CFZ Should Herschel Walker be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame

[blueblood70]

Walker made the decision to go to a league that was destined to fail and put up over 5000 yards. Add those yards to his NFL total and he might be in the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame committee is going to put a lot more weight in what players do in the NFL than in another league. At RB it’s all about numbers.

For the most part it used to be all about the numbers but at times sometimes the committee does a head scratcher like Gale Sayers I know people are gonna come in here and probably say he should be in there I don’t know why I don’t think he has any rings didn’t really have any hardware he doesn’t have the stats I don’t get it it was almost like they just decided to put the guy in cause I felt bad for him at the time. I mean seriously the guy had 4900 yards for his career got banged up and couldn’t make it but they were like hey what does use projections no that’s not how it works it leaves the idea open for guys like Herschel Walker even Ezekiel Elliott has the numbers at Terrell Davis production, has better numbers in a lot of cases.. I don’t think he’s going to be considered, how did Gale Sayers get in with 4900 yards?


that’s not how the Hall of Fame should work and most of the time back would need to reach to 10,000 rushing yards ,not scrimmage yards, rushing yards in order to qualify to even be considered for the Hall of Fame or have a bunch of rings on a team where he was considered one of the reasons they were winning.

 

[CowboysLakerBamaFan]

IMO.....the bar foe the freaking Hall Of Fame should be very high. Like....if you even have to ask and there's a debate about it....then the answer should be No.

They are letting too many people in IMO.

It's like the Rock and Roll HOF....ANY band gets in if they just hang around long enough. Flock Of Seagulls and Menudo will be in it one day.

Make it super prestigious. If you go 4 or 5 years without having someone good enough to enshrine...fine. but they're bussing in 5 or 6 guys every year

 

[TheCritic]

Hopefully you’re joking. They won three Super Bowls without him, with an RB that ended up being better than him. That’s not going to get him in the Hall of Fame.

Yes it was a joke. You can calm down now...

 

[Nova]

IMO.....the bar foe the freaking Hall Of Fame should be very high. Like....if you even have to ask and there's a debate about it....then the answer should be No.

They are letting too many people in IMO.

It's like the Rock and Roll HOF....ANY band gets in if they just hang around long enough. Flock Of Seagulls and Menudo will be in it one day.

Make it super prestigious. If you go 4 or 5 years without having someone good enough to enshrine...fine. but they're bussing in 5 or 6 guys every year

Right. There can be debate about who gets in first, but if it’s a question of ‘are they worthy?’ then the answer should probably be ‘no’.

 

[Runwildboys]

You might want to lighten up and knock off the name-calling. Don’t know why you’re bringing up what he’s done in recent years off the field. I didn’t see any posts with anyone bringing it up. He’s been eligible for the Hall of Fame for years, so what he’s done in recent years off the field has nothing to do with with him not being in. O.J. Simpson was inducted into the Hall of Fame before his off the field problems. You need to focus on what both players did on the field and OJ clearly had a Hall of Fame career, which is why he was inducted on the first ballot.

He wasn't really name-calling. He was quoting Sargeant Hulka, from Stripes.

 

[KJJ]

He wasn't really name-calling. He was quoting Sargeant Hulka, from Stripes.

Still a form of name-calling.

 

[KJJ]

Yes it was a joke. You can calm down now...

There wasn’t anything in my reply that pointed to me not being calm.

 

[eromeopolk]

When the AFL and NFL merged in 1970, all the statistics compiled by the players in the AFL were included in their official statistical history. But when the USFL folded in the mid-1980's, the statistics compiled by the players, including luminaries like Herschel Walker, Reggie White and Jim Kelly were not included in their overall professional football statistics. That is why Bruce Smith is credited with the most sacks in history (200) ahead of Reggie White (198.) If you include the 23.5 sacks Reggie White had while playing in the USFL in 1984 & 1985, Reggie White is the clear #1 all-time sacks leader with 221.5 sacks in his Pro Football career.

In the USFL playing for the New Jersey Generals, Herschel Walker had 7,115 yards from scrimmage.

• 1,143 rushing attempts for 5,562 yards
• 130 receptions for 1,484 yards
• 3 kick returns for 69 yards.

Currently, Herschel Walker ranks 48th in NFL history in total yards from scrimmage, sandwiched between HOF RB Roger Craig at #47, and HOF WR Art Monk at #49. He is 2 spots ahead of soon-to-be HOF TE Jason Witten, who is ranked 50th all-time on the total yards from scrimmage list.

In the NFL, Herschel Walker has a total of 18,168 total yards from scrimmage.

• 1954 rushing attempts for 8,225 yards
• 512 receptions for 4,859 yards
• 215 kick returns for 5,084 yards

If you added his USFL statistics, Herschel Walker would rank #1 on the Total Yards from Scrimmage list with 25,283 yards compiled - 1,743 yards ahead of currently ranked #1 Jerry Rice, and 3,704 yards ahead of currently ranked #2 Emmitt Smith. Even if you exclude his kick return yardage, he would rank 4th all-time, behind Walter Payton with 20,130 Total Yards rushing and receiving.

Walker, even without his USFL statistics currently ranks 45th all time in rushing yards, ahead of HOF players Roger Craig, Larry Czonka, and Terrell Davis. If you add his USFL numbers, he has a total of 13,787 total rushing yards, which would rank him 7th all-time, ahead of HOF RB LaDanian Tomlinson, and just behind HOF RB Curtis Martin. Walker's receiving yards would rank 197th all-time, and his kick return yards would rank 32nd all-time.

In Canton, they call it the Pro Football Hall of Fame, not the NFL Hall of Fame. I'm not sure how they can justify excluding Herschel Walker from among the luminaries inducted into company of legends already included therein.

Nope. They do not include Warren Moon CFL stats and Edmonton Cups. The CFL is a professional football league almost as old as the NFL. I think he would be no.1 or in the top 5-10 passers of all time.

 

[Big_D]

He should be an honorary member in the ROH. He could be inducted on the same day as Jimmy Johnson!

 

[gimmesix]

Disagree. Moon in CFL was a discrimination necessity move. Walker in the USFL was a money move.

Some guys did get in the NFL Hall of Fame after their USFL career. Running back is a short career. He’s the one who chose to go to an upstart league. All those things should have been considered If he was looking for an NFL HOF career.

Hall of Fame shouldn't be based on why you played where you played. It should be based on how you did where you played. If it's going to be the Pro Football Hall of Fame, then it should take into account all his years of playing pro football, and that includes his USFL years.

 

[gimmesix]

Nope. They do not include Warren Moon CFL stats and Edmonton Cups. The CFL is a professional football league almost as old as the NFL. I think he would be no.1 or in the top 5-10 passers of all time.

They don't reference his stats on the hall site, but they do acknowledge his success in the CFL and it was brought up when he was elected to the hall. Although it is called the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it does seem to mainly be that because of the AFL and NFL instead of the other pro leagues. And based on that alone, Walker's numbers would not be good enough to get in.

I can buy the argument, but you should leave out references to other pro leagues then, and you definitely shouldn't mention it as a voter when selecting players for the hall.

 

[eromeopolk]

They don't reference his stats on the hall site, but they do acknowledge his success in the CFL and it was brought up when he was elected to the hall. Although it is called the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it does seem to mainly be that because of the AFL and NFL instead of the other pro leagues. And based on that alone, Walker's numbers would not be good enough to get in.

I can buy the argument, but you should leave out references to other pro leagues then, and you definitely shouldn't mention it as a voter when selecting players for the hall.

Unlike Walker, Moon did enough in the NFL to be in the Hall of Fame. Bud Grant was the same in both CFL and NFL Hall of Fame doing enough in both leagues to make the HOF. Walker just did not do enough in the NFL.

 

[GMO415]

what's also ironic and or funny is the fact that Ezekiel Elliott doesn't get any respect and he's got every bit as good a run stats for his career with a couple of rushing titles added to it not sure if he's ever been an all pro the man had one of the best rookie seasons ever by a Dallas cowboy and yet people in here act like this dude with just some Jag that got a good offensive line and yet here they are arguing for Herschel Walker when I can show you the run stats are almost identical across the board between Elliot and Walker I don't care what he did in the USFL that doesn't count you can't count them I know you want to in your head but that's not the way the NFL works so the OP's gotta calm down with that gotta throw that all away we know that Herschel Walker was a great player the fact is we're sitting here talking about that when Ezekiel elliott's career has been just as good but people just rip on the dude all the time. Just wanna make sure people remember Ezekiel Elliott 's total career numbers right now are actually slightly better than Terrell Davis the difference is the team he was on at the time and they got to play in some Super Bowls but other than that you just go and stats Elliot should be in this conversation if you allow Herschel Walker to be in it especially since the Hall of Fame made a huge mistake putting Sayers in because he had nothing he had no rings no championship pedigree and no stats and somehow off of projections he was put in the Hall of Fame and that is not what the Hall of Fame is for... It's not what you could have done it's not what might have happened it is what happened only.

At least if we traded 21 in his prime we'd get more than Demarco, which was a 5th round player and a box of tampons.

 

[Cowboysheelsreds058]

He should be an honorary member in the ROH. He could be inducted on the same day as Jimmy Johnson!

LOL, stop Big!

 

[gimmesix]

Unlike Walker, Moon did enough in the NFL to be in the Hall of Fame. Bud Grant was the same in both CFL and NFL Hall of Fame doing enough in both leagues to make the HOF. Walker just did not do enough in the NFL.

I don't disagree with that. What I was referencing was that the CFL factored into Moon's selection. But those who say Walker just didn't do enough in the NFL are likely right that it is why he is excluded and Moon isn't. The other leagues only factor in when the player's NFL numbers alone are good enough. Found this from an old The Athletic article:

Other leagues have existed with varying levels of success, but rarely for long. The ecosystem of American football has included the United States Football League of the mid-1980s, the World Football League of the 1970s, and a wild hodgepodge of barnstorming, fly-by-night leagues in the first half of the 20th century.

All of the players, coaches, owners, executives, etc., from those leagues are technically eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but the 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity has been so closely aligned with the NFL since it opened in 1963 that any mostly non-NFL inductee is a rarity. The 49-member selection committee is comprised entirely of media members in NFL cities along with a slate of at-large media folks — some with NFL playing or coaching resumes.

It’s generally understood that anyone from non-NFL leagues must also have had a worthy NFL career to get a bronze bust in Canton, said Rich Desrosiers, the Hall’s chief communications and content officer.

“There were many good players (in other leagues), but in considering them for the Hall of Fame, their resume needs to have shown an extensive career in the NFL, as well,” Desrosiers said.

 

[blueblood70]

At least if we traded 21 in his prime we'd get more than Demarco, which was a 5th round player and a box of tampons.

Well I don't remember the DeMarco release or trade it really was insignificant at the time I think that's the reason we ended up having to take Ezekiel Elliott 4th overall they wanted to get back to a strong run game but here's the issue I know we're talking about Herschel Walker so that big trade launched the 90s Cowboys this is not the 90s running backs are not looked at the same way you are not gonna get a blockbuster trade for a running back like that it's not happening they're barely signing the best running backs now I mean look at the problem say Quan Barclays having trying to get a contract dalvin cook is released lots of other running backs are going to be on there first year deals and maybe one franchise tag and then let go they're being used up and spit out much like DeMarco was..

History is over it's in the review mirror and whatever's happened already could not really have been changed by trading Ezekiel Elliott and like I said look it right now the last couple of years running backs you're not getting anything for them teams are not dumb they're not gonna go give you a bunch for a running back I mean that's why really the state of the league is they've changed their mind on a lot of these trades and not all of them but if you're up in age a little bit even if you have more to give guys like dalvin cook DeAndre Hopkins and others are being released we're not even getting a fifth like we did for amari Cooper which everyone had a big deal made-up that we could have got more no his $22 million and his age and the fact is he may have been a very good to great wide receiver at times but he was not elite or dynamic in any way and that's why CD Lam made him expendable we went cheaper and younger other teams are doing the same thing.

The NFL today players are moving around almost as bad as the NBA which I never thought I'd see happen where players are forcing trades or getting cut early they're being released without getting anything for them... So yeah I don't think this applies the Herschel Walker trade was a whole different animal back then and all I was trying to make a point is people are trying to make a case for Herschel Walker getting to the Hall of Fame you might want to take a look at Ezekiel elliott's numbers because they're as good or even better because if you look at Terrell davis's record that his team record he's just stats and the production Elliot in a lot of ways had better production he's disrespected around here and I don't know why he's the third best running back that ever played for the Dallas Cowboys and all they do is they're upset at him because somehow he didn't carry us to a Super Bowl...

 

[Flamma]

He wasn't close to elite.

You do realize that not everyone shares your opinion, right? Otherwise there would have been no Walker trade.

 

[kskboys]

You do realize that not everyone shares your opinion, right? Otherwise there would have been no Walker trade.

Absolutely. Sorry, Flamm.

Herschel had one great year in the NFL w/ his 1,500 yd season. It was his only great year. That one great year begot us the draft capital that led to 3 super bowls in 4 years.

He never came close to reproducing those results, the closest being his 1,070 yds in 92. There simply doesn't appear to be any greatness to his career.

What is it you're seeing that makes you perceive him as great?

 

[kskboys]

For the most part it used to be all about the numbers but at times sometimes the committee does a head scratcher like Gale Sayers I know people are gonna come in here and probably say he should be in there I don’t know why I don’t think he has any rings didn’t really have any hardware he doesn’t have the stats I don’t get it it was almost like they just decided to put the guy in cause I felt bad for him at the time. I mean seriously the guy had 4900 yards for his career got banged up and couldn’t make it but they were like hey what does use projections no that’s not how it works it leaves the idea open for guys like Herschel Walker even Ezekiel Elliott has the numbers at Terrell Davis production, has better numbers in a lot of cases.. I don’t think he’s going to be considered, how did Gale Sayers get in with 4900 yards?


that’s not how the Hall of Fame should work and most of the time back would need to reach to 10,000 rushing yards ,not scrimmage yards, rushing yards in order to qualify to even be considered for the Hall of Fame or have a bunch of rings on a team where he was considered one of the reasons they were winning.

I'm a huge Sayers fan, but quite simply he didn't play long enough to warrant the HOF. He was great before he got severely hurt.

 

[VaqueroTD]

Unlike Walker, Moon did enough in the NFL to be in the Hall of Fame. Bud Grant was the same in both CFL and NFL Hall of Fame doing enough in both leagues to make the HOF. Walker just did not do enough in the NFL.

Agreed. 50,000 yards for a 28 year old rookie is impressive. And dude was throwing 4000 yards a season before it became something that every quarterback can do with the new rules and offenses.

Warren Moon is a very inspiring story. If they did consider anything from the other league, it was worth it. Guy was blackballed because of prejudice in the 1980s on who should be a quarterback, but wouldn’t give up. Almost makes up for the constant domestic violence charges. (ouch, I said it)