Is Lorenzo Neal a HoF'er?

Because it cheapens the honor for those who are truly worthy. If Lorenzo Neal or Edgerrin James is a Hall of Famer, where do you put Joe Montana, Walter Payton and Jerry Rice? In their own "Super Hall of Fame" wing?

 

sometimes i think all Hall of Fames are becoming like the bowl system....too many get in. it just seems it's not as much exclusivity as it should be for a sport's highest honor.

 

There is a huge gap between Edgerrin James and Lorenzo Neal. Your argument might hold up better if you took that into account.

 

Different sport, but Rickey Henderson and Goose Gossage, each made the HOF after playing for 9 teams.

 

Translation -- "Neither can hold a candle to Erric Pegram and John L. Williams......"

 

OK, I think you've made your point with that cute little twist.

 

Let's take Zag's stalkerish foolishness (Pegram? Seriously?) and turn it into something useful for the thread.

If you are going to consider Neal, what do you do with somebody like John L. Williams? Williams was a good blocker, though not as good as Neal, and had a shorter career, but he was much more productive, especially during his time with the Seahawks.

Williams ran for 5,006 yards in his career, going over 700 three times (1988, '91 and '92). His best season was 1988, when he had 877 yards rushing and caught 58 passes for 651 more. He finished his career with 546 receptions. He played at a time when the fullbacks were going from legitimate rushing threats to guards in the backfield, but he was capable of things that Neal has never been able to do. Williams was even a third-down back at times in his career, while Neal has always had to come out in passing situations.

So, who has the better case? I don't think either guy belongs, but it might be instructive to look at players like Williams, who could do more than just block, before you strongly consider a guy like Neal.

 

And Larry Centers was a fullback, too, right?

 

You are correct, sir!

 

Correct, and he finished his career with 827 receptions, including 101 in 1995, though he wasn't much of a runner and he was not close to Neal's class as a blocker.

 

John L. Williams and Larry Centers belong before Lorenzo Neal does -- and neither of those two belong.

 

All depends on what you like in a fullback. Some might like Centers' receptions; others might like Neal's blocking. And then there are guys like Tony Richardson, who some stated in recent years as the best fullback in the game.

Bottom line, no fullback will make it in.