WG5516;3107035 said:
Cliff Branch, WR – 1972-1985 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
A great deep threat, but nothing more. He was there to stretch the field and catch the occasional deep pass. More effective than it sounds, but not HOF'er.
Tim Brown, WR/KR – 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Will probably be in. Great player and the media loves the guy.
Cris Carter, WR – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
A joke he hasn't been inducted yet.
Don Coryell, Coach – 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
As big of an offensive innovator as Bill Walsh, but doesn't have the coaching success. If Walsh was the innovation of short passing offense, Coryell was the innovator of deep passing offense.
Roger Craig, RB – 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings
Terrell Davis, RB – 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
Dermontti Dawson, C – 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
Richard Dent, DE – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
I wouldn't have a problem with all of these guys getting in. I thought Craig was a great, great player. He doesn't have eye popping running numbers, but he was a good runner and awesome on the pass. Perhaps the greatest I've ever seen on a screen.
You vote for Davis if you think Earl Campbell belongs in the HOF. Davis' numbers are actually better IMO.
Dawson was arguably the best center in the game for all of those years.
Dent I thought was an almost unstoppable force who could stop the run, kill the passer, etc.
Chris Doleman, DE/LB – 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers
Kevin Greene, LB/DE – 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
Both kind of the same guy. Fantastic pass rushers, but probably won't get HOF.
Russ Grimm, G – 1981-1991 Washington Commanders
Bleh.
Ray Guy, P – 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Completely overrated. Stats are the name of the game with punters and Ray's stats were largely pedestrian. He couldn't hold a candle to Mike Scifres, perhaps the greatest punter of this generation.
Charles Haley, DE/LB – 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
Yeah, it's tough not taking a guy that is the premier pass rusher of the league and has 5 Super Bowl rings with 2 different teams. But the HOF voting committee finds a way.
Lester Hayes, CB – 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
I was actually surprised he wasn't in. One of my all time favorite non-Cowboys. Unbelievable cornerback. But the HOF committee has a Steelers long snapper that needs to go in.
Rickey Jackson, LB – 1981-1993 New Orleans Saints, 1994-95 San Francisco 49ers
Really good player, team leader, but not HOF worthy.
Cortez Kennedy, DT – 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks
Fine player, but not HOF worthy.
Art Modell, Owner – 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2003 Baltimore Ravens
Ugh, no. He sold a team with one of the most loyal fan bases and money makers in sports. Had ownership over the stadium and charged rent to the Indians to play there. Still somehow had money issues. Then goes to Baltimore for a good amount of money and then still has money issues there.
John Randle, DT – 1990-2000 Minnesota Vikings, 2001-03 Seattle Seahawks
Great pass rusher, non-existent against the run.
Andre Reed, WR – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Commanders
Eh, I'm not sold on him either way. If he goes in, oh well. If he doesn't, oh well.
Jerry Rice, WR – 1985-2000 San Francisco 49ers, 2001-04 Oakland Raiders, 2004 Seattle Seahawks
Shannon Sharpe, TE – 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens
Emmitt Smith, RB – 1990-2002 Dallas Cowboys, 2003-04 Arizona Cardinals
All 3 should be in. Sharpe was a non-existent blocker, but a phenomenal receiver and has 3 SB rings with 2 different teams.
Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League
Very overrated. Almost caved into the networks until Jerry told him to wait a year and somebody will give the league a huge deal. Poor player conduct policies, a questionable drug testing. Gave a team to Jacksonville when Baltimore should've wanted it and then let Cleveland, one of the staples of the league, go to Baltimore which spurned a lot of fans. Wasn't aggressive enough with coming up with a way so owners would share less revenue as it became obvious that the league is a huge money maker for everybody involved. Questionable blackout policy, etc, etc, etc.
Tags' biggest credit is that there was no work stoppage, but I really beleive that was all due to the late, great Gene Upshaw who had the foresight to create a union where they would stick up for all players, benefit all players and thus help out the owners and the league in general.
Steve Tasker, Special Teams/WR – 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills
Aeneas Williams, CB/S – 1991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 2001-04 St. Louis Rams
I don't think either are HOF worthy.
My picks would be:
Cris Carter
Jerry Rice
Emmitt Smith
Shannon Sharpe
I would select Haley, but the voters will take Tim Brown
YAKUZA