Pro Football Fall of Fame Semifinalists

[Della9250]

List got cut down to 25 today. Gotta cut 10 more. A couple of surprises

Four first-timers got through -- Derrick Brooks, Tony Dungy, Marvin Harrison and Walter Jones

One of the finalists didn't make it to 25 this time -- Art Modell -- so there if form holds from previous years, there are six slots in the finalists to go with Bettis, Brown, DeBartolo, Greene, Haley, Reed, Shields, Strahan and Williams.

Morten Andersen
Steve Atwater
Jerome Bettis
Derrick Brooks
Tim Brown
Don Coryell
Roger Craig
Terrell Davis
Edward DeBartolo, Jr.
Tony Dungy
Kevin Greene
Charles Haley
Marvin Harrison
Joe Jacoby
Jimmy Johnson
Walter Jones
John Lynch
Karl Mecklenburg
Andre Reed
Will Shields
Michael Strahan
Paul Tagliabue
Aeneas Williams
Steve Wisniewski
George Young

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I'm warming to the idea of Terrell Davis getting in. Maybe not this year, but eventually...

I love Eddie D., but I would not put him in over Modell.

It will be a ****ing travesty if Dungy gets in on the first ballot. A friend who is a voter thinks he gets in this year. I hope he's wrong.

My picks...

I think Brooks waltzes in on the first ballot.
I tend to think Walter Jones gets in as well. I just wonder if that means Shields has to wait another year. One of the two will get in.
It's a similar issue with Harrison. Does he go in first ballot or do they put in Andre Reed and he gets in line. I think it will be Harrison.
Strahan will get in this year.

If it were up to me, the final two slots would Reed, Shields or Bettis. I tend to think one of those three will get in and the final spot will go to Eddie D, Dungy or Tagliabue.

Haley could be a dark horse as well.

 

[heyabbott]

Dungy gets in, he walks on water and ESPN wants it.

I'd like to see George Young get in, he made the Giants relevant in the modern NFL.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Dungy gets in, he walks on water and ESPN wants it.

I'd like to see George Young get in, he made the Giants relevant in the modern NFL.

I think Landry, Noll and Shula are the only coaches (not including founders/owners) who made it in on the first ballot. Yeah, Dungy is in their class...

That is not counting the charter class.

 

[Pancamo]

No way Dungy should get in before Jimmy Johnson.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

No way Dungy should get in before Jimmy Johnson.

Agreed, but he will.

 

[Morris816]

I think Dungy has a case, but if he gets in on the first ballot, it reeks of the voters wanting the feel-good story and nothing more.

Hey, I was happy that Dungy got to coach a Super Bowl winning team, but feel-good stories by themselves do not equal an instant HOF spot.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I don't have a huge problem with him getting in. I wouldn't vote for him, but I realize that the whole "first black coach to win a SB" deal is going to get him in over people who are more deserving. I truly believe that he will get in this year because the media would jump all over the committee if he has to wait a year or two.

 

[Della9250]

Based on the voters' recent treatment of o-linemen, I would be shocked if they go Jones over Shields.

There is no way that they put Dungy, DeBartolo and Tagliabue in the final 15

I think the finalists will be the holdovers Bettis, Brown, DeBartolo, Greene, Haley, Reed, Shields, Strahan and Williams plus Brooks, Harrison, Dungy, Jones, Jacoby and Andersen.

 

[joe king]

I'll start the debate (hopefully) by saying I think Morten Andersen belongs in the Hall.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

The Hall needs an official.
Jim Tunney had 29 playoff assignments, including ten championship games and three Super Bowls.
Officiated many memorable moments in league history, including the Ice Bowl, Fog Bowl, The Catch and The Fumble.
Get the guy in while he's still alive.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

I'll start the debate (hopefully) by saying I think Morten Andersen belongs in the Hall.

He may eventually get in, but it will likely be a veterans' committee vote. I don't see him getting in otherwise.

All-time leading scorer should count for something. I also like that he was the best at his position for a decent portion of his career and also has longevity.

 

[heyabbott]

Dungy gets in, he walks on water and ESPN wants it.

I'd like to see George Young get in, he made the Giants relevant in the modern NFL.

I think Landry, Noll and Shula are the only coaches (not including founders/owners) who made it in on the first ballot. Yeah, Dungy is in their class...

That is not counting the charter class.

Not arguing the merits of Dungy, if I was I would tout his losing record in playoff games and that he would be the only coach in the hall of fame with a losing playoff record.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

3 Octave, that's a good idea proposing Tunney.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

Dungy gets in, he walks on water and ESPN wants it.

I'd like to see George Young get in, he made the Giants relevant in the modern NFL.

I think Landry, Noll and Shula are the only coaches (not including founders/owners) who made it in on the first ballot. Yeah, Dungy is in their class...

That is not counting the charter class.

Not arguing the merits of Dungy, if I was I would tout his losing record in playoff games and that he would be the only coach in the hall of fame with a losing playoff record.

Oh, I was being sarcastic. If you want to put him in based on being the first black coach to win a Super Bowl, fine... Just don't pretend he made it there based and wins and losses.

 

[3_Octave_Fart]

Thank you, Gee.
I just think there are too many damn coaches and receivers in already.
Need to shake it up - we need more centers, interior linemen, builders and referees.
Not one official ever has made the 25 cut.
That's a joke in this sport, which demands more from its officials than any other.

 

[Morris816]

Here's a Cold Hard Football Facts article, dating a year ago, about Terrell Davis' HOF case. When you look at the numbers it presents, TD compares favorably to Earl Campbell, who is already in the HOF.

http://www.coldhardfootballfacts.com/cold-hard-football-facts-blog/hall-fame-running-backs-who-is-worthy-gold-jacket/19885/

Craig, on the other hand, does not measure up. I think too many people are looking at Marshall Faulk and saying, "But Craig was a pass catcher too," when the truth is that Craig was good but far from dominant. Plus Faulk performed well with two different teams in his career.

Bettis doesn't really stack up that well, either, but he has a better case than Craig.

But among the RBs, it's really Davis who has the best case. Bettis' totals look good, but when you break them down, they don't quite measure up.

 

[Mizzougrad96]

You can make a decent argument for Craig and Davis. Both were key players on championship teams, both were the best player at their position for periods during their career.

But, if you don't take the titles into consideration, you can say the same thing about Priest Holmes, Larry Johnson and Shaun Alexander. Alexander has a chance to get in, but the other two don't.

It's tough to make a call on running backs. Bettis will eventually get in. LDT is a first-ballot lock. Until you get to Adrian Peterson, there are a lot of guys who could be considered borderline. I would put Davis and Craig at or near the top of the borderline backs.

 

[joe king]

The Hall needs an official.
Jim Tunney had 29 playoff assignments, including ten championship games and three Super Bowls.
Officiated many memorable moments in league history, including the Ice Bowl, Fog Bowl, The Catch and The Fumble.
Get the guy in while he's still alive.

I hate myself for saying this, but I like the way you think.

At least in this instance.

 

[joe king]

I think Terrell Davis should get in on the Gale Sayers plan. Short but spectacular career. And unlike Sayers, his otherworldly seasons led to championships for his team. Yes, I know he didn't win those trophies by himself, but he was the primary driver of the offense.