'Hall' to the Redskins! Art Monk and Darrell Green Enter the Hall of Fame

As a Redskins fan, let me say that today was about as good as it gets.

Darrell Green, in his first year of eligibility, and Art Monk, in his 8th, were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in front of a crowd filled with burgundy and gold. The crowd celebrated both Green and Monk, former coach Emmitt Thomas ... as well as the other inducted players.

They even dropped a chorus of boos anytime the term "Dallas Cowboys" was mentioned.

Green got into the Hall about as quickly as he could make a pick-six. Green played 20 seasons -- all with Washington -- and used his induction speech to mention many people who helped him along the way and was the first and only inductee to cry during his speech. He also mentioned two Redskins who passed over the past year, Sean Taylor and Kevin Mitchell.

By the way, ESPN keeps saying that Green and Taylor were former teammates. Green retired in 2002. Taylor was drafted in 2004.

Green was my idol growing up because he was so fast. He was also a little guy ... like me ... and made the cornerback position interesting to me (I would end up playing CB and kick returner for my school).

As for Art Monk ... all you can say is "it is about time".

Monk received a four-minute standing ovation when he came to the podium and only stopped when he tried to calm everyone down. Monk, in typical fashion, spoke with dignity and grace when talking about the honor:

What I've tried to convey to those who were upset about the process was that I was okay with it. But in all due respect, that as great as this honor is, it's not what really defines who I am or the things that I've been able to accomplish in my life.

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Being included into this fraternity is a pretty humbling experience for me. I always grew up seeing these guys as giants and legends who make significant contributions to the game of football. And it's pretty hard for me to believe that I've now been included as part of them. Growing up I was never voted the most likely to succeed. And there was never anything about me that would have given anyone the impression that I would have played in the NFL let alone to be standing here.

I must admit that I got a little verklempt when Monk got up to speak. As a Skins fan, there was nothing I wanted more than to see him get into the Hall of Fame. Not just because I wanted a Redskin in there ... or because I think he should be honored for his football career.

It is because I wanted everyone to see the man behind the stats and great career and remind everyone that there are extraordinary men that play sports. In an age where greed, ego, rap sheets, drugs and selfish athletes tend to get the ink and blog attention ... there are many guys with the class and grace that Art Monk exhibited during his 16-year career.

Yes, the fact it took this long to put him in was ridiculous. However, it wasn't if Art Monk deserved to be in the Hall of Fame. It was if the Hall of Fame deserved Art Monk.