Initial Pro Football Hall of Fame Candidates

The candidacy of Jerry Jones kind of reminds me of the candidacy of Billy Martin in baseball. Whatever greatness they exhibited -- either tactically or financially -- is eclipsed by their outsized, difficult personalities. Martin was a terrific manager who led four different teams to first place finishes inside of a decade (Twins, Tigers, Yankees, A's) and a second-place finish with the Rangers, too. He only won one WS title, mostly because he kept getting fired for being a prick. But going on his record alone, he was among the best managers of his generation (if not the best), and probably deserves to be in the Hall. I don't think he'll make it, though, and I don't think Jones will either unless the Cowboys can actually win another title with him as GM/owner.

 

At least. Unless there are teams who think he'll turn into Kordell Stewart. I'm guessing there aren't any of those.

 

He's about a half foot taller than Stewart and probably 30-40 pounds heavier.

Stewart was also very inaccurate. Newton is a much more accurate passer.

 

In other words comparing him to Kordell Stewart is ridiculous.

 

Modell is the owner who isn't in who is most deserving to be in. If he hadn't moved the Browns to Baltimore, he would have been in a long time ago.
He still should be in for his role in the TV deal and revenue sharing.

Eddie D. was a game changer. I'm still not completely convinced he should be in. I don't think Jones has the resume that DeBartolo does.

Honestly, I'd have zero problem if they shut the door to owners as soon as Modell gets in.

You can make cases for DeBartolo, Kraft and Jones, but it will hardly be a crime if they don't get in.

 

Insanely stupid.

 

Newton had the best first two years, statistically, in the history of the league.
He has no supporting cast.

 

Your owner list and year of induction. I'm not counting Bert Bell, since he was a commissioner also. I removed George Halas and Curly Lambeau because they are listed under the coaching category while Al Davis is not:

1963 Tim Mara
1963 George Preston Marshall
1964 Art Rooney
1967 Charles W. Bidwill, Sr.
1967 Dan Reeves
1972 Lamar Hunt
1992 Al Davis
1997 Wellington Mara
2000 Dan Rooney
2009 Ralph Wilson, Jr.

Since Lamar Hunt was inducted 40 years ago, the only owners to be a finalist and not be inducted are Modell (last year and 2002) and DeBartolo, and DeBartolo only became a finalist two years ago, and Tony Morabito, who got one shot in 1973.

 

Probably

Kordell would have done much better in today's NFL, though. But he's no Newton.

 

He'd be looking for work with Kerry Rhodes.

 

really? I can't see anyone giving two No. 1s for him right now. He hasn't accomplished anything at the NFL level. He's another Matthew Stafford, great fantasy player with stats, but not someone who makes the players around him better.

Other than just shear athletic ability (hell, JaMarcus Russell had that), what do you see in him?

 

Of that list, I would only take Roger Craig, Warrick Dunn and maybe Terrell Davis. The others can go to the Hall of Very Good. One good, or even great, season does not a Hall of Fame make.