2015 Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists

Judging pass coverage based on interceptions is similar to judging defense by errors in baseball. It can give you an idea, but it can be very misleading.

 

Is Modell ever getting in?

 

I'm judging Atwater on the full body of work including Pro Bowls and accolades by writers and news services.

 

Not sure Pro Bowls should weigh heavy when considering HOFers.

 

He played when players and coaches voted for Pro Bowlers.

I suppose we should also disregard AP, UPI, the football mags and so on and etc etc etc.

 

Pro bowls are like gold gloves.

 

Pro Bowls in Atwater's day weren't the joke they are today.

 

HOF defensive backs, from their website:
Herb Adderley (CB) 1961-1972
Lem Barney (CB) 1967-1977
Mel Blount (CB) 1970-1983
Willie Brown (CB) 1963-1978
Jack Butler (CB) 1951-59
Jack Christiansen (S) 1951-1958
Darrell Green (CB) 1983-2002
Mike Haynes (CB) 1976-1989
Ken Houston (S) 1967-1980
Jimmy Johnson (CB) 1961-1976
Paul Krause (S) 1964-1979
Dick (Night Train) Lane (CB) 1952-1965
Yale Lary (S) 1952-1953, 1956-1964
Dick LeBeau (CB) 1959-1972
Ronnie Lott (CB-S) 1981-1994
Mel Renfro (S-CB) 1964-1977
Deion Sanders (CB-KR-PR) 1989-2000, 2004-2005
Emmitt Thomas (CB) 1966-1978
Emlen Tunnell (S) 1948-1961
Roger Wehrli 1969-1982
Aeneas Williams (CB/S) 1991-2004
Larry Wilson (S) 1960-1972
Willie Wood (S) 1960-1971
Rod Woodson 1987-2003
- See more at: http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/positions.aspx#sthash.Rfz7SxNV.dpuf

Note how few true safeties are on that list, half of whom played the majority of their careers before the Super Bowl era.

Maybe both Atwater and Kenny Easley should be in, but good luck to 'em getting there.

 

I was really surprised that with Lynch, Atwater, Law and Woodson among the semifinalists, only one got to the final 15. I figured they would take at least two, although I didn't think three coaches would be finalists.

 

I am going to be the dissenter on Roger Craig apparently. He was a great player...not a Hall of Famer.

-- Was not the dominant back of his era. Was great in 1985 and 1988, and really just good the rest of the time.
-- Only three appearances in the top 10 for rushing yards and all purpose yards, twice in rushing TDs, four times in receptions
-- All Pro once (though was Offensive Player of the Year)
-- Five times in the top 10 for yards from scrimmage, which is interesting and the only thing you can hang the Hall hat on statistically.

Now it is unwise to compare career stats of players between eras, so I am going to show how he compares to players from his own time frame to see if where he ranked.
His five times in the top 10 scrimmage for the 1980s is behind Payton, Dickerson, Dorsett, Allen, and one 1 ahead of Ottis Anderson, Curt Warner and James Brooks, and two ahead of Gerald Riggs and Joe Morris. I don't think anyone would compare Craig to the four players ahead of him, who all went in on their first ballot.

But how does he compare to the guys one notch below him? He is very close. It could be said that Anderson and Warner had better highs than Craig. Neither has ever gotten a passing glance at the Hall. Yes, Craig was a key part of a team that won three Super Bowls. Anderson's best years were with the Cardinals , but he did help the Giants to a Super Bowl victory later in his career.

 

That's fair. I guess I forgot how damn old he is.

 

I was covering the NFL when Atwayer played and let me assure you the Pro Bowl was every bit the joke then it is now. Players voted on hype and reputation just as much as fans do now.