He’s eligible for the class of ‘31, correct? I’m sure he’ll be held in high regard. But before casting aspirations at selectors let’s see what other players are eligible when he is. I realize Cowboys fans are never homers and do not have any bias in regard to Cowboys players, but there might be a host of worthy candidates when Martin is on the ballot.
Your Devil's Advocate opinion reminds me of the two central Board of Selectors arguments for every Pro Football Hall of Fame candidate. It is either a debate of:
- Hall of Fame worthiness versus 'Hall of the Very Good'
- Points and counterpoints even more weak than #1
Okay. "There might be a host of worthy candidates when Martin is on the ballot." Premise: Candidate does not get in on the first-ballot because other players are 'more worthy'. Let's do a player versus player comparison!
Cleveland Browns' Joe Thomas was Zack Martin's teammate on the 2010's NFL All-Decade Team (teams are selected by the Board of Selectors). Candidate arguments are always littered with team accomplishments. During the 2010's with Thomas, the Browns were in the AFC North cellar every season except 2010.
Martin? With the Cowboys, the team finished first in the NFC East, last in the division only once, and made the divisional round of the playoffs three times. No Super Bowls, no Super Bowl runner ups, no conference championship appearances BUT 'team crap' arguably better than what the Browns did with Thomas.
Get this out of the way first. Thomas made ten Pro Bowls versus Martin's nine Pro Bowls. I do not think the Selectors argue Pro Bowls as vehemently as they did years ago but there it is.
The Associated Press decides All-Pro selections. Thomas was picked six times as a first-teamer. 'First-team' is the measure of all-pro acknowledgment. Thomas received two second-team all-pro selections also.
Martin? He was selected as an all-pro
seven times. As an aside, he received two second-team
all-pro picks as well.
Joe Thomas was
rightfully inducted in the Hall on the first ballot (
link). Thomas entered the Hall while the following players were denied entry. In parenthesis are the number of times a player had been a yearly finalist up until-and-at the time Thomas was enshrined
- Jared Allen (3)
- Willie Anderson (2)
- Dwight Freeney
- Devin Hester (2)
- Torry Holt (4)
- Andre Johnson (2)
- Albert Lewis
- Reggie Wayne (4)
- Patrick Willis (2)
- Darren Woodson
Seems like a respectable ' a host of worthy candidates' to me.
You know... let's put a pin in this sub-discussion, shall we? Table it until Martin's first year of eligibility. Everyone can then see Martin's competition at that time, who, I guess, will BLOW that sampling of candidates above out of the water when Thomas got in
on his first try.
Incredible.
OUR☆HISTORY
