The list of 2008 Hall of Fame hopefuls was released yesterday and, at 124, sure has a lot of names on it. Wow. You'd think that if a guy is even being considered for the Hall that he'd be a player whose accomplishments are well known and someone who really made an impact on the game. Most of these guys... not so much.
Danny White? Wasn't he the Cowboy who didn't win a Super Bowl? Although, I have to admit that it was because of White that I thought all quarterbacks also had to punt in the early 80s. So, at best White should be in my own personal Hall of Misunderstandings.
Dwight Clark? Does a guy get to go in now because of one game? If so, someone tell Frank Reich he should be expecting a call anyday now.
Reggie Roby? He was on the good Dolphins teams of the 80s, but he only shined because Dan Marino glowed so brightly that everyone else around him looked good, too. Is it because Roby's dead now? Is it because he has an alliterative name? It can't be because of his punting.
Of interest to Buccaneer fans are Doug Williams, Lomas Brown, Hardy Nickerson, Randall McDaniel and Roby, none of whom will sniff the Hall. I love Doug and would really like to see him make it, but unless he goes in because he was the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl, he doesn't have the numbers. His sub-50% career completion rate and his 100 TDs to 96 INTs will probably outweigh his leadership skills and toughness. I think in the Hall of Fame, you have to have it all. Brown played a long time and helped run-block for Barry Sanders, so that helps. But offensive linemen are generally overlooked in the Hall. Same goes for McDaniel, even though he was the better player. Nickerson has the best argument to admission because he played consistently excellent throughout his entire career and was a major part of the 1999 Buccaneer defense. But my bet is that no Buccaneer makes it into the Hall until five years after Derrick Brooks retires.
Nominees where it shouldn't even be up for debate: Roger Craig, Cliff Branch, Art Monk, Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby, Gary Zimmerman, Sam Mills, Derrick Thomas, Lester Hayes, Darrell Green, Ray Guy, Steve Tasker, Don Coryell and Ed Sabol.
Comments (4)
Did I hear right is Paul Tagliabu in that list of inductees for the H.O.F.? If I heard right, why would he be in it?What exactly did he do to deserve a spot in the H.O.F.! I know that S.O.B. changed the aints sched. which I could have had a chance to see my BUCS play here in my home town of San Antonio,Tx during the whole KATRINA thing.Instaed I got to go watch aints vs falcons!Ufortunately I cannot afford to attend a Game in Tampa so this tear I will try to make it to Houston to watch our BUCS destroy the TEXANS. GO BUCS GO!!!!!!!
Posted by Rudyg | October 31, 2007 5:26 PM
I'll be casting my vote for Coach McKay, because he gave the best quotes.
Oh wait, he's not on the list. Also, now that I think about it, I don't have a vote. Shit suckers like "Ms. Tom Brady" Peter King and the senile, cranky Dr. Z(orro) get votes, but I don't.
Posted by Matt Price | October 31, 2007 8:21 PM
Rudyg, I will never understand why that game was played in New York and still called a home game for the Saints. Many have speculated that the league has a Giants bias, and using GIANTS Stadium for a SAINTS home game lends some credibility to that.
Matt, I guess they use the media to select Hall of Famers because they're supposed to be impartial? I don't have a better solution right now, but there has to be one. When you start seeing ancillary Patriots like Rosevelt Colvin or Kevin Faulk getting serious consideration in the next ten years, you'll know the system is totally fucked and will be getting an overhaul.
Posted by Scott
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November 1, 2007 8:23 AM
Uh, there are no such thing as ancillary Patriots. At least not according to SI.
How's this for a better system, let every player and former player vote for players. And let every coach, past and present, vote for coaches. Just keep the five years out of the game to let the marketing hype and the grudges die down before the person can be voted in.
This plan would wipe out geographic biases, team biases, and different-era biases since the players are from all eras, all schools, and played for all teams.
Also, unlike pro bowl voting, this would not be a popularity contest because most of those voting would never have played with or against any particular candidate.
This is better than letting a bunch of fuddy northeasterners make all the selections isn't it?
Posted by Matt Price | November 1, 2007 1:39 PM