The problem with running a Hall of Fame-related website is that many of the big ones we cover all have announcements within months of each other.  The backbone of what we do is list-related, so this results in a long push to revise what we already have; specifically, now with our Football and Basketball Lists.

At present, we have a minor update as we have completed the eighth ten of the 2024 Football List, which you can comment on and vote on:

The new 71 to 80:

71. Leslie O’Neal
72. Pat Swilling
73. Jay Hilgenberg
74. Alan Ameche
75. Jeff Saturday
76. Karl Mecklenburg
77. Chuck Foreman
78. Logan Mankins
79. Keith Jackson
80. Eddie Meador

Rankings are impacted annually based on your comments and votes.

Thank you all for your patience. We will soon unveil more changes to the football and basketball lists.

Thomas Hall of Mile Hile Huddle discusses Denver Broncos who should be in the Hall of Fame and Football Analytics.

Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  We have a new one to unveil today, that of the Denver Broncos. 

The Nets were formed in 1960, as a charter member of the American Football League.  While the fanbase proved to be strong, the play on the field was not, and they had little to no success in the 1960s.  The first few seasons when they migrated to the NFL saw the same result, but a developing “Orange Crush” Defense, took them to Super Bowl XII.  They came up short, but it was a start.

The Broncos would trade for the number one pick in 1983, John Elway, and it would usher in a wave of success in Mile High.  Elway took the Broncos to three AFC Championships in the 1980s, but they were unable to convert that success into a Super Bowl ring.  This changed in the 90s, when Elway gained a prime offensive weapon in Terrell Davis, and the two would win Super Bowl back-to-back in the 1997 and 1998 season, ending the anxiety of Broncos fans.

Denver would again sign a Hall of Fame Quarterback, though in Peyton Manning, it was at the end of his career.  The Broncos went to Super Bowl XLVIII, but were thrashed by the Seattle Seahawks. In Manning’s last year, he did enough for them to win Super Bowl 50, though that was more on the strength of their defense.

As for all of our top 50 players in football we look at the following: 

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NFL.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Remember, this is ONLY based on what a player does on that particular team and not what he accomplished elsewhere and also note that we have placed an increased importance on the first two categories.

This list is updated up until the end of the 2018 Season.

The complete list can be found here,but as always we announce our top five in this article.  They are:

1. John Elway

2. Randy Gradishar

3. ShannonSharpe

4. RodSmith

5. ChampBailey

We will continue our adjustments on our existing lists and will continue developing our new lists.  

Look for or All-Time Top 50 Carolina Panthers coming next!

As always we thank you for your support.

Known as the "Albino Rhino," Karl Mecklenburg was a late round (12^th) pick from the University of Minnesota was the master of versatility for the Denver Broncos.  Mecklenburg played seven different defensive positions for Denver and was described as a "Defensive Swiss-Army Knife."  Usually, he lined up at Inside Linebacker, and the was a First Team All-Pro in both 1985 and 1986 as well as 1989, which was the season that he led the NFL in Approximate Value.  Mecklenburg played his entire career with the Denver Broncos which saw him go to six Pro Bowls over 12 seasons, three of which he was a crucial part of the team's success in reaching the Super Bowl.  He would also accumulate 79.0 Quarterback Sacks.

The Broncos selected Mecklenburg for the Ring of Fame in 2001.

Can we say again how much we love “Hall of Fame Season”?

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced their Semi-Finalists are out and it brings out many familiar faces.

Let’s get right to the 27 Semi-Finalists:

Steve Atwater: Safety, DEN 1989-98 & NYJ 1999. Atwater is a Semi-Finalist for the seventh year in a row and he was a two time All-Pro Selection. Ranked #17 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber: Cornerback/Safety, TB 1997-2012. Barber is entering his first year of eligibility and is a three time First Team All-Pro Selection. Barber helped the Buccaneers win Super Bowl XXXVII. Ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Boselli: Offensive Tackle, JAX 1995-01 & HOU 2002. Boselli is a Semi-Finalist for the third time and was a five time Pro Bowl Selection. He was also a three time First Team All Pro. Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Isaac Bruce: Wide Receiver, LAR/STL 1994-07 & SF 2008-09. Bruce is a Semi-Finalist for the fourth straight time and is a four time Pro Bowler. Bruce had 15,208 Receiving Yards over his career, which is fourth all-time overall. Ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.

LeRoy Butler. Safety, GB 1990-01. While Butler has been Hall of Fame eligible since 2007, this is his first appearance as a Semi-Finalist. Butler was both a four time First Team All Pro and Pro Bowl Selection and he is also a Super Bowl Champion. Ranked #83 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Don Coryell: Coach, STL 1973-77 & SD 1978-86. Don “Air” Coryell is a Semi-Finalist for the tenth time and for the ninth year in a row.

Roger Craig: Running Back, SF 1983-90, LAR 1991 & MIN 1992-93. Craig returns as a Semi-Finalist for the tenth time in a row. He is a former NFL Offensive Player of the Year (1988) and a three time Super Bowl Champion. Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Dawkins: Safety, PHI 1996-08. Dawkins is a Semi-Finalist for the second year in a row and was a Finalist last year, which was his first year of eligibility. He went to nine Pro Bowls and was chosen for four First Team All Pros. Ranked #7 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Alan Faneca: Offensive Guard, PIT 1998-07, NYJ 2008-09 & ARI 2010. Faneca is a Semi-Finalist for the third time and was also a Finalist the last two years. Faneca went to nine Pro Bowls, was a six time First Team All Pro Selection and is a former Super Bowl Champion. Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Torry Holt: Wide Receiver, STL1999-08 & JAX 2009. Holt is a six time Pro Bowler who twice led the NFL in Receiving Yards. This is his fourth time as a Semi-Finalist. Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Hutchinson: Offensive Guard, SEA 2001-05, MIN 2006-11 & TEN 2012. Hutchinson is in his first year of eligibility and is a five time First Team All Pro Selection. Ranked #36 on Notinhalloffame.com.



Joe Jacoby: Offensive Tackle, WAS 1981-93. Jacoby is a Semi-Finalist for the eighth time and was a Finalist last year. The two time Pro Bowler was also a three time Super Bowl Champion. Ranked #52 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Edgerrin James: Running Back, IND 1999-05, ARI 2006-08 & SEA 2009. James is a four time Pro Bowl Selection and a two time Rushing Champion. This is his fourth time in a row as a Semi-Finalist. Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmy Johnson: Coach, DAL 1989-93 & MIA 1996-99. Johnson is a two time Super Bowl winner and a five time Semi-Finalist.

Ty Law: Cornerback, NE 1995-04, NYJ 2005 & 08, KC 2006-07 & DEN 2009. Law is a five time Pro Bowler and three time Super Bowl Champion. He is a Semi-Finalist for the fourth time and was a Finalist last year. Ranked #30 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ray Lewis. Linebacker, BAL 1996-12. This is the first year of Ray Lewis’ Hall of Fame eligibility and likely his last as he should get in immediately. He is a two time Super Bowl Champion and also a two time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.   Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Lynch. Safety, TB 1993-03 & DEN 2003-07. Lynch is a Semi-Finalist for the sixth time in a row and has also been a past Finalist. Lunch went to nine Pro Bowls and was a Super Bowl Champion with Tampa Bay. Ranked #34 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kevin Mawae. Center/Offensive Guard, SEA 1994-97, NYJ 1998-05 & TEN 2006-09. Mawae is a Semi-Finalist for the fourth year in a row and is also a past Finalist. He is also an eight time Pro Bowl and three time First Team All Pro Selection. Ranked #22 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Karl Mecklenburg. Linebacker, DEN 1983-84. Mecklenburg is now a Semi-Finalist for the seventh straight time and he is a six time Pro Bowler. Ranked #66 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Randy Moss. Wide Receiver, MIN 1998-04, OAK 2005-06, NE 2007-10, TEN 2010 & SF 2012. This the first year of eligibility for Moss who was one of the most dynamic players ever. Moss was a four time First Team All Pro Selection who is third all time in Receiving Yards. Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Leslie O’Neal. Defensive End, SD 1986 & 1988-95, STL 1996-97 & KC 1998-99. Despite being eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame since 2005, this is the first time that O’Neal has become a Semi-Finalist. He is a six time Pro Bowler. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Terrell Owens. Wide Receiver, SF 1996-03, PHI 2004-05, DAL 2006-08, BUF 2009 & CIN 2010. Owens returns for the third time in the Semi-Finals and he was a Finalist the previous two years. T.O. is second overall in Receiving Yards and is a five time First Team All Pro Selection. Of course, he already has a Hall of Fame jacket, whether he gets in or not! Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Simeon Rice. Defensive End, AZ 1996-00, TB 2001-06, DEN 2007 & IND 2007. Rice is on his first year of eligibility and is a former three time Pro Bowl Selection and Super Bowl Champion with Tampa Bay. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richard Seymour. Defensive End/Defensive Tackle, NE 2001-08 & OAK 2009-12. This is the first year of eligibility for Seymour who was a three time Super Bowl Champion and seven time Pro Bowl Selection. Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Urlacher. Linebacker, CHI 2000-12. Urlacher is Hall of Fame eligible for the first time in his career and he was an eight time Pro Bowl and four time First Team All Pro Selection. Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Everson Walls. Cornerback, DAL 1981-89, NYG 1990-92 & CLE 1992-93. Despite being eligible for the Pro Football for nearly twenty years, this is the first time that Walls made it to the Semi-Finals. Walls was a four time Pro Bowl Selection and he led the NFL in Interceptions three times. Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Hines Ward. Wide Receiver, PIT 1998-11. Ward is a Semi-Finalist for the second time in a row and he is a four time Pro Bowl Selection and a Super Bowl Champion. Ranked #31 on Notinhalloffame.com.

This group of Semi-Finalists will be trimmed down to fifteen in January. They will automatically be joined by Contributor Finalist, Bobby Beathard and two Senior Finalists; Jerry Kramer and Robert Brazile.

As you can imagine, we will be paying close attention to that announcement!

We here at Notinhalloffame.com have always been fond of the fact that the Pro Football Hall of Fame has preliminary nominees; so much so that we incorporated that in both our Fictitious Athlete and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As such, we are pleased to bring to you the preliminary nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2018.

All of the first year candidates will be underlined, and the returning Finalists will have an asterisk.

Let’s take a look shall we?

Quarterbacks:

Randall Cunningham: PHI 1985-95, MIN 1997-99, DAL 2000 & BAL 2001. Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rich Gannon: MIN 1987-92, WAS 1993, KC 1995-98 & OAK 1993-04.

Donovan McNabb: PHI 1999-09, WAS 2010 & MIN 2011. Ranked #35 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve McNair: HOU/TEN 1995-05 & BAL 2006-07. Ranked #87 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Phil Simms: NYG 1979-93. Ranked #50 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Running Backs:

Tiki Barber: NYG (1997-06). Ranked #80 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Earnest Byner: CLE 1984-88, WAS 1989-93 & CLE/BAL 1996-97.

Roger Craig: SF 1983-90, LAR 1991 & MIN 1992-93. Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Corey Dillon: CIN 1997-03 & NE 2004-08.

Eddie George: HOU/TEN 1996-03 & DAL 2004.

Edgerrin James: IND 1999-05, AZ 2006-08 & SEA 2009. Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lorenzo Neal: NO 1993-96, NYJ 1997, TB 1998, TEN 1999-00, CIN 2001-02, SD 2003-07 & BAL 2008.

Fred Taylor: JAX 1998-08 & NE 2009-10.

Herschel Walker: DAL 1986-89, MIN 1989-91, PHI 1992-94, NYG 1995 & DAL 1996-97. Ranked #40 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ricky Watters: SF 1991-94, PHI 1995-97 & SEA 1998-01. Ranked #49 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wide Receivers:

*Isaac Bruce: LAR/STL 1994-07 & SF 2008-09. Ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Donald Driver: GB 1999-12.

Henry Ellard: LAR 1983-93, WAS 1994-97, NE 1998 & WAS 1998. Ranked #91 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Torry Holt: STL 1998-08, JAX 2009. Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chad Johnson: CIN 2001-10, NE 2011. Ranked #44 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Randy Moss: MIN 1998-04, OAK 2005-06, NE 2007-10, TEN 2010 & SF 2012. Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Terrell Owens: SF 1996-03, PHI 2004-05, DAL 2006-08, BUF 2009 & CIN 2010. Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sterling Sharpe: GB 1988-94. Ranked #47 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmy Smith: DAL 1992-93 & JAX 1995-05. Ranked #96 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rod Smith: DEN 1995-07. Ranked #59 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Smith: NYG 2007-10, PHI 2011 & STL 2012.

John Taylor: SF 1987-95.

Hines Ward: PIT 1998-11. Ranked #31 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tight Ends:

Mark Bavaro: NYG 1985-90, CLE 1992 & PHI 1993-94.

Ben Coates: NE 1994-99 & BAL 2000. Ranked #79 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ferrell Edmunds: MIA 1988-92 & SEA 1993-94.

Jay Novacek: STL/PHX 1985-89 & DAL 1990-96. Ranked #89 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Offensive Linemen:

Willie Anderson (T): CIN 1996-07 & BAL 2008.

Matt Birk (C): MIN 1998-08 & BAL 2009-12. Ranked #67 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Boselli (T): JAX 1995-01 & HOU 2002. Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lomas Brown (T): DET 1985-95, AZ 1996-98, CLE 1999, NYG 2000-01 & TB 2002.

Ruben Brown (G): BUF 1995-03 & CHI 2004-07.

Ray Donaldson (C): BAL/IND 1980-92, SEA 1993-94 & DAL 1995-96.

Alan Faneca (G): PIT 1998-07, NYJ 2008-09 & AZ 2010. Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bill Fralic (G/T): ATL 1985-92.

Jay Hilgenberg (C): CHI 1981-91, CLE 1992 & NO 1993. Ranked #71 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Hinton (G/T): BAL/IND 1983-93, ATL 1990-92 & MIN 1994-95. Ranked #104 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kent Hull (C): BUF 1986-96.

Steve Hutchinson (G): SEA 2001-05, MIN 2006-11 & TEN 2012. Ranked #36 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Joe Jacoby (T): WAS 1981-93. Ranked #52 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Kenn (T): ATL 1978-94. Ranked #99 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Kevin Mawae (C/G): SEA 1994-97, NYJ 1998-05 & TEN 2006-09. Ranked #22 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Nalen (C): DEN 1994-08.

Nate Newton (G): DAL 1986-98 & CAR 1999.

Bart Oates (C): NYG 1985-93 & SF 1994-95.

Jeff Saturday (C): IND 1999-11 & GB 2012. Ranked #76 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richmond Webb (T): MIA 1999-00 & CIN 2001-02.

Steve Wisniewski (G): LAR/OAK 1989-01. Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Linemen:

La’Roi Glover (DT/NT): NO 1997-01, DAL 2002-05 & STL 2006-08.

Leonard Marshall (DE/DT): NYG 1983-92, NYJ 1993 & WAS 1994.

Keith Millard (DT/NT/DE): MIN 1985-91, SEA 1992, GB 1992 & PHI 1993.

Leslie O’Neal (DE): SD 1986-95, STL 1996-97 & KC 1998-99.

Michael Dean Perry (DT/DE): CLE 1989-94, DEN 1995-97 & KC 1997.

Simeon Rice (DE): AZ 1996-00, TB 2001-06, DEN 2007 & IND 2007.

Richard Seymour (DT): NE 2001-08 & OAK 2009-12. Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Neil Smith (DE): KC 1988-96, DEN 1997-99 & SD 2000.

Greg Townsend (DE/NT/LB): LAR 1983-93, PHI 1994 & OAK 1997.

Kyle Vanden Bosch (DE): AZ 2001-04, TEN 2005-09 & DET 2010-12.

Bryant Young (DT): SF 1994-07

Linebackers:

Carl Banks: NYG 1984-92, WAS 1993 & CLE 1994-95.

Cornelius Bennett: BUF 1987-95, ATL 1996-98 & IND 1999-00.

Tedy Bruschi: NE 1996-08.

Seth Joyner: PHI 1986-93, AZ 1994-96, GB 1997 & DEN 1998.

Ray Lewis: BAL 1996-12. Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Greg Lloyd: PIT 1988-97 & CAR 1998. Ranked #88 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wilber Marshall: CHI 1984-87, WAS 1988-92, HOU 1993, AZ 1994 & NYJ 1995.

Clay Matthews: CLE 1978-93 & ATL 1994-96.

Willie McGinest: NE 1994-05 & CLE 2006-08.

Karl Mecklenburg: DEN 1983-94. Ranked #66 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sam Mills: NO 1986-94 & CAR 1995-97. Ranked #92 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Joey Porter: PIT 199-06, MIA 2007-09 & AZ 2010-11. Ranked #98 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Darryl Talley: BUF 1983-94, ATL 1995 & MIN 1996.

Zach Thomas: MIA 1996-2007 & DAL 2008.

Brian Urlacher: CHI 2000-12. Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Backs:

Eric Allen (CB): PHI 1988-94, NO 1995-97 & OAK 1998-01. Ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Atwater (S): DEN 1989-98 & NYJ 1999. Ranked #17 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber (CB/S): TB 1997-12. Ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

LeRoy Butler (S): GB 1990-01. Ranked #83 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Brian Dawkins (SS): PHI 1996-08 & DEN 2009-11. Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rodney Harrison (S): SD 1994-02 & NE 2003-08.

*Ty Law (CB): NE 1995-04, NYJ 2005, KC 2006-07, NYJ 2008 & DEN 2009. Ranked #30 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Albert Lewis (CB): KC 1983-93 & LAR/OAK 1994-98.

*John Lynch (S): TB 1993-03 & DEN 2004-07. Ranked #34 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Dennis Smith (S): DEN 1981-94.

Everson Walls (CB): DAL 1981-89, NYG 1990-92 & CLE 1992-93

Darren Woodson (S): DAL 1992-03..

Place Kickers/Punters:

Gary Anderson (K): PIT 1982-94, PHI 1995-96, SF 1997, MIN 1998-02 & TEN 2003-04

Sean Landeta (P): NYG 1985-93, LAR/STL 1993-96, TB 1997, GB 1998, PHI 1999-02, STL 2003-04, PHI 2005 & NYG 2006.

Nick Lowery (K): NE 1978, KC 1980-93 & NYJ 1994-96.

Special Teams:

Brian Mitchell (KR/PR): WAS 1990-99, PHI 2000-02 & NYG 2003.

Steve Tasker (ST): HOU 1985-86 & BUF 1986-97. Ranked #95 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Coaches:

*Don Coryell: STL 1973-77 & SD 1978-86.

Bill Cowher: PIT 1992-06.

Tom Flores: OAK/LAR 1979-87 & SEA 1992-94.

Mike Holmgren: GB 1992-98 & SEA 1999-08.

Jimmy Johnson: DAL 1989-93 & MIA 1996-99.

Chuck Knox: LAR 1973-77, BUF 1978-82, SEA 1983-91 & LAR 1992-94.

Buddy Parker: DET 1951-56 & PIT 1957-64.

Richie Petitbon: WAS 1981-93.

Dan Reeves: DEN 1981-92, NYG 1993-96 & ATL 1997-03

Marty Schottenheimer: CLE 1984-89, KC 1989-98 & WAS 2001.

Clark Shaugnessy: LAR 1978-49 & CHI 1951--62

Dick Vermeil: PHI 1976-82, STL 1997-99 & KC 2001-05.

Please note that we don not rank coaches.

Mild surprise omissions at this stage include Quarterback Drew Bledsoe and Running Back, Shaun Alexander.

Perhaps the biggest head scratcher is that Steve Smith was chosen. We have to wonder if they thought they were voting for the recently retired Steve Smith Sr., who is eligible for Canton in 2022 and has over 14,000 Receiving Yards. This Steve Smith played five years and has 2,641 Receiving Yards.

We are guessing that Smith won’t make the next round.

Jerry Kramer and Robert Brazile have already advanced as Senior Finalists. Bobby Beathard has been announced as the Contributor Finalist

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate those who made it this far and we will be eagerly anticipating those who will advance to the Semi-Finals.

We would love to make a case for Karl Mecklenburg just for his nickname of the “Albino Rhino” but we have always been a sucker for colorful (or in this case not so colorful) nicknames.