Randy Moss is a Hall of Famer but could have been so much more

by | Jan 18, 2011 | Hall of Fame, NFL Random Thoughts

One reader who left some comments said Randy Moss is worth a Hall of Fame post discussion of his own. I think he’s right. I’ve been thinking about this post for awhile but that comment finally spurred me to do some research. Here’s what I found.

It will be difficult for Hall of Fame voters to deny Randy Moss a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame based on the numbers he has put up, despite controversies that have followed Moss around throughout his career.

He has made highlight reel plays and posted several amazing game logs and seasons and, through minor incident here and minor incident there, put up some fantastic numbers during the first 13 years of his career.

But an analysis of those statistics also indicates that he could have been so much more. Had Moss maintained the pace he was on the first six years of his career he very likely would have eclipsed Jerry Rice, at least statistically, as the greatest wide receiver of all time.

And frankly it wouldn’t have been close.
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Pro Football Hall of Fame 2011 finalists announced

by | Jan 9, 2011 | Hall of Fame, NFL News

The list of candidates for the 2011 Pro Football Hall of Fame class has been narrowed to 15 and it includes three running backs making the cut in their first years of eligibility.

Marshall Faulk, Jerome Bettis and Curtis Martin all survived the winnowing if the list. So did multi-time finalist wide receivers Tim Brown, Cris Carter and Andre Reed, as well as tight end Shannon Sharpe.

First ballot tackle Willie Roaf and multi-time finalist center Dermontti Dawson represent offensive linemen on the list while defenders still under consideration include linemen Richard Dent, Chris Doleman, Charles Haley and Cortez Kennedy. Defensive back Deion Sanders, another first ballot candidate, rounds out the players.

Ed Sabol, founder of NFL Films, is also a finalist as a contributor.
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King wants more “contributors” enshrined in the Hall of Fame

by | Dec 20, 2010 | Hall of Fame, NFL History, NFL Media, NFL Random Thoughts

We’ve had some spirited debates over the past couple years about who should and shouldn’t be enshrined in the Hall of Fame, many of them relating to senior nominees who in some cases were surprisingly overlooked years ago.

Sports Illustrated’s Peter King devoted a good chunk of his Monday Morning Quarterback today to finding a way to get more “contributors” to the game enshrined in Canton, Ohio as well. He makes a compelling case that many non-players deserve to be enshrined. I think he’s probably right — I particularly agree with the case he made for the Ed Sabol, who founded NFL Films.

I’m not sure, however, if the three alternatives he proposes for making the change to ensure more contributor honorees make the most sense to me (though at first glance I don’t have an obviously better answer, either).

Stolen directly from his column, King’s three proposed options include:

1. Take one of the two Seniors slots and give it annually to a non-head coaching contributor to the game, which wouldn’t mean a contributor wouldn’t get in every year, but rather that one contributor’s case would be heard every year.
2. Take one of the two Seniors slots every other year and give it annually to a contributor.
3. Take the two non-modern-era-candidate slots and make them fit for all other candidates — seniors, scouts, etc.

I admit, I’m not an expert on how the voters would go about changing the process. I do know that the limit on modern era candidates is five and the  limit on senior committee candidates is two, for a maximum of seven inductees to the Hall in any given year. To me, as the NFL Hall of Fame prepares to expand its physical footprint anyway, it seems like you could simply add one more slot each year for a “contributor” and make the maximum number of entrants each year eight – with no requirement that number be voted in, of course.

But as I said, I don’t know for sure what the procedure is for making a change like this. So, I’m asking our readers for thoughts. Should more contributors be recognized? If so, how would you suggest changing the voting process? If not, why?

And while you’re sharing your thoughts on this topic I’ll see if I can’t find some clarity to the process under which such a change to the voting could be made.

NFL Hall of Fame announces expansion plans, 2011 semifinalists

NFL Hall of Fame announces expansion plans, 2011 semifinalists

by | Dec 10, 2010 | Hall of Fame, NFL History

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced plans to renovate a portion of its existing structure and expand from 83,000 square feet to 124,000 square feet in a $23.6 million project that will take two years to complete.

The “Future 50 Project” will wrap up during the 50th Anniversary of the hall’s opening and will lay the foundation for the building’s next 50 years of operations, according to a statement.

“The growth and accomplishments of the Pro Football Hall of Fame during its first 50 years are widely acclaimed,” said Steve Perry, president and executive director. “It’s great that we are able to build upon the success of the past and initiate this major project to set the stage for success in the future.”

The project will include: (more…)

Hanburger, Richter named 2011 Senior HOF Candidates

by | Aug 25, 2010 | Hall of Fame

Former Redskins Linebacker Chris Hanburger and former Rams Linebacker Les Richter were selected from a field of 16 finalists to be the 2011 Senior Candidates for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

The two will be included in a vote with five other “modern” finalists as determined by the Hall of Fame voting committee in the coming months. Earlier this month, 2010 senior candidates Floyd Little and Dick LaBeau, not considered strong candidates by many Zoneblitz readers, were inducted into the Hall of Fame.

Hanburger played his entire fourteen year career with the Washington Redskins, making the pro bowl nine times and being named first team All-Pro four times after being an 18th (final) round selection out of North Carolina in 1965.

Richter, who died earlier this year at 79, was a first round draft choice of the New York Yanks in 1952, but was subsequently traded to the Los Angeles Rams for 11 players, the largest trade ever made for a single player. He played for the Rams for nine seasons, making eight pro bowls and one first team All-Pro selection. Richter also served as a kicker for his first three seasons (and made a couple of later career kicking appearances), making 106 of 109 PAT attempts and 29 of 55 field goals.

After leaving the NFL, Richter went on to become a high-ranking official with NASCAR.

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Little’s Hall nomination supported, perhaps enhanced by author Mackie

by | Jul 22, 2010 | Hall of Fame, We Forgot

Former Denver running back Floyd Little was one of Tom Mackie’s favorite players while the latter was growing up watching the Broncos. He was so dedicated a fan, in fact, that for years after Little retired he wrote letters and compiled statistics arguing for his idol’s induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

And as Little and Mackie suffered through years and years of disappointments, Mackie even got to write Little’s biography, which was titled “Floyd Little’s Tales from the Broncos Sideline.”

Little’s induction later this summer has been supported by some and panned by others both here at this site and elsewhere. Those who support him say his numbers don’t tell the entire story of what he meant to the Denver Broncos and the National Football League. Those who disagree with his enshrinement say he didn’t play long enough or put up dominant enough statistics.

Whether you agree with it or don’t, however, you can’t knock the efforts Mackie put forth in supporting his friend and one-time hero. SportsIllustrated.com penned a fascinating story this week that looked at the relationship that developed between the two and at the steps Mackie took to ensure that Little would one-day be memorialized in Canton.

It’s a good read. I’d suggest checking it out.