Terrell Davis - Hall of Fame Worthy?

[aikemirv]

I just don't see it. He had 3 very good years followed by great years from RB's that we know are average who performed almost as well behind that line.

I just don't see it and don't really think he should be a semifinalist.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Considering what other Running Backs have done in that system, I have vote Nay.

 

[zrinkill]

No ....

 

[khiladi]

I just don't see it. He had 3 very good years followed by great years from RB's that we know are average who performed almost as well behind that line.

I just don't see it and don't really think he should be a semifinalist.

Uh, he also was a heavy part in them winning them 2 Superbowls. John Elway couldn't do it with TD, and if TD didn't get injured, he would have put up incredible numbers throughout his career. One more point...

Emmitt Smith had one of the greatest OL in history when it came to run blocking.

 

[aikemirv]

Uh, he also was a heavy part in them winning them 2 Superbowls. John Elway couldn't do it with TD, and if TD didn't get injured, he would have put up incredible numbers throughout his career. One more point...

Emmitt Smith had one of the greatest OL in history when it came to run blocking.

Emmitt did it for how many years.

Don't even bring Emmitt into the comparison.

Portis averaged 5.5 behind the Denver line and 4.0 since leaving.

We were 0-3 when Emmitt held out that one year.

Mike Anderson averaged 5.0 and had 15 TD's in 2000 behind that line - what else has he done?

 

[khiladi]

Emmitt did it for how many years.

Don't even bring Emmitt into the comparison.

And TD got injured and couldn't play anymore. He was forced into retirement. What is your point?

Emmitt also played behind a great line, so to de-value what TD did, based upon the line, is pretty ridiculous. Further, TD got progressively better each year before injury. Not only that, he caught the ball out of the backfield, and averaged around 7.5+ yards per carry, before injury. Emmitt never had a 2000 yard season.

The point is, if TD was still healthy, he would have probably been right up there with the greats. He took Elway over the edge, and won 2 SBs in the process.

Portis averaged 5.5 behind the Denver line and 4.0 since leaving.

1. Portis is a damn good back, and the Commanders win, when he runs well. The first 2 years with the Commanders, he averaged over 1400 yards, averaging around 4.1 YPC. The problem in 2006 was injuries, and this year he is spelled by Betts, which lowers his numbers. He also plays on a team QB'd by Jason Campbell. But his career average is actually better than Emmit's by .4 yards.

2. Emmitt Smith, behind the Arizona Cardinals averaged around 3 yards per carry, and after they won their last SB, his average dropped to around 4 yards per carry. That correlated with their losing key OL. And the Commanders were just as pathetic as the Cardinals for a majority of those years. They had an aging Brunell who couldn't throw more than 30 yards downfield.

None of this means I'm playing down Emmitt, who is one of the greatest RBs of all time. But facts are facts... TD was a damn good runner.

 

[Rack]

Considering what other Running Backs have done in that system, I have vote Nay.

Anyone that thinks TD is hall of fame worthy is absolutely completely CLUELESS.

 

[hermitkid]

I think he's worthy, but due to how short his career was I don't think he should make it. Definitely not on the first year of eligibility. Longevity to me is just as much as a factor as the standout performances and awards collected by the players.

Dickerson to me would be a borderline candidate as well, but he was such a standout player and didn't necessarily have the talent level around him that Davis did.

As others have mentioned there's also the fact that the system was so running back friendly. During the time Davis was playing, and even the seasons following his retirement, Denver seemingly was able to plug in one 1000 yard rusher after another.

 

[joseephuss]

What is a Hall of Famer? To me it is a guy that does two things. One is have a big impact and two has good longevity.

A guy like Terrell Davis had the big impact. He had a 2000 yard season and led the Broncos to two SB titles. Due to injuries he did not play that long at a high level. Essentially his career is 4 years.

Someone like Eddie George had good longevity, but really was not a huge impact. He never had a season where he averaged 100 yards rushing per game(a 1600 yard season) and most of the time he averaged less than 4 yards per carry.

Guys like Emmitt and Walter did both. They had great individual seasons and played a long time. Not even just playing a long time, but put together some decent seasons even later in their careers.

It sucks that TD suffered major injuries. He very well could have put together several more good to great years if healthy, but the fact is he did suffer injuries that limited his career. It is not his fault, but it happened. To me four very good years(7 years total) is not enough to make the HoF as a running back. Not when there have been several of his contemporaries producing more than he did. His 7607 career rushing yards ranks him 42nd all time and does not look too impressive when you see contemporaries like Warrick Dunn, Eddie George, Ricky Watters and oft injured Fred Taylor gaining over 10,000. I would not put those guys in the HoF, either.

 

[joseephuss]

I think he's worthy, but due to how short his career was I don't think he should make it. Definitely not on the first year of eligibility. Longevity to me is just as much as a factor as the standout performances and awards collected by the players.

Dickerson to me would be a borderline candidate as well, but he was such a standout player and didn't necessarily have the talent level around him that Davis did.

As others have mentioned there's also the fact that the system was so running back friendly. During the time Davis was playing, and even the seasons following his retirement, Denver seemingly was able to plug in one 1000 yard rusher after another.

Eric Dickerson is a borderline candidate? The guy that ranks 6th all time in rushing and 11th in yards from scrimmage. The guy that rushed for 1000 yards in each of his first 8 seasons(Terrell Davis played 7 seasons total). The guy that set the rookie record for most yards rushing. The guy that set the single season record for most yards rushing. The guy that set the playoff record for most yards rushing in a game.. He played in 6 seasons where he averaged over 100 yards per game.

You are a harsh evaluator.

 

[Mavs Man]

As an aside about one Emmitt Smith, saying he played on some great teams and great offensive lines and that explains his numbers...

Here are the records for his playing career with the Cowboys:

90: 7-9
91: 11-5
92: 13-3
93: 12-4
94: 12-4
95: 12-4
96: 10-6
97: 6-10
98: 10-6
99: 8-8
00: 5-11
01: 5-11
02: 5-11

We were very good for only a six year stretch, and had a winning record only 7 out of 13 years in his Cowboys career. How are the rest of those years explained?

 

[Mavs Man]

Eric Dickerson is a borderline candidate? The guy that ranks 6th all time in rushing and 11th in yards from scrimmage. The guy that rushed for 1000 yards in each of his first 8 seasons(Terrell Davis played 7 seasons total). The guy that set the rookie record for most yards rushing. The guy that set the single season record for most yards rushing. The guy that set the playoff record for most yards rushing in a game.. He played in 6 seasons where he averaged over 100 yards per game.

You are a harsh evaluator.

That Dan Marino guy was okay.

 

[burmafrd]

If any RB is a slam dunk besides Emmitt its Dickerson. He was devastating for multiple years. When he retired he was I think 4th, or something like that. ANYONE questioning HIS credentials for the HOF has NO CREDIBILITY AT ALL.

 

[jksmith269]

Uh, he also was a heavy part in them winning them 2 Superbowls. John Elway couldn't do it with TD, and if TD didn't get injured, he would have put up incredible numbers throughout his career. One more point...

Emmitt Smith had one of the greatest OL in history when it came to run blocking.

OK just gotta pipe in here... TD was injury prone... His entire HS and College career he had injuries so his time with the Broncos was just what it was... The Broncos knew what they had and a good idea that he would have a very short career...

TD Does not deserve to be in the HOF he had a couple good years thats it... IF every runing back that had a few good years made it into the hall then there would be nothing but RB's in the HOF...

 

[03EBZ06]

Terrell Davis - Hall of Fame Worthy?

No, too short of career to consider him for HOF.

 

[burmafrd]

He did not electrify the crowds the way Gale Sayers did. Gale Sayers was the greatest open field runner I ever saw. Got a chance back in the early 80's to watch some game films of Sayers- he was incredible. He had the shortest career of any RB who is in the HOF. TD was not that good.

 

[Nors]

He is worthy of consideration. Very dominant but career shortened due to injury.

If I had a vote I'd say No.