Here’s a greasy, little secret the NFL would rather fans not hear.
There’s a reason safety John Lynch is a safe bet to be honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while fellow Broncos alums Dennis Smith and Steve Atwater won’t get a sniff at enshrinement.
And it has absolutely nothing to do with football.
Oh, all three men did Denver proud. They were slobber-knocking, paranoia-inducing, take-two-aspirin-and-call-me-in-the-morning safeties. All are worthy of a Hall pass.
But it all comes down to politics. Lynch was 10 times the savvy politician that Smith and Atwater were.
“You just never know about the Hall of Fame. You guys understand it better than I do,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Monday, when Lynch officially announced his retirement.
Counting interceptions and tackles to make a case for a safety is a waste of time.
The awards biz works on the same points system as a beauty pageant.
It doesn’t matter if we’re talking a gold Oscar from Hollywood or a bronze bust in Canton, Ohio. Whether you’re a great thespian or a fierce tackler, the only way to receive either prize is to get elected.
Kansas City running back Christian Okoye probably has nightmares starring Atwater to this day, and Shanahan testifies he has never been associated with a more brutal hitter than Smith.
But does that really matter when handicapping the Hall of Fame chances for safeties, often shunned for the sport’s highest honor?
Lynch was the NFL’s ultimate Boy Scout. In addition to being kind, obedient and cheerful, he was morally straight and mentally awake, to say nothing about his ability to deliver one heck of a sound bite on the first take.
There are die-hard Broncomaniacs who will swear in predominately blue e-mails that Smith and Atwater did way more crushing while wearing orange than Lynch ever dreamed.
Sorry, it doesn’t matter.
With a sharper hook to snag voters, Lynch has far brighter lure as a Hall candidate than Smith or Atwater.
Lynch remembers Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy’s desire to redefine the impact of a safety on the game with this promise: “Hey, we’re going to do some things that are going to change the way this position is played forever. And you’re going to be at the forefront of that.”
There’s your hook.
In addition to the Pro Bowl berths Lynch was awarded late in his career with the Broncos, the 15-year pro was a smash hit for a Buccaneers team that won a Super Bowl with defense.
The Tampa Two has become a catchphrase in the NFL lexicon, and Lynch is a major reason why.
Whether he was speaking eloquently at the funeral for slain teammate Darrent Williams or intelligently breaking down X’s and O’s during TV appearances, Lynch has impressed as such a strong communicator that he appears to possess the skills to become either a U.S. senator or an NFL coach.
Think Mark Udall would really enjoy going one-on-one with Lynch? Or that Lynch might be a worthy heir when Shanahan finally decides to retire?
But it’s hard to envision Lynch actually enjoying either of those rough-and-tumble jobs.
Why? Fair or not, senators and coaches get blamed for poor legislation, busted plays, plus a bunch of lousy decisions that somebody else in fact made.
Lynch cares too much what people think of him to endure booing he doesn’t deserve.
“Football is a tremendous equalizer, because all the pomp and circumstance goes out the door. You better earn your respect in this league, and you have to. If all you’re doing is talking, it will expose you,” Lynch said.
We love football because it’s all about scoreboard, baby. Well, not quite. Anybody who refuses to believe office politics do not play a major role in the NFL, from locker-room alliances to the closed-door meeting where Hall inductees are chosen, is being naïve.
Knowing how to work the system is a real talent.
When it comes to running a successful Hall of Fame campaign, Smith and Atwater have been soundly thumped by their fellow hard-hitting safety in one critical aspect.
Nobody knows all the angles or understands how to play the game better than Lynch.
Mark Kiszla: 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com
