The Chicago Bears have more Hall of Famers than any franchise in NFL history. That doesn’t mean they don’t have a few names who are clear snubs for spots in Canton. Richie Petitbon is one name. Jay Hilgenberg is another. In a few years, most agree that Lance Briggs will probably be in that mix too. However, it seems the Pro Football Hall of Fame committee decided on two different names to be finalists for their Centennial Class of 2020.
First is former defensive end Ed Sprinkle. Many viewed him as the first incarnation of Dick Butkus. A guy known not just for his superb ability, but also his mean streak. Many players get credit for elevating the art of the pass rush over the decades and Sprinkle is one who gets criminally overlooked. Nobody knows what his sack numbers were back in the 1940s and ’50s, but historians agree they would’ve been extensive.
Then there is Jimbo Covert. Widely viewed as the anchor of the great Bears offensive line of the 1980s. Not only was he a road grader for Walter Payton and Neal Anderson, he also did a great job protecting the blind side of his quarterbacks. At his peak, he was absolutely dominant. Unfortunately, a neck injury shortened his career. This might explain why he’s the only first team member of the 1980s All-Decade team on offense or defense not in the Hall of Fame.
Chicago Bears have waited years to honor those two
The competition will be fierce in the voting process. Of the 20 members of the “Players” category, only 10 of them will end up earning a gold jacket. Plenty of other greats are involved in this competition including Cowboys iconic receiver Drew Pearson, Lions legend Alex Karras, and 49ers trendsetting running back Roger Craig. Even so, the odds do favor at least one of either Covert or Sprinkle getting the nod. So who might it be?
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Often in these sorts of conversations, longevity plays a big role in determining tiebreakers. Sprinkle played 132 games in his career, reaching four Pro Bowls and winning a championship in 1945. Covert made it through just 111, being forced to retire at the age of 31. That inability to extend his career a bit longer is truly the main factor in him not reaching Canton to this point. He’ll need somebody to make a strong case for him in order to break through.
