Drafted 8^th overall by the San Diego Chargers in 1986, Leslie O'Neal made an immediate impact in the NFL by winning the Defensive Rookie of the Year and accumulating 12.5 Sacks.  He would suffer a knee injury that would take him out of football for a year and a half, but by 1989 he was ready to come back, and he would be named to the Pro Bowl in six of his next seven seasons, with each of them seeing him obtain at least 12 Sacks.  O'Neal was one of the most ferocious pass rushers of his day, but his interrupted prime and stay with a Chargers team not known for defence has impacted his overall legacy.

Here we are in the National Football League playoffs but for us that it means it is time to discuss the potential class of the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame.  The Finalists have been announced, and along with regular contributor, Spheniscus, we will go back and forth with each candidate and openly debate as to which player would be a worthy Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.

Committee Chairman: Spheniscus, there are three Finalists who are on their first year of eligibility, LaDaininan Tomlinson, Brian Dawkins and Jason Taylor.  Dawkins might get in this year, Taylor might get in this year, but Tomlinson WILL get in this year.  I would bet my dog on that…and I really love my dog.

I’m calling it a lock. 

This year LaDaininan Tomlinson will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame and will do so on his first year of eligibility.  It takes a special player to accomplish that feat, and the former running back meets that elite criteria:

Last month, regular contributor, Spheniscus and I debated the Hall of Fame merits of those who were on the Baseball Hall of Fame ballot.

Now that the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2016 has announced their class has done the same.  We were hopeful to do this prior to the announcement of the actual inductees, but life, as it often does simply got in the way!

In the upstart American Football League, the San Diego Chargers possessed one of the most dominating Offensive Lines in football.  A big part of that was Walt Sweeney, who patrolled the Right Guard position.

A lot of people talk about “Playstation” numbers whereby offensive stars put up offensive numbers that don’t seem realistic.  John Hadl was putting up those types of numbers when Quarterbacks generally were more conservative and decades before the Madden craze took over.

On three separate occasions, John Hadl eclipsed 3,000 yards passing.  This is expected out of many Quarterbacks now, but it was very impressive considering the era he played in.  He was one of the game's early gunslingers and as such posted very impressive Touchdowns Pass numbers.  Subsequently, this led to a copious amount of interceptions and he did finish his career with more picks than TD passes.

Our long and arduous work in progress of ranking the top fifty players for every North American sports team is underway, but after that is completed we will then take a look how each franchise honors their own in terms of respective franchise halls of fame, ring of honors, retired numbers and statues.

As such it is noteworthy to us that over the weekend the San Diego Chargers officially retired the number of former Running Back, LaDainian Tomlinson and entered him in their franchises’ Hall of Fame.

Tomlinson played for San Diego from 2001 to 2009 and made five Pro Bowls and three First Team All Pros.  Three times he would lead the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns and in 2006 was named the League MVP. 

The former Running Back becomes the fourth player to have his number retired, joining Dan Fouts, Lance Alworth and Junior Seau. 

Tomlinson will be eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017 and is considered by many to enter Canton.

We would like to congratulate LaDainian Tomlinson on this latest accolade and there is reason to think there are more coming.

It was not that long ago that the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the presenters for this year’s group of inductees.  On the list was Sydney Seau, the daughter of the late Junior Seau, who was chosen for Canton on his first year of eligibility. 

Traditionally, those who are presenters get to do a speech.  The Pro Football Hall of Fame will not have Sydney Seau speak.

In its place, a five minute video, which does include an interview with Junior Seau’s daughter, but does not include mentions of his suicide, depression and post concussion syndrome.

The Football Hall of Fame is clearly playing it safe and are concerned that Sydney would have addressed that issue.  In an interview with the New York Times, Sydney Seau stated that she was never going to mention any of those things.

“It’s frustrating because the induction if for my father and for the other players, but then to not be able to speak it’s painful…I just want to give the speech he would have given.  It wasn’t going to be about this mess.  My speech was solely about him.”

Hall of Fame spokesman, Joe Horrigan claimed the decision was not based on the way Seau died but that there was redundancy where a presenter would reiterate what was stated in the video package.

Can we agree to call bullshit on that one?

Hall of Fame Chairman, David Baker, weighed in stating that the Pro Football Hall of Fame and not the NFL made the decision, and reminded the media that they are two separate entities and stated that “We’re going to celebrate his life, not the death and other issues.”

While it was known that the topic of how Junior Seau passed away would shine a light on concussion issues in the game of football, this cowardly act by the Hall of Fame (and let’s face it, the NFL had their hand in this too) only highlights the issue more and is completely disrespectful to the family of Junior Seau. 

We here at Notinhalloffame.com have always talked about our admiration for the Football Hall, but today we are very disappointed in their actions. 

Splitting his career between the San Diego Chargers and the New England Patriots, Rodney Harrison has a lot of labels attached to him. Statistically, Harrison is the first man ever to have 30 Sacks and 30 Interceptions, an impressive defensive feat that quantified his versatility on the gridiron. He has two Pro Bowls and two Super Bowl Rings for the Pats; where he was one of their defensive leaders. However, Harrison also has been bestowed as one of the dirtiest players ever to play the game, and he is also remembered for being the player who David Tyree made the spectacular catch for the Giants that propelled them to the Super Bowl win over New England (which New York fans will always point out). Harrison criminally only made two bowls, but the master of the safety blitz, was one of the best at stopping the run among all defensive backs, and his cover work improved over time.  He is also gaining Hall of Fame momentum, having made it as a Finalist for the first time in 2024.

Should Rodney Harrison be in the Hall of Fame?

Definitely, put him in! Maybe, but others deserve it first. Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. No opinion. No way!

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Definitely, put him in! - 25%

Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 50%

Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 0%

No opinion. - 0%

No way! - 25%