Ray Guy is a Hall of Famer

Tonight on Outside the Lines, they debated the merits of punters. A couple Vikings Hall of Famers from the 60's and 70's, Eller and Krause, argue that punters aren't that special because anyone can punt a football, albeit not nearly as well as the punters for the professional football teams. There are a number of important elements that go into punting. Not only do you have to kick the ball a substantial distance, you have to kick the ball high into the air (so the coverage people can get into position to stop the return), get the ball off fairly quickly (so it doesn't get blocked), field snaps that aren't always perfect, and control the ball to pin the other team near the end zone.

Sure, I can punt a ball. However, I can also run, catch, throw, block, tackle, and kick. Kickers and punters are known as specialists, but there is a lot of specialization in football in general. Players don't play both ways anymore (Champ Bailey and Deion Sanders running a few pass routes doesn't really qualify, neither does a defensive lineman playing fullback in jumbo packages). Punt and kick returners are often utilized almost exclusively for those activities (Dante Hall isn't in the NFL to play WR, Mel Gray and Desmond Howard are classic examples from my childhood). Future Hall of Famer Deion Sanders was a cover guy, but not much of a tackler. There are 3rd down backs, short yardage backs, blocking tight ends, receiving tight ends, 3rd down pass rushing DE's, etc.

Now, I don't really care if Ray Guy gets into the Hall of Fame. And, I don't really know whether he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. However, punters are football players (that's why they wear the jerseys and helmets and go in the games every once in a while). Heck, Denver punter Todd Sauerbrun caused a fumble in the Denver v. New England playoff game this year. So, if Ray Guy redefined the punting position, it seems like maybe he's deserving of busting through the doors in Canton.