On Saturday, the six Hall of Fame inductees for 2012 were announced. They were selected from a field of 17 finalists – 15 players from the modern era and two senior nominees (careers ending prior to 1987). Last year the Hat Trick threw in its two cents on who should or should not be selected. Due to time constraints, I was unable to do so before Saturday afternoon.
Still, that won’t stop me from opining on the selections. Today, I will offer my evaluation of the Hall of Fame Committee’s choices and offer my votes, in hindsight, for the Hall.
Keep in mind that the committee’s ground rules call for four to seven people to be inducted each year, with a limit of five modern era players considered for a final vote for induction. Inductees must receive a minimum of 80% affirmative votes for induction.
Jerome Bettis, RB, 1993-2005: Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers
Year of Eligibility: 2nd
Inducted: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote for future finalist consideration: Yes
Jerome Bettis is the NFL’s 6th all time leading rusher. After Saturday’s announcement, The Bus is now the only retired player among the NFL’s top 10 all time leading rushers not to have been notified of induction into the Hall. I have no doubt that he will receive induction eventually. However, there can only be five modern era inductees and I do think that there were five players more worthy of induction prior to Bettis.
| The Bus 1 |
Tim Brown, WR, 1988-2004: Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Year of Eligibility: 3rd
Inducted: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote for future finalist consideration: Yes
Longevity and productivity are the two key drivers for a player to receive induction into the Hall. Brown had plenty of both. Brown’s 17 years in the NFL and 1,094 career receptions, making him the NFL’s fifth all time leading receiver, are very Hall of Fame worthy. Like Bettis, though, the last two classes of finalists are simply loaded with far more than five of the greatest players ever to play the game. I think Brown will eventually be inducted. I am just not sure when.
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Year of Eligibility: 48th
Inducted: Yes
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: Yes
I did not pay much attention to senior nominees until I wrote my columns on the Hall of Fame Class of 2011. Les Richter and Chris Hanburger were the seniors from last year. When I did a little research on their careers, I found myself scratching my head and wondering how they had not been inducted sooner.
Jack Butler continued that trend for me. Butler had 52 career interceptions, second all time at the time of his retirement and still, 52 years after he played his last game, in the top 30 all time, ahead of Hall of Famers like Ken Houston, Herb Adderly, and Mike Haynes, also ahead of possible future Hall of Famers (and all but certain nominees) Champ Bailey, Asante Samuel, and Ronde Barber .
What makes his career tally of 52 picks even more impressive is that he played in an era in which the forward pass was considered a high risk-high reward play, and therefore used much less often in a game than it is today. Butler played in four Pro Bowls and was a member of the 1950s All Decade Team. Jack Butler is 84 years old.
3 |
Cris Carter, WR, 1987-2002: Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins
Year of Eligibility: 5th
Inducted: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: Yes
Daily Hat Trick Vote for future finalist consideration: Yes
I said the following last year and I will say it again. I think it is outlandish that Cris Carter has not been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Carter is the NFL’s fourth all time leading receiver, with 1,101 receptions. He is the all time leading receiver among Hall of Fame eligible receivers. He is fourth all time for touchdown receptions and eighth all time for receiving yards.
Carter went to eight Pro Bowls and was a two time Associated Press First Team All Pro. The notion that he has been told, five times, that he is not Hall of Fame worthy is absolutely ridiculous.
Dermontti Dawson, C, 1988-2000: Pittsburgh Steelers
| Carter hasn't been inducted yet? C'MON MAN!!! 16 |
Year of Eligibility: 7th
Inducted: Yes
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: Yes
Productivity is a necessity for any inductee to the Hall of Fame. Longevity helps amplify productivity, though some players, such as Jim Brown and Gayle Sayers, lacked longevity, but had once-in-a-lifetime degrees of productivity over shorter careers than most inductees. For offensive linemen, however, longevity is all but an absolute prerequisite for Hall of Fame consideration. Those whose career lengths in years were numbered in single digits need not apply.
Dawson played for 13 years and had a streak of 170 games played. He played in seven Pro Bowls and was named to six AP First All Pro teams, an incredible feat at a position that receives few close-ups from the camera. Dawson was a part of five division championship teams and played in one Super Bowl. Four times during his career, Dawson was the “quarterback” of an offensive line on an often conservative, run oriented offense that finished in the top 10 in total offense and points scored.
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Year of Eligibility: N/A
Inducted: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote for future finalist consideration: No
DeBartolo took over a struggling 49ers franchise in the late 1970s. DeBartolo hired the late Bill Walsh as his Head Coach in 1979. In his fifth year as an owner, in the 1981 season, the 49ers won their first of five world championships in 14 years.
Walsh is often credited with changing the way offense was executed in the NFL, with screen passes and short passes taking the place of some of the running plays called in traditional running situations. I think DeBartolo was instrumental in putting together one of the greatest dynasties in NFL history.
However, unlike players, whose careers, according to Hall of Fame guidelines, are measured strictly based upon their on-field performances, owners contribute to the game through the business decisions they make that benefit the NFL. While his building of the 49ers dynasty was a model for other teams to follow, his alleged dealings with former Louisiana Governor and convicted racketeer Edwin Edwards place a stain on DeBartolo’s business resume. He could not have represented the league any worse than he did. For that reason, I could not give DeBartolo my vote for the Hall of Fame if I had one.
| Crime doesn't pay. 4 |
Chris Doleman, DE, 1985-1998: Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers
Year of Eligibility: 9th
Inducted: Yes
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: No
There is no doubt that Doleman’s resume is Hall of Fame worthy. I simply think that there are five modern era players who deserved to go before him. Nonetheless, Doleman was one of the most feared and ferocious pass rushers in the game during his 14 NFL seasons. Doleman is the NFL’s fourth all-time leader for sacks recorded with 150.5 sacks (sacks were not an official statistic until 1982). Doleman went to eight Pro Bowls and was a two time AP First Team All Pro.
| No wonder Jim Everett was known for "happy feet". 6 |
Kevin Greene, LB, 1985-1997: Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers
Year of Eligibility: 10th
Inducted: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote for future finalist consideration: Yes
You could almost take my opinion on Chris Doleman’s induction and write “ditto” for Greene. Greene is the NFL’s third all-time sack leader with 160 sacks. Greene played in five Pro Bowls and was a two time AP First Team All Pro. Greene was a member of five division championship teams, played in six conference championship games, and one Super Bowl.
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Charles Haley, DE, 1986-1999: San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys
Inducted: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote for future finalist consideration: Yes
While I would not have voted for Charles Haley for the class of 2012, I definitely think that he should be inducted into the Hall sooner than later. Haley had 100.5 career sacks, forced 26 fumbles, played in and won five Super Bowls, played in five Pro Bowls and is a two time A.P. First Team All Pro. Haley played in 21 playoff games, including seven NFC Championship Games.
8 |
Cortez Kennedy, DT, 1990-2000: Seattle Seahawks
Year of Eligibility: 7th
Inducted: Yes
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: No
I found this selection to be interesting. Speaking from my own point of view, I would not have voted for Kennedy myself. And as high of an impact player as Kennedy was during his 11 NFL seasons, I am undecided on whether or not Kennedy is Hall of Fame worthy at all. It makes no difference, though, because Kennedy received word of his induction on Saturday.
Kennedy was a feared run stopper who could help open holes in the offensive line for linebackers and defensive ends to pressure the quarterback. Kennedy recorded 58 career sacks, including 14 sacks in 1992. Both tallies are very high for a defensive tackle. I am not sure that his 1992 total is not a single season record for the position. He is an eight time Pro Bowler and three time A.P. First Team All Pro.
9 |
Curtis Martin, RB, 1995-2005: New England Patriots, New York Jets
Year of Eligibility: 2nd
Inducted: Yes
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: Yes
Last year, I thought Martin should have been inducted. So, of course, this year I think his induction is well deserved. Martin started the first 10 consecutive seasons of his career with 1,000 or more yards rushing. He is the NFL’s fourth all time leading rusher, behind Emmitt Smith, the late Walter Payton, and Barry Sanders. He is one of only 20 players in NFL history with 100 career touchdowns.
Martin played in five Pro Bowls and was an A.P. First Team All Pro in 2004, at age 31, when he led the league in rushing with nearly 1,700 yards. Let me repeat: Curtis Martin led the NFL in rushing at age 31 with nearly 1,700 yards rushing. It is amazing that he had to wait a year. Then again, the Class of 2011 was made up of some of the top five, all time at their respective positions…tough competition. Martin played in two AFC Championship Games and one Super Bowl.
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Bill Parcells, Head Coach, 1983-1990, 1993-1999, 2003-2006: New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys
Year of Eligibility: 1st
Inducted: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: Yes
Daily Hat Trick Vote for future finalist consideration: Yes
I won’t use the word “outlandish” to describe Parcells’ exclusion from the Hall on the first ballot. I am just a little surprised. I would think he would be a no-brainer. That said, I think the three time conference champion, two-time Super Bowl champion coach will be inducted sooner than later.
Parcells took over operations with struggling New York Giants, New England Patriots, New York Jets, and Dallas Cowboys teams. The Big Tuna had all of those teams in the playoffs within two years or less. He brought all but the Cowboys to their respective conference championship games, and went to the Super Bowl with the New England Patriots in the 1996 NFL season. Parcells won Super Bowls XXI and XXV with the New York Giants in the 1986 and 1990 seasons, respectively.
11 |
Andre Reed, WR, 1985-2000: Buffalo Bills, Washington Redskins
Year of Eligibility: 7th
Inducted: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote for future finalist consideration: Yes
Andre Reed is one of those players who had a great career, is Hall of Fame worthy, but has come up for induction, year-after-year, with more worthy players. I think Reed should get in one day; I think he will get in one day.
Eleven years after he played his last game, Reed is still the 12th or better NFL all time leader in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown receptions. Reed played in seven Pro Bowls and was A.P. Second Team All Pro in 1989 and 1990. He played in four consecutive Super Bowls in the 1990 through 1993 seasons.
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Willie Roaf, T, 1993-2005: New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs
Year of Eligibility: 2nd
Inducted: Yes
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: Yes
As a Saints fan, I am personally thrilled to see Hall of Fame linebacker Rickey Jackson have some company in Canton with another player, who was also a former teammate, who spent the majority of his career with the New Orleans Saints. Roaf was an easy choice for the Hall of Fame. A smothering, dominant offensive tackle who spent nearly all of his career protecting the quarterback’s blindside, Roaf was selected to the Pro Bowl in 11 out of the 13 years of his career. Roaf was a three time A.P. First Team All Pro.
13 |
Will Shields, G, 1993-2006: Kansas City Chiefs
Year of Eligibility: 1st
Inducted: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote for future finalist consideration: Yes
This is a slam dunk under "guys who will get in one day". As I said, the class of NFL retirees between 2005 and 2010 consisted of players who were not only among the best to play pro football, but many were among the top 10 or top five ever to play their positions. With a maximum of five modern era payers being inducted every year, some truly great players, including Shields, will have to wait.
Shields was as rock solid as a guard could have been. From the moment Shields played his first down, he never missed a game - 224 consecutive games played, 223 consecutive starts. Shields was part of a line that protected Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana and only yielded 19 sacks in 1994. He helped open holes for Priest Holmes during a 27 rushing touchdown season and for Larry Johnson during back-to-back 1,700 yard seasons in 2005 and 2006. Shields played in 12 consecutive Pro Bowls and was a two time A.P. First Team All Pro. Shields is a member of the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team.
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Dick Stanfel, G, 1952-1958: Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins
Year of Eligibility: 49th
Inducted: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote for future finalist consideration: No
As I stated earlier, offensive linemen must have high levels of longevity and productivity to merit induction into the Hall of Fame. Dick Stanfel is one of the very few offensive linemen that I had actually heard of who played in the 1950s. However, only playing seven seasons at a non-skill position, even if they were dominant seasons that helped his team contend for championships, is not enough, in my opinion, to reach the Hall of Fame from the guard position.
While Stanfel’s career was short, it was dominant. Stanfel was the key player on the Lions’ offensive line in their two championship seasons of 1952 and 1953. Stanfel was named by his teammates as the Most Valuable Player in the 1953 season. He was a five time Pro Bowler and five time Associated Press All Pro and a member of the NFL’s 1950s All-Decade Team.
Stanfel was also a long time coach in the NFL. He was the Interim Head Coach of the 1980 New Orleans Saints (also known as the “Aints”), guiding them to their only win in that season after the late Dick Nolan was fired following an 0-12 start. He also spent 12 years as the Chicago Bears’ Offensive Line Coach. Stanfel is 84 years old.
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Aeneas Williams, DB, 1991-2004: Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams
Inducted: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote, current ballot: No
Daily Hat Trick Vote for future finalist consideration: Yes
This is another great player who simply came up for enshrinement during a year in which a lot of great modern era players were eligible. The eight time Pro Bowler and three time A.P. First Team All Pro had 55 interceptions in his career, nine returned for touchdowns. His nine pick-sixes are fourth all-time and his 13 non-offensive touchdowns are also fourth all-time in NFL history. Williams is a member of the 1990s NFL All-Decade Team. I think it is only a matter of time before he is enshrined.
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