Glendale, Ariz. -- The Redskins didn't make it to Arizona this year, but former Washington greats Darrell Green and Art Monk will never forget this Super Bowl weekend.
Green and Monk were among the six former NFL players elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame yesterday by the 44-member selection committee that spent the morning whittling down a list of 17 finalists.
The class of 2008 also includes San Diego Chargers and San Francisco 49ers defensive end Fred Dean, New England Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett, Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos tackle Gary Zimmerman and a selection by the senior committee, Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Emmitt Thomas.
Former commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who became a villain in Baltimore for his flip "build a plant or a museum" comment after the city was passed over for an NFL expansion franchise in 1995, failed to gain induction in his second year of eligibility.
Green could barely contain his emotions as he took the podium at the Phoenix Convention Center to make his acceptance speech, and they spilled over into comments about Monk, who inexplicably had been passed over the previous seven times he was on the ballot.
"This transcends football," said Green, elected the first year he was eligible. "This is out of this world."
Not bad for a walk-on at Texas A&I; who ended up spending 20 seasons in a Redskins uniform. The seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback had 54 career interceptions and was a member of the 1990s All-Decade Team. He also would have made the NFL All-Humble Team with yesterday's speech.
"Even before I made $120,000 in my rookie year, I was overpaid," Green said, his eyes welling up. "For my whole career, I was overpaid, over-respected and over-cared for, so I just want to say to all of you, thank you so much."
Vikings great Cris Carter, who ranked second all time in career receptions and touchdowns when he retired, was also eligible for the first time but was not elected.
Monk was not present for the announcement, and who could blame him after being passed over so many times? He spent 16 years in the NFL - 14 of them with the Redskins - and set since-surpassed records for receptions in a season (106) and consecutive games with at least one catch (164).
"Whether I deserved to have played in the NFL or even be in the Hall of Fame," Monk said by telephone, "I loved the game, I loved to play, I loved being out there, and I loved the guys. I'm a little short of words because I wasn't expecting this. I am greatly honored and greatly humbled."
The final meeting of the selection committee began with the senior committee weighing Thomas and Marshall Goldberg. Then the list of 15 current candidates was narrowed to five, each of whom must receive at least 80 percent of the vote to gain induction.
Once again, Ray Guy, perhaps the greatest punter of all time, failed to make it into the top 10. If elected, he would have been the first punter inducted in Canton, Ohio.
The selection committee also passed over former Redskin Russ Grimm, Buffalo Bills receiver Andre Reed, Chicago Bears defensive end Richard Dent, Miami Dolphins guard Bob Kuechenberg, Vikings guard Randall McDaniel, Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar and Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas.
peter.schmuck@baltsun.com
The Associated Press contributed to this article.