HOF class announced

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Also, I'm glad Jerome Bettis didn't get in yet. The guy was average at best. Curtis Martin the same. I can't believe Kevin Greene hasn't gotten in yet. That's a mystery to me. He racked up sacks his whole career on a crap Rams team. Strahan deserved getting in simply because he was so powerful and explosive at times and his sack numbers don't lie.

Jerome Bettis was far from average... You obviously are only thinking about his last couple years in Pittsburgh when he wasn't the same player after his 2001 injury. He was a monster in his heyday.

• 13,662 Rush yards (6th in NFL history)
• Eight seasons with 1,000 Rush yds (T-5th in NFL history)
• First Rams rookie to rush for 1,000 yards since Eric Dickerson, 1983
• Rams leading rusher 1993-95
• Steelers leading rusher 1996-2001, 2003-04
• Steelers leader in total yards from scrimmage, 1996-2001
• Fifty 100-yd games with Steelers (franchise record)
• Six-time Pro Bowler
• Two-time First-Team All-Pro
• Fourteen players in NFL history have rushed for at least 12,000 yards. Of the 12 that are eligible for the Hall of Fame, Bettis is the only one not already enshrined.

Do these stats look average to you???

 

[JDM]

He was never an elite RB. Longevity is great but if you were never even in a discussion for best at your position, you should have to wait a long time.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

He was never an elite RB. Longevity is great but if you were never even in a discussion for best at your position, you should have to wait a long time.

50 games over 100 yards rushing isn't elite to you?

 

[blstoker]

Personally, I don't get why being a 'hired gun' matters at all. If you were brought in and given a lot of money to win a SB - so what? Peyton Manning sure was in Denver. Does that lessen what he's done?

So, he was a average player with longevity. He had his good years, but, you compared him to Curtis Martin, and that isn't even a close comparison, as Martin had a career that was well beyond what Bettis had.

Throughout his career, Martin had only 2 seasons where he averaged less than 70 yards per game, Bettis had 7. Martin had only 4 seasons where he averaged less than 4 yards per carry, Bettis had 9. Martin caught 284 more passes over his career than Bettis. Add to that that Martin led the league in rushing (Bettis never did) when he was 31, the oldest player to achieve that feat in NFL history (Marion Motley in 1950 is the only other player to lead the league after turning 30). Only Barry Sanders had as many consecutive seasons with 1000 yards to start his career (10) and Martin had only 1 year with less than 1000 yards.

In the end, Bettis will get in, but he was a stat compiler and shouldn't get more consideration for the Hall over a guy like Eddie George, but being in Pittsburgh and playing longer will get him the nod where George isn't even considered.

 

[Midnightangel]

So, he was a average player with longevity. He had his good years, but, you compared him to Curtis Martin, and that isn't even a close comparison, as Martin had a career that was well beyond what Bettis had.

Throughout his career, Martin had only 2 seasons where he averaged less than 70 yards per game, Bettis had 7. Martin had only 4 seasons where he averaged less than 4 yards per carry, Bettis had 9. Martin caught 284 more passes over his career than Bettis. Add to that that Martin led the league in rushing (Bettis never did) when he was 31, the oldest player to achieve that feat in NFL history (Marion Motley in 1950 is the only other player to lead the league after turning 30). Only Barry Sanders had as many consecutive seasons with 1000 yards to start his career (10) and Martin had only 1 year with less than 1000 yards.

In the end, Bettis will get in, but he was a stat compiler and shouldn't get more consideration for the Hall over a guy like Eddie George, but being in Pittsburgh and playing longer will get him the nod where George isn't even considered.

• 13,662 Rush yards (6th in NFL history)
• Eight seasons with 1,000 Rush yds (T-5th in NFL history)
• First Rams rookie to rush for 1,000 yards since Eric Dickerson, 1983
• Rams leading rusher 1993-95
• Steelers leading rusher 1996-2001, 2003-04
• Steelers leader in total yards from scrimmage, 1996-2001
• Fifty 100-yd games with Steelers (franchise record)
• Six-time Pro Bowler
• Two-time First-Team All-Pro
• Fourteen players in NFL history have rushed for at least 12,000 yards. Of the 12 that are eligible for the Hall of Fame, Bettis is the only one not already enshrined.

Above quote curtosy of Faceless.

 

[JDM]

50 games over 100 yards rushing isn't elite to you?

Name one year where he was in a legitimate discussion as the best in the NFL.


But no, not when he played 190.

 

[blstoker]

• 13,662 Rush yards (6th in NFL history)
• Eight seasons with 1,000 Rush yds (T-5th in NFL history)
• First Rams rookie to rush for 1,000 yards since Eric Dickerson, 1983
• Rams leading rusher 1993-95
• Steelers leading rusher 1996-2001, 2003-04
• Steelers leader in total yards from scrimmage, 1996-2001
• Fifty 100-yd games with Steelers (franchise record)
• Six-time Pro Bowler
• Two-time First-Team All-Pro
• Fourteen players in NFL history have rushed for at least 12,000 yards. Of the 12 that are eligible for the Hall of Fame, Bettis is the only one not already enshrined.

Above quote curtosy of Faceless.

Exactly, stat compiler. No better than Eddie George, and most likely not as good, just played longer and on better teams.

 

[JDM]

I would like to see an argument that doesn't involve cumulative stats.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

So, he was a average player with longevity. He had his good years, but, you compared him to Curtis Martin, and that isn't even a close comparison, as Martin had a career that was well beyond what Bettis had.

Throughout his career, Martin had only 2 seasons where he averaged less than 70 yards per game, Bettis had 7. Martin had only 4 seasons where he averaged less than 4 yards per carry, Bettis had 9. Martin caught 284 more passes over his career than Bettis. Add to that that Martin led the league in rushing (Bettis never did) when he was 31, the oldest player to achieve that feat in NFL history (Marion Motley in 1950 is the only other player to lead the league after turning 30). Only Barry Sanders had as many consecutive seasons with 1000 yards to start his career (10) and Martin had only 1 year with less than 1000 yards.

In the end, Bettis will get in, but he was a stat compiler and shouldn't get more consideration for the Hall over a guy like Eddie George, but being in Pittsburgh and playing longer will get him the nod where George isn't even considered.

Your stats are skewed due to Bettis' injury. They accounted for 2001 when he got injured, and 2002 when he wasn't back at full strength and was a backup... So technically Bettis only had 5 seasons where he averaged <70 YPG (7 <4 YPC). Not that it closes the gap much, but thought I would at least provide some input.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Name one year where he was in a legitimate discussion as the best in the NFL.


But no, not when he played 190.

1996 OR 1997... Bettis was 3rd in rushing yards during each of those seasons...

If being a top 3 rusher isn't legitimate, then please let me know what is?

 

[blstoker]

Your stats are skewed due to Bettis' injury. They accounted for 2001 when he got injured, and 2002 when he wasn't back at full strength and was a backup... So technically Bettis only had 5 seasons where he averaged <70 YPG (7 <4 YPC). Not that it closes the gap much, but thought I would at least provide some input.

No, injury IS a part of the game. Bo Jackson would be the NFL leader in rushing if you ask his fans if not for his injuries. So, TECHNICALLY he had 7 <70 and 9 <4.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

No, injury IS a part of the game. Bo Jackson would be the NFL leader in rushing if you ask his fans if not for his injuries. So, TECHNICALLY he had 7 <70 and 9 <4.

That is true... Technically... But still something to consider when compiling stats

 

[Rico&SkooterTwoPeasInAPod]

I didn't say Bettis shouldn't be in the HOF. I said he shouldn't be first ballot. I'm sorry but to most people I think they agree that Bettis was nothing more than a big halfback that could pound the ground up the middle. He didn't have much talent when it came to running the ball. Luckily his size gave him some decent average carry yards and over a long career he managed to put up gaudy numbers. Most guys his size don't last long in the NFL but the Steelers offensive line helped him have that career. You are right though that somehow he managed to have 50 games over 100 yards. That is the most impressive stat of his by far. I compared him to Curtis Martin but Martin had a little more impressive career.

 

[Midnightangel]

I didn't say Bettis shouldn't be in the HOF. I said he shouldn't be first ballot. I'm sorry but to most people I think they agree that Bettis was nothing more than a big halfback that could pound the ground up the middle. He didn't have much talent when it came to running the ball. Luckily his size gave him some decent average carry yards and over a long career he managed to put up gaudy numbers. Most guys his size don't last long in the NFL but the Steelers offensive line helped him have that career. You are right though that somehow he managed to have 50 games over 100 yards. That is the most impressive stat of his by far. I compared him to Curtis Martin but Martin had a little more impressive career.

I don't know that many here are saying he should have been first ballot. He retired at the end of 2005 so this wasn't his first ballot.

 

[darken65]

The Bus will be parked in the HOF within the next couple of years.

 

[JDM]

1996 OR 1997... Bettis was 3rd in rushing yards during each of those seasons...

If being a top 3 rusher isn't legitimate, then please let me know what is?

I said legitimate discussion for best in the NFL. There was no legitimate discussion for best in the NFL either year.

It was a lock, and it wasn't the bus.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

I said legitimate discussion for best in the NFL. There was no legitimate discussion for best in the NFL either year.

It was a lock, and it wasn't the bus.

How in the hell would a top 3 rusher not be in a discussion for best in the NFL for either year???

 

[Rico&SkooterTwoPeasInAPod]

I found this on google, not sure how accurate it is:


Here is the rest of the top five in the category of most 100 yard rushing games in a player's career.
1. Emmitt Smith - 78
2. Walter Payton - 77
3. Barry Sanders - 76
4. Eric Dickerson - 64
5. Jerome Bettis - 61
Just missing this list, and tied in 6th position with 57 career 100 yard rushing games, are Edgerrin James and Curtis Martin

 

[Rico&SkooterTwoPeasInAPod]

Best 2 rbs of all time imo is Walter Payton and Barry Sanders. This is based on stats, talent and what the top RBs had to deal with in their careers. Payton and Sanders both avg higher per carry yards than the others did too, and they ran with poor offensive lines and had to fight for their yards as well.

 

[Rico&SkooterTwoPeasInAPod]

Most consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons to begin a career, NFL history:
10 – Barry Sanders (1989-98)
10 – Curtis Martin (1995-04)
8 – LaDainian Tomlinson (2001-08)
7 – Eric Dickerson (1983-89)
6 – Corey Dillon (1997-02)
6 – Chris Johnson (2008-13) – active
5 – Eddie George (1996-00)
5 – Tony Dorsett (1977-81)