One might characterize your comparison of Harold Carmichael to Cliff Branch as being the difference between a possession receiver and a deep threat. I think there’s a place for both types of WRs in the HoF.

Most guys today don’t come close with the GREAT Cris Carter at 12.6 and catching about 1,000 5 yd passes. How hard is it for a Pro to catch a 5yd pass and a 6’3″ guy to out jump a Corner 3 or4 inches shorter in the end zone? The WR position has changed so much since the 1980′s and the use of West Coast Offense. It’s more difficult to compare WR stats in relation to their greatness now. With the stats going up and up at some point the voters will leave some high stat guys out of the HOF like Vinny and Bledsoe at QB.

Cliff Branch was a spectacular WR along with the likes of Mel Gray, Roger Carr and Harold Jackson. All were known for catching the bomb and routinely would be seen on Howard Cosell’s Halftime clips on Monday Night Football.

I personally think if the duo of Swann and Stallworth belong in the HOF than Biletnikoff and Branch belong too.

And how about getting one of Roger Staubach’s WR’s in the HOF? Drew Pearson belongs!! Harold Charmichael was the least flashy WR IMO in all of football. At 6’8″ it was hard to keep him from catching a jump ball. Imagine when he went up against Perry and Thomas two of the better CB’s who played for the Rams. Both were 5’9″ bookends. I’m not sure he belongs in the HOF? He was good after the catch and did run nice routes. I think he was better than Plaxico Burress. I think others should go before him. Comparing him to Branch is like apples to watermellons.

The Steelers wouldn’t of won the SB’s without Hines Ward. He a rare breed of toughness at WR that along with Big Ben gives the Steelers O an energy to feed off of that helps them win the close games. He’s also so clutch!! He’s got good stats but he’s one of those guys you have to see play over a long time to appreciate. It will be interesting if the voters appreciate his intangibles.

I would definetly vote Ward into the HOF but it might be tough to pick him over another WR with huge stats. Based on Swann’s low stats it certianly seems possible to look at style over sheer numbers. Not sure about today’s WR’s though?

Maybe many times WR’s get excuded from the HOF because like I heard a WR say, his job is to be there to bail out the QB if needed. Many times the WR isn’t involved heavily in the plays unless you have a real go to “Rice or Owens type” that is so great when he touches the ball that much of the Offense must go through that one WR. That’s the only theory I can think of for their not being more WR’s in the HOF. WR is not considered a vitale position due to lack of touches. A Punter many times touches the ball more in a game.

Cliff Branch is stuck in a logjam of 70s WRs with similar numbers, Harold Jackson, Drew Pearson, and Harold Carmichael most notably. Am guessing the HoF voters can’t decide who to elevate in out of this group, so they haven’t elected anybody.

Lynn Swann is arguably one of the weakest players in the HoF. His career is short and his numbers aren’t the best. Swann, like Paul Hornung, likely transcended “Hall of the Very Good” numbers and got elected because of postseason success otherwise reserved for QBs such as Bobby Layne, Terry Bradshaw, Troy Aikman, etc. Perhaps not surprisingly, Swann holds the record for being a HoF finalist the most times before being voted in at 14. And please note that any argument comparing your favorite HoF snub to one of the weakest players in is a poor argument for that snubbed player.

0/4. 842 receptions, 10,382 receiving yards, and 74 receiving TD’s(75 total). The kicker for him is the Super Bowl MVP and 2 Super Bowl rings. 4 Pro Bowls is pretty low. And he has no 1st team All Pro selection either. He is still producing good numbers. He could end up like Andre Reed, who keeps waiting for his chance. Andre is a 0/7. Or they(the voters) can see pace the stats, as in, his blocking skills. He is one of the best blockers in the NFL non Lineman type. They made a rule after him. I think he gets in one of these days.

Cliff Branch: 3/4. 501 receptions, 8,685 receiving yards, and 67 receiving TD’s. 3 Super Bowl Rings. 501 receptions is low, but so do Bob Hayes(371) and John Stallworth(537). Honestly, I dont know if he will get in. Here is a list of players who in my mind are ahead of Cliff: Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens, Cris Carter, Randy Moss, Andre Reed, Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt.

When will Boomer Esiason get in!!!!!!!!! hahaha