Committee Chairman
Mariano Rivera: Cooperstown Bound
The yearlong farewell tour of Mariano Rivera has concluded and the consensus is that this is the end of the greatest Reliever in Baseball history. Virtually every statistic shows this, from the traditional to the obscure, and a handful of World Series rings cement it. Theory would dictate that the best player of a sporting position would be a Hall of Fame lock, though there is a distinct example where this isn’t the case.
Edgar Martinez spent the majority of his career as the Designated Hitter for the Seattle Mariners and is acknowledged as the top DH ever. The Baseball Hall of Fame voters have not responded with an affirmative to induction. Four decades after the Designate Hitter was instituted in the American League, there is a still hatred of the position, and not just by Baseball purists. The belief that is a part time role isn’t exactly wrong, though it is when applied to that of the Relief Pitcher.
Pitchers have become a specialized art. Bullpens are larger than they were thirty years ago, and the idea of a hurler receiving a standing ovation for allowing two runs and six hits over five and a third innings would have been laughable in the previous generation. The reality is that Relief Pitching is not going anywhere, and in regards to Cooperstown, there is evidence to support it. Lee Smith retired as the active saves leader and his Hall of Fame support has not changed much since he became eligible. There have been many blogs over the past month that have challenged what should be Rivera’s inevitable induction, and those that have, have challenged the spots of closers in the Hall.
The Reliever is not the Designated Hitter, in that they have broken through to Upstate New York. Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers, Bruce Sutter, Dennis Eckersley and Goose Gossage have all been enshrined. Rivera may have been more of a specialist than the five just mentioned, but he unarguable has done that better than anybody.
Rivera will retire as the all-time Saves leader. The Save is in itself a controversial statistic, as far too often it is awarded in situations that hardly merit a whole number. Like the Win, it is not an accurate measure of a Pitcher’s ability but, again, like the Win, a huge number cannot be ignored. A career number of over 650 Saves stands out, though that is not necessarily the statistic that impresses us the most.
Prior to his retirement, the Panamanian had the lowest active Earned Run Average and 13th overall in the career number (minimum 1,000 Innings Pitched). Every Pitcher with a lower ERA came from an era where there career ended decades before Rivera was born. Mariano’s career WHIP of 1.000 gives him a third place all-time rank which again has no equal among his peers. Ten times, Rivera posted a sub 1.000 WHIP and is the career leader in ERA+. He never won the Cy Young, but was voted in the top five on five occasions. He is number three all-time in WPA (Win Probability Added) and fourth in Strikeouts to Walks Ratio; and he did it all with one pitch, a cut Fastball that everybody knows is coming and can’t seem to do anything about.
What the naysayers of Rivera fail to point out is his unparalleled post season accomplishments. This is not about accumulation, like Andy Pettitte, another Yankee who is retiring. Pettitte’s post season stats match his regular season accomplishments, but Rivera took his dominance to an even greater level when the lights were brighter
Over his 141 Innings Pitched in October, his Earned Run Average dropped to 0.70, a full run and a half under what his spectacular regular season average was. His WHIP decreased from 1.000 to 0.759 and he posted 42 Saves. This isn’t just dominance, this is almost mythological! Let’s also remember in the post-season you are only competing against the elite!
Mariano Rivera is not just a Hall of Fame Pitcher but should be a first ballot inductee. We thank Rivera for his nineteen years of class and service in Major League Baseball and wonder when we will see his like again.
Canucks retire Bure's Jersey
On November 2, 2013 when the Toronto Maple Leafs come to Vancouver to play the Canucks, the West Coast franchise will be retiring the fourth jersey in their history. Recent Hockey Hall of Fame inductee, Pavel Bure will have his number 10 hung to the rafters in the place where his North American Professional Hockey career began.
Bure spent his first seven seasons there where he scored 478 Points and was the goal scoring champion in the 1993-94 season. He also won the Calder in his debut season in the NHL. He would later win two Maurice Richard Trophies as a member of the Florida Panthers, but his popularity in Vancouver had few peers.
Bure joins Stan Smyl, Trevor Linden and Markus Naslund to have his jersey retired in Vancouver.
Andy Pettitte retires again
As you are aware, for the second time Andy Pettitte is calling it a career in Major League Baseball. Bloggers around the country have been consistent in the belief that he falls a little short of the Hall of Fame threshold. Recently, our own, DDT posted a brilliant piece on the what Wins mean for a Hall of Fame induction and he touched on Pettitte, who until the end of this year’s regular season is the active leader in Wins.
“The active leader in wins, Andy Pettitte is also the active leader in games started, innings pitched, and strikeouts, and the left-hander will continue to add to those totals before he retires. Again. When he retires—again—and whether he will stay retired is another story; he retired following the 2010 season, but attending the New York Yankees' spring training camp as an instructor in 2012 renewed his desire to play, and he resumed pitching in the Major Leagues in May of that year. What might be the case is that even if Pettitte pads his résumé for another year or two, he has probably already written his legacy.
The question becomes: Still-active or not, is that legacy strong enough to put him into the Hall of Fame? Pettitte's career, which began in 1995, coincides with the rise of the Yankees as a powerhouse that saw them appear in the World Series seven times between 1996 and 2009, winning five of those Series, and it might not be such a coincidence: Along with shortstop Derek Jeter, catcher Jorge Posada, and relief pitcher Mariano Rivera, Pettitte is considered to be one of the "Core Four" of those championship Yankees. Indeed, Pettitte is the lifetime leader in postseason wins (19), games started (44), and innings pitched (276.2), and is second in strikeouts (183), and fifth in games pitched (44). This also includes his postseason appearances with the Houston Astros in 2005, for whom Pettitte pitched from 2004 to 2006 before returning to the Yankees.
Pettitte has been in double digits in wins for 14 of his 18 seasons, and for a 14-year period, from 1996 to 2009, he averaged 16 wins against 9 losses (.633 winning percentage), winning 21 games twice and 19 games once; 31 games started (he led the league in this category three times); 197 innings pitched; and 145 strikeouts while generating a 3.89 ERA, a 117 ERA+, and a 3.6 bWAR. With Rivera, Pettitte holds the Major League record for win-save combinations, in which Pettitte earned the win and Rivera the save, with 81 (70 during regular-season games, 11 in the postseason), which also points to a curious fact about Pettitte's career: in 510 games started, Pettitte has only 25 complete games.
Pettitte began his career after interventionist bullpens had been established as part of contemporary pitching strategy, and he ranks seventh (tied with Tim Hudson) among active pitchers. So, it is no demerit to Pettitte that he is not a starting pitcher from a bygone era who battled through the entire game—baseball is simply not played like that any longer. Yet it is curious that Pettitte isn't the leader in complete games among active pitchers, particularly since the runner-up to him in games started, Tim Hudson, who is tied with Pettitte in complete games, has made 83 fewer starts than Pettitte. The active leader in complete games, Roy Halladay (67), has made 125 fewer starts, and if Halladay is an outlier (which, as we have seen, makes him a probable Hall of Famer), consider that a number of pitchers, all of whom have started fewer games than Pettitte, have either more complete games than Pettitte or have a higher proportion of complete games than Pettitte.
Several pitchers with 100 or fewer starts than Pettitte have already passed Pettitte in complete games (Pettitte's last complete game, by the way, came in 2006), while Cliff Lee with 200 fewer starts than Pettitte has already passed him. Meanwhile, Felix Hernandez, James Shields, and Justin Verlander are only a few complete games back of Pettitte with half as many starts.
The point is not to show which pitchers are willing or able to "gut it out," but this comparison suggests indirectly that Pettitte might not have been such a dominant or "big-game" pitcher over his career. It is instructive that in this sample Pettitte ranks last in shutouts; next-to-last is Verlander, who has already passed Pettitte in this category in half as many starts (and two of Verlander's blanks were no-hitters). Over his career, Pettitte has averaged 6.3 innings per start and 101 pitches per start, giving the impression that he is something of a "hothouse flower," designed only to get his team to the later innings.
Five times Pettitte has placed in the top ten for Cy Young voting, with his best showing in 1996 when he was runner-up to the Toronto Blue Jays' Pat Hentgen, but neither in 1996 nor in any other year was Pettitte robbed of the award. In 18 seasons, Pettitte has been named to an All-Star team only three times, which is not necessarily an indictment as the honor is subject to partiality and is based only on a half-year's performance. However, his seasonal-average bWAR during his 14-year peak was 3.6; a bWAR of at least 5.0 is considered to be at the All-Star level, and Pettitte generated a per-season bWAR of at least 5.0 only three times in his career. Pettitte posted an ERA under 3.00 only three times, and one of those seasons was his return season of 2012 when he started only 12 games and pitched 75.1 innings. As it stands, his career ERA of 3.88 would be the highest of any Hall of Fame pitcher unless Jack Morris, with a 3.90 ERA and also at the 250-win mark, is elected next year.
In fairness, though, Pettitte has pitched most of his career in the American League East, the toughest division in the Major Leagues, even if his Yankees were the toughest of those teams a number of times. Indeed, Pettitte has enjoyed career run support averaging 5.4 runs per game while the major-league average during his career has been 4.7 runs per game. Pettitte has had 40 career tough losses, meaning he pitched a quality start—at least six innings and allowing three earned runs or fewer—but his team could not score enough runs for him, and 11 of those came during his three seasons with the Houston Astros. He has 41 career losses saved, or games in which he was in line to get the loss when he left but the relief staff and his offense at least tied the game subsequently, against only 34 wins lost, or games in which he left the game with the lead but the bullpen allowed the opposition to at least tie the game.
Unmentioned until now has been the specter of PEDs that clouds examination of Pettitte's career. Having been named in the Mitchell Report in 2007, Pettitte admitted to using human growth hormone (HGH) twice in 2002, explaining that it was to enable him to heal more quickly from an injury. However, he admitted subsequently that he had used HGH again in 2004, and he also claimed that friend and teammate Roger Clemens had told him that he, Clemens, had used HGH in 1999 or 2000. Clemens then stated that Pettitte "misremembered" the comment, but by then the PEDs taint was enveloping them both, with Clemens becoming the face of drug cheating in baseball along with Barry Bonds.
Leaving aside how Andy Pettitte will be regarded with respect to PEDs come voting time, he could be elected to the Hall of Fame for his 250-plus wins and his postseason pitching record, but both underscore his dependence on his team: As has been the theme throughout this article, wins are a team-dependent statistic, and a pitcher has to be on a winning team in order to get to the postseason in the first place.”
I defy any Baseball writer to sum up Andy Pettitte’s Hall of Fame chances better than DDT can.
Football Hall of Fame Preliminary Nominees
Once again it is time to look at the Pro Football Hall of Fame as they have announced their latest (and always large batch) of preliminary nominees.
We have placed them in order by position and then alphabetically.
* Will indicate a past Finalist
** Will indicate a first time on the ballot
QUARTERBACKS
DREW BLEDSOE
1993-2001 New England Patriots, 2002-04 Buffalo Bills, 2005-06 Dallas Cowboys
Four Pro Bowls, 14 Year career, 251 TDs
RANDALL CUNNINGHAM
1985-1995 Philadelphia Eagles, 1997-99 Minnesota Vikings, 2000 Dallas Cowboys, 2001 Baltimore Ravens
Four time All-Pro, Four Pro Bowls, 201 TDs, 35 TDs on the ground (4,928 Rushing Yards)
DOUG FLUTIE
1986 Chicago Bears, 1987-89, 2005 New England Patriots, 1998-2000 Buffalo Bills, 2001-04 San Diego Chargers.
One Pro Bowl, Three Grey Cup wins
**TRENT GREEN
1997-98 Washington Redskins; 1999-2000, 2008 St. Louis Rams, 2001-06 Kansas City Chiefs, 2007 Miami Dolphins
Two Pro Bowls, three 4,000 Yard Passing seasons
STEVE MCNAIR
1995-2005 Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans. 2006-07 Baltimore Ravens
NFL 2003 MVP, Two Pro Bowls. 211 Total TDs
PHIL SIMMS
1979-1993 New York Giants
Super Bowl XXI MVP, One All Pro and two Pro Bowls
Quarterbacks Synopsis
Of the Quarterbacks available, nobody seems like they have the overall body of work to get in. As much as all of them are QBs that franchises coveted (ok, except Flutie) in their time, nobody here screams Hall of Fame. It is unlikely that any of them will make the Semi-Final list in November.
RUNNING BACKS
**SHAUN ALEXANDER
2000-07 Seattle Seahawks, 2008 Washington Redskins
2005 NFL MVP. All Time Seattle Seahawks TD leader with 9,453 career rishing yards
OTTIS ANDERSON
1979-1986 St. Louis Cardinals, 1986-1992 New York Giants
Super Bowl XXV MVP. Two Pro Bowls. Rushed for over 10,000 yards and caught for over 3,000
TIKI BARBER
1997-2006 New York Giants
Rushed for 10,449 Yards in only ten seasons. Also caught 5,183 yards. One time All Pro and two time Pro Bowl.
*JEROME BETTIS
1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
Super Bowl Champion. Two Time All Pro. Six Pro Bowls. 13, 662 Rushing Yards
LARRY CENTERS
1990-98 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 1999-2000 Washington Redskins, 2001-02 Buffalo Bills, 2003 New England Patriots
One time All Pro, Three Pro Bowls
ROGER CRAIG
1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings
The first player in the NFL to have 1,000 Yards Rushing and 1,000 Yards Passing in a season. One Time All Pro, and four Pro Bowls. Three time Super Bowl Champion.
STEPHEN DAVIS
1996-2002 Washington Redskins, 2003-05 Carolina Panthers, 2006 St. Louis Rams
One time All Pro and three Pro Bowls
TERRELL DAVIS
1995-2001 Denver Broncos
One of the fastest starts in Running Back history. Two time Super Bowl Champion & MVP of Super Bowl XXXII. Three time All Pro and Pro Bowl selection. All NFL 1990’s Decade Team
**WARRICK DUNN
1997-2001, 2008 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2002-07 Atlanta Falcons
Three Pro Bowls. Rushed for 10,967 Yards and Received 4,443 over twelve seasons
EDDIE GEORGE
1996-2003 Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans, 2004 Dallas Cowboys
Nine Seasons, Rushed for 10,441 Yards and 68 TD.
PRIEST HOLMES
1997-2000 Baltimore Ravens, 2001-05, 2007 Kansas City Chiefs
27 TD in 2003. 11 Seasons and three Pro Bowls.
DAVE MEGGETT
1989-1994 New York Giants, 1995-97 New England Patriots, 1998 New York Jets
Two Time All-Pro as a Punt Returner. One Super Bowl. Nearly 14,000 All Purpose Yards
ERIC METCALF
1989-1994 Cleveland Browns, 1995-96 Atlanta Falcons, 1997 San Diego Chargers, 1998 Arizona Cardinals, 1999 Carolina Panthers, 2001 Washington Redskins, 2002 Green Bay Packers
17,000 All Purpose Yards. Two Time All-Pro. Three Pro Bowls
HERSCHEL WALKER
1986-89, 1996-97 Dallas Cowboys, 1989-1991 Minnesota Vikings, 1992-94
Philadelphia Eagles, 1995 New York Giants, 1996-97 Dallas Cowboys
18,000 All Purpose Yards. Set USFL Rushing Record. Two Pro Bowls
RICKY WATTERS
1992-94 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-97 Philadelphia Eagles, 1998-2001 Seattle Seahawks
One Time Super Bowl Champion. Rushed for 10,643 Yards. Five Pro Bowls
Running Backs Synopsis
This could be Jerome’s year, as he is at the top of the Rushing class, but what we are focused in on is Shaun Alexander, a man who is a former MVP, but failed to make our 100 cut due to an overall body of work that we felt just fell short. We are wondering if we will be proven wrong and the former Seahawk will make the Semi-Finalist list.
WIDE RECEIVERS
*TIM BROWN
1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Nine Pro Bowls. 1,094 Receptions with 14,934 Yards and 100 TDs. Including Kick Returns and Punt Returns had 19,679 All Purpose Yards
GARY CLARK
1985-1992 Washington Redskins, 1993-94 Phoenix /Arizona Cardinals, 1995 Miami Dolphins
Two time Super Bowl Champion. 10,856 Yards. Two time All-Pro and Four Pro Bowls
MARK CLAYTON
1983-1992 Miami Dolphins, 1993 Green Bay Packers
Five Pro Bowls and 84 TDs.
HENRY ELLARD
1983-1993 Los Angeles Rams, 1994-98 Washington Redskins, 1998 New England Patriots
Three Time All Pro and Three Pro Bowls. 13,777 Yards and 65 TD
**MARVIN HARRISON
1996-2008 Indianapolis Colts
Six Time All-Pro and Eight Pro Bowls. Twice led the NFL in receiving. 1,102 catches, 14,580 Yards and 128 TDs
KEYSHAWN JOHNSON
1996-99 New York Jets, 2000-03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-05 Dallas Cowboys, 2006 Carolina Panthers
10,571 Yards, 64 TDs. Three Pro Bowls
KEENAN MCCARDELL
1991, 2007 Washington Redskins, 1992-95 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002-03 Tampa Bay Buccaneeers, 2004-06 San Diego Chargers
Two Pro Bowls. 11,373 Yards and 63 TDs.
*ANDRE REED
1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Seven Pro Bowls and Second Team All Pro three times. 13,198 Yards with 87 TDs.
STERLING SHARPE
1988-1994 Green Bay Packers
Three Time First Team All Pro and Five Pro Bowls. Three time leader in receptions. Only seven seasons.
JIMMY SMITH
1992 Dallas Cowboys, 1995-2005 Jacksonville Jaguars
Five Pro Bowls. 12,287 Receiving Yards and 67 TDs
ROD SMITH
1995-2006 Denver Broncos
Two time Super Bowl Champion. Three Pro Bowls. 11,389 Yards and 68 TDs
Wide Receivers Synopsis
You have to feel bad for Tim Brown and Andre Reed. It seems like it has been since Reagan was in office that they have been on the ballot and fans in Oakland and Buffalo crying over their omission. Now Marvin Harrison enters the ballot and will probably leapfrog them both. Could we see another bridesmaid appearance for both Brown and Reed?
TIGHT END
MARK BAVARO
1985-1990 New York Giants, 1992 Cleveland Browns, 1993-94 Philadelphia Eagles
Two All Pro Selections and Two Pro Bowls. Two time Super Bowl Champion
Tight End Synopsis:
This is easy. Bavaro isn’t getting in.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
**WILLIE ANDERSON
1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
Three All Pro Selections and Four Pro Bowls
TONY BOSELLI
1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans
Three All Pro Selections and Five Pro Bowls
LOMAS BROWN
1985-1995 Detroit Lions, 1996-98 Arizona Cardinals, 1999 Cleveland Browns, 2000-01 New York Giants, 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
18 Seasons. Seven Pro Bowls and Six All-Pro Selections. One Super Bowl Ring
JIM COVERT
1983-1990 Chicago Bears
Two All-Pro Selections and Two Pro Bowls. One Super Bowl.
JAY HILGENBERG
1981-1991 Chicago Bears, 1992 Cleveland Browns, 1993 New Orleans Saints
Seven Pro Bowls and Three All-Pro Selections.
CHRIS HINTON
1983-89 Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, 1990-93 Atlanta Falcons, 1994-95 Minnesota Vikings
Five Time All-Pro and Seven Pro Bowls
KENT HULL
1986-1996 Buffalo Bills
Three Time All-Pro and Three Pro Bowls
JOE JACOBY
1981-1993 Washington Redskins
Three Time All-Pro and Four Pro Bowls. Three Super Bowl Rings
*WALTER JONES
1997-2008 Seattle Seahawks
Nine Pro Bowls and Six All-Pro Selections
MIKE KENN
1978-1994 Atlanta Falcons
17 Seasons,most in Falcons history. Three All-Pro Selections and Five Pro Bowls
JIM LACHEY
1985-87 San Diego Chargers, 1988 Los Angeles Raiders, 1988-1992, 1994-95 Washington Redskins
Three time All-Pro and Three Pro Bowls
DON MOSEBAR
1983-1994 Los Angeles Raiders
One Super Bowl Ring. Three Pro Bowls and One All Pro Selection
TOM NALEN
1994-2007 Denver Broncos
Two Super Bowl Rings. Five Pro Bowls and Three All-Pro Selections
NATE NEWTON
1986-1998 Dallas Cowboys, 1999 Carolina Panthers
Three Super Bowl Rings. Six Pro Bowls and Two All-Pro Selections
*WILL SHIELDS
1993-2006 Kansas City Chiefs
12 Pro Bowls and Three First Team All-Pro Selections
STEVE WISNIEWSKI
1989-2001 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
Eight Pro Bowls and Seven All-Pro Selections
Offensive Linemen Synopsis
With the exception of the continued snubbing of Jerry Kramer, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has always been respectful of Offensive Linemen. Realistically, Will Shields is the one to watch who should at least make the Finals, if not get inducted in the next ballot.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
JEROME BROWN
1987-1991 Philadelphia Eagles
Two Time All-Pro and Two Pro Bowls. Died early due to a car accident.
*CHARLES HALEY
1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
Only player in NFL History to win Five Super Bowls.
ED “TOO TALL” JONES
1974-78, 1980-89 Dallas Cowboys
Three Pro Bowls. Exceptionally popular
DEXTER MANLEY
1981-89 Washington Redskins, 1990 Phoenix Cardinals, 1991 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Two Super Bowls Rings. One Time All-Pro and One Pro Bowl
CHARLES MANN
1983-1993 Washington Redskins, 1994 San Francisco 49ers
Four Pro Bowls and Three Super Bowl Rings
STEVE MCMICHAEL
1980 New England Patriots, 1981-1993 Chicago Bears, 1994 Green Bay Packers
Two Pro Bowls and One Super Bowl Ring
FRED SMERLAS
1979-1989 Buffalo Bills, 1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991-92 New England Patriots
Three All-Pro Selections and Five Pro Bowls
*MICHAEL STRAHAN
1993-2007 New York Giants
Single Season Sack Record Holder. Seven Pro Bowls, Five Time All-Pro. 141.5 Total Sacks
TED WASHINGTON
1991-93 San Francisco 49ers, 1994 Denver Broncos, 1995-2000 Buffalo Bills, 2001-02 Chicago Bears, 2003 New England Patriots, 2004-05 Oakland Raiders, 2006-07 Cleveland Browns
One Time All Pro and Four Pro Bowls
BRYANT YOUNG
1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers
1999 Comeback Player of the Year. Two Time All-Pro Selection and Four Pro Bowls
Defensive Linemen Synopsis
All eyes should be on returning nominees Michael Strahan and Charles Haley. Strahan was a curious omission (especially with Warren Sapp chosen over him) and Haley’s momentum continues to grow. Five Super Bowl Rings will do that.
LINEBACKERS
CORNELIUS BENNETT
1987-1995 Buffalo Bills, 1996-98 Atlanta Falcons, 1999-2000 Indianapolis Colts
1991 Defensive Player of the Year. Three Time All-Pro and Five Pro Bowls
**DERRICK BROOKS
1995-2008 Tampa Bay BuccaneersOne Super Bowl Ring. 11 Pro Bowls and Six First Team All-Pro Selections. 25 Career Interceptions
**TEDY BRUSCHI
1996-2008 New England Patriots
Three Super BowlRings. One Pro Bowl
*KEVIN GREENE
1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
160 Career Sacks 1990’s All Decade Team and Five Pro Bowls
KEN HARVEY
1988-1993 Phoenix Cardinals, 1994-98 Washington Redskins
Two Time All-Pro Selection and Four Pro Bowls
CLAY MATTHEWS
1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons
19 Seasons. Four Pro Bowls and One All-Pro Selection
KARL MECKLENBURG
1983-1994 Denver Broncos
Six Pro Bowls and Four Time All-Pro Selection
**WILLIE MCGINEST
1994-2005 New England Patriots, 2006-08 Cleveland Browns
Three Time Super Bowl Champion. Two Pro Bowls
SAM MILLS
1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers
Three Time Frist Team All-Pro and Five Pro Bowls
DARRYL TALLEY
1983-1994 Buffalo Bills, 1995 Atlanta Falcons, 1996 Minnesota Vikings
Two All-Pro Selections and Two Pro Bowls
**ZACH THOMAS
1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
Five Time First Team All Pro and Seven Pro Bowls
Linebackers Synopsis
Kevin Greene returns for another shot, but all eyes are on Derrick Brooks who is entering his first year on the ballot. Zach Thomas’ debut on the ballot is also very interesting to see how far he can go, or if he passes Greene on the depth chart.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
ERIC ALLEN
1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders
Three Time All-Pro and Six Pro Bowls. 54 Interceptions over 14 Seasons.
STEVE ATWATER
1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets
Four Time All-Pro Selections and Eight Pro Bowls. Two Super Bowl Rings and 24 Picks.
JOEY BROWNER
1983-1991 Minnesota Vikings, 1992 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Four Time All-Pro and Six Pro Bowls. 37 Career Interceptions
LEROY BUTLER
1990-2001 Green Bay Packers
Four Time First Team All-Pro and Four Pro Bowls. 38 Interceptions and 20.5 Career Sacks
**RODNEY HARRISON
1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots
Retired as all-time Sack leader for a Defensive Back (30.5) Two Super Bowl Rings
ALBERT LEWIS
1983-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-98 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
Four Pro Bowls and Two All-Pro Selections
JOHN LYNCH
1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos
Three All-Pro Selections and Nine Pro Bowls. One Super Bowl Ring
**SAM MADISON
1997-2005 Miami Dolphins, 2006-08 New York Giants
Four Pro Bowls and Two All Pro Selections
**PATRICK SURTAIN
1998-2004 Miami Dolphins, 2005-08 Kansas City Chiefs
Three Pro Bowls and Two First Team All-Pro Selections. 37 Career Interceptions
TROY VINCENT
Miami Dolphins, 1996-2003 Philadelphia Eagles, 2004-06 Buffalo Bills, 2006 Washington Redskins
47 Interceptions for 711 Yards. One Time All Pro and Five Pro Bowls
EVERSON WALLS
1981-89 Dallas Cowboys, 1990-92 New York Giants, 1992-93 Cleveland Browns
Three time NFL Leader in Interceptions. One Super Bowl Ring. Four Pro Bowls and Three First Team All-Pro Selections.
*AENEAS WILLIAMS
1991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 2001-04 St. Louis Rams
1990’s All-Decade Team. 55 Interceptions and 807 Yards. First Team All-Pro Selection Four Times & Eight Pro Bowls.
DARREN WOODSON
1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys
Three Super Bowl Rings. Four Time All-Pro Selection and Five Pro Bowls
Defensive Backs Synopsis
Realistically, this is a one man show, and the question is can Aeneas Williams reach the final level. He hasn’t yet, and there really has not been any push from any source to get him there.
SPECIAL TEAMS
KICKERS/PUNTERS
MORTEN ANDERSEN
1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006-07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings
NFL All-Time Leading Scorer. Five Time All-Pro and Seven Pro Bowls
GARY ANDERSON
1982-1994 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1995-96 Philadelphia Eagles, 1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-2002 Minnesota Vikings, 2003-04 Tennessee Titans
Four Pro Bowls and Two First Team All-Pro Selections
SEAN LANDETA
1985-1993 New York Giants, 1993-96, 2003-04 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1997 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1998 Green Bay Packers, 1999-2002, 2005 Philadelphia Eagles
Two Super Bowl Rings. Two Pro Bowls and One First Team All-Pro Selection
NICK LOWERY
1978 New England Patriots, 1980-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-96 New York Jet
Four First Team All-Pro Selections and Three Pro Bowls.
SPECIAL TEAMS/POSITION PLAYER
BRIAN MITCHELL
1990-99 Washington Redskins, 2000-02 Philadelphia Eagles, 2003 New York Giants
Two Time All-Pro Selection
STEVE TASKER
1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills
Seven Pro Bowls as a Special Team Player. Five All-Pro Team Selections
Special Teams Synopsis
At what point has the Special Teams been respected by the Football Hall of Fame? Ray Guy may be on the Veterans’ Ballot (and will probably finally get in), but other than Steve Tasker, there is nobody here who really has a shot to get past the Semi-Finalist list.
COACHES
BILL ARNSPARGER
1964-69 Baltimore Colts, 1970-73, 1976-1983 Miami Dolphins, 1974-76 New York Giants
Two Super Bowl Rings; Defensive specialist.
DON CORYELL
1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers.
Revolutionized the modern passing game. 1974 Coach of the Year
BILL COWHER
1992-2006 Pittsburgh Steelers
Two Time Coach of the Year with a Super Bowl Ring. A Record of 166-99-1
*TONY DUNGY
1996-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2002-08 Indianapolis Colts
One Super Bowl Ring. Only one season as a Head Coach. 2000’s NFL All-Decade Team
TOM FLORES
1979-1987 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-94 Seattle Seahawks
Two Super Bowl Rings
*JON GRUDEN
1998-2001 Oakland Raiders, 2002-08 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
One Super Bowl Ring over 11 Years.
*MIKE HOLMGREN
1992-98 Green Bay Packers, 1999-2008 Seattle Seahawks
One Super Bowl Ring with a 174-122 Record
JIMMY JOHNSON
1989-1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1996-99 Miami Dolphins
Two Super Bowl Rings, 1990 Coach of the Year
CHUCK KNOX
1973-77, 1992-94 Los Angeles Rams, 1978-1982 Buffalo Bills, 1983-1991 Seattle Seahawks
Three Time NFL Coach of the Year
BUDDY PARKER
1949 Chicago Cardinals, 1951-56 Detroit Lions, 1957-1964 Pittsburgh Steelers
1956 NFL Coach of the Year
RICHIE PETITBON
1974-77 Houston Oilers, 1978-93 Washington Redskins
Three Super Bowl Rings with the Redskins as the Defensive Coordinator
DAN REEVES
1981-1992 Denver Broncos, 1993-96 New York Giants, 1997-2003 Atlanta Falcons
Three-Time NFL Coach of the Year
LOU SABAN
1960-61 Boston Patriots, 1962-65, 1972-76 Buffalo Bills, 1967-1971 Denver Broncos
Two-Time AFL Coach of the Yar and two AFL Championships.
MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER
1984-88 Cleveland Browns, 1989-1998 Kansas City Chiefs, 2001 Washington Redskins, 2002-06 San Diego Chargers
2004 NFL Coach of the Year. 205-139-1 Record over 21 Seasons
CLARK SHAUGHNESSY
1944-47 Washington Redskins, 1948-49 Los Angeles Rams, 1951-1962 Chicago Bears
Credited with developing the T-Formation. Longtime assistant Coach for George Halas.
DICK VERMEIL
1976-1982 Philadelphia Eagles, 1997-99 St. Louis Rams, 2001-05 Kansas City Chiefs
Two-time NFL Coach of the Year. One Super Bowl Ring
Coaches Synopsis
My God, do you see these names? Looking this up and down makes us want to included Coaches on our Football list. The new talent eligible, namely Tony Dungy, makes us really more excited about the potential Coaches than the players. Only in Football (where we can argue that the coaches are more important than the other three North American sports combined) can this happen.
CONTRIBUTORS
K. S. (BUD) ADAMS, JR.
Owner: 1960-Present Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Titans
Original founder of the Houston Oilers, original AFL franchise. Two AFL Champiosnhips.
BOBBY BEATHARD
Team Executive/General Manager – 1966-67 Kansas City Chiefs, 1968-1971 Atlanta Falcons, 1972-77 Miami Dolphins, 1978-1988 Washington Redskins, 1990-99 San Diego Chargers
Four Super Bowl Rings as an executive
GIL BRANDT
Team Executive/Personnel Director – 1960-1988 Dallas Cowboys, 1995-present National Football League
Noted for Innovation Scouting and Personnel systems that are standard practice in the NFL.
LEO CARLIN
Team Administrator – 1960-Present Philadelphia Eagles
Considered to be a vital member of the Eagles organization and credited with many innovations in the ticketing industry.
RED CASHION
Official 1972-1996 National Football League
25 Seasons as an on-field official. Refereed two Super Bowls.
JACK KENT COOKE
Owner – 1974-1997 Washington Redskins
Three Super Bowl Rings as a Owner
OTHO DAVIS
Trainer – 1971-72 Baltimore Colts, 1973-1995 Philadelphia Eagles
Recognized as a the Professional Trainer of the Year Five Times.
*EDWARD DEBARTOLO, JR.
Owner – 1977-2000 San Francisco 49ers
Five Super Bowl Rings as an Owner
RON GIBBS
Official 1940-1962 National Football League
Referee for 23 Seasons. Worked 14 NFL Championship
JERRY JONES
Owner/President/General Manager – 1989-present Dallas Cowboys
Won Three Super Bowls as an Owner
EDDIE KOTAL
Scout – 1947-1961 Los Angeles Rams
Regarded as the first full time Scout in the NFL, and the pioneer of modern techniques in the field.
ROBERT KRAFT
Owner – 1994-Present New England Patriots
Three Super Bowl Rings as an Owner.
ELMER LAYDEN
Commissioner – 1941-46 National Football League
ART MCNALLY
Official/Administrator – 1959-present National Football League
Nine Seasons as an on-field Offical, one year as a Field Judge and eight as a Referee. Was appointed as the Supervisor of Officials in 1968. Credited with bringing technology to the NFL and implemented in-depth training for officials.
*ART MODELL
Owner – 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2011 Baltimore Ravens
Owner for 43 Years. One Super Bowl Ring as an Owner.
BILL POLIAN
Team President/General Manager – 1978-1982 Kansas City Chiefs, 1984-1992 Buffalo Bills, 1993-94 National Football League, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers, 1998-2011 Indianapolis Colts
One Super Bowl Ring
STEVE SABOL
President, NFL Films – 1964-2012
Distinguished filmmaker whose artistic vision helped revolutionize the way fans watch the NFL. Won 35 individual Emmys in numerous categories and in 2003 was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Emmy from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
PAUL TAGLIABUE
Commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League
17 Years as the Commissioner of the NFL
JIM TUNNEY
Official – 1960-1991 National Football League
NFL Referee for 32 Years. Referee for Three Super Bowls
RON WOLF
Team Executive/General Manager – 1991-2001 Green Bay Packers
One Super Bowl Ring
GEORGE YOUNG
Team Executive/General Manager – 1968-1974 Baltimore Colts, 1975-78 Miami Dolphins, 1979-1997 New York Giants, 1998-2001 National Football League
Two Super Bowl Rings
Contributors Synopsis
We won’t lie as this is not nearly as much fun as the Coaches, and we are not inspired to create a Contributor list. With that said, we will make a case up and down for Steve Sabol.
In late November, the Football Hall of Fame will announce their 25 Semi-Finalists. As we have stated many times on this site, we have major respect for the way Canton builds up anticipation for their process. The question now is who will be selected!