2012 Pro Football Hall of Fame Semifinalists

Ray Guy pretty much defined his position, something that statistics can't always show, and was a key player on three title teams.

Now granted, there were some excellent punters as, more or less, specialists, before him, such as Tommy Davis and Don Chandler. Yet Davis was never on a title-winning team, and Chandler won just one for the Giants before he finished up with the Packers, where his punting wasn't as good and his kicking was good, but not great in two seasons and lousy in the other.

Stenerud was also seen as someone who redefined his position. Most kickers barely made anything beyond 40 yards, and frequently made less than 50 percent of their kicks. Stenerud made 9 of 50+ yards in his first seven seasons.

 

I do wonder if time has impacted for better or worse a few of the candidacies of some. Parcells and Young seemed like locks, but now Coughlin has two Super Bowls. And I don't know how Goodell's tenure has impacted how we view Tagliabue. Better because of his dealings with the union, worse because the concussion issue wasn't an issue when he ran the league? And of course the receivers...

 

I didn't even realize there was a tie for the 25th spot and that added two extra names. I'd love to know who those three were that were last on the ballot.


I think they will put in five:

Parcells
Haley
Shields
one of the receivers -- Carter, Brown or Reed
another offensive lineman -- Allen or Ogden

And after looking at the first-timers next year, the only big names are Tony Dungy and Marvin Harrison. Next year is a big year to get rid of backlogs because 2015 will have Isaac Bruce, Edgerrin James, Walter Jones, Ty Law, Kevin Mawae, Orlando Pace, Junior Seau and Kurt Warner while Favre is looming in 2016

 

If there's any justice, they will call Brett Favre up four consecutive years to tell him that he's in, only to decide at the last minute that he's not yet.

 

Parcells should be in, should have been in a decade ago.

Tasker and Tagliabue, neither should be in. Wish Dr. Z was still around to tell us why while simultaneously reminding us that Peter King sucks for speaking on their behalf.

If they don't break the Brown/Carter/Reed logjam soon, then none of the three will get in. Too many good players at other positions coming up now.

 

i'm also in the "ray guy defined his position" camp.

 

Ray Guy was excellent, but he might not have been the best punter in his own division. Look up Jerrel Wilson.

 

If this were true, we wouldn't have to "look up Jerrel Wilson."

 

zing.

 

I could discuss the merits of Ray Guy all day, but damnit I have a lot of work in my real job today. so here is the quick cheat guide to Ray Guy.

Pros for Guy: He made a lot of All Pro lists, pro bowls, etc. He was the first punter/kicker drafted in the first round. Excelled in the coffin corner kicks. Actually, could tackle for a punter and made a difference there.

Anti-Guy: Averages aren't good. Wasn't best punter in his division's history statistically speaking (Wilson); wasn't best punter in his region historically (tommy davis of Sanfran); no longer best punter in his team history (Lechler).

My take: Guy was on TV a lot because the Raiders were on TV a lot in the 1970s. People saw him punt and heard great anecdotes from announcers. He has that bonus. He legitimately was a great punter/player. His punting averages are not elite. However, reading about him from contemporary media at the time and later from madden, Guy did a lot of things better than any other punter (ie. the coffin corner kick, no returns against him for TDs, etc.) Madden said Guy could have averaged high 40 averages for his career, but that was not needed. Madden wanted him to hit corner spots and kick way up high.

 

The concept of "hang time" was created to quantify how effective Guy was at kicking it high and allowing his coverage to get down there. Bum Phillips once took a ball Guy punted out of the game and had it tested to see if it was inflated with helium.

 

Dr. Z used to point out that Lechler was a boomer, not someone who could place his punts well.

I respect Ray Guy, but I'm never going to complain about any Raider's eligibility after Dave Casper made it. Never thought that would happen.

Besides, among old Raiders, Lester Hayes and Tim Brown have great cases, and they can't get close.