Readers fight for Monk, have advice for big-name RBs

	For the sixth straight year, former Redskins receiver Art Monk was not elected into the Hall of Fame. Mike Powell/Getty Images
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One thing I've learned in my 14 years as a Pro Football Hall of Fame voter: It's never the offseason.

If I wrote a column about why I voted a certain way in May, the e-mail box would be flooded. If I wrote it a week after the vote, the mail would roll in. And so here we go. Hall of Fame fever! Catch it!

NOW THAT CARSON'S IN, IT'S MONK TIME. From Stephen of Chantilly, Va.: "Peter, your article about Harry Carson was wonderful. You really understand how certain players who are extremely integral to super teams don't get recognized because they didn't get all the glamour stats or press. Which is why I really think you are not an honest voter. All the arguments and characteristics you praise about Carson in this article could also be made for Art Monk in relation to his Redskins super teams. From role player, coaching praise and teammate praise. If you just don't like Monk, just say you're biased and stop. Please don't make illogical reasons for him to not be in the Hall of Fame when you clearly recognize Carson-type accomplishments for the Giants. You really lose all credibility to me since you're not only a biased writer but one who likes to unfairly lower the accomplishments of a truly deserving player like Monk.''

Thanks for writing, Stephen. It's interesting being a voter. If I don't vote for a certain player, then I have some bias against him. You and the other Monk supporters should know -- not that you'll believe me -- that I have no bias whatsoever against Monk. He was a very good and unselfish football player. I have a lot of admiration for him.

There are quite a few differences between Carson and Monk, I believe. And not just in my opinion, but in their peers' opinions. Monk was voted to three Pro Bowls in 16 years. Just three times in 16 years did his peers consider him one of the four best receivers in his conference. Carson was voted to nine Pro Bowls in 13 years. Carson was the major reason why the Giants had the best run defense in the NFL for a seven- or eight-year period. I don't think you can say the presence of Monk on Washington's offense -- with a great deep threat like Gary Clark, with consistently good running backs, with a great offense line -- equated to Carson's impact on the Giants' D. Well, maybe you can, but I can't.

And for all of the Monk supporters who think I'm the guy keeping him out of the Hall of Fame, just know that there are at least eight of the 38 other voters who have not voted for him -- and I think it's quite a few more than that given that he can't make it through the cut from 15 to 10.

RYAN, DO YOU HAVE A COUSIN NAMED STEPHEN IN VIRGINIA? From Ryan McKeon of Athens, Ga.: "Great comments on Harry Carson, who was exactly the kind of hard-nosed, unflashy player that teams need to win. Now my hope is that somebody makes a similar argument to you regarding Art Monk that you made to Cliff Christl. If Harry Carson was putting teams in second-and-9 a lot, Art Monk was catching a lot of 10-yard passes on those second-and-9 plays. That's important to a team too, unspectacular though it may be.''

Excellent point, Ryan.

YOU'RE ON THE MARK ABOUT RUNNING BACKS, SCOTT. From Scott Eaton, of Cleveland: "Fellow OU Bobcat here. Love reading you every week. With such a deep running back class in the upcoming draft, wouldn't it make more sense for Edgerrin James, Jamal Lewis and Shaun Alexander to try to work out fair contracts with their current teams? Most teams that have a need at running back could draft one for a lot less money.''

Quoting the Guinness commercial, Scott: "Brilliant!'' Running backs aren't exactly a dime a dozen, but it's the one position that seems easiest to find a good one down the line a bit. Corey Dillon, round two. Curtis Martin, round three. Tiki Barber, round two. Rudi Johnson, round four. Mike Anderson, round six. Willie Parker, undrafted. If I were Alexander, I'd make a deal with the Seahawks, and I'd make it right now.