Patriots Hall of Fame 2017

[tims4wins]

Clayborn, Seymour, and Vrabel are the finalists.

Personally I'd vote for Vrabel. Both Vrabel and Seymour were in NE from 2001-2008. Vrabel played almost a full season more than Seymour due to Seymour's injuries (125 vs. 111). Also, Vrabel just had so many big plays in huge moments - multiple TD catches in the Super Bowl, pressure on Warner on the Law pick-six, strip sack of Delhomme, etc. It's harder to remember huge plays from Seymour - he blocked a FG vs. the Titans in the freezing divisional game, think he sacked Warner once, believe he made a huge play on the 3rd and 1 Zack Crockett run - big plays, but not on the same level.

Anyway, have at it.

 

[RG33]

Vrabel and Seymour are both worthy in my opinion -- tough choice.

Different positions, but for some reference in their time with the Patriots:

Vrabel:
47 Sacks
411 tackles
11 INTs
13 Forced fumbles
5 fumble recovers
10 career receptions with 10 TDs
1 Pro Bowl
1 All Pro

Seymour:
39 sacks
223 tackles
2 INTs
3 forced fumbles
6 fumble recoveries
5 Pro Bowls
3 All Pros

On a relative basis for their positions, I think Seymour was more dominant/impactful (as the PBs and APs demonstrate) and would probably lean towards him.

 

[RG33]

Interesting factoid on Raymond Clayborn: he lead the league in Kickoff Return average in 1977 -- with 31.0 yards per KR -- and had 3 TDs, the longest a 101 yard return -- also both leading the league in 1977.

I never knew that.

 

[Vinho Tinto]

For a guy who didn't make a lot of big plays, Seymour made a lot of Pro Bowls (Plus three first team All Pros). Maybe it was reputation or maybe they played different positions. Vrabel was a marginal DE for the Steelers before becoming a play making LB for the Patriots. I have no doubt that if Seymour had to drop weight and play OLB he would have been a play maker.

Vrabel has the weakest resume of the three, but he'll probably get in since team hall of fames are strictly for the fans and he was a popular player on winning teams.

 

[tims4wins]

I loved Seymour. I had his jersey from 2002 until he was traded. But I agree that Vrabel has more of a connection with the fans, partially because of how Seymour ended up being traded. We have a perception, right or wrong, that Seymour was going to ask for more money than he was worth at the time, and that didn't sit well.

 

[Saints Rest]

Clayborn and Seymour were the better players (both made All-Pro, not just Pro Bowl, 3x); Vrabel was the more popular so he will get in.

 

[Caspir]

Clayborn and Seymour were the better players (both made All-Pro, not just Pro Bowl, 3x); Vrabel was the more popular so he will get in.

I don't disagree at all with the conclusion that Seymour and Clayborn were better than Vrabel on the balance, but Vrabel was a 1st Team All Pro in 2007. From a franchise standpoint, which might be more indicative of team HOF status, Vrabel is also a member of the Patriots 50th Anniversary Team, where Clayborn* and Seymour were just honorable mentions.

*Clayborn is a starter on the 35th Anniversary Team, but there's a lot of shitty years to go through to find players from seasons prior to 1994 to choose from.

 

[tims4wins]

Vrabel also switched to ILB in 2005 after the Monty Beisel disaster. Team player.

 

[tims4wins]

Hypothetical: say Vrabel had been named the MVP of 38 (strip sack, TD catch). Would that impact anyone's vote?

 

[Saints Rest]

I don't disagree at all with the conclusion that Seymour and Clayborn were better than Vrabel on the balance, but Vrabel was a 1st Team All Pro in 2007. From a franchise standpoint, which might be more indicative of team HOF status, Vrabel is also a member of the Patriots 50th Anniversary Team, where Clayborn* and Seymour were just honorable mentions.

*Clayborn is a starter on the 35th Anniversary Team, but there's a lot of shitty years to go through to find players from seasons prior to 1994 to choose from.

Were those teams also voted on by fans? I can't remember.

I think Clayborn is in the conversation with Ty Law for second best Patriot CB of all time.

Seymour is in the conversation for best Patriot DL of all time.

Vrabel is the best Patriot pass-catching LB of all time. But I don't think he is Top 5 (maybe not even top 10) of LBs, though he might be top 3 of OLBs

 

[E5 Yaz]

Is there a separate category for Patriots from earlier eras? Because guys like Clayborn and Leon Gray, for example, are going to lose out repeatedly in fan voting to members of the Super Bowl teams -- when they really should be in the team Hall already

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Seymour was inactive

 

[8slim]

Very surprised that Clayborn isn't already in.

 

[Curt S Loew]

Still no nomination for Parcells or his one game wonder.

 

[moondog80]

Still no nomination for Parcells or his one game wonder.

Doesn't Parcells still work for the Dolphins? Could that have something to do with it? Not out of spite or anything, but just better to wait? Or is there a precedent that contradicts this?

 

[Papelbon's Poutine]

Doesn't Parcells still work for the Dolphins? Could that have something to do with it? Not out of spite or anything, but just better to wait? Or is there a precedent that contradicts this?

No. He is an 'unofficial consultant' to the Cleveland Browns.

 

[Mugsy's Walk-Off Bunt]

Seymour didn't have the stats, due in large part to the role he played on the D here. Teams had to game plan for very few specific players on the New England defense and he was undeniably one of them. He was a clearly superior player to Vrabel. That said, Vrabel made more big, obvious plays - more likely for a guy in his role - and both are deserving. My guess is Vrabel gets in, Clayborn is eventually voted in and Seymour makes it within the next few years. High class "problems."

I LOVE THIS TEAM.

 

[Oppo]

Vrabel is one of the most Patriot-y players of all time. From the scrap heap to SB cornerstone, played all over the field defensively, 10 TD receptions, big plays in big moments.
While Seymour may have been better at his position in a vacuum, the Pats HoF is built for guys like vrabel, bruschi, and brown.

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

Would like to see Clayborn get in now. The other two should get in eventually. (I think - I have no idea how it works but I'm assuming they will have more chances.)

 

[tims4wins]

Clayborn wins. Wow. Good for him.

 

[E5 Yaz]

Clayborn wins. Wow. Good for him.

Excellent news indeed

Mike Reiss ESPN Staff Writer
Cornerback Raymond Clayborn was voted by fans as the 2017 Patriots Hall of Fame inductee, as he beat out defensive tackle Richard Seymour and linebacker Mike Vrabel. Clayborn played for the Patriots from 1977-1989. This was Clayborn's fourth year as a finalist, and while he seemed to face longer odds against the other finalists (Richard Seymour, Mike Vrabel), he might have benefited from a split vote between those modern-era players.


Most surprising thing to me? Jim Nance wasn't elected until 2009

http://www.patriots.com/news/2017/05/22/raymond-clayborn-elected-patriots-hall-fame

 

[dbn]

I certainly don't remember him as well as I do Seymour or Vrabel, but I grew up on the '80s teams (born in 1974) so I have a nostalgia for those teams/players.

Good for him.

 

[Just a bit outside]

He made a great tandem with Haynes for a few years.

 

[dbn]

Just read this on ESPN.com. Seems very humble and cool.

http://www.espn.com/blog/new-england-patriots/post/_/id/4803347/raymond-clayborn-totally-surprised-by-patriots-hall-of-fame-honor

edit: link in the above liked-to story to Patriot's official site with cameras in his home. A bit staged-ish, but whatever. Again, humble, nice guy vibe. I'm happy for him.