{"id":9915,"date":"2017-01-06T22:01:01","date_gmt":"2017-01-07T03:01:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=9915"},"modified":"2021-03-20T09:59:44","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T13:59:44","slug":"jerry-kramer-pro-football-hall-of-fame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2017\/01\/06\/jerry-kramer-pro-football-hall-of-fame\/","title":{"rendered":"Jerry Kramer: Pro Football Hall of Fame Absence is an Injustice"},"content":{"rendered":"

On January 3rd, the Pro Football Hall of Fame released the list of finalists for induction in the 2017 class.\u00a0 One of the players named as a finalist was Kenny Easley<\/a><\/strong>.\u00a0 This name stands apart as\u00a0Easley was selected as a finalist by the Seniors Committee.\u00a0 This is the first time Easley, who played between 1981 and 1987, has been named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.\u00a0 As a finalist from the Senior Committee, Easley went through a different process and was named publicly back on August 15th.<\/p>\n

The Senior Committee is the last hope for players passed over in the first several chances after their retirement.\u00a0 The single name constantly on the lips of Packers fans is Jerry Kramer<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Jerry Kramer Hall of Fame Movement<\/h2>\n

The Iconic Image<\/h3>\n

Jerry Kramer is perhaps the single most iconic guard in the history of the NFL.\u00a0 Vince Lombardi’s Power Sweep is perhaps the single most well-known play in history.\u00a0 Everyone has seen the video of Lombardi describing the play on a chalkboard.\u00a0 We all know you get a seal here, a seal here and you run the ball right up the alley.\u00a0 Kramer, along with Fuzzy Thurston<\/a><\/strong>, was the lead blocker who made the most iconic play of possibly the most dominant dynasty in football history.<\/p>\n

The photos of Thurston and Kramer pulling behind the line and looking upfield for their next block is famous.\u00a0 One of the photos, usually titled “Guardian Angels,” is routinely the most used photo in Packers promotions and network imaging.<\/p>\n

Then, you cannot forget that Kramer is also the key cog on one of the most famous plays in NFL history: Bart Starr<\/a><\/strong>‘s quarterback dive to win the Ice Bowl. \u00a0Kramer was the lead blocker. \u00a0Starr took the snap and ducked in behind him to secure the victory and propel the Packers to their third straight NFL Championship and\u00a0fifth in seven years.\u00a0 You cannot think of the Packers of the 1960s without seeing the image of Jerry Kramer leading the way.<\/p>\n

The Accolades<\/h3>\n

Despite having repeated surgeries in his 11-year career, Kramer was named an All-Pro five times.\u00a0 Kramer was named to the All-Decade Team for the 1960s.\u00a0 As a matter of fact, Kramer was named to the NFL’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team.\u00a0 Through 50 years of the NFL, Jerry Kramer was considered the best. \u00a0Also, Kramer is the only member of this team who is not in the Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n

The NFL Network added to this line of discontentment by placing Jerry Kramer\u00a0at the top of the list of Top Ten Players\u00a0Not in the\u00a0Hall of Fame<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Impact on Football and Culture<\/h3>\n

One of the most important things Jerry Kramer did was combine with renowned journalist and author Dick Schaap<\/strong> to write the book Instant Replay.\u00a0 This book created a first-hand account of the life of an NFL offensive lineman through the Ice Bowl game.\u00a0 This was an important book in presenting the story of players to the public.<\/p>\n

Kramer combined with Schaap a few more times, including the great Distant Replay.\u00a0 Distant Replay details the reunion of all the still living members of the Packers 1960s teams.\u00a0 This work revealed the lives of NFL players after they stepped away from football, from the amazing success of Willie Davis<\/a><\/strong> to the heartbreak of Lionel Aldridge<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The voice of Jerry Kramer was important in the growth of football in popular culture and his stories are part of the fabric of the modern NFL. \u00a0The Senior Committee should be placing Kramer’s name above any other at this point. \u00a0A Hall of Fame that does not include Jerry Kramer is a\u00a0travesty.<\/p>\n

Main Photo:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n