DallasInDC
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One current and one ex cowboy are on the list. Let the Discussion begin!
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10240023
In or out? Will these stars of today be HOF-bound tomorrow?
June 28, 2007
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
We're about a month away from the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions, the unofficial kickoff to the new NFL season.
Tom Brady's three Super Bowl rings are more than enough for the Hall.
Since we're in a dead month before the open of training camp, I thought it a good time to break down Hall of Fame prospects from among 45 active NFL stars.
For example, is Peyton Manning in no matter what happens to him the rest of the way? What about Tom Brady? Isaac Bruce? Torry Holt?
Players with at least six years of experience are the ones I considered, and I used four categories in deciding HOF verdicts for each player:
The best is "Welcome to Canton" -- they're in.
Next is "On the Bubble" -- they're close.
Then it's "Needs more Work."
"No way."
Just shy of six years are players like Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed, San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates and Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers. They're all off to good starts, but they haven't played enough seasons to qualify for consideration here.
Enjoy the list. And, as usual, I'm prepared for those nasty replies that will tell me a lot of things. Like how many of you think my father runs CBS, which is why I have a job. Or that I have no chance to ever make it into the writer's wing of the Hall.
I'm used to all of it by now ... bring it on.
Shaun Alexander, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Decision: Needs more work.
He's 25th on the all-time rushing list, so he has a chance. He needs to bounce back with a season like he had in 2005.
Larry Allen, G, San Francisco 49ers
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
For much of the 1990s and into this decade, Allen was the best guard -- and some say offensive linemen -- in the game. He's a shoo-in.
Champ Bailey, CB, Denver Broncos
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
I think he's the best defensive player in the league, and two more years playing at the same level will give him 10. He's then a lock on all lists.
Ronde Barber, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Decision: No way.
His brother, Tiki, has a better chance. Ronde has been the perfect corner for the Bucs' Cover-2 scheme, but is he a great corner? I say no.
Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
Three Super Bowl rings and some big-time numbers have him in already. Scary thing is, he's far from finished.
Derrick Brooks, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
He redefined the outside linebacker position, which is a sign of greatness. He made it a speed position. Plus, he's been a great player in doing so.
Isaac Bruce, WR, St. Louis Rams
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
Bruce is seventh in catches with 887 and could get to fifth with a good season in 2007. He's seventh in receiving yards with 13,376 yards, and with 524 yards this season, he would move him into fourth place on that list. That's impressive.
Tedy Bruschi, LB, New England Patriots
Decision: No way.
He was a feisty player who helped those Patriots win three Super Bowls, but was he ever the best defensive player on the field?
Brian Dawkins, S, Philadelphia Eagles
Decision: On the bubble.
He has been one of the most-dominant safeties for a long time. But safeties have a tough time getting in, for whatever reason. If he can have a year or two like he did in 2006, he has a chance.
Warrick Dunn, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Decision: No way.
He has some nice numbers, placing him 22nd on the all-time list. But he needs two or three more good seasons for consideration.
Alan Faneca, G, Pittsburgh Steelers
Decision: Needs more work.
He's a Hall of Fame run blocker, but he hasn't been great in pass protection. He's just a notch below Hall material.
Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay Packers
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
He's as easy a pick as any on the list. Favre is a football legend who happens to still be playing.
Tony Gonzalez, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
He's the most-prolific pass-catching tight end ever. He has allowed the Chiefs to get by without many good receivers. He's a special weapon in the middle of the field.
Marvin Harrison, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
He's fourth all time in receptions and has a lot more left. He has his eyes on the top spot and Jerry Rice.
Rodney Harrison, S, New England Patriots
Decision: On the bubble.
Some will say he should get in, but I think he's another who was just very good, but not great. Winning a Super Bowl with the Pats will help.
Torry Holt, WR, St. Louis Rams
Decision: Needs more work.
He's still relatively young and playing at a high level, so he has time to get the work done. But for whatever reason, he doesn't get the due he deserves and that may hurt down the road.
Joe Horn, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Decision: No way.
He was a nice player, but not a Hall of Fame player. Was he ever one of the league's truly great receivers?
Steve Hutchinson, G, Minnesota Vikings
Decision: Needs more work.
He's been one of the best guards in football -- and the best at times -- the past five years, but he needs more time to show he can sustain it.
Edgerrin James, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Decision: Needs more work.
He's over 10,000 yards, but I still think he needs more work. He better hope 2006 was an aberration and was more about the Cardinals' line than his abilities.
Chad Johnson, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Decision: Needs more work.
He has 466 catches in his first six seasons, and has averaged over 90 each of the past four seasons. He would need to do that for another five to seven seasons to be considered.
Walter Jones, T, Seattle Seahawks
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
For the past seven years, he has been the best offensive lineman in the league. That's high praise.
Ty Law, CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Decision: On the bubble.
Some people will say he's a candidate, but I don't think he will get in. He's been a nice player, but not a great one.
Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
There is no doubt about it. He's been the best middle linebacker in the league for a long, long time.
John Lynch, S, Denver Broncos
Decision: On the bubble.
A lot of people will say he should go in, but I think he's been a good, not great player. There have been a handful of better safeties in the league his entire NFL career.
Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
No matter what he does the rest of his career Manning will be in the Hall. Even without the Super Bowl, he was on his way. Now he's a lock.
Kevin Mawae, C, Tennessee Titans
Decision: No way.
He's been a damn good center, but he probably isn't going to get in. He'll get considered, but he'll probably miss out
Keenan McCardell, WR, Unsigned
Decision: Needs more work.
He is ninth all time with 861 catches, but he's done so mostly out of the spotlight. He did win a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay, which will help. He says he wants to play until he gets 1,000 catches. If that happens, who knows?
Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Decision: Needs more work.
He's been a good quarterback, but has he ever been the best in the NFL? He hasn't done enough yet, and needs some big years to get there.
Steve McNair, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Decision: No way.
Even though he won co-MVP honors with Manning in 2003 -- how that happened is a whole different story -- he hasn't done enough.
Randy Moss, WR, New England Patriots
Decision: Needs more work.
I've seen some opinions that no matter what he does, he can't get in because he quit on his team. That's crazy. If he can revert to the old Moss, and put up big numbers for a few more years, he deserves to get in.
Jonathan Ogden, T, Baltimore Ravens
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
Even though his play has slipped some, and he was never better than Jacksonville's Tony Boselli despite what some people might think, he's on his way to getting a gold jacket.
Terrell Owens, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Decision: On the bubble.
Some might be surprised to see him here, but he's 17th all time in receptions with 801 and he's 16th in yards receiving with 11,715 yards. With a good season, he can move into the top-10 in both categories. Forget the attitude, he's had a heck of a career.
Orlando Pace, T, St. Louis Rams
Decision: On the bubble.
He wasn't as good as Ogden and he's not as good as Jones. But he's been a heck of a player for a long time.
Simeon Rice, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Decision: Needs more work.
He's put up some amazing sack numbers, but the perception is he hasn't played the run well during his career, which he's fought hard to change. He needs two or three more big sack years. Does he have it in him?
Warren Sapp, DT, Oakland Raiders
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
He might be the surliest player in the league -- how was he left off Freeman's All-Jerk squad? -- but he was a dominant inside player for a long time. Like him or not, he should go in.
Richard Seymour, DE, New England Patriots
Decision: Needs more work.
He's the best defensive player on the Patriots, and has been for some time. I think he's two good years away from being in.
Rod Smith, WR, Denver Broncos
Decision: On the bubble.
He has the numbers, but was he ever a truly great player? His numbers will carry a lot of weight when it's his time, but it's going to be a tough sell.
Mike Strahan, DE, New York Giants
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
He's been a dominant player for a long time, but is he in the Bruce Smith-Reggie White class? He's not, but he's the all-time sack leader. Plus, the media likes him. He'll get in.
Fred Taylor, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Decision: Needs more work.
He is closing in on 10,000 yards and has one of the best per-carry averages of all the leading rushers in league history. But he needs one or two more good years for consideration.
Jason Taylor, DE, Miami Dolphins
Decision: On the bubble.
Taylor has been a heck of a player, and winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2006 will help, but he needs a couple more big sack years to have a chance.
Zach Thomas, LB, Miami Dolphins
Decision: No way.
He was a good player but overrated at times. He's in the Hall of Good, but not the Hall of Fame.
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
Decision: On the bubble.
If he has another LT-like season in 2007, he's in. So it's basically just a formality. He's halfway to the rushing record.
Brian Urlacher, LB, Chicago Bears
Decision: Needs more work.
He's got a good start, but he has a long way to go to be a Hall of Fame player. Then again, the lineage of his middle linebacker spot with the Bears is a good one.
Adam Vinatieri, K, Indianapolis Colts
Decision: On the bubble.
It's tough to get kickers into the Hall, but his clutch kicking for the Patriots, helping them to three Super Bowl victories, will help. Also, he's far from done.
Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Decision: No way.
Despite being a two-time MVP, Warner's success was too short. But he should go into the Good-guy Hall of Fame.
(Note: Kicker Morten Andersen, G Will Shields and RB Curtis Martin were not included in the list since they are all likely finished playing. P.S.: They're all probably on their way to being elected.)
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/10240023
In or out? Will these stars of today be HOF-bound tomorrow?
June 28, 2007
By Pete Prisco
CBS SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
We're about a month away from the Pro Football Hall of Fame inductions, the unofficial kickoff to the new NFL season.
Tom Brady's three Super Bowl rings are more than enough for the Hall.
Since we're in a dead month before the open of training camp, I thought it a good time to break down Hall of Fame prospects from among 45 active NFL stars.
For example, is Peyton Manning in no matter what happens to him the rest of the way? What about Tom Brady? Isaac Bruce? Torry Holt?
Players with at least six years of experience are the ones I considered, and I used four categories in deciding HOF verdicts for each player:
The best is "Welcome to Canton" -- they're in.
Next is "On the Bubble" -- they're close.
Then it's "Needs more Work."
"No way."
Just shy of six years are players like Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed, San Diego Chargers tight end Antonio Gates and Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers. They're all off to good starts, but they haven't played enough seasons to qualify for consideration here.
Enjoy the list. And, as usual, I'm prepared for those nasty replies that will tell me a lot of things. Like how many of you think my father runs CBS, which is why I have a job. Or that I have no chance to ever make it into the writer's wing of the Hall.
I'm used to all of it by now ... bring it on.
Shaun Alexander, RB, Seattle Seahawks
Decision: Needs more work.
He's 25th on the all-time rushing list, so he has a chance. He needs to bounce back with a season like he had in 2005.
Larry Allen, G, San Francisco 49ers
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
For much of the 1990s and into this decade, Allen was the best guard -- and some say offensive linemen -- in the game. He's a shoo-in.
Champ Bailey, CB, Denver Broncos
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
I think he's the best defensive player in the league, and two more years playing at the same level will give him 10. He's then a lock on all lists.
Ronde Barber, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Decision: No way.
His brother, Tiki, has a better chance. Ronde has been the perfect corner for the Bucs' Cover-2 scheme, but is he a great corner? I say no.
Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
Three Super Bowl rings and some big-time numbers have him in already. Scary thing is, he's far from finished.
Derrick Brooks, LB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
He redefined the outside linebacker position, which is a sign of greatness. He made it a speed position. Plus, he's been a great player in doing so.
Isaac Bruce, WR, St. Louis Rams
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
Bruce is seventh in catches with 887 and could get to fifth with a good season in 2007. He's seventh in receiving yards with 13,376 yards, and with 524 yards this season, he would move him into fourth place on that list. That's impressive.
Tedy Bruschi, LB, New England Patriots
Decision: No way.
He was a feisty player who helped those Patriots win three Super Bowls, but was he ever the best defensive player on the field?
Brian Dawkins, S, Philadelphia Eagles
Decision: On the bubble.
He has been one of the most-dominant safeties for a long time. But safeties have a tough time getting in, for whatever reason. If he can have a year or two like he did in 2006, he has a chance.
Warrick Dunn, RB, Atlanta Falcons
Decision: No way.
He has some nice numbers, placing him 22nd on the all-time list. But he needs two or three more good seasons for consideration.
Alan Faneca, G, Pittsburgh Steelers
Decision: Needs more work.
He's a Hall of Fame run blocker, but he hasn't been great in pass protection. He's just a notch below Hall material.
Brett Favre, QB, Green Bay Packers
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
He's as easy a pick as any on the list. Favre is a football legend who happens to still be playing.
Tony Gonzalez, TE, Kansas City Chiefs
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
He's the most-prolific pass-catching tight end ever. He has allowed the Chiefs to get by without many good receivers. He's a special weapon in the middle of the field.
Marvin Harrison, WR, Indianapolis Colts
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
He's fourth all time in receptions and has a lot more left. He has his eyes on the top spot and Jerry Rice.
Rodney Harrison, S, New England Patriots
Decision: On the bubble.
Some will say he should get in, but I think he's another who was just very good, but not great. Winning a Super Bowl with the Pats will help.
Torry Holt, WR, St. Louis Rams
Decision: Needs more work.
He's still relatively young and playing at a high level, so he has time to get the work done. But for whatever reason, he doesn't get the due he deserves and that may hurt down the road.
Joe Horn, WR, Atlanta Falcons
Decision: No way.
He was a nice player, but not a Hall of Fame player. Was he ever one of the league's truly great receivers?
Steve Hutchinson, G, Minnesota Vikings
Decision: Needs more work.
He's been one of the best guards in football -- and the best at times -- the past five years, but he needs more time to show he can sustain it.
Edgerrin James, RB, Arizona Cardinals
Decision: Needs more work.
He's over 10,000 yards, but I still think he needs more work. He better hope 2006 was an aberration and was more about the Cardinals' line than his abilities.
Chad Johnson, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Decision: Needs more work.
He has 466 catches in his first six seasons, and has averaged over 90 each of the past four seasons. He would need to do that for another five to seven seasons to be considered.
Walter Jones, T, Seattle Seahawks
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
For the past seven years, he has been the best offensive lineman in the league. That's high praise.
Ty Law, CB, Kansas City Chiefs
Decision: On the bubble.
Some people will say he's a candidate, but I don't think he will get in. He's been a nice player, but not a great one.
Ray Lewis, LB, Baltimore Ravens
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
There is no doubt about it. He's been the best middle linebacker in the league for a long, long time.
John Lynch, S, Denver Broncos
Decision: On the bubble.
A lot of people will say he should go in, but I think he's been a good, not great player. There have been a handful of better safeties in the league his entire NFL career.
Peyton Manning, QB, Indianapolis Colts
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
No matter what he does the rest of his career Manning will be in the Hall. Even without the Super Bowl, he was on his way. Now he's a lock.
Kevin Mawae, C, Tennessee Titans
Decision: No way.
He's been a damn good center, but he probably isn't going to get in. He'll get considered, but he'll probably miss out
Keenan McCardell, WR, Unsigned
Decision: Needs more work.
He is ninth all time with 861 catches, but he's done so mostly out of the spotlight. He did win a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay, which will help. He says he wants to play until he gets 1,000 catches. If that happens, who knows?
Donovan McNabb, QB, Philadelphia Eagles
Decision: Needs more work.
He's been a good quarterback, but has he ever been the best in the NFL? He hasn't done enough yet, and needs some big years to get there.
Steve McNair, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Decision: No way.
Even though he won co-MVP honors with Manning in 2003 -- how that happened is a whole different story -- he hasn't done enough.
Randy Moss, WR, New England Patriots
Decision: Needs more work.
I've seen some opinions that no matter what he does, he can't get in because he quit on his team. That's crazy. If he can revert to the old Moss, and put up big numbers for a few more years, he deserves to get in.
Jonathan Ogden, T, Baltimore Ravens
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
Even though his play has slipped some, and he was never better than Jacksonville's Tony Boselli despite what some people might think, he's on his way to getting a gold jacket.
Terrell Owens, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Decision: On the bubble.
Some might be surprised to see him here, but he's 17th all time in receptions with 801 and he's 16th in yards receiving with 11,715 yards. With a good season, he can move into the top-10 in both categories. Forget the attitude, he's had a heck of a career.
Orlando Pace, T, St. Louis Rams
Decision: On the bubble.
He wasn't as good as Ogden and he's not as good as Jones. But he's been a heck of a player for a long time.
Simeon Rice, DE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Decision: Needs more work.
He's put up some amazing sack numbers, but the perception is he hasn't played the run well during his career, which he's fought hard to change. He needs two or three more big sack years. Does he have it in him?
Warren Sapp, DT, Oakland Raiders
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
He might be the surliest player in the league -- how was he left off Freeman's All-Jerk squad? -- but he was a dominant inside player for a long time. Like him or not, he should go in.
Richard Seymour, DE, New England Patriots
Decision: Needs more work.
He's the best defensive player on the Patriots, and has been for some time. I think he's two good years away from being in.
Rod Smith, WR, Denver Broncos
Decision: On the bubble.
He has the numbers, but was he ever a truly great player? His numbers will carry a lot of weight when it's his time, but it's going to be a tough sell.
Mike Strahan, DE, New York Giants
Decision: Welcome to Canton.
He's been a dominant player for a long time, but is he in the Bruce Smith-Reggie White class? He's not, but he's the all-time sack leader. Plus, the media likes him. He'll get in.
Fred Taylor, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Decision: Needs more work.
He is closing in on 10,000 yards and has one of the best per-carry averages of all the leading rushers in league history. But he needs one or two more good years for consideration.
Jason Taylor, DE, Miami Dolphins
Decision: On the bubble.
Taylor has been a heck of a player, and winning Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2006 will help, but he needs a couple more big sack years to have a chance.
Zach Thomas, LB, Miami Dolphins
Decision: No way.
He was a good player but overrated at times. He's in the Hall of Good, but not the Hall of Fame.
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
Decision: On the bubble.
If he has another LT-like season in 2007, he's in. So it's basically just a formality. He's halfway to the rushing record.
Brian Urlacher, LB, Chicago Bears
Decision: Needs more work.
He's got a good start, but he has a long way to go to be a Hall of Fame player. Then again, the lineage of his middle linebacker spot with the Bears is a good one.
Adam Vinatieri, K, Indianapolis Colts
Decision: On the bubble.
It's tough to get kickers into the Hall, but his clutch kicking for the Patriots, helping them to three Super Bowl victories, will help. Also, he's far from done.
Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Decision: No way.
Despite being a two-time MVP, Warner's success was too short. But he should go into the Good-guy Hall of Fame.
(Note: Kicker Morten Andersen, G Will Shields and RB Curtis Martin were not included in the list since they are all likely finished playing. P.S.: They're all probably on their way to being elected.)
