Cris Carter Not a Lock for the Hall-of-Fame?

This seems crazy to me, but there are people out there who say Vikings WR Cris Carter is not a lock to make the Hall-of-Fame in his first year of eligibility. From Fanhouse’s Michael David Smith:

"Charean Williams of the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram, who is on the Hall of Fame Selection Committee, told me today that she doesn’t think Carter is going to make it. Williams wasn’t saying she’s opposed to him getting in, just that she doesn’t think his chances are good.Williams is president of Pro Football Writers of America and has a good sense of which way her fellow selectors are leaning, and she said Art Monk seems to be getting an increased level of support. That’s good news for Redskins fans (especially the ones I heard from who were infuriated when I suggested Green might not get in), but bad news for Carter. Some selectors who vote for Monk might decide that they don’t want to enshrine two receivers in the same season. Carter may have a harder time getting into the Hall of Fame than most people think."

Art Monk probably deserves to be the Hall-of-Fame too, but at the expense of Carter?  Sorry, but how can the man who’s second all-time in most important receiving categories behind Jerry Rice not get in on the first ballot?

The politics of the Hall-of-Fame selection process seem insane to me.  And of course, Minnesota fans have heard for years how local writer Sid Hartman’s presentations to the selection committee – that’s how the NFL does it, they have media representatives from each market make the case for their players – have caused some Vikings to not make it into the Hall.  There shouldn’t be any question about Carter though.  If he doesn’t make it this year, then the Hall-of-Fame is a sham.