Pro Football HOF Class of 2009 Finalists announced. Who you got?

Did all those saying Woodson was overhyped watch the man play? He wasn't one of the best. He was THE best at his position. And perhaps the best safety in the league after he was moved from CB.

He is the only player to make the Pro Bowl as a cornerback, a safety and a kick returner (not in the same season, obviously). He's third in career interceptions and first in career interception return yards and TDs. He recovered 32 fumbles, 20th on the career list. In his next to last season, at age 37, he intercepted eight passes and returned two for touchdowns.

Woodson is automatic. He goes in immediately, escorted through the front door on the red carpet.

 

Woodson is not overrated. On this board, Dawson clearly is. Grimm should be in. As should Thomas, Smith and Carter. I've always been on the fence about Hayes, which means he probably shouldn't be in.

 

1. Carter... any asshole who didn't vote for him in Arizona should be removed from the process
2. Smith
3. Sharpe
4. Woodson
5. Grimm
6. Reed
7. Kuechenberg

 

That completely doesn't answer my question, but thanks for playing!

 

That makes me think you didn't see much of Dawson. Dominating center who gave his team a rare advantage with his mobility. His time at the top was cut short by injuries, so maybe that holds him back.

 

Perhaps it was Carter's preponderance for flunking drug tests (which I believe would have gotten him banned under the current system) that keeps people from voting for him?

 

The 14-year-old butchers another fact.

 

Did he or didn't he flunk three seperate drug tests?

Note the question mark at the end of my post. I know that punctuation marks come at the end of sentences, and you're usually ready to attack within the first few words. Care to try again?

 

Carter, Dent, Kuchenberg (Reading Dr. Z convinced me on that one), Sharpe, Smith, Thomas and Woodson.

 

He was dominant for a few years. But you could say that about a lot of folks.

 

It wasn't as short an amount of time as you are making it out to be. He became a starter in 1988, moved to center in 1989 and was arguably the best in the game at his position through most of the '90s. He had a streak of seven consecutive Pro Bowl appearances snapped when the injuries hit in 1999 (he had started 171 consecutive games at one point).

 

I don't equate pro bowl appearances with dominance. You know as well as anybody that once you make it a couple years, you can get penciled in for most of your career, especially on the offensive line. I'm not saying he wasn't good. Just wouldn't say he was HOF material. Randall McDaniel has a better case (and more Pro Bowl appearances).