Tingelhoff closer to realizing Hall of Fame dream

[DK Sweets]

Nice avatar, dead_poet!

I (like many people) never saw Tingelhoff play, but I did know who he was. I have no problem with more Vikings in the hall of fame, though!

[CbusVikesFan]

If and when... long overdue.

[maembe]

Tingelhoff should be in, but Marshall even more so.

[VikeMike]

Like Marshall, Tinglehoff's greatest claim to fame was his long, injury-free career, playing at a high standard. That in itself is remarkable, but it's not what gets you voted into the Hall of Fame.

There are just 40 offensive linemen from the modern era in the HoF. Of those, only about 9 centers. Is
Tinglehoff an all-time top 10 center? I don't think so, but we'll see. If he makes it, hats off to him.

Vince Lombardi thought that Tinglehoff was one of the best centers in the game in his era. Bud Grant did as well. No offense, but I think their opinion has a little more weight than your's (or mine) when rating interior offensive linemen. You can't compare a center from the 1960-70s to the centers now. Mick did play in 240 consecutive games, but he also was first team All-Pro seven times, the most at the time. From his era, I would put The Hoff with Jim Otto and Jim Langer as the best at the position (although if Vince and Bud told me otherwise, I would rethink my position).