the likes of …… I’m having a difficult time writing his name….Art Modell.
I am thinking that Tagliabue will be viewed differently by much of the media and public today given the focus and even more outright hatred of Roger. And lets remember that Tags has also already had his case made in front of the full committee as a modern finalist – so at least the pros and cons have been debated, yet members of that same full committee feel now that they can make a strong case to get him elected.
Paul, you are more positive and optimistic than I am about these candidates.
We know that Peter King is a huge supporter of Tagliabue’s candidacy. He was his presenter three years in a row, and openly wrote about how much it bothered him that he was unable to make a better case in the room. in the end, I know King is only one of five selectors, but after my initial surprise at Tagliabue’s nomination, it occurred to me that King’s influence may have played a big role.
The fans respected Pete Rozelle and all his contributions and his background. Now that the last two commissioners have come from a law background, fans attitudes have completely changed.
Also Rozelle and Roger represent an era of huge revenue growth (mostly on the backs of the “willing to pay” fans) and many other advances and changes to the game that the traditional fans, say older then 40, resent as they look back with fond memories about the great years of the year, including the 70s and 80s. Plus rise in public interest and social media has brought more intensive and direct media and public attention, especially open and free via websites and blogs – like this one! Different era, different attention for any public figure with such high profile. But having said that Roger clearly is not helping his case for public support with many of his actions decisions and very poor PR approaches. So I am not sure it is as much about their law background (although everyone hates lawyer) but the public face of their roles and the 24/7/365 attention the NFL now brings and the millions of fans.
It was amazing – I was able to see Pete Rozelle only once at the Hall before he died. I saw him on the outside and the inside of the museum…..actually walked right by him. The crowds of people around him were unbelievable. The fans were simply enamored with him…..and it was as if Paul Tagliabue didn’t even exist.
Well, at least these are better choices than last year. Tagliabue is one of those folks I won’t squawk about, though I’m not enthusiastic either. Jones is about as good an owner candidate as there is left, though not especially excited about any of them. Sabol, Young, Brandt, Beathard, and McNally would have been better choices.
Will be really interesting to see the outcome for both (or a fly in the room for the selection meeting on Feb 4th for those discussions/debates!) as both clearly have flaws that could drag down their chances, as it only takes 10 out of the 48 to vote no and they are not elected. Regardless of whether there are better candidates or not, failing to get both elected (or only one for that matter) will raise serious questions regarding the future of the contributors category beyond current policy in place through 2019. Personally I would like to it is stay but be modified to include coaches and limited to one slot per year. Every other professional HOF has some type of process for non-players and I do feel they should be recognized as long as it does not come at the expense of slots for modern or senior candidates.
#NoMoreOwners!!
Brian no need to post here as well, started more recent post on class of 2020 to keep topic fresh
No sweat Paul…at least you know I like your topics/threads…