Stover stands toe-to-toe with greatest Ravens of all time

Jan Stenerud, the great Kansas City Chief who also played for the Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings, is the only true kicker in Canton. (Kickers George Blanda and Lou Groza are in the Hall, but they also played other positions. Blanda was a quarterback, and Groza was an offensive lineman.)

Over the years, football people have argued for the likes of Gary Anderson and Morton Andersen and Vinatieri himself, another Mr. Clutch, to be enshrined.


But it hasn't happened. Kickers, punters and special teams players are still kept at arm's length by the Hall, which is not exactly what Stover's Hall backers want to hear.

But no matter how dopey the Hall's stance on kickers is, Stover gets into the Ravens Ring of Honor, no doubt about that.

When that day comes, he'll join Ogden and Peter Boulware and Michael McCrary and Art Modell in that hallowed group, along with all the old Hall of Fame Baltimore Colts like John Unitas, Raymond Berry, Lenny Moore and the rest.

And he'll deserve it.

If you wanted a great player with character and dedication and all the other traits the great ones have, Matt Stover was as good as they come.

kevin.cowherd@baltsun.com

Listen to Kevin Cowherd from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays with Jerry Coleman on V1370 AM Sports.

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