The best argument for Herschel Walker, and it’s not an entirely unreasonable one to make either, is his lifetime total yardage stats while in the NFL, which are more impressive than some remember. And note well that any USFL player in the PFHoF would likely be in even if one only takes their NFL stats into account. One can legitimately argue that the USFL’s level of play was sufficiently weak that any numbers put up there are suspect.

Jim Marshall’s Career AV is 107 and that ranks 83rd all time since 1950. He only made the Pro Bowl 2 times and he has no 1st Team APs.

What does this Career AV mean?

The only reason that I have trouble adding his KR stats into the consideration (at least at the same value as rushing stats) is that even an average KR is going to get 18-22 yards on average per kick return. It’s the same reason that I look at a Brian Mitchell’s career yardage total and say “Meh” when it comes to HOF consideration for him.

As for an award for the longest, most verbose comment in our history…I think you might be close, but you’d have to see some of the posts on our Hall of Fame threads–Tony Parslow in particular would probably give you a run for your money…

I hope you’ll add Zoneblitz to your regularly read blog list–I added Frumpzilla to my RSS reader…even though your affliction with NC State bothers me (being a Gophers fan, I wasn’t shocked by the 2000 Micron PC Bowl second half, but I still hold it against them–that and Koren Robinson’s driving habits on the streets of Minnesota…)

The all-purpose yardage is relevant, IMO, when you consider the fact (also highlighted in the article) that Dorsett has nearly 1,000 more career carries than Walker, despite the same number of NFL seasons, and their YPC is a wash (4.3 to 4.2, respectively). It’s not expressly stated in the argument, but the implication was supposed to question the dynamics of how players are utilized, or perhaps under utilized, and, more importantly, how pundits/voters subsequently view, weigh and analyze the corresponding statistical output.

When you consider Dorsett’s team situations compared to Walker’s, and the fact that Tony has only 6 more TD’s (despite, again, the 982 more carries), it becomes even more interesting. The point of it all being, of course: No one would ever really question that Tony Dorsett is a sure fire HOFer…so why does someone that was, at worst, ultimately quite statistically similar never receive even remote consideration?

I hesitated including the USFL aspect to the piece, because I knew it would open the door to arguments and diversions that really don’t strike the heart of the matter, IMO. I obviously don’t think Herschel’s USFL stats should be taken into consideration for purposes of The Hall, at least not directly. After all, for purposes of acknowledging the disparity in competition, I did suggest to cut them in half. I also alluded to the question of whether they’re even necessary to make him a legitimate candidate (given the comparison to Tony, amongst other things I didn’t delve into). Still, I think they are important in the sense that, if nothing else, they serve as a tragic reminder of what might have been.

I mean, in retrospect, the poor guy essentially wasted 3 of his prime production years (especially for RB’s), because of a failed business model (to the victors go the spoils, I suppose). Sure, he only has himself to blame for that, and it will in all likelihood end up costing him a spot in Canton, but still…given how marginal a candidate he is, I think it’s worth noting.

Now, onto this something called Zoneblitz.com. If I don’t win the award for longest, most verbose comment in the site’s history, I’m going to be bitterly disappointed . Thanks again for reading.

CAN YOU BELIEVE THE GREED OF SOME OF THESE TEAMS WITH NEW STADIUMS? THEY ARE ALLREADY GETTING MORE REVENUE FROM MORE COPORATE SUITES!!!!!!!

NOT TO MENTION MORE TV, ENDORSEMENT, AND OTHER SOURCES (I READ THE GIANTS WILL BE GETTING A NICE CUT OF ALL FUTURE EVENTS HELD AT THE NEW STADIUM INCLUDING CONCERTS!!! SEE IF BON JOVI WILL GIVE HIS STADIUM OPENING PROCEEDS TO THE PSL FEES!!!

Here’s how I see it. Both Sayers and Davis played for 7 seasons. Sayers has a career that encompasses 5 excellent years and 2 useless one. Davis has 4 excellent years, one okay year, and 2 useless ones. That already puts Davis behind Sayers a bit. And the separation gets larger when you add in that Davis did not return kicks while Sayers was an elite-level kick returner. Plus Sayers never got the chance to play in the postseason.

Davis certainly has a HoF case if you value short peaks and very short careers. Myself, I won’t be distressed if he gets elected someday, but I won’t consider it a travesty of justice if he’s left out. Part of the problem here is that post-50s short career players haven’t fared well in HoF voting in past with a few notable exceptions: Sayers, Earl Campbell, and Dwight Stephenson, for three. Note that Dick Stanfel and Mac Speedie were voted down as Seniors in the past, and neither Tony Boselli nor Sterling Sharpe have gotten any love thus far from semifinalist voters.