ESPN's next Hall of Famer on each team.

[HammerDown]

If the GOAT TE isn't a 1st ballot HOF'er, it's gonna be a bad time, mkay?

What does Joe Dean Davenport have to do with this?

 

[Breed]

sorry you gotta hev longevity too, tons of great players got injured early

Hence my reason for bringing up Gale Sayers who was absolutely spectacular for his first 3 years in the league and 9 games into his fourth season where he suffered his knee injury. He came back and had a strong year his fifth season, leading the NFL in rushing, but they say his speed was gone. In his sixth year his other knee was injured, and he ended retiring for good after 7 seasons.

Lets look at another Hall of Fame player and one of my fave players of all time, John Riggins.

Did you know he played 14 seasons? During those 14 seasons he only had 2 seasons with 300+ carries, one being 1983 when he had an incredible 375 carries, but aside from his two 300 yard carry seasons (1983, 1984)the closest he ever came to 300 carries in a season was 260 carries in 70.

He only had five 1,000 yard seasons in his career. He only had 3 seasons where he had double digit rushing TDs, one being 1993 when he scored 24 rushing TDs, almost a quarter of his 104 rushing TDs for his career. He gained 4 yards or better a carry in a season 6 times and finished his career with a 3.89 ypc average.

Granted, the 24 rushing TDs and 375 carries are impressive, but they came in the same season. He had one season where he gained 944 yards, but also had 8 seasons where he gained 769 yards or less.

So why's Riggo in the Hall an deservedly so imo. Because of his performance in the 82 and 83 playoffs, at least till the Skins saw the Raiders in the SB. Where Riggins had 6 straight postseason games of 100+ rushing yards including 185 against Dallas (Skins Franchise record till Timmy Smith broke it) and a then SB record 166 yards on 38 carries and SB MVP against the Phins. In the Skins SB win postseason of 82 he had 610 total yards or 43% of the Redskins total offense on 136 carries in 4 postseason game.

Perhaps the biggest reason though he's in the Hall is due to being one of the true great characters in NFL history. Riggo also has a bunch of funky NFL records as well. Most TDs scored for a player over 35 years old type stuff.

I mentioned Swan and Stallworth and said I don't think they deserve to be in the Hall, but I think I know why they are. They each had big postseasons at one time or another and a couple signature SB moments.

When you add up everything TD did in just 4 seasons, Each year he had more carries, more yards, and more TDs scored than the previous year. His ypc went from 4.7 his rookie year to 4.4 in year two, back to 4.7 in year 3 and 5.1 in year four. 3 1st team All Pro nods, 2 OPOTY, 1 NFL POTY, a 2000 yard season and was even better in the postseason averaging 142.5 yards rushing, 5.6 ypc, 1.5 TDs a game in 8 postseason games along with a SB MVP. I think he deserves and earned an exception to the rule type induction if you will. Or maybe what could've been induction, but something because he deserves it.

TD for about a 2-3 year stretch was not only the best RB in the NFL but some would argue was the best offensive player in the NFL.

1,106 carries, 5,269 rushng yards, 4.7 ypc, 49 rushing TDs, 103 receptions, 814 rec yards, 7.9 ypc, 4 rec TDs, during seasons 2 - 4.

Anyone who would argue other-wise (that there was a better offensive player/offensive producer than TD in that 3 year span) is either a hater, a fool, an idiot, or some combination of the three.

 

[Breed]

Speaking of TEs deserving of the Hall - Jerry Smith, Redskins TE from 1965 - 1977 is deserving.

 

[Manster7588]

Speaking of TEs deserving of the Hall - Jerry Smith, Redskins TE from 1965 - 1977 is deserving.

I'll be honest and say I had no idea who Jerry Smith was. Looking at his career awards I'd have to say NO he is not deserving.

Jerry Smith NFL Football Statistics | Pro-Football-Reference.com

 

[Wamu]

Who should be the next player from each team to make the Hall of Fame? - NFL Nation - ESPN

AFC

EAST

Buffalo Bills - Mario Williams
Miami Dolphins - Jason Taylor
New England Patriots - Gino Cappelletti
New York Jets - Joe Klecko

NORTH

Baltimore Ravens - Ray Lewis
Cincinnati Bengals - Ken Anderson
Cleveland Browns - Gary Collins
Pittsburgh Steelers - Kevin Greene

SOUTH

Houston Texans - Andre Johnson
Indianapolis Colts - Marvin Harrison
Jacksonville Jaguars - Tony Boselli
Tennessee Titans - Bud Adams

WEST

Denver Broncos - Terrell Davis
Kansas City Chiefs - Tony Gonzalez
Oakland Raiders - Ken Stabler
San Diego Chargers - LaDainian Tomlinson

NFC

EAST

Dallas Cowboys - Darren Woodson
New York Giants - George Young
Philadelphia Eagles - Brian Dawkins
Washington Redskins - Joe Jacoby

NORTH

Chicago Bears - Brian Urlacher
Detroit Lions - Calvin Johnson
Green Bay Packers - Brett Favre
Minnesota Vikings - Randy Moss

SOUTH

Atlanta Falcons - Devin Hester
Carolina Panthers - Kevin Greene
New Orleans Saints - Morten Anderson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Ronde Barber

WEST

Arizona Cardinals - Larry Fitzgerald
San Francisco 49ers - Roger Craig
Seattle Seahawks - Kenny Easley
St. Louis Rams - Orlando Pace

Not sure if Kevin Greene goes in as a steeler. He spent 8 of 15 seasons as a Ram (3 years in pittsburgh) & had 72.5 of his career 160 sacks w/ them as well.

 

[Wamu]

Andre Johnson? He's right there scrimmage wise with guys who are in like Andre Reed and Steve Largent. Likely to pass Cris Carter this year. Certainly passes the eyeball test for me when it comes to the HOF. Could potentially pass up Marvin Harrison before he's done.

Andre Johnson will never equal Marvin Harrison's TD's though. AJ: 64 / MH: 128. I do think he's a future HOFer.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

Andre Johnson will never equal Marvin Harrison's TD's though. AJ: 64 / MH: 128. I do think he's a future HOFer.

I'd argue that's more a function of the offense Marvin was in. Sure, there will be weird one year samples of course as always, but there's a quantum leap between Prime Peyton Manning and now Luck vs Carr/Schaub over the course of their careers.

 

[Manster7588]

Not sure if Kevin Greene goes in as a steeler. He spent 8 of 15 seasons as a Ram (3 years in pittsburgh) & had 72.5 of his career 160 sacks w/ them as well.

I agree Green is more Rams than Steelers

 

[Wamu]

I'd argue that's more a function of the offense Marvin was in. Sure, they'll be weird one year samples of course as always, but there's a quantum leap between Prime Peyton Manning and now Luck vs Carr/Schaub over the course of their careers.

I totally agree w/ you. Who knows how many more TD's AJ would have if he could have played w/ a good QB for the majority of his career.

 

[Wamu]

I agree Green is more Rams than Steelers

Although before looking up his stats I really thought he spent more than 3 years in pittsburgh.

 

[blstoker]

I really like Kenny Easley, but I don't think he ever makes the Hall of Fame. Personally, I would think Shaun Alexander is closer to the Hall than Easley.

Actually, there are a lot of forgotten Seahawks' defenders from the 80s that have just a legitimate (or more) at a bid to the Hall as Easley does. Jacob Green, Joe Nash, Dave Brown, Eugene Robinson, John Harris - just to name a few.

Side note, for Seahawk fans - from 1978 until 1995, Seattle had John Harris (1978-1985) and Eugene Robinson (1985-1995) start 264 of 280 games at free safety and combined for 83 interceptions (41 for Harris, 42 for Robinson).

 

[blstoker]

I'll be honest and say I had no idea who Jerry Smith was. Looking at his career awards I'd have to say NO he is not deserving.

Jerry Smith NFL Football Statistics | Pro-Football-Reference.com

I don't think he gets in either, but his numbers look much better compared to era he played in than they look right now.

When he retired (among TEs) he was 5th in receptions, 6th in yards and 1st in TDs. His 1967 season was 2nd in receptions and 1st in TDs at the time.

Solid numbers, but if they didn't let him in 20 years ago, they aren't gonna let him in now.

 

[Manster7588]

I don't think he gets in either, but his numbers look much better compared to era he played in than they look right now.

When he retired (among TEs) he was 5th in receptions, 6th in yards and 1st in TDs. His 1967 season was 2nd in receptions and 1st in TDs at the time.

Solid numbers, but if they didn't let him in 20 years ago, they aren't gonna let him in now.

I'm looking at his 2 Probowls and 1 AllPro. It may be unfair of me but it all I can go on. For most of his career was before I started watching football, even the last of his career I only knew about the Cowboys and a few super stars on other teams. I don't recall anything about his playing days.

 

[blstoker]

I'm looking at his 2 Probowls and 1 AllPro. It may be unfair of me but it all I can go on. For most of his career was before I started watching football, even the last of his career I only knew about the Cowboys and a few super stars on other teams. I don't recall anything about his playing days.

Awards don't always tell the whole story. Guys like Ozzie Newsome were similarly undecorated (1 AP, 3 PB) yet made it into the hall.

The interesting thing about Smith, his 60 TDs are still 4th among TEs all-time, with only Tony Gonalez (111), Antonio Gates (99) and Shannon Sharpe (62) ahead of him.

I also don't remember his playing days, since he retired before I was born. What I know from that era is just the few games I've watched through replays and the highlight films.

 

[Breed]

I'll be honest and say I had no idea who Jerry Smith was. Looking at his career awards I'd have to say NO he is not deserving.

Jerry Smith NFL Football Statistics | Pro-Football-Reference.com

And I'll be honest with you. While some of his numbers compare nicely to the TEs of his generation. You're more correct in your opinion than I am in mine.

 

[Manster7588]

And I'll be honest with you. While some of his numbers compare nicely to the TEs of his generation. You're more correct in your opinion than I am in mine.

Hey its just my opinion via the numbers, I have no recollection of his play. If he was in I wouldn't call foul.

 

[CCF151]

I'm not sure which team he would count for as he took both the Rams and Cardinals to the Superbowl, but I think Kurt Warner gets in before Fitz even retires from the NFL.