Happy Friday, Flock! Jared is on vacation this week, so I’m filling in as we endure the continuing slog toward the start of training camp.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the class of 2024 semifinalists this week, and Art Modell is on the list.
Art Modell is one of 60 semifinalists for enshrinement in the @ProFootballHOF class of 2024: https://t.co/kMLitgi4Zg
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) July 12, 2023
Speaking on the Glenn Clark show, Hall voter Clark Judge was unfortunately not very optimistic about Art’s chances.
.@clarkjudgeTOF on Art Modell/@ProFootballHOF: "There's always a chance… This year however, slim. His name just doesn't get quite as much traction… His legacy, it speaks for itself. What he did for the NFL in TV… He hired the first African-American GM…" #Ravens
— Glenn Clark (@GlennClarkRadio) July 13, 2023
As always, the bitter Cleveland delegation has overly loud influence. There are already several owners who moved teams in the Hall – Al Davis, Lamar Hunt, and Dan Reeves. Yet despite Art’s contributions to the growth of the league, he continues to be disrespected by Hall voters. A quick search for his name on Twitter reveals a plethora of full diapers among the Browns brigade, as expected.
We’ve seen the highlights of the usual suspects at skill positions getting their work in this offseason. But what about the big guys? They’re not taking time off, as Broderick Washington reminded us:
It hasn’t just been Zay Flowers, OBJ and Lamar Jackson with the off-season workout highlights.
Broderick Washington been grinding another offseason with his private coach Aaron “Tank” Wallace. @_CoachT8nk
(IG: coach_tank93) pic.twitter.com/yEeRgzl4HD
— Kyle Phoenix Barber (@KylePBarber) July 13, 2023
From the DID YOU KNOW section, Calvin highlighted this graphic from The Game Day, which has Fat Ben’s stupid fat head on it, but which also contains a fun tidbit for Ravens fans:
Lamar Jackson is the only active player on this list.
But all I’m hearing about is what he can’t do 😴 @Lj_era8 pic.twitter.com/gCMKZxI1bj
— Calvin (@FlockCwood) July 13, 2023
We of course have to acknowledge that it’s a bit “easier” to have a perfect passer rating these days than it was during Kurt Warner‘s career, and for much of Peyton Manning‘s, Tom Brady‘s, and Ben’s, thanks to rule changes meant to benefit the offense. However, I don’t see any of Lamar Jackson‘s contemporaries on that list along with him, so…
As we head into the weekend, we’ll leave with this fun thought from our own Professor himself, Dev Panchwagh:
We are roughly 2 weeks away from the install of Todd Monken’s offense. It’s going to be a new world in Baltimore. The start of something special.
This is one of the years I truly miss not being at camp to cover for @RussellStReport Would have loved to see it up close! #Ravens
— Dev Panchwagh (@devpanchwagh) July 14, 2023
Dev, we’re bummed you won’t be out there as well! However, plenty of our RSR analysts will be heading to Owings Mills in Dev’s stead, and we’re pumped to fill you all in on what we see from every practice field, but especially the one where Todd Monken is installing his offense.
Have a great weekend!
One Response
It’s sad but true. I think most agree that Cleveland’s influence on some voters is the big reason why Art hasn’t made it into the HOF the last few years. I don’t see him making it this year. It was a token nomination.
It’s sad but let’s turn this into a positive. Let’s win the Super Bowl this season. This will give the Cleveland community more reason to cry about Modell and the Ravens. Then Art can look down and say that’s my team.