The Dallas Morning News notes that several extremely important members of the Dallas Cowboys team that went to five Super Bowls in the 1970s continue to be denied admission and whether there is some sort of bias involved. But it winds up being an excellent piece on the HOF selection process as a whole.

Paul Zimmerman, furious that Bob Hayes was denied an opportunity at football immortality, is sick and tired of the Pro Football Hall of Fame's selection process.

To prove it, the longtime Sports Illustrated writer resigned from the nine-member Senior Selection Committee.

As a member of that committee, Zimmerman spent much of the last year doing extensive research and interviews with media members and contemporaries of the players deemed worthy of Hall of Fame induction.

The committee nominated Hayes and former Oakland offensive lineman Bob Brown.

When the whole selection panel met Saturday, Brown gained entry to the Hall of Fame. Hayes did not.

"Why should we knock ourselves out all summer and present these guys just to have these assassins sit in a room and stick a knife in their back?" Zimmerman asked. "I'm not going to be their dancing bear anymore."

For years, fans in Dallas and many other NFL cities have been left frustrated by the decisions of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors, believing players from their teams have been discriminated against. But Joe Horrigan, vice president of communications and exhibits at the Hall of Fame, said no changes are being planned for the selection process.

The selectors also rejected two other former Cowboys: tackle Rayfield Wright and safety Cliff Harris.

Fifteen finalists were up for induction. Harris made the final 10. Hayes and Wright advanced to the final six, which is significant because the Hall of Fame can add as many as six members each year.

The News' Rick Gosselin made primary presentations on behalf of Wright and Harris and a secondary presentation for Hayes. Don Pierson of the Chicago Tribune made Hayes' primary presentation.

"When three reached the final 10, I thought two had a chance to get in," Gosselin said.

Brown, Carl Eller, John Elway and Barry Sanders received the necessary votes from the 39-member Board of Selectors needed for enshrinement.

It marked only the second time in the last 12 years the Hall of Fame did not have a class of at least five members.

Last year, though, voters rejected former New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson and general manager George Young, who were among six finalists.

"It's not automatic just because you make the final six," said Vinny DiTrani of the Bergen (N.J.) Record. It's not clear how DiTrani voted. "I've never looked at it as a rubber stamp."

Looking for reasons
In the last 20 years, the average Hall of Fame class has been 5.1 inductees.

Of the 15 finalists from 1999, former Oakland punter Ray Guy is the only member not in the Hall of Fame.

"If you get to the final 15," said the Hall of Fame's Horrigan, "there's an 80 percent chance of you eventually getting in."

It will probably be years until Hayes, Wright and Harris are considered again.

Players have 25 years from the time their careers end for consideration on the regular ballot. This was the 25th year for Wright and Harris. It was the 28th for Hayes.

Now, only the Senior Selection Committee, which nominates two players each year, can nominate them.

Critics of Hayes point to his low number of receptions (371) and his poor postseason totals: 10 receptions, 128 yards and no touchdowns in eight playoff games. Chicago's Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers, both Hall of Famers, never participated in a playoff game.

"I think he's in the Hall of Very Good," Sports Illustrated 's Peter King said of Hayes. King voted for Wright as a finalist but not Hayes. "I just don't think he did enough over a long enough period of time to be a Hall of Fame player."

Hayes averaged 20.0 yards per catch and scored a touchdown every 5.2 times he caught a pass. Many believe zone defenses were created to stop Hayes.

"He has that one unique quality. He wasn't just fast. He was the 'World's Fastest Human,' " said Pierson, who voted for Wright and Hayes. "That alone just about qualifies him for legendary status."

While there was plenty of debate about Hayes' worthiness, there was none concerning Wright.

"You want to make it difficult to get in," said Pierson, "but I think the mind-set for some people is to look for reasons to keep people out rather than looking for reasons to put them in."

Wright is the only offensive lineman on the NFL's All-Decade team from the 1970s not in the Hall of Fame.

"They had such a good offense for such a long period. Someone had to be blocking," King said. "I think it's disturbing."

Conspiracy theory
So is rumor and innuendo of a Cowboys conspiracy.

In office cubicles throughout North Texas and on sports talk radio, there is talk that a concerted effort exists to keep Cowboys players from the 1970s out of the Hall of Fame.

After all, they were dubbed "America's Team," and no team won more games in the decade than the Cowboys, who went 105-39 and played in five Super Bowls.

"Who knows the twisted thinking ... in that room? There's probably some twisted Cowboys bias there," Zimmerman said. "There are more Cowboys who deserve it. Chuck Howley deserves it. Lee Roy Jordan deserves it. But God forbid you propose those guys after what they did to these guys."

Other members of the Board of Selectors don't believe there is a conspiracy to keep the Cowboys out.

"I hope there isn't a bias," Pierson said, "but when you look at the results, you have to raise the question."

There's some empathy from members of the selection committee who have been trying to get more players from the New York Giants of the 1980s into the Hall of Fame. Lawrence Taylor is the only player from those teams, which won two Super Bowls, in the Hall of Fame.

"I don't think there's a bias," DiTrani said. "If there is, it ain't against the Cowboys."

ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli said he understands the frustration of Cowboys' fans.

"I grew up a Pittsburgh Steelers fan," said Pasquarelli, who declined to give his vote. "I'm sure there are Steelers fans who feel even more of the players from the '70s should be in the Hall of Fame."

Is it best system?
There appears to be as much sentiment for changing the system, even slightly, as there is for maintaining the status quo.

King suggests adding former coaches like Don Shula or Marv Levy to the committee to ensure other voices are heard.

Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said he doesn't want more people added to the selection process.

"Baltimore is upset we didn't put Art Modell in a couple of years ago," he said. "The Giants are upset about Harry Carson. You can't satisfy everyone."

Some have said the Hall of Fame should incorporate a system similar to baseball's.

In that system, ballots are mailed to members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America with at least 10 years of service. There is no public forum for discussion.

This year, baseball deemed two players – Paul Molitor and Dennis Eckersley – worthy.

"We sit in a room and hash out the positives and negatives and ask questions about players and question each other," Pasquarelli said. "Baseball doesn't do that. They mail out 500 ballots, there's no discussion. How is that better? This is the best system there is."