Hall of Fame Class 2015

E5 Yaz

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HOF Class of 2015: Junior Seau, Charles Haley, Tim Brown, Jerome Bettis, Will Shields, Bill Polian, Ron Wolf, Mick Tinglehoff.
 
Final five who made cut to 10 but didn't get in were Kevin Greene, Tony Dungy, Marvin Harrison, Orlando Pace, Kurt Warner
 

sfip

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Get ready for the sports media to be even more unbearable to watch next year when Favre & T.O. are first eligible.
 

E5 Yaz

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The surprise, to me at least, was Orlando Pace not getting in. Thought he was a lock
 

Tito's Pullover

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Overall a good class, but I'm disappointed Tony Dungy made the final 10 over Don Coryell, one of the more influential coaches in NFL history.
 

Oppo

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Man, Seau's kids out there is gut wrenching

I have to believe BB is even pumped
 

Deathofthebambino

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Surprising that Pace didn't get in, but for me, Marvin Harrison is obviously the biggest snub.  Clearly, his not getting in for the 2nd time is a result of his connection to the shootings after his career, for which I'm still confused why he hasn't been charged.  3rd all time in receptions, 5th in receiving touchdowns, 7th in yards.  Still has the record for most receptions in a season (143) and about 20+ other records.  Doesn't get to be more clear cut than that. 
 
I'm also surprised that the all time leading scorer in NFL history still hasn't made it.  In case folks don't know, that's Morten Anderson and his 2,500+ career points.  I think it's very questionable if another kicker ever gets in, until maybe AV gets his chance.  Kickers and punters are players, and deserve the recognition, IMO.  The 5-10x a game they are on the field can result in some of the biggest moments of each game, and I think as the years go on, it's becoming more and more evident just how important the kicking game is to a team's success.
 
Warner not getting in doesn't surprise me at all.  Outside of those three big seasons with St. Louis, he really was not a very good NFL QB.  In fact, if you look at those seasons, only 1 was really amazing.  He's kind of like Terrell Davis (who also didn't get in again) in that sense.  Few great years, and a SB win (or two in TD's case), but not enough longevity to get into the HOF, IMO.
 

bigsid05

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Jerome Bettis is a headscratcher to me. Seems like the writers are really just rewarding longevity there.
 

Dahabenzapple2

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Devizier said:
Wonder if it helps that Bettis moved into the booth after retirement.
All sizzle, little substance behind being a very good running back

HOF?!?!?

A bit more than JAG


Great nickname - lots of misunderstanding then about the impact or lack thereof of running backs

By now, the writers/voters should know better

In before Harrison is silly
 

DJnVa

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bigsid05 said:
Jerome Bettis is a headscratcher to me. Seems like the writers are really just rewarding longevity there.
 
Longevity at his position is really something rare though. If you have it, you will put up big numbers--6th in rushing yards, 10th in rushing TDs. Everyone in the top 10 in both categories is now in except for Tomlinson in yards, and Tomlinson and Sean Alexander in rushing TDs.
 
Who's his MLB equivalent--maybe Rice? Although Bettis is higher up the list in some counting stats.
 

SoxFanInCali

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Deathofthebambino said:
Warner not getting in doesn't surprise me at all.  Outside of those three big seasons with St. Louis, he really was not a very good NFL QB.  In fact, if you look at those seasons, only 1 was really amazing.  He's kind of like Terrell Davis (who also didn't get in again) in that sense.  Few great years, and a SB win (or two in TD's case), but not enough longevity to get into the HOF, IMO.
Well, he is a 2-time MVP, and he put up some pretty crazy numbers at a time when the league let defenses get away with much more than they do today.  He also has very good postseason numbers, including the 3 highest passing yards totals in Super Bowl history.  The longevity issue is a legitimate reason for him not getting in on the first try, but I'd be surprised if he didn't get in eventually.  The whole "stock boy to NFL Champ" story doesn't hurt his chances either.
 

Gunfighter 09

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drleather2001 said:
Tony Dungy shouldn't even sniff the HOF.
 
 
 No shit. See below. 
 
 
jsinger121 said:
Jimmy Johnson got snubbed in my opinion.
 
How does he get in before Bill Cowher, George Seifert or Tom Flores, all of whom have two rings just like Johnson? 
 
Cowher has 65 more wins, one more Super Bowl and a much better winning %. Seifert has two extra years of coaching a much better winning %. Flores has a career as a player that included a probowl and six years as a starting QB. He was also the first minority starting QB and head coach in the modern NFL. Flores first 9 season in Oakland/LA were better than Johnson's in Dallas / Miami, though he three years in Seattle do hurt his winning %. 
 
I think this years list is good, with the exception of Bettis over Pace. It is interesting to me how the voters seemingly have a pact to let one receiver per year in, and this year was Brown's turn, last year was Reed's turn etc. I imagine next year will be Harrison's turn. 
 

E5 Yaz

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Memory refresher
 
Tinglehoff was the veterans candidate ... and long overdue
 
Wolf and Polian were the contributor candidates
 
The Modern Era finalists were  Morten Andersen, Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Don Coryell, Terrell Davis, Tony Dungy, Kevin Greene, Charles Haley, Marvin Harrison, Jimmy Johnson, John Lynch, Orlando Pace, Junior Seau, Will Shields, Kurt Warner.
 

Super Nomario

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Gunfighter 09 said:
 
How does he get in before Bill Cowher, George Seifert or Tom Flores, all of whom have two rings just like Johnson? 
 
Cowher has 65 more wins, one more Super Bowl and a much better winning %
Cowher just has one ring, right (2005)?
 

snowmanny

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Cowher may or may not be fully retired. If they think he's possibly coaching again they are unlikely to consider him for the HOF.
 

Al Zarilla

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Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat said:
I'm glad Haley got it
Writers finally got over his pissing on, or in a teammate's or coach's Corvette or whatever car in the parking lot. Lot of other stories you always heard about him, apparently one crazy mofo. Go ahead and Google if you want. Very disruptive player, only player ever with 5 SB rings. He had been passed over for too long. I'm happy for Tim Brown too. 
 

lexrageorge

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Deathofthebambino said:
 
I'm also surprised that the all time leading scorer in NFL history still hasn't made it.  In case folks don't know, that's Morten Anderson and his 2,500+ career points.  I think it's very questionable if another kicker ever gets in, until maybe AV gets his chance.  Kickers and punters are players, and deserve the recognition, IMO.  The 5-10x a game they are on the field can result in some of the biggest moments of each game, and I think as the years go on, it's becoming more and more evident just how important the kicking game is to a team's success.
 
 
I agree that the bias against kickers being in the Hall is just dumb.  Just like there are great receivers and QB's and bad receivers and QB's, there are great kickers.  And for each Morten Anderson, there are many that barely last a couple of seasons.  If Goodell spent as much time on this issue as he has in DeflateGate, well, never mind....
 

Al Zarilla

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Gunfighter 09 said:
 
 
 
 No shit. See below. 
 
 
 
How does he get in before Bill Cowher, George Seifert or Tom Flores, all of whom have two rings just like Johnson? 
 
Cowher has 65 more wins, one more Super Bowl and a much better winning %. Seifert has two extra years of coaching a much better winning %. Flores has a career as a player that included a probowl and six years as a starting QB. He was also the first minority starting QB and head coach in the modern NFL. Flores first 9 season in Oakland/LA were better than Johnson's in Dallas / Miami, though he three years in Seattle do hurt his winning %. 
 
I think this years list is good, with the exception of Bettis over Pace. It is interesting to me how the voters seemingly have a pact to let one receiver per year in, and this year was Brown's turn, last year was Reed's turn etc. I imagine next year will be Harrison's turn. 
 
I don't think Seifert will ever get close. He'll be forever known as the coach that inherited the teams and the system that the great bill Walsh put together. I mean, a choice of Joe Montana or Steve Young at QB in Seifert's first two years with the team? Give me a break. He also only coached 8 years. Flores has no chance either, IMO.
 

jsinger121

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Al Zarilla said:
I don't think Seifert will ever get close. He'll be forever known as the coach that inherited the teams and the system that the great bill Walsh put together. I mean, a choice of Joe Montana or Steve Young at QB in Seifert's first two years with the team? Give me a break. He also only coached 8 years. Flores has no chance either, IMO.
 
Agree on Seifert. And the Carolina Panthers experience will not help him either.