The NFL announced its five new modern-era members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday. Former Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James made it.
One who has been a semifinalist multiple times, has not.
Guard Alan Faneca, who played his final NFL season in 2010 with the Arizona Cardinals, did not make the cut again and saw another guard — Steve Hutchinson — get the call to the Hall.
He was a finalist for the fifth time.
Cardinals fans got to see him when he was just a shell of himself, but he was perhaps the best guard of his era.
Hutchinson made it this year and he was basically his NFC counterpart.
He played from 1998-2007 for the Pittsburgh Steelers and then 2008-2009 for the New York Jets and one final season for the Cardinals. From 2001-2009, he was a Pro Bowler every year and a first-team All-Pro six times.
He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade team for the 2000s.
The fact he has been a finalist so many times means he will eventually get in. However, with each passing year, it frustrates fans.
He deserves to be in Canton. Perhaps with Hutchinson getting in, he will be next.
Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.
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