First off an apology to those who are regular readers and contributors to our Hall of Fame content. This last year-and-change has been busy and largely great, but brutal from the perspective of spending time on projects that aren’t A) directly involved with the day-job and B) at least semi-contributing to bank accounts. Thus, as some have noted in comments, we’ve fallen behind in terms of keeping up with some of our content. We have not shut down and we are making some plans that, hopefully, allow for more regular and timely posting. But real-life will, at times, kick in, trumping the fun stuff that we’d rather spend more time on.

Now, with that said, regular readers, presumably, are celebrating this week, as Johnny Robinson, one of the most frequently cited Hall of Fame snubs ever mentioned here, has finally made it in to the Hall. He’ll be 81 this year and he has waited way too long for this honor. Luckily he’s had plenty of accolades to celebrate over the years while he waited, including an interception in Super Bowl IV against my hometown Vikings.

It was a good year for the Chiefs. The team discovered it has a franchise QB in Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs finished just an offsides penalty away from a Super Bowl berth. And, along with Robinson, long-time TE Tony Gonzalez made the cut as well.

Gonzalez was one of three first-ballot enshrinees this year. Ravens safety Ed Reed, who makes it a double-dip for the oft-ignored safety position, and CB Champ Bailey join Gonzalez from the list of candidates who made the cut in year one. Ty Law, part of the early years of the Patriots’ dynasty, gives the defensive backfield four of the eight slots in this 2019 class. Offensive lineman Kevin Mawae rounds out the modern-era slate.

Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen and contributor Gil Brandt — who frankly also waited way too long to get the call and who should have been in before owner Jerry Jones — also received the call to the Hall.

I hope to post more on these picks in the weeks ahead, but I do think this is a pretty solid class. Brandt and Robinson are especially strong candidates, in my eyes, from the non-modern-era slate. I might have preferred Alan Faneca over Mawae or a third safety or offensive skill player over Law, but that’s mostly nitpicking. It’s good to see some safeties get noticed and to see a couple long-time oversights corrected. Your comments, please.