2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class

I think once Coryell passed it doomed his fate with the regular selectors

 

Who were you comparing Jackie Robinson to? He is a top-5 2b easily. Sure, maybe ignore his shortened career and his position, he might not be so good.

 

Hall of Fame’s 2020 class narrowed to 25 semifinalists.

And still no Sterling Sharpe. Fred Taylor? Come on.

Clay Matthews will be happy to know the folks at NBC think he's eligible...

The five I'd vote for: Polamalu, Edgerrain, Faneca, Atwater, Zach Thomas.

 

I missed on seven. Went with Donovan McNabb, Herschel Walker (because of his overall pro contributions in a centennial year vote) over Taylor and Watters, Abraham over Young, Harrison over Barber and Butler (which in hindsight was stupid), McGinest over Banks and Jeff Saturday and Steve Wisniewski

If I'm guessing at the class, it will be Polamalu, James, Faneca, Hutchinson and Lynch. The only others that have a shot this time are Willis, Atwater and Bruce.

I think the final 15 are:

Steve Atwater
Carl Banks
Tony Boselli
Isaac Bruce
LeRoy Butler
Alan Faneca
Steve Hutchinson
Edgerrin James
John Lynch
Troy Polamalu
Simeon Rice
Richard Seymour
Hines Ward
Reggie Wayne
Patrick Willis

If someone doesn't make it, it will be Banks, but I think this is the token -- have your case heard in the room before you get sent packing to the Senior Committee, like they did with Everson Walls last season

 

What about Zach Thomas? He was a five-time first-team All-Pro and made eight Pro Bowls. As has been said, Pro Bowls aren't a great indicator overall, but 5 All Pros is pretty damn impressive.

Carl Banks is OK, but ya add him to Carson and LT and that's overrating that Giants defense. They were very good, but three Hall of Fame linebackers is overstating things. I mean, Carl Banks made one Pro Bowl and one All Pro. Very good, but no better than Greg Lloyd, who made 3 straight All-Pros, 5 Pro Bowls, twice led the league in forced fumbles and has the 15th most (35) ever.

EDIT: BTW, would never have guessed the league didn't start tracking FF until 1993. Wonder how many LT had that were never recorded.

 

I think if Willis didn't come on the ballot this year and they weren't throwing Banks a bone, he'd be one of the 15.

But Atwater, Boselli, Bruce, Faneca, Hutchinson, James, Lynch and Seymour were finalists last year. Polamalu and Willis will be finalists. So there's five spots. I'm guessing Banks gets one. That would leave four spots and I imagine one is going to at least another receiver and another defensive lineman. So we are down to do.

Thomas could sneak in but I think he is undervalued by the selection committee. He didn't become a semifinalist until last year after being on the initial list for the three years prior. Of course I don't know how they felt guys like Banks, Bryant Young, Fred Taylor and Rickey Watters finally deserved to get this point after never being semifinalists.

 

How much does the composition of the selection committee change year to year?

 

He will never make it, but Simeon Rice is a Hall of Famer.
122 sacks in 174 career games is elite production for a pass rusher.

 

Not very much. Many years not at all.

 

He'll probably make it at some point. He's been a semifinalist two of the last three years. It's going to take a weak first-timer group to get him through to the final 15

 

More deserving, Simeon Rice or Carl Banks?

 

Rice, and I don't know how close it is unless you want to give Banks extra credit for the extra ring.