Just read the news that Fred Taylor will be retiring as a Jacksonville Jaguar on Friday, and figured (especially after an amusing couple minutes of conversation at a draft last night during which a neighbor of mine tried to convince me that Fred Jackson would be voted into the Hall of Fame–took a couple minutes to figure out he meant Taylor) that it’s worth putting the question out to the experts on our site.
Two players from the NFL’s All-Decade team for the 1950’s have been named the two senior finalists for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a part of the 2012 class.
Cornerback Jack Butler was an undrafted free agent that signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1951-1959, earning Pro Bowl honors from 1956-59 ad being named first-team All-NFL in the final three seasons of his career. He recorded 52 interceptions in nine seasons with the Steelers, including a career high 10 during the 1957 season. He retired after suffering a knee injury in 1959. This is his first nomination as a senior candidate for the hall.
Guard Dick Stanfel was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the second round (19th overall) in the 1951 NFL Draft, which to date has produced four Hall of Fame players (Bill George, Mike McCormack, Jack Christiansen, and Andy Robustelli) and one Hall of Fame coach (Don Shula) from it’s 30 rounds. Stanfel won two NFL Championships with the Lions in 1952 and 1953, and was chosen as the team’s most valuable player in 1954, before being traded to the Washington Redskins in 1956. He retired following the 1958 season, having earned Pro Bowl honors in all three of his seasons with the Redskins to go along with his two Pro Bowl seasons in 1953 and 1955. He was also named first-team All-NFL four times in his career, twice with the Lions and twice with the Redskins.
Stanfel was the offensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints, and was named interim head coach for the final four games in 1980, going 1-3 in preventing the Saints from having the first ever 0-16 season. He was then an offensive line coach for the Chicago Bears from 1981 to 1992, including their Super Bowl win 1986. He was named a senior nominee previously in 1993.
Butler & Stanfel were chosen as the senior nominees from a list of finalists that according to commenter Boardgame included Ken Anderson, Maxie Baughan, Cliff Branch, Roger Brown, Butler, Curly Culp, Mike Curtis, Ray Guy, Cliff Harris, Lester Hayes, Chuck Howley, Claude Humphrey, Alex Karras, Jerry Kramer, Bob Keuchenberg, Eddie Meador, Tommy Nobis, Dave Robinson and Johnny Robinson.
So what say you, Zoneblitz nation–are Butler & Stanfel worthy nominees? Others from the list of finalists that made more sense? Surprise omissions from the finalists (looking at you, Mick Tingelhoff)? Let us know in the comments.
ESPN has reported that star wide receiver Terrell Owens tore his ACL last month, either while filming a “reality television show” or during a personal workout.
As a 37-year-old athlete who is not currently under contract, the injury obviously puts the controversial wide receiver’s future in doubt.
So, two questions: Is he done? And is he a Hall of Famer?
I don’t care for Owens. He’s definitely got some diva to him as an individual, prancing for the cameras and throwing quarterback Donovan McNabb under the bus as his two years in Philadelphia wound down.
But you can’t help but respect him as a player. No matter what his often strange life has looked like off the field, he is a workout warrior who always answers the bell on Sundays. His nine catch, 122-yard performance in Super Bowl XXXIX on a barely healed broken leg was as memorable as it gets, despite the loss.
Jon Heath is the owner and lead blogger at BroncosZone.net. He contributes to BroncoTalk.net. And like many of us at Zoneblitz.com, he’s heavily interested in the NFL Hall of Fame and the process by which the enshrinees are selected.
Heath got to watch running back Floyd Little enshrined in 2010 and he’s excited about the upcoming ceremony for tight end Shannon Sharpe. But before those guys were picked, he felt Denver was underrepresented in Canton, Ohio. Actually, he still feels that way. And he wants to do his part to help.
After seeing the work some of his fellow Broncos fans have done in pushing past-Broncos for the Hall, he decided to start a new blog dedicated to marketing guys like Terrell Davis and Steve Atwater for enshrinement in future years. It’s called: GetThemInTheHall.com.
I don’t agree with all of the people he thinks should be in the Hall and I don’t disagree with them all either. But I mainly highlight the site because I think it’s an interesting illustration about how fans can get themselves involved and play a role, by contacting voters, by being educated on how the process works and by presenting coherent, educated arguments on behalf of the players they support.
Here’s what Mr. Heath had to say:
Zoneblitz: What is the history of the site and what gave you the idea to start this site?
Get them in the Hall: Well I actually started the site just earlier this month. I had some experience in blogging and setting up a website. I got the idea after seeing how Bronco fans teaming up and spreading awareness about Broncos that should be in the Hall of Fame was working, so I started a website to help the cause.
As I’m sure most of you have seen or heard, the Hall of Fame officially announced the Class of 2011 tonight. Making the final cut were:
DB Deion Sanders
RB Marshall Faulk
Contributor Ed Sabol
DE Richard Dent
TE Shannon Sharpe
LB Chris Hanburger (Senior Candidate)
LB Les Richter (Senior Candidate)
So our thoughts on the class?
“http://bit.ly/gnNRyE Compelling argument by @WhitlockJason for W Roaf. Disagree w/ him on Derm. Dawson, but good read”
The above was tweeted earlier tonight–on the Zoneblitz.com account, by my brother Andy. Not the first, and probably not the last, but I’ve got to disagree with my brother on this one–it really wasn’t that good of a read.
Now, before I get too far in, let me preface this by saying that I do agree with Whitlock that Willie Roaf should be (and will be) a Hall of Famer. I just disagree with some of his arguments around it, and the degree to which he seems to be taking it personally.
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Yep ... also heard she was considered for freakin Dancing with the Stars but wants to work with Belichick's publicity-branding…
Brian your right I get what your saying I do have other interests and hobbies like the National Baseball Hall…
Yeah your right it’s just the Pro Football Hall of Fame was wrong to make these changes and I guess…
Lets hope Andy P, you have other interests and hobbies that dont stress you as much. Everytime I hear todays'…
Andy thats a bad idea on so many levels