Twitter: Darren Woodson makes his annual appearance as a Pro football HOF Semifinalist

[DallasEast]

Yeah he is in as a contributor, is that what they call it? Not as an owner or GM.

That is not entirely how Jerry Jones Pro Football Hall of Fame bio reads though. It is true Jones was inducted as a contributor but the Hall significantly acknowledges him in two of six paragraphs as an owner and general manager primarily responsible for helping the franchise win three Super Bowls.

Three of the remaining paragraphs reflect his enormous contributions to improving the league. One paragraph mentions the franchise advancing in the playoffs in 2016, 2018, and 2021. Fluff. One line even talks about him being co-captain of the '64 Arkansas Razorbacks NATION championship. I think the biography writer intentionally misspelled 'national' to hint at the nonsense not reflective of what he accomplished in professional football.

No way to prove it but I think it can be argued the Selection Committee (and maybe a tiny bit of owners' influence) catered to Jones being enshrined for more than what he should have been.

 

[OmerV]

What made the HOF a joke was putting Jerry in there for basically doing nothing more than bringing more cash flow to the NFL and it's individual team owners. He hasn't done anything for the game outside of that.

Players deserve to be there more than greedy owners.

Well, the NFL is a business, not a recreational league. Remember, the HOF recognizes more than players, it also recognizes owners, executives, broadcasters, writers, coaches etc ... and the stronger the league is financially, the more viable it is.

I don't say this as a fan of Jerry. I'm not. I hate that he is the GM of the Cowboys. But he has made a big contribution to the NFL as a whole, and despite the fact it's been a long time back, it doesn't hurt that he was the owner/GM during a mini-dynasty in the early to mid 1990's.

 

[gtb1943]

Well, the NFL is a business, and not a recreational league. Remember, the HOF recognizes more than players. It recognizes owners, executives, broadcasters etc as well, and the stronger the league is financially, the more viable it is.

I don't say this as a fan of Jerry. I'm not. I hate that he is the GM of the Cowboys. But he has made a big contribution to the NFL.

people forget the NFL is first last and always about money
Jerry made the owners a lot of money
THAT is why he is in the HOF

 

[America's Cowboy]

Forget the HOF! They are long overdue on voting Darren Woodson into the HOF. Who gives a rat's behind about more recent players when you still haven't accepted Woodson?

 

[JD_KaPow]

Lots of good names on that list. Don't see a way in for Woodson honestly.

The backlog keeps getting worse because of the five-player limit.

 

[MarcusRock]

He was a great player, but how did he revolutionize the position?

He was a converted basketball player and exhibited athleticism unlike any other TE before him. And he was on a team that had Kellen Winslow in its history.

 

[JoeKing]

The idiot comments that are already on this thread don't surprise me. Good luck Woody, I think you got this.

 

[nate dizzle]

HOF became a joke fest with some of the players that get in. They increased the number of players going in every ear. While snubbing many older players, still.
It is now a money grab event.

They need to decrease the current players and increase the older players inducted.
Now some Dallas players have been going in lately, more so than they did 20 years ago, when it seemed many were getting snubbed. So I have no issues with Dallas players. But some still need to get in.

Now are they making up for recent retired players to get some in, or is it over kill. I think it seems over kill at times. But that is just my old school opinion.

What they should do is make it so not eligible for 12 years after retirement. Would allow the league to catch up with older, deserving players.

 

[viman96]

I hope he gets in this time!

 

[Motorola]

Yeah he is in as a contributor, is that what they call it? Not as an owner or GM.

Owners and GMs fall under the HOF 'Contributors' group, as do other team and league officials.

 

[VaqueroTD]

This list makes me start to feel old. Feels like yesterday everyone on this list was a snot-nosed rookie. And to add insulty to injury, I must be losing some memory too because I could have sworn some of the guys on this list were already inducted. LOL

My only prediction is I bet they start inducting some of the Patriots Dynasty members in. Which stinks for Woody because Rodney Harrison might block him out. Antonio Gates, one of the new wave of athletic TEs, bet he gets in first ballot?

 

[Motorola]

Yeah, Gates revolutionized the TE position. He should be a lock.

He was a great player, but how did he revolutionize the position?

Before Antonio Gates - there was Kellen Winslow Sr.

Winslow is the tight end that is widely recognized as having "revolutionized" the position when he played for the San Diego Chargers 1979-87.

• Led the NFL in receptions in 1980 and 1981
Among the honors Winslow has been chosen for___
3× First Team NFL All-Pro, 1x Second Team
• NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
• Pro Football HOF Class of 1995
• NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
• NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

 

[gtb1943]

Before Antonio Gates - there was Kellen Winslow Sr.

Winslow is the tight end that is widely recognized as having "revolutionized" the position when he played for the San Diego Chargers 1979-87.

• Led the NFL in receptions in 1980 and 1981
Among the honors Winslow has been chosen for___
3× First Team NFL All-Pro, 1x Second Team
• NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
• Pro Football HOF Class of 1995
• NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
• NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

Yeah gates revolutionized nothing. HE was a great player but he did not change the game like Bullet Bob did

 

[MyFairLady]

Yeah gates revolutionized nothing. HE was a great player but he did not change the game

Agreed Gates was fantastic but he was more of a product of a game that was already changing than he was changing the game himself. The transition to the air attack was in full force. TEs were becoming more focused on pass catching than anything else. Gates just happened to be one of the best of his generation.

 

[MarcusRock]

Before Antonio Gates - there was Kellen Winslow Sr.

Winslow is the tight end that is widely recognized as having "revolutionized" the position when he played for the San Diego Chargers 1979-87.

• Led the NFL in receptions in 1980 and 1981
Among the honors Winslow has been chosen for___
3× First Team NFL All-Pro, 1x Second Team
• NFL 1980s All-Decade Team
• Pro Football HOF Class of 1995
• NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team
• NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

I saw Kellen Winslow play and he was great. Gates was athletically superior though.

 

[bigdnlaca]

I think this might be the best chance Woodson and Holt getting in.

I’m seeing Freeney, Evans, Holt, Peppers, Woodson and Willis.

 

[Tussinman]

Crazy that Richmond Webb (left tackle with 7x pro bowl, 1st or 2nd team all pro 4x, all decade team) has never once in like 15 years of being eligible made the semi finalist list. Probably cause he played for the dolphins, hall for some reason hates the Dolphins (they gave Zach Thomas the runaround for almost a decade).

I mean for god sakes you vote Fred Taylor as a semi finalist instead of an all decade left tackle ?

 

[FaSho]

All about numbers nowadays.

 

[Blast From The Past]

Lots of good names on that list. Don't see a way in for Woodson honestly.

It infuriates me that he is not already in. He deserves it.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Darren should have been in the HOF years ago.

Personally, I agree, but as far as the voters go, I doubt he gets in, maybe years from now, like Howley.

Thing is Darren was very good at everything, but nothing really stood out in his play. Didn't do the ground pounding, chest beating, loud hollering, etc. like a Ray Lewis or John Randle. Even Witten, for all his stats, will probably get in because of the running without his helmet in a game. Things that stick out in a voter's mind mean way more than they should. Now Darren did play on SB winning teams, a la Lynn Swann he might get pulled along by the team's success.

Good luck, Darren!!!!