Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2023 revision of our top 50 Cleveland Browns.

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 National Football League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

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

Last year, the Browns returned to the playoffs but could not get past their first game.  There were no new entries and two elevations in our Top 50.

As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes:

1. Jim Brown
2. Otto Graham
3. Joe Thomas
4. Lou Groza
5. Ozzie Newsome

You can find the entire list here.

Reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett rocketed to #12 from #32.

Left Tackle Joel Bitonio, on a six-year Pro Bowl streak, climbed to #18 from #24. 

Notably, Running Back Nick Chubb remains at #44.

We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.

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. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity. As such, we are very happy to present our post 2022 revision of our top 50 Cleveland Browns.

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 National Football League.

3. Playoff accomplishments.

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

Last year, the Browns were a trendy pick to make it to the Super Bowl, but not only did that not happen, they failed to make the playoffs. This did not impact a new entrant occurring as well as two significant elevations from occurring.

As always, we present our top five, which had no changes.

1. Jim Brown

2. Otto Graham

3. Joe Thomas

4. Lou Groza

5. Ozzie Newsomb

You can find the entire list here.

Joel Bitonio, who has starred on the Browns O-Line for the past half-decade, rocketed to #24 from #38.

Defensive End, Myles Garrett advances to #32 from 44.

Running Back, Nick Chubb, makes his first appearance at #44.

We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.

For us, this is as big as the Super Bowl

Tonight, at the NFL Honors, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the nine new members of the Canton based institution.

The Class of 2023 is:

Joe Thomas, Offensive Tackle, Cleveland Browns 2007-17:  Thomas was expected to be a first ballot inductee, and that is what transpired for the former Outland Trophy winner.  The runner-up for the 2007 Offensive Rookie of the Year, Thomas played a record-breaking 10,363 Snaps and allowed only 30 Sacks.  Charting new territory as the first Offensive Lineman to make the Pro Bowl in his first ten years, Thomas was a six-time First Team All-Pro and 2010’s All-Decade player.  

Darrelle Revis, Cornerback, New York Jets 2007-12 & 2015-16, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2013, New England Patriots 2014, Kansas City Chiefs 2017:  Along with Joe Thomas, Revis is a first ballot inductee, and the Super Bowl Champion with the Pats went to seven Pro Bowls with four First Team All-Pros and was a 2010s All-Decade player.  The proprietor of Revis Island had 29 Interceptions and was second in 2009 Defensive Player of the Year voting.

DeMarcus Ware, Linebacker, Dallas Cowboys 2005-13, Denver Broncos 2014-16:  Many expected Ware to enter on year one, but here he is on his second go.  Amassing 138.5 Sacks and twice leading the league, the Linebacker was a nine-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro and a Super Bowl Champion late in his career with the Broncos.

Zach Thomas, Linebacker, Miami Dolphins 1995-2007, Dallas Cowboys 2008:  Thomas was a Finalist the last four years, and is now a Hall of Famer on his tenth year on the ballot.  The Linebacker had eleven years where he broke at least 100 Tackles, and he was a five-time First Team All-Pro as well as a seven-time Pro Bowler.

Ronde Barber, Cornerback, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1997-2012:  With all due respect to Barber, this was a slight surprise, as his selection gave us three Corners (including Revis and Riley) in the 2023 Class.  A Super Bowl Champion, Barber is the only player in history with at least 45 Interceptions and 25 Sacks.  A 2000’s All-Decade Selection, Barber went to five Pro Bowls.

Chuck Howley, Linebacker, Chicago Bears 1958-59, Dallas Cowboys 1961-73:  This was a long time coming for Howley, who has been eligible for 45 years, and had never been a Finalist.  The first, and only player to win the Super Bowl MVP on a losing team, Howley got the Super Bowl Ring later, and also had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros on his docket.

Ken Riley, Cornerback, Cincinnati Bengals 1969-83:  Riley was never a Finalist before this year, and the career Bengal was used to being snubbed, having only one First Team All-Pro despite 65 career Interceptions.  This gives the Bengals their second Hall of Famer, behind Offensive Lineman, Anthony Munoz.

Joe Klecko, Defensive Tackle, New York Jets, 1977-87, Indianapolis Colts 1988.  Klecko enters the Hall of Fame after 30 years of eligibility and now the “New York Sack Exchange” has a Hall of Fame inductee.  He was the second player (after Frank Gifford) to earn Pro Bowl honors at three different positions and he was named by UPI as their Defensive Player of the Year in 1981.

Don Coryell, Head Coach, St. Louis Cardinals 1973-77, San Diego Chargers 1978-86:  Coyell was one of the most influential minds in football, revolutionizing the passing game with his “Air Coryell” offense.  A Finalist six previous times, Coryell finally receives his due, albeit 12 years after his death.

As per Clark Judge, the first five Finalists cut were Devin Hester, Willie Anderson, Darren Woodson, Dwight Freeney and Patrick Willis.  Hester, is a bit of a surprise, as he made it to the final ten last year.  

The three Wide Receivers on the ballot, Andre Johnson, Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne made it to the top ten, but none advanced, meaning that the logjam at Wide Receiver remains clogged.  Jared Allen, who has been a Finalist every year since eligible, also made it to the final cut.  The biggest disappointment was for Albert Lewis, who had to wait until his final year of modern eligibility to make it as a Finalist (or even a Semi-Finalist) was also in the final ten and now is in the very deep Seniors pool.

We will be revising our Notinhalloffame.com list next month, where we will remove those inducted, add those now eligible, and alter the list based on your votes and comments.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2023.

Some say that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year.  For us at Notinhalloffame.com, it is the month after, where “Hall of Fame Season” is in its apex, with the announcement of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists.

We at Notinhalloffame.com, held our mock committee meeting last month, where we pushed through our 15, which differs from the actual Hall (as expected).

The 15 Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists of 2023 are:

Jared Allen: Defensive End.  2004-07 KC, 2008-13 MIN, 2014-15 CHI, 2015 CAR.  Allen advances for the third straight year, and has been a Finalist in all three of his eligible years.  A two-time Sack leader with 136 career Sacks, Allen also has 171 Tackles for Loss.  A five-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro, Allen is ranked #22 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Willie Anderson: Offensive Tackle.  1996-2007 CIN, 2008 BAL.  Anderson was eligible for the first time in 2013, and eight years later, he was a Semi-Finalist for the first time.  Big Willie is now on a two-year streak as a Finalist.  Anderson went to four Pro Bowls, was a three-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #137 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber: Cornerback & Safety.  1997-2002 TB.  Barber has been on the ballot for six years and is now a three-time Finalist.  A member of Tampa’s first Super Bowl Title, Barber has 47 Interceptions, 20 Sacks and went to five Pro Bowls as well as earning three First Team All-Pros.  Barber is ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Dwight Freeney: Defensive End.  2002-12 IND, 2013-14 SD, AZ 2015, 2016 ATL, 2017 SEA, 2017 DET.  Freeney was one of the five first year eligible players to make the Semi-Finals, and he is now a first-year Finalist; a huge accomplishment for a Hall of Fame path.  Freeney won a Super Bowl with the Colts, had 125.5 Sacks and went to seven Pro Bowls earning three First Team All-Pros.  Freeney is ranked #61 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Devin Hester: Punt Returner, Kick Returner & Wide Receiver.  2006-13 CHI, 2014-15 ATL, 2016 BAL.  Hester is a Finalist in his first two years of eligibility.  A three-time First Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, Hester is a member of the 100^th Anniversary Team.  Hester is ranked #54 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Torry Holt: Wide Receiver.  1999-08 STL, 2009 JAX.  A nine-time Semi-Finalist, Holt is no a four-time Finalist.  A Super Bowl Champion with the Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls, and was a two-time Receiving Yards leader.  Holt is ranked #7 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Andre Johnson: Wide Receiver.  2003-14 HOU, 2015 IND, 2016 TEN.  Johnson is a two-time Finalist, which is the same number of years he has been eligible.  Named to seven Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros, Johnson had well over 14,000 Receiving Yards and twice led the league in that category.  Johnson is ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Albert Lewis: Cornerback.  1983-93 KC, 1994-98 LA/OAK.  Lewis makes the Finals on his last year of eligibility, and was only a Semi-Finalist once before, in 2013.  He was a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #259 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Darrelle Revis: Cornerback.  2007-12 NYJ, 2013 TB, 2014 NE, NYJ 2015-16, KC 2017.  A Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots in the lone year he was there, Revis is best known for his time with the Jets.  Revis went to seven Pro Bowls, had four First Team All-Pros and is the 2009 leader in Approximate Value.  This is his first year on the ballot.  Revis is ranked #5 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Joe Thomas: Offensive Tackle.  2007-17 CLE.  Thomas is without a doubt the best player in the second wave of the Cleveland Browns, but he did not have a lot of help.  This is his first year on the ballot, and he was pegged to be a first-year Finalist by EVERYONE!  The Lineman was a six-time First Team All-Pro, and went to ten Pro Bowls.  Thomas is ranked #1on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Zach Thomas: Linebacker.  1997-2007 MIA, 2008 DAL.  Thomas is now on a four-year streak of Finalist Selections.  He went to seven Pro Bowls, earned five First Team All-Pros and was a two-time leader in Combined Tackles.  Thomas is ranked #10 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

DeMarcus Ware: Linebacker & Defensive End.  2005-13 DAL, 2014-16 DEN.  Ware is on his second year of eligibility has been a Finalist both years.  A nine-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro, Ware twice led the NFL in Sacks, with 138.5 in total.  Ware is ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Reggie Wayne: Wide Receiver.  2001-14 IND.  Wayne won a Super Bowl with the Colts and this marks the fourth consecutive trip to the Finalist round.  A former Receiving Yard leader and six-time Pro Bowler, Wayne is ranked #12 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Patrick Willis: Linebacker.  2007-14 SF.  Willis adds a second straight Finalist to his resume, and with teammate, Bryant Young out of the way, there should be less obstruction.  Willis only played eight years but was a Pro Bowl in seven and a First Team All-Pro in five of them.  He is ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 15 selected by our Mock Committee.

Darren Woodson: Safety.  1992-03 DAL.  Woodson, who was a six-time Semi-Finalist, is finally a Finalist.  He was a three-time Super Bowl winner, a three-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #90 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Semi-Finalists who did not advance are Anquan Boldin, Henry Ellard, Jahri Evans, London Fletcher, James Harrison, Rodney Harrison, Robert Mathis, Steve Smith, Fred Taylor, Hines Ward, Ricky Watters and Vince Wilfork.

It should be noted that we will be holding our Mock Committee meeting on January 17, 9:30 EST, and we will be combining the official Finalists with ours.

This means we will be adding Randall Cunningham, Henry Ellard, Tom Nalen, Leslie O’Neal, Pat Swilling, and Richmond Webb. 

So, who is going to get in!!! 

You know that we will be paying attention, and we are excited to see how this pans out.

A day after the Baseball Hall of Fame announced their official ballot for the 2023 Class, the Pro Football Hall of Fame counters with the Semi-Finalists for their 2023 Class

Normally they nominate 25 men, but likely due to a tie vote, we have 28 official Semi-Finalists.  This group includes five First Year eligible candidates.

Let’s take a look!

Eric Allen: Cornerback.  1988-94 PHI, 1995-97 NO, 1998-2001 OAK. Allen is now a Semi-Finalist for the third straight year, and he needs this momentum as he has been eligible since 2007.  A six-time Pro Bowl Selection, who has 54 career Interceptions, Allen is ranked #49 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jared Allen: Defensive End.  2004-07 KC, 2008-13 MIN, 2014-15 CHI, 2015 CAR. Allen returns as a Semi-Finalist for the third straight year, and considering he was a Finalist the last two years, it is expected that he will advance again.  A two-time Sack leader with 136 career Sacks, Allen also has 171 Tackles for Loss.  A five-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro, Allen is ranked #22 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Willie Anderson: Offensive Tackle.  1996-2007 CIN, 2008 BAL. Anderson was eligible for the first time in 2013, and eight years later, he was a Semi-Finalist for the first time.  Now a three-time Semi-Finalist, “Big Willie” was a Finalist for the first time last year.  Anderson went to four Pro Bowls, was a three-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #137 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber: Cornerback & Safety.  1997-2002 TB.  Barber has been on the ballot for six years and has been a Semi-Finalist for all of them, though only a Finalist the last two.  A member of Tampa’s first Super Bowl Title, Barber has 47 Interceptions, 20 Sacks and went to five Pro Bowls as well as earning three First Team All-Pros.  Barber is ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Anquan Boldin: Wide Receiver.  2003-2009 AZ, 2010-12 BAL, 2013-15 SF, 2016 DET.  A Semi-Finalist last year in his first year of eligibility, the former Wide Receiver returns again, seeking his first trip to the Finals.  With 13,779 Yards and 82 Touchdowns, Boldin won a Super Bowl with Baltimore, and was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Boldin is ranked #96 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Henry Ellard: Wide Receiver.  1983-93 LAR, 1994-98 WAS, NE 1998.  This is the last kick at the can for Ellard, who is a Semi-Finalist for the first time in his final year of eligibility.  Ellard had 65 Touchdowns and 13,777 Receiving Yards, which had fewer peers when he played than the other nominated Wide Receivers.  A three-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro,   Ellard is ranked #91 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Jahri Evans: Offensive Guard.  2006-16 NO, 2017 GB.  Evans makes the Semis in his first year of eligibility, and is the first player from the New Orleans Super Bowl winning team to make it here.  The Guard was.  a six-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #36 on Notinhalloffame.com.

London Fletcher: Linebacker.  1998-01 STL, 2002-06 BUF, 2007-13 WAS.  Eligible since 2019, Fletcher is a first time Semi-Finalist who recorded over 2,000 Tackles over his career and is a Super Bowl Champion with the Rams.  A four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro is ranked #64 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Dwight Freeney: Defensive End.  2002-12 IND, 2013-14 SD, AZ 2015, 2016 ATL, 2017 SEA, 2017 DET.  Freeney is one of the five first year eligible players to make the Semi-Finals, a huge accomplishment for a Hall of Fame path.  Freeney won a Super Bowl with the Colts, had 125.5 Sacks and went to seven Pro Bowls earning three First Team All-Pros.  Freeney is ranked #61 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

James Harrison: Linebacker.  2002-12 PIT, 2013 CIN, 2014-17 PIT, 2017 NE.  Harrison is a Semi-Finalist on his first year on the ballot and was a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers.  The 2008 AP Defensive Player of the Year, Harrison went to five Pro Bowls and earned two-time First Team All-Pros.  Harrison is ranked #51 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rodney Harrison: Safety.  1994-2002 SD, 2003-08 NE.  Eligible since 2014, Harrison was a Semi-Finalist once before in 2021, and is a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots.  Also, a two-time Pro Bowl Selection, Harrison had 30.5 Sacks and 30 Interceptions.  Harrison is ranked #211 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Devin Hester: Punt Returner, Kick Returner & Wide Receiver.  2006-13 CHI, 2014-15 ATL, 2016 BAL.  Hester was a Semi-Finalist and Finalist last year, which was his first year on the ballot.  A three-time First Team All-Pro and four-time Pro Bowler, Hester is a member of the 100^th Anniversary Team.  Hester is ranked #54 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Torry Holt: Wide Receiver.  1999-08 STL, 2009 JAX.  A nine-time Semi-Finalist, Holt has been a Finalist the last three years, and likely will add a fourth.  A Super Bowl Champion with the Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls, and was a two-time Receiving Yards leader.  Holt is ranked #7 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Andre Johnson: Wide Receiver.  2003-14 HOU, 2015 IND, 2016 TEN.  Johnson was a Finalist last year in his first year of eligibility, and he is back one step away from doing it again.  Named to seven Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros, Johnson had well over 14,000 Receiving Yards and twice led the league in that category.  Johnson is ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Albert Lewis: Cornerback.  1983-93 KC, 1994-98 LA/OAK.  Lewis is on his last year of eligibility, and was only a Semi-Finalist once before, in 2013.  He was a four-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #259 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Robert Mathis: Defensive End & Linebacker.  2003-16 IND.  A Super Bowl Champion with Indianapolis, the team he spent his entire career with, Mathis is on his second year of eligibility, and is now a two-time Semi-Finalist.  With 123 career Sacks, six Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro, Mathis is ranked #112 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Darrelle Revis: Cornerback.  2007-12 NYJ, 2013 TB, 2014 NE, NYJ 2015-16, KC 2017.  A Super Bowl Champion with the Patriots in the lone year he was there, Revis is best known for his time with the Jets.  Revis went to seven Pro Bowls, had four First Team All-Pros and is the 2009 leader in Approximate Value.  Revis is ranked #5 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Steve Smith: Wide Receiver.  2001-13 CAR, 2014-16 BAL.  A five-time Pro Bowl and 14,000 Receiving Yards Club member, Smith is one of the greatest offensive players in Panthers history.  Smith has been eligible for two years, and is now a Semi-Finalist in both of them.  He is ranked #26 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Fred Taylor: Running Back.  1998-08 JAX, 2009-10 NE.  Taylor is now on a four-year streak of Semi-Final Selections, though he has yet to be a Finalist.  He only had one Pro Bowl under his belt, but is highly believed to be the best offensive skill player that Jacksonville ever had.  Taylor is ranked #180 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Thomas: Offensive Tackle.  2007-17 CLE.  Thomas is without a doubt the best player in the second wave of the Cleveland Browns, but he did not have a lot of help.  This is his first year on the ballot, and many expect him to easily make it to the Finals.  The Lineman was a six-time First Team All-Pro, and went to ten Pro Bowls.  Thomas is ranked #1on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Zach Thomas: Linebacker.  1997-2007 MIA, 2008 DAL.  Thomas is now on a five-year Semi-Finalist run, and he will likely add a fourth straight Final.  He went to seven Pro Bowls, earned five First Team All-Pros and was a two-time leader in Combined Tackles.  Thomas is ranked #10 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Hines Ward: Wide Receiver.  1998-2011 PIT.  Ward has been a Semi-Finalist all seven years of eligibility, but this has yet to get him to the Finals.  Could this be the year?  If so, we are talking about a Super Bowl MVP, a two-time Super Bowl Champion and four-time Pro Bowler.  Ward is ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.

DeMarcus Ware: Linebacker & Defensive End.  2005-13 DAL, 2014-16 DEN.  Ware is on his second year of eligibility and was a Finalist last year.  A nine-time Pro Bowl and four-time First Team All-Pro, Ware twice led the NFL in Sacks, with 138.5 in total.  Ware is ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Ricky Watters: Running Back.  1992-94 SF, 1995-97 Ricky Watters, 1998-2001 SEA.  Watters is running out of time as this his third last year on the ballot.  A Semi-Finalist three times before, he won a Super Bowl with San Francisco and went to five Pro Bowls.  Watters is ranked #50 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Reggie Wayne: Wide Receiver.  2001-14 IND.  Wayne won a Super Bowl with the Colts and has been a Semi-Finalist all four of his years on the ballot, and likely will be a four-time Finalist in a month.  A former Receiving Yard leader and six-time Pro Bowler, Wayne is ranked #12 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Vince Wilfork: Defensive Tackle & Nose Tackle.  2004-12 NE, 2015-16 HOU.  The mountain of a man helped New England win a Super Bowl and is now two-for-two in Semi-Final appearances.  The five-time Pro Bowler is ranked #148on Notinhalloffame.com.

Patrick Willis: Linebacker.  2007-14 SF.  Willis is now a four-time Semi-Finalist, and was a Finalist for the first time last year.  Willis only played eight years but was a Pro Bowl in seven and a First Team All-Pro in five of them.  He is ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

Darren Woodson: Safety.  1992-03 DAL.  Woodson is now a six-time Semi-Finalist, but has yet to break through to the Finals.  He was a three-time Super Bowl winner, a three-time First Team All-Pro and is ranked #90 on Notinhalloffame.com, and was one of the 26 selected by our Mock Committee.

It should be noted that we will be holding our Mock Committee meeting on either December 13 or 14 (TBD), and we will be combining the official Semi-Finalists with ours.

This means we will be adding Shaun Alexander, Ruben Brown, Ben Coates, Randall Cunningham, Tom Nalen, Leslie O’Neal, Neil Smith, Pat Swilling, Richmond Webb, Kevin Williams and Steve Wisniewski to our discussion. 

So, who is going to get in!!! 

You know that we will be paying attention, and we are excited to see how this pans out.

Is it that time again!

One of our core lists on Notinhalloffame.com, our list of those to consider for the Pro Footnall Hall of Fame has been revised.

The steps in our revisions are basic:

-Remove all of those who were inducted.  This included Cliff Branch (#11), Richard Seymour (#35), Tony Boselli (#36), Sam Mills (#40), Leroy Butler (#69) and Bryant Young (#159).

-Input those we think worthy who are now eligible.

-Adjust rankings based on your votes and comments.

The entire list can be found here, but here is our new top ten:

#1. Joe Thomas.  The career Cleveland Brown enters his first year of eligibility, and we expect that Thomas will walk in easily.  Although Thomas’ teams had way more losses than wins, he is a member of the 2010s All-Decade Team, a ten-time Pro Bowler and a six-time First Team All-Pro.  He should be a lock.

#2. Chuck Howley.  Ranked #3 last year, Howley starred at Linebacker for Dallas, where he helped them win Super Bowl VI, after winning the Super Bowl MVP in the Cowboys’ losing effort the year before.  A six-time Pro Bowler and five-time First Team All-Pro, Howley’s path has to come via the Senior’s Committee.  

#3. Randy Gradishar.  The star of the Orange Crush Defense, Gradishar was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 1978, and went to seven Pro Bowls and had five First Team All-Pros.  Gradishar was a Finalist three times, most recently in 2020, on the Centennial Slate ballot.  He was ranked #2 last year.

#4. DeMarcus Ware.  Ware was ranked #1 last year, and while we thought he was going to enter last year on his first year on the ballot, it was not meant to be, although he reached the Finals.  The Linebacker played for Dallas and Denver, winning a Super Bowl in his final season.  A member of the 2000s All-Decade Team, Ware twice led the lead in Sacks, three times in Tackles for Loss, and went to nine Pro Bowls.  Ware is also a four-time First Team All-Pro.

#5. Darrelle Revis.  The New York Jets may not have had much to crow about over the last twenty years, but Darrelle Revis and “Revis Island” was one of the finest displays of Cornerback work over the last decade.  Revis was a four-time First Team All-Pro, seven-time Pro Bowl Selection, and he won a Super Bowl with New England.  This is his first year of eligibility.

#6. L.C. Greenwood.  Greenwood helped the Steelers win four Super Bowls in the 1970s and he was a Finalist for the Hall six times.  A six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All Pro, the Defensive End was also chosen for the 1970s All-Decade Team.  He drops two spots this year.

#7. Torry Holt.  Holt is destined to follow his Hall of Fame Rams teammate and fellow Wide Receiver, Isaac Bruce into Canton.  A Super Bowl Champion with St. Louis, Holt was an All-Decade Selection, seven-time Pro Bowler and he has been a Finalist the last three years.  Holt slid one spot on this year’s rank.

8. Ronde Barber.  Moving up two spots, Barber played his entire career with Tampa Bay, where he won a Super Bowl.  A member of the 25-25 Club, Barber went to five Pro Bowls and was a 2010’s All-Decade Selection.  He has been a Finalist the last two years.

9. Roger Craig.  A former Offensive Player of the Year and three-time Super Bowl Champion with San Francisco, Craig made history as the first player to rush for 1,000 Yards and receive over 1,000 Yards in a season.  The four-time Pro Bowler was ranked at number five last year, and was a Finalist in 2020.

10. Zach Thomas.  Thomas has been a Finalist the last three years and likely will be again in 2023.  The Linebacker was an All-Decade Selection in the 2000s, a two-time leader in Combined Tackles, and was a five-time First Team All-Pro.  Thomas was ranked #21 last year.

There were many other new entries on our top 300.

Offensive Lineman, and Super Bowl Champion with New Orleans, Jahri Evans, enters at #36.  He was a four-time First Team All-Pro and six-time Pro Bowl Selection.

James Harrison went from undrafted to two-time Super Bowl Champion and Defensive Player of the Year with the Steelers.  The five-time Pro Bowler debuts at #51.

Defensive End, Dwight Freeney, went to seven Pro Bowls, was a three-time First Team All-Pro and won the Super Bowl with Indianapolis.  Freeney had 125.5 career Sacks and comes in at #61.

Shane Lechler, who is one of the best Punters ever makes his first appearance on the list at #110.

Rounding out the new entries are former Bears and Jets Running Back, Matt Forte (#215), former 49ers Linebacker, NaVorro Bowman (#231), and former Bengals and Cardinals Quarterback, Carson Palmer (#258). 

Thank you all for your support, and we encourage you to cast your votes and offer your opinions.

The second incarnation of the Cleveland Browns had a bad start.  Going one step further, there is no inaccurate negative pejorative you could use to describe their first 20 years.  One thing they universally did perfectly was select Joe Thomas with the Third Overall Pick in the 2007 Draft.

Thomas, who won the Outland Trophy in 2006 with Wisconsin, was an All-Rookie and Pro Bowler at Left Tackle, and he did not miss a play as a rookie.  That is impressive enough, but he never missed a snap until the 2017 season, participating in 10,363 consecutive, a record, although that was not recorded until 1999.  

Thomas was not just an iron man; he was outstanding at what he did.  He was named to six First Team All-Pros and was a Pro Bowler annually from his rookie season (2007) to 2016.  An innovator with his shotput style in pass blocking, Thomas was hard for defenders to figure out.  He rarely allowed a sack, and even less was called for holding.  

Named to the 2010s All-Decade Team, Thomas's Browns teams only won 48 Games to 128 Losses.  It is an abysmal record, but where would they have been without him?  

Thomas is considered to be one of the best Left Tackles in the history of the game.  He was named to the Browns Ring of Honor in 2018. 

As we approach the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Saturday, we have been working on our future eligible section.  As football players don’t always retire after they played their last game (usually to see if they can land another job while sitting out as a free agent) we aren’t able to immediately add them.  

With that being the case, we have added to our site, 2023 Pro Football Hall of Fame eligible list.

The people eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame whom we are featuring are:

Alterraun Verner:  Verner would be named to the Pro Bowl at Cornerback in 2013 when he was with the Tennessee Titans.

Brian Cushing:  The Linebacker was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2009, but this would be the only year that the career Houston Texan would be named to the Pro Bowl.

Carson Palmer:  Palmer was a three-time Pro Bowl Quarterback who led the NFL in Touchdown Passes in 2005.

Chris Johnson:  Johnson was the Offensive Player of the Year in 2009 and the Running Back would go on to three Pro Bowls.

Cliff Avril:  Avril was a Pro Bowl Linebacker in 2016 and was a Super Bowl Champion with the Seattle Seahawks.

Danny Woodhead:  Woodhead was a popular and undrafted Running Back who would have nearly 5,000 Yards from Scrimmage.

Darrelle Revis:  Revis was the greeter of “Revis Island”, where the Cornerback would be named to seven Pro Bowls and four First Team All-Pros.  Revis would win a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots.

Darren McFadden:  McFadden played at Running Back where he would have 7,535 Yards from Scrimmage.

DeAngelo Hall:  Hall would become a three-time Pro Bowl Defensive Back.

DeMarco Murray:  Murray was explosive in 2014 where the Running Back would be named the Offensive Player of the Year.  He was also a three-time Pro Bowl Selection.

Dwight Freeney:  Freeney was a First Team All-Pro Defensive End three times and he would be named to seven Pro Bowls.  Freeney won the Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts and he retired with 125.5 Quarterback Sacks.

Elvis Dumervil:  At Defensive End, Dumervil was a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro who led the NFL in Sacks in 2009.  He retried with 105.5 Sacks over his career.

Eric Decker:  The Wide Receiver would have over 50 Receiving Touchdowns over his career.

Eric Weems:  Weems would record over 5,000 Return Yards and was 2010 Pro Bowl Selection.

Eric Wood:  Wood would be a Pro Bowl Selection at 2015 at the Center Position.

James Harrison:  Harrison was the Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 and was a five-time and two-time First Team All-Pro.  The Linebacker would help the Pittsburgh Steelers win two Super Bowls.

Jay Cutler:  Cutler would throw for over 35,000 Yards and was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2008.

Jeremy Maclin:  Maclin played at Wide Receiver and he had five straight years of 800 Yards.

Joe Thomas:  Thomas played his entire career at Left Tackle for the Cleveland Browns where he was an 11-time Pro Bowl and a six-time First Team All-Pro Selection.

John Kuhn:  Kuhn was a three-time Pro Bowl Fullback who would win two Super Bowls, one with Pittsburgh and one with the Green Bay Packers.

Julius Thomas:  Thomas was a two-time Pro Bowl Tight End.

Kam Chancellor:  Chancellor helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl and the Strong Safety was a four-time Pro Bowler. 

Martellus Bennett:  Bennett was a Pro Bowl Tight End in 2014 and a Super Bowl Champion with the New England Patriots.

Matt Forte:  Forte was a two-time Pro Bowl Running Back who retired with 9,796 Rushing Yards and another 4,672 Yards from Receiving.  

NaVorro Bowman:  Bowman was a First Team All-Pro Linebacker who would lead the NFL in Tackles in 2015.

Paul Pozluszny:  Pozluszny was a Pro Bowl Linebacker in 2013.

Shane Lechler:  Lechler was the best Punter of his era, going to seven Pro Bowls and earning six First Team All-Pro Selections.

Tamba Hali:  Hali would have 89.5 Sacks over his career and the career Kansas City Chief would go to five Pro Bowls.

Terence Newman:  Newman was a two-time Cornerback. 

The entire group eligible for 2023 can be found here.

As always, we encourage you to vote and state your opinion.

Thank you again for your support!

In what will likely be the most significant retirement of the off-season, Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns has announced that he will no longer compete in the National Football League.

On his ThomaHawk podcast, Thomas cited his recent knee injury as the main reason for his retirement.

Drafted third overall out of the University of Wisconsin in 2007, Thomas proved to be one of the most durable players in league history. Since he was drafted, the Left Tackle played 10,363 consecutive snaps until a tricep injury forced him out on October 22 of this past season. This is (unofficially) the longest streak of its kind.

In a career spanning eleven seasons, Thomas was named a Pro Bowl selection in ten of them. Only four other players went to the Pro Bowl in their first ten seasons, and he did this all for Cleveland, a team that has not been good (he never played in the playoffs). He also was named a First Team All-Pro seven times.

Thomas will always be revered in the city of Cleveland. Despite the team’s failure to build stars around him, he never asked to leave, always conducted himself with class and led by example. He should be a lock for the Pro Football Hall of Fame (he will be eligible in 2023) and has a better than average chance to enter on his first ballot.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Joe Thomas on an incredible career and we wish him the best on his post-playing life.