Did anti-Steeler bias cost Dawson?

By Bob Smizik | posted at 7:08 p.m.

In bypassing center Dermontti Dawson, the 44 selectors of the Pro Football Hall of Fame today displayed an anti-Steelers bias that cannot be disputed despite the induction of Rod Woodson.

Woodson, an all-time great cornerback and safety who played most of his career with the Steelers, was voted into the Hall along with defensive end Bruce Smith, guard Randall McDaniel, linebacker Derrick Thomas, Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson and wide receiver Bob Hayes, who was a senior candidate.

There is no quibbling here with Woodson and Smith, all-time greats, and McDaniel, a seven-time All-Pro. But how the selectors chose Thomas, who played his entire career with the Kansas City Chiefs, over Dawson is mystifying.

Evaluating most positions in football is difficult because other than quarterback, running back and receiver not many statistics are available.

But here are some numbers about Thomas and Dawson that speak clearly to this injustice. Thomas was All-Pro twice. To give that number some perspective, the Steelers Greg Lloyd, who gets no Hall of Fame mention, was All-Pro three times. Dawson was All Pro six times.

Dawson was the best center in the NFL for most of the decade of the 1990s. Such position domination should be the precise definition of a Hall of Famer. Thomas, whose career paralleled Dawson’s, was the best at his position only twice.

As a linebacker, who once led the league in sacks, Thomas was a more high-profile player than Dawson. But the 44 selectors, all who are expert in the field, should not be blinded by stats or profile.

Was this a case of some selectors deciding there were too many Steelers in the Hall of Fame? That could well be the case, and it’s the only explanation for the snub of Dawson.

Actually, Dawson also finished behind defensive end Claude Humphrey, who was a finalist along with the six who were selected. Dawson was eliminated from consideration before the seven finalists were voted on. Humphrey, like Thomas, was an All-Pro only twice.

Maybe next year when, there is not expected to be another Steeler on the ballot, Dawson’s day will come. It should have come this year, if not sooner.