Dolphins Go 1-for-2 With Hall of Fame Senior Finalists

Bob Kuechenberg moved closer to induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2023 on Wednesday, while Mark Clayton was eliminated from contention for this day

It was a case of good news, bad news for the Miami Dolphins when it came time for the 12 senior finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023 to be announced  Wednesday: Bob Kuechenberg was selected among the finalists; Mark Clayton was not.

Kuechenberg was joined among the 12 senior finalists by Ken Anderson, Maxie Baughan, Randy Gradishar, Chuck Howley, Cecil Isbell, Joe Klecko, Eddie Meador, Tommy Nobis, Ken Riley, Sterling Sharpe and Everson Walls

Along with Clayton, those who didn't make the cut were Roger Craig, LaVern Dilweg, Lester Hayes, Chris Hinton, Joe Jacoby, Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, Mike Kenn, George Kunz, Jim Marshall, Clay Matthews Jr., Stanley Morgan and Otis Taylor.

Each finalist played his last game in professional football no later than the 1996 season.

The Hall’s 12-person Coach/Contributor Committee also announced its list of finalists Wednesday, but no one with ties to the Dolphins was among that group.

WHAT'S NEXT IN THE HALL PROCESS?

The Seniors Committee will meet Aug. 16 to select up to three Seniors for final consideration as members of the Class of 2023. Expansion of the Seniors pool for election to the Hall was approved earlier this year for the Classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Coach/Contributor Committee members will meet Aug. 23 to select one Coach or Contributor for final consideration for the Class of 2023.

THE CASE FOR KUECHENBERG

As predicted here, Kuechenberg has a stronger case for the Hall of Fame.

For starters, Kuechenberg was a Hall of Fame finalist eight consecutive years from 2002-09 and has credentials comparable to other offensive lineman already in Canton.

The biggest argument for Kuechenberg as a Hall of Fame candidate was his longevity and sustained excellence, evidenced by his six Pro Bowl selections and his ability to line up at both guard and tackle.

Pro Football Reference's Hall of Fame Monitor score, which factors in team and individual accomplishments, was 66.03 for Kuechenberg, higher than that of Hall of Fame Rams guard Tom Mack, who had a 59.50.

While starting at left guard for four of the five Dolphins teams to reach the Super Bowl, Kuechenberg made his first Pro Bowl in 1974 and his last one in his final NFL season in 1983.

CLAYTON'S CHALLENGE

Clayton, on the other hand, never was so much as a Hall of Fame semifinalist before this year despite putting up impressive stats as Dan Marino's favorite target in the 1980s.

Using PFR's Hall of Fame monitor, Clayton has little chance of ever being selected. He's got a score of 45.40, which ranks 78th among wide receivers who started playing in 1955 or later.

Among those with higher Hall of Fame monitor scores are former Dolphins wide receivers Irving Fryar, Brandon Marshall and Wes Welker, as well as newcomer Tyreek Hill.

That said, Clayton was a vital part of the most devastating passing game in the NFL in the 1980s.

Clark Judge of SI Fan Nation sister site Talk of Fame made the case for Clayton in a column last summer.

THE DOLPHINS IN THE HALL

The Dolphins currently have 10 Hall of Famers, including longtime Cleveland Browns wide receiver Paul Warfield but not including short-time Dolphins contributors like Thurman Thomas or Cris Carter or even Coach Jimmy Johnson.

The other Dolphins Hall of Famers are Coach Don Shula, Marino, QB Bob Griese, RB Larry Csonka, G Larry Little, C Jim Langer, C Dwight Stephenson, DE Jason Taylor and LB Nick Buoniconti.

Linebacker Zach Thomas has been a Hall of Fame finalist each of the past three years and figures to get inducted at some point.

Tackle Richmond Webb, whose career ended with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2002, also might have a legitimate case. He made the Pro Bowl each of his first seven season and his Hall of Fame monitor score is higher than four HOF tackles — Dan Dierdorf, Jimbo Covert, Jackie Slater and Winston Hill.