IF YOU SAW the exact same crime take place every year for a decade, would you allow it to keep happening? Apparently the NFL would, because the league continues to allow voters to deny Art Monk induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

When the Washington Redskins wide receiver retired back in 1995, it was expected that the legendary receiver wouldn’t have any problems gaining admission into football’s most exclusive club. He was second to Jerry Rice on the all-time receptions list (Rice surpassed Monk’s total in the final week of the ‘95 season), and he’d forged a resume that was as Hall of Fame-worthy as anything voters had seen.

When he left the game Monk had the NFL’s all-time records for receptions in a season (106) and for consecutive games with a reception (183). A Syracuse product who was known as one of the league’s quietest superstars, I consider Monk to be his day’s Marvin Harrison.

The Redskin went on to amass 940 receptions and more than 12,700 receiving yards during his 16 NFL seasons. One of the league’s most accomplished receivers, the three-time Super Bowl champion was named to the 1980’s all-decade team.

It’s been 11 years since Monk last ran a route. What is surprising–and what’s more outrageous–is that he hasn’t been inducted yet.

Still sixth on the NFL’s all-time receptions list, Monk’s inability to get enough votes for enshrinement is baffling to me.

It was expected that the most anticipated phone call of Monk’s life might come Feb. 3, when the NFL announced its newest Hall of Fame class. Six players got that call that Saturday; Monk wasn’t one of them.

Unlike the rest of the football world, I didn’t see former Raider coach John Madden make his acceptance speech in Canton, Ohio, last year. I won’t see former Dallas Cowboys wideout Michael Irvin deliver his speech this time around. I’m not going to watch this year just like I didn’t watch last year, because I decided last February to ignore the NFL’s most magical of events.

There’s not a reason in the world why Monk shouldn’t be one of the gentleman inducted. He was one of the finest players of his time.

Irvin, the aforementioned receiver who is one of six players being inducted this summer, is not as deserving of enshrinement as Monk. Monk caught 190 more passes than did Irvin, compiled 817 more receiving yards and tallied more career TD receptions.

Unlike Monk, Irvin didn’t retire with a list of records. But he’ll become the Hall of Famer, and somehow Monk won’t.

Next year might be Monk’s year, but this year was supposed to have been his year. Last year and every year prior when Monk was eligible should have been his year. None of them were. Like everyone else who knows about Monk’s impact on the Redskins of the 1980s, I hope that the prime-time performer’s long wait comes to an end sooner rather than later.

Not only do I want it for him, but also for myself, as well, because Monk’s induction will be the next Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony that I watch. And I like watching them.