by Andy | Jul 30, 2014 | Hall of Fame, NFL Random Thoughts
Among veteran WR storylines this offseason, Andre Johnson’s dissatisfaction with his situation in Houston dominated the headlines. But the preseason angle I’ll be keeping an eye on over the next couple weeks is Reggie Wayne’s recovery from his 2013 ACL tear.
Wayne is a key to the chances Indianapolis carries to keep building a team that might be one of the AFC’s best and only competitors to a Denver repeat appearance in the Super Bowl. And getting a couple more solid seasons in could solidify Wayne’s run toward an eventual enshrinement in the Hall of Fame.
Prior to getting hurt last year, Wayne had played in every game for 11 straight seasons, along the way putting up numbers that have him eighth all-time in receptions (he’s the active leader now that Tony Gonzalez has retired).
|
Name |
Receptions |
| 5 |
Tim Brown |
1,094 |
| 6 |
Terrell Owens |
1,078 |
| 7 |
Isaac Bruce |
1,024 |
| 8 |
Reggie Wayne |
1,006 |
| 9 |
Hines Ward |
1,000 |
| 10 |
Randy Moss |
982 |
Source: Pro Football Reference
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by Andy | Jul 24, 2014 | Hall of Fame, NFL Random Thoughts
Chris Snee announced his retirement from the NFL this week after a decade of playing right guard for the Giants. His family was standing by as he reportedly choked on the words while meeting with the media, his wife and three kids apparently taking the news even harder than he did.
His father-in-law, who also happens to be Head Coach Tom Coughlin, had nothing but great things to say about Snee, who was a second round draft pick in 2004. Solid, stand-up guy who never got in trouble and always showed up in shape, ready to do his job. Quotes from QB Eli Manning leave me wondering if he’s not taking it hardest of anyone.
It sounds like he was a great guy and a superb teammate – and hopefully he continues to be a fantastic family man as he transitions to his next phase in life. It sounds like he’s the type of guy fans should love to cheer for.
But those characteristics, unfortunately at times, don’t make a player a strong candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (more…)
by Andy | Jul 3, 2014 | Hall of Fame, NFL History
It’s been 40 years since Jim Tyrer’s career ended at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams, who beat Washington in the first round of the 1974 playoffs. Despite his six All-Pro nominations, the end of his career merited little mention – nary a word in the Sporting News.
Tyrer played for Washington in 1974, primarily as a backup, squeezing one last season out of a top-notch career that included nine invitations to the Pro Bowl or AFL All-Star Game. The first 13 years of his career were spent with the Kansas City Chiefs/Dallas Texans franchise that was among the AFL’s strongest, at least during the years he played.
It’s been 34 years since his name popped up in the last item of Sports Illustrated’s Sept. 29, 1980 Roundup section, where remembrances of his nine All-Star games and two Super Bowl appearances were followed by mention that he had died by suicide after fatally shooting his wife, Martha.
Tyrer did merit mention again a couple times in the early 1980s. His one year as a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist was 1981 and another when he also made a list SI’s Paul Zimmerman compiled – an informal poll of the all-time best offensive linemen.
Though voters are not supposed to consider character and conduct as part of whether or not someone should be enshrined, Tyrer has not made it into the Hall – this statement alone sparking some irony because during his playing days, by most accounts I could find, his character was never in question.
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by Tony | Mar 14, 2014 | 30's, By the Numbers, Hall of Fame, NFL History
When I randomly drew #36 as the next number in our By the Numbers series to write about, I thought it would be a great number to debate, especially given the Hall of Fame candidacy of Jerome Bettis, whom many (including yours truly) feel will likely get the nod next year. But in starting the research, a few things surprised me:
- Somehow, we’ve never actually done a post questioning whether or not Bettis is actually worthy of the Hall of Fame. Assume that will be rectified soon, because even though I have him picked to get voted in, I’m not sure he would get my vote.
- There are shockingly few big name #36’s in NFL history. Or really any sport, actually–in Best by Number (the book that inspired this series), Meadowlark Lemon is given the nod as best #36 across all sports–a guy who played in games that weren’t even real. Basketball & hockey are pretty much not mentioned (at least names I recognize). And baseball? Let’s just say when Jerry Koosman makes the top six, you’re not exactly talking about a storied number.
So who was the Best #36 in NFL history? Hit the jump to find out…
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by Tony | Mar 2, 2014 | 50's, By the Numbers, Hall of Fame, NFL History
Part four in our likely several year long series of the best players in NFL history by Numbers. So far, we’ve hit three:
#25 – Fred Biletnikhoff
#80 – Jerry Rice
#81 – “Night Train” Lane (with TO a close second, and Calvin Johnson closing quickly)
The next number up is #53–linebackers and linemen (primarily centers).
Harry Carson – New York Giants – The Hall of Fame linebacker played from 1976 to 1988, made 9 Pro Bowls, and helped the Giants win Super Bowl XXI. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.
Len Ford – Los Angeles Dons, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers – The Hall of Fame defensive end wore #53 for his first two years in Cleveland, before switching to #80. I’ve not found a record of what he wore in Los Angeles with the Dons of the AAFC.
Mike Webster – Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs – The Hall of Fame center wore #53 in his final two seasons, playing in Kansas City, where he originally signed on as the offensive line coach. He will make the list for #52 for sure.
Alex Wojciechowicz – Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles – According to ProFootballReference.com, Hall of Famer Wojciechowicz wore #53 in at least his final season with the Eagles, although I found no pictures of him in it.
Mick Tingelhoff – Minnesota Vikings – One of the most frequently mentioned potential senior candidates for the Hall of Fame, Tingelhoff wore #53 for all 17 of his seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, including his five All-Pro and six Pro Bowl seasons.
Randy Gradishar – Denver Broncos- The Broncos linebacker started as #52, but switched to #53 in 1976 after his first of seven Pro Bowls. Combined with his two All-Pro seasons, he is bound to start coming up in senior candidacy conversations for the Hall of Fame sooner or later.
Bill Romanowski – San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders – Say what you want about the character of Romanowski, he wore #53 for 16 seasons and four teams, and made a couple Pro Bowls along the way.
No current players are real close at cracking this list–NaVorro Bowman is probably the best, with Maurkice Pouncey up there with him from the offensive line side. Super Bowl XLVIII MVP Malcolm Smith also wears it.
So, what say you–who is the best #53? Let us know who got your vote in the comments…and let us know if you think we missed someone.
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by Andy | Feb 16, 2014 | Hall of Fame
The last two classes of modern era players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame have been, from top to bottom, as
Courtesy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame
solid as they come. Not everyone I would have picked myself got in, but none of the people who did were borderline cases, at least in my eyes.
Voters knocked several of the most deserving players off the list, meaning predicting the finalists and then the class of 2015 might be slightly tougher this year.
As we did last year (when we actually hit 14 of 15 finalists), we’ll start by picking a final 15.
The first 10 players should be fairly easy. Look at who made last year’s list who were not ultimately enshrined in the Hall. They were Morten Andersen, Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, Edward DeBartolo Jr., Tony Dungy, Kevin Greene, Charles Haley, Marvin Harrison, John Lynch and Will Shields.
That’s 10 of 15 spots. Those guys are really pretty easy. They won’t likely all make the Hall, but there are legitimate cases for all of them and there aren’t any legitimate reasons for them to fall out of favor.
Then you’ve got first-year candidates. The eight biggest names, as I see it, whose clocks start in 2014 are QB Kurt Warner, RB Edgerrin James, WRs Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, T Orlando Pace, C Kevin Mawae, CB Ty Law and LB Junior Seau.
There will be discussion, I believe, on three as potential first-ballot HOFers: Warner, Pace and Seau. I think Holt and his seven Pro Bowls could legitimately find his way into the semifinalist list of 25, but I think he ranks a distant third behind the holdover receivers Tim Brown and Marvin Harrison among the crop of those eligible at the position. (more…)
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perhaps they flip it back to a prime time show on NFL Network (as was case in Dec 2023 as…
Because NFL network had no prime time show last December to announce the modern finalists - as I stated here…
Paul I mean make a statement that he has been removed as a semi finalist and what makes you think…
Not sure why they need to say anything about Rivers..he has been removed as semifinalist (and I believe voters needed…
I wonder why the Pro Football Hall of Fame hasn’t said anything about Philip Rivers