Jan 31, 2013, Kenner, LA, USA; Jonathan Ogden at the eighth annual NFL Foundation Celebrity Bowling Classic at the AMF All-Star Lanes. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The Ravens first ever draft pick just became the first true Ravens player to ever be elected to the Hall of Fame. Ogdn was a first ballot electee and will join Larry Allen(also a first Ballot Electee), Bill Parcells, Warren Sapp(another First Ballot member) and Chris Carter. I will get back to Ogden in a second, but speaking to Chris Carter, his wait was far far to long. for a guy that made as many plays and scored as many TDs as he did, the long wait is a joke. With Carter getting in this year, it is very likely that either Andre Reed or Tim Brown, who are both deserving but have been victims of a vote split between three great receivers creating a log jam at the position, will get in next year.

Ogden was the best offensive lineman in the NFL for over a decade, during which the offensive line had more talent than perhaps any other time in NFL history. Ogden deserved the election because he was the best player when all the other players were better than ever. Truly the best of the best. Ogden was also a career Raven.

On a sad note, Art Modell once again was denied access to the Hall. Art is probably the most important figure in NFL history who is not currently in the hall already. Modell should have been elected years ago and the fact that he has been denied once again is a shame. It is very sad that Modell wasn’t able to live to see the day he was elected, the fact of the matter at this point is that Art will be getting in one day, he deserves it, we just might have to wait until the Browns are good again and Browns fans will let it go. Art did a whole lot more than just bring football back to Baltimore, he was instrumental in the NFLs popularity explosion by doing TV deals, including pioneering monday night football. At this point i guess it doesnt matter whether Art is elected today or 10 years from now, the voters missed the opportunity for Art to be alive to see it so time has become meaningless at this point. Modell will get in, it just continues to be a shame when he misses it each year.

Dec. 4, 2012; New York, NY, USA; Jonathan Ogden speaks at the NFF annual awards press conference at the Waldorf-Astoria before being inducted into the 2012 college football hall of fame. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-USA TODAY Sports

Saturday the NFL will announce which players and coaches will be inducted into the hall of fame. It is always a big deal and it is a great moment for the 3-5 modern era and 0-2 inductees from further back.

Just focussing on the modern era guys, I thought i would take a guess at who gets in this time around. Here is my best shot at it.

First and foremost, I think 5 guys will get in. There is a huge logjam of deserving players and the only way they can hope to start clearing it is to keep inducting the maximum number of candidates which of course is 5.

1. Jonathan Ogden- Ogden is one of three guys I am considering a lock. He is arguably the best LT of all time and he played at the height of his position and at the height of his poisition in the league(in terms of era). When the league had more great LTs than any other time, Ogden was the best(or tied for the best with Pace). Ogden is a sure fire first ballot inductee and the first true Raven in the hall.

2. Larry Allen- Allen is my second lock. like Ogden, Allen is a first time nominee and I think he is a sure fire HOFer. At his time, he was one of the most dominant players in the league.

3. Charles Haley- My third guy I am calling a lock. Maybe it is a stretch to say he is a lock since has been a finalist multiple times, but come on voters, this man has waited long enough, it is time.

4. Chris Carter- They have got to break this log jam at WR. Carter is the best of the bunch for my money, the guy had the best hands in NFL history and if you think Randy Moss would have lasted long enough to be back in the super bowl sunday without the mentorship of Carter, think again. Chris Carter deserves entry.

5. Either Ed Debartelo Jr or Art Modell- I think the Voters will take one of these guys, but they both have their drawbacks. Modell is hated by a decent chunk of league fans for taking the Browns from Cleveland. Debartelo has some serious legal issues that led to him being banned from NFL ownership for one year and eventually forced out of the 49ers organization. Both men did great things, one was a 5 time Super Bowl champ and instrumental to the greatest dynasty in NFL history, the other paved the way for the modern NFL and the modern TV experience. The NFL might not still exist if not for these guys, i think either one or the other finally gets his due.

Shannon Sharpe, arguably the NFL's best tight end ever, was snubbed from the Hall of Fame for the second year in a row.

Rice and Emmitt Smith. One name it did not include however, is Shannon Sharpe, former Ravens tight end and three-time Super Bowl winner. In addition to his illustrious career as a Denver Bronco, Sharpe was always a big threat as a Raven.  Ryan Mink summarizes Sharpe’s HOF bid and accomplishments with the Ravens on BR.com:

Sharpe led the Super Bowl team in receptions (67) and yards (810) and tied Qadry Ismail in touchdowns (5). Sharpe had two clutch touchdown receptions in the playoffs – one against the Denver Broncos in the Wild Card round and another for 96-yards versus the Oakland Raiders in the AFC Championship.

This post is the Ryan Mink edition, so we have some more material from Ryan Mink that he’s posted on the official site.  With the HOF class being announced, the controversial debate about Art Modell’s status comes up.  After being as good an owner as any the NFL has ever seen, Modell’s decision to move the Browns from Cleveland to Baltimore has kept him out of Canton.  Current owner Steve Bisciotti, Modell’s successor, has continually said that Modell deserves to be enshrined, and continues to hold that opinion.

Here’s my always desired opinion.  As a Ravens fan,  I have to agree that Modell deserves a spot.  Bringing football (and good football at that) back to Baltimore after the devastating impact losing the Colts had on the city has made Modell one of Baltimore’s heroes. Just because one team (which was later replaced, mind you) doesn’t want Modell in, doesn’t mean he should not be allowed to be mentioned with the great men of the NFL.  Eventually, Modell should be enshrined, so patience might be the key here.  The NFL is slowly appreciating his genius.