AbeBeta
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Ashwynn said:Aber, are you saying there is no bias against the boys? Just asking cause I was not clear from reading your post.
In the by-laws, it says they are not to consider off field stuff, only on the field performances. Irving should be a 1st ballot by his numbers, his superbowl victories, his on the field leadership. What did he not have that keeps him out of the hall?
Are you of the mind that off-field incidents should play into the voters decision?
I do not think there is clear evidence of bias. Rayfield Wright is the guy most folks point to -- but lots of OL guys got screwed -- it is hard for voters to judge without film and a statistical record (or Madden to tell them who is good).
I think that regardless of what the by laws say, voters will be impacted by off the field issues -- when guys are borderline, they aren't going to get the benefit of the doubt. Really this comes down to a simple problem of human decision making -- there is a ton of research showing that folks just can't ignore information even when explicitly told to do so.
As for what keeps Irvin out of the hall -- and for the record I think he should be in -- I see it more as his early exit from the league -- that puts him in a spot where he doesn't have the most impressive stats -- that makes him borderline in many voters' minds -- and as a borderline guy with "issues" he's not going to get the benefit of the doubt.
Of course, 88's #s are deceptive -- he isn't top 10 in yards (#14) or receptions (#18) -- but the margin between him and the top 10 guys is tiny -- another couple of mediocre seasons and he's well into the top 10 there. Also, he's got a full season of post-season games (16) with he went 87-1314-8 -- to me that should put him over the top.