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

[john van brocklin]

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.

I believe so...

 

[kskboys]

People really under rate Walker's USFL career. How can you ignore 2411 rushing yards in 18 games? Some claim "well, Dickerson had 2105 in 16 game, and Walker had an extra 2 games."

Think about what that means, though. If Walker had the same amount of yards as Dickerson did at 16 games (2100) then that means Walker averaged 150 yards per game with is extra two games. He also averaged 5.5 yards per carry over that span and rushed for 21 TDs.

25283 all purpose yards.
145 TDs.
The single greatest rushing season in pro football history.
The trade that lead to the team of the 1990s.

Walker is critical to the history of the league and much lesser careers and players have been inducted to the HoF. Walker belongs.

Easy to run the ball when the defenders you're running against are NFL castoffs.

 

[atlantacowboy]

No. His biggest impact to the NFL was accepting the trade to MN.

 

[FVSTONE]

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.

Hell to the NO! He didn't do anything in the NFL to gain entry into the HOF. Walker is what Prescot is today and that is a stat machine with no real results.

 

[OmerV]

So the real question seems to be, should usfl stats count? I say no.

It's the Pro Football HOF, not the NFL HOF, so I would say it's hard to argue that pro football stats should be excluded. I do, however, think USFL stats should carry less weight than NFL stats, so the question is whether to give the USFL stats enough weight to make up any shortfall in his NFL stats

 

[OmerV]

Hell to the NO! He didn't do anything in the NFL to gain entry into the HOF. Walker is what Prescot is today and that is a stat machine with no real results.

So, Barry Sanders shouldn't be in?

 

[Acceptablename]

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.

No

 

[ghst187]

Yes. If for no other reason what he did for the Cowboys.

I'll admit I panicked when he got traded.

Yep, his trade changed the entire landscape of the league.
Also, he has the best quote ever…when asked how he could carry the ball 30x per game, he said…”the ball ain’t heavy”

 

[FVSTONE]

So, Barry Sanders shouldn't be in?

Barry's entire career was with the lowly Lions and he gave his heart and sole to that team. Walker on the other hand followed the money in a lousy league that carried maybe two to three players who could start in the NFL. The bulk of his stats were against against players who couldn't make an NFL club.

 

[Pass2Run]

Walker should be in because Warren Moon is. They clearly considered Moon's CFL success when deciding to put him in the hall. However, Hall voters are an inconsistent bunch in their rationale.

You're telling me Warren Moon is in, which I agree, he should be in (lower threshold but in), and Darren Woodson is not?

That's criminal. Darren Woodson was better at his position than Warren Moon was at his.

Hershel should be in just because of who he was during his time, and how he played and trained.

 

[gimmesix]

Is it the Pro Football HOF, and not NFL, to recognize the AFL though? I believe that it likely the origin of the name.

Yeah, the more I look into it, the more it seems that it's the Pro Football Hall of Fame because of the AFL-NFL merger. Because they merged into the NFL, though, they should have still just called in the NFL Hall of Fame. Would have eliminated any debates like this one over whether other leagues' stats should count when considering a player.

As I said previously, even with Warren Moon (whom I brought up as an example of why Walker should be in), the Pro Football Hall of Fame only lists his NFL stats. It mentions his CFL success but just in passing. ... So I guess I've essentially changed my mind since my first post and don't think Walker should be in if they are just using AFL-NFL criteria.

 

[Kwyn]

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.

If the NFL has any consideration for other leagues, then this is a no brained.

Herschel is a legend.

 

[joseephuss]

Is it the Pro Football HOF, and not NFL, to recognize the AFL though? I believe that it likely the origin of the name.

And the All-America Football Conference which produced the Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers.

 

[joseephuss]

Herschel Walker is not a Hall of Famer in my opinion. He was very good, but he didn't play at a high enough level for a long enough time to be HoF worthy. I appreciate what he did in the USFL, but that shouldn't matter.

I do think his first 3 years in Dallas were fantastic. He had 1574 scrimmage yards his first year. That ranked 7th in the league. He managed that while splitting time with Tony Dorsett. His second season he led the league with 1606 yards from scrimmage. He accomplished that in just 12 games due to the lockout and also still splitting time with Dorsett. His third season he finished 2nd in rushing and 3rd in scrimmage yards. He was off to a great start to his NFL career and then the trade happened. The Vikings gave up a lot and then decided to not give the ball to Walker 20+ times a game from the backfield. A terrible strategy. The fact they put him in as their kick returner clearly illustrated the coaches were not on the same page with management. Plus the Vikings weren't really just one player away from being a Superbowl winning team at the time. Very good, but not great team. Even adding a top notch QB at that time wouldn't have guaranteed them winning anything. Walker was still a solid player, but he didn't do the great things required to become a Hall of Famer after leaving the Cowboys.

It is naive to think that some HoF voters didn't consider what Moon did in the CFL when they were voting for him. It wasn't needed. He had a great career. At the time he retired he was 20th in passer rating, 3rd in TD passes and 3rd in passing yards. If CFL stats or any other leagues stats were that influential, then Doug Flutie would be in the HoF. Warren Moon always came across as a QB Tom Landry would have liked coachiing. Strong armed guy who would stand tall in the pocket.

 

[Established1971]

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.

despite the name its the NFL Hall of Fame

 

[PA Cowboy Fan]

despite the name its the NFL Hall of Fame

Then they should remove all the players who played most of their years in the AFL. At one time everyone thought that was a minor league and it probably was for a good part of it.l

 

[OmerV]

Barry's entire career was with the lowly Lions and he gave his heart and sole to that team. Walker on the other hand followed the money in a lousy league that carried maybe two to three players who could start in the NFL. The bulk of his stats were against against players who couldn't make an NFL club.

Your argument was that Herschal was a stat machine with no results. I assumed by "results" you meant team success rather than individual success. That clearly would apply to Sanders.

I agree completely that isn't a fair way to judge Sanders. I'm just saying it's also not fair to selectively use that as the standard. In short, there are always multiple factors that have to be considered, some of which you pointed out in this post.

 

[kskboys]

Your argument was that Herschal was a stat machine with no results. I assumed by "results" you meant team success rather than individual success. That clearly would apply to Sanders.

I agree completely that isn't a fair way to judge Sanders. I'm just saying it's also not fair to selectively use that as the standard. In short, there are always multiple factors that have to be considered, some of which you pointed out in this post.

Herschel's stats, aside from that one year w/ us, were very ordinary for an NFL running back. Only 2 thousand yard seasons. And the 2nd one was barely over a grand.

Stats are one of the things keeping him out.

 

[OmerV]

Herschel's stats, aside from that one year w/ us, were very ordinary for an NFL running back. Only 2 thousand yard seasons. And the 2nd one was barely over a grand.

Stats are one of the things keeping him out.

I don't disagree. In some of my earlier posts in this thread I said his USFL stats would have to be considered for him to have a chance

 

[blueblood70]

Your argument was that Herschal was a stat machine with no results. I assumed by "results" you meant team success rather than individual success. That clearly would apply to Sanders.

I agree completely that isn't a fair way to judge Sanders. I'm just saying it's also not fair to selectively use that as the standard. In short, there are always multiple factors that have to be considered, some of which you pointed out in this post.

I think people keep overlooking this I mean zeke has good enough stats if we're talking about comparing him to Herschel Walker and comparing him to other players with similar stats but no championship or Super Bowl rings to go with it.. I mean zeke's played what four last years and still above Herschel walkers NFL production so I'd say he's out unless they're both considered in as good as Derek Henry's been how long do you think he's going to play he and alligator or tied right now or at least really close??

we can't put Sanders in this debate because Sanders literally retired he could have been the number one overall running back as far as yards go but quit just short..he most likely gets in as hes 4th all time still being out that lone. Gores the only one that passed him all this time hes been retired. THey both nearly have double the walker production.

Herschel Walker in the NFL doesn't have enough stats to even get close to Barry Sanders, people going to stop adding his USFL stats cause that don't count. I mean Ezekiel Elliot could have an argument that his Ohio State University teams were as good as those USFL teams and he put up back-to-back 1800 yards in college dropping 200 yard games in the college playoffs...

What scratches my head is how did the league allow Gale Sayers to be in he has none of the above he doesn't have gaudy stats he doesn't have any playoff pedigree he doesn't have any championships or rings to go with it no team success this guys Stats were not impressive to me ..

So when they open the door and allow guys in over potential then they have to consider other guys..

sayers is 156 on the run yards list Russel Wilson, yes a QB has more bet there are other qbs with more..how he got it in just popularity vote.