Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists 2010

The problem with this year is that there can only be 4 to 7 inductees and this is an extremely deep class. When considering HOF enshrinement it seems that we always start with stats and that is a good place to start. Certainly if you don't have good stats you don't belong. The Hall is also about being a difference maker and one of the greatest at what you do. You have to look at the era and the situation surrounding the individual being considered. With that in mind, here are my thoughts on those up for enshrinement. Yes, a lot of it is based on stats, but also in the context of those they played with and for. This is a tough year to get in because the all-time leading wide receiver, running back, and tight ends are each eligible and have to get in, so here it goes.

** indicates that I think they should get in this year.

Receivers:
Andre Reed – Wide Receiver – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins One of the Bills' big three, Jim Kelley, Thurman Thomas, and Andre Reed. They went to (but lost) 4 consecutive Super Bowls and came close to a fifth. Reed was a yards after the catch guy similar to Jerry Rice. He played about the same time as HOF Michael Irvin. In 4 more years than Irvin, he did only slightly more. He only had four 1000 yard seasons. He did have 951 receptions which was 3rd all-time when he retired. It is hard to keep a guy out of the Hall when he was #3 all time when he left the game, he never led the league in receptions, yards, or TDs, but he put up consistently very good seasons. He made 7 pro bowls, but but I'm not quite sure if he goes to Canton as he was never an All Pro or a statistical leader (though some of the has to do with playing the same years as the other 3 receivers nominated.

**Jerry Rice – 1985-2000 San Francisco 49ers, 2001-04 Oakland Raiders, 2004 Seattle Seahawks Jerry Rice is the standard for wide receivers. In his 20 years in the NFL, he set all of the major career marks for receiving: receptions (1,549); receiving yards (22,895); most 1,000-yard receiving seasons (14) … Had record 208 total touchdowns; 23,546 combined net yards. 22 TD receptions in 1987 (12 game season) was a record until 2007. He led NFL in receiving yards and touchdown receptions 6 years. He was first-team All-Pro 11 consecutive seasons and sent to 13 Pro Bowls. 11 of his 14 1,000+ yard seasons were consecutive. Nobody compared to Rice.

Tim Brown – Wide Receiver/Kick Returner – 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers Call him Mr. Raider. He was an All-Pro as a rookie leading the league in kick returns. He had a string of 9 seasons with 1000+ yards with various quarterbacks. He led the league in receptions one year. He is still 4th in career receptions and yards and had 9 Pro Bowl selections. At some point, I think that he needs to be in the hall, but it won't be this year

**Cris Carter – Wide Receiver – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins: He caught ANYTHING remotely close to him. His era and totals are very similar to Andre Reed, but his peak was much better than Reeds. Carter had a slow start because of substance abuse issues and was cut by the Eagles. In Minnesota he played second fiddle to star Anthony Carter. He later had major competition for getting the ball from future HOF receiver Randy Moss. The QB for the Vikings was a rotating door during much of his career, but he kept putting up great numbers. He had 8 straight 1000+ yard seasons, leading the league in receptions once and is currently #3 all-time. He had the reputation for only catching TDs leading the league 3 times and is #4 all time. 8 Pro Bowls and 2 All-Pro selections. He needs to be in the Hall.

Tight End:
**Shannon Sharpe – 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens Shannon Sharpe set the standard for receiving tight ends and holds most career receiving records for tight ends. He had 1000+ yards 3 times and was an integral part of three Super Bowl winning teams. He had 4 All Pro selections and 8 Pro Bowls.

Coach:
Don Coryell – 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers Coryell took the Cardinals from 4-9-1 to going 31-11 between 74 and 76 making the playoffs twice. In 1978 he came to an average Charger team that was slowly on the rise. In his next 4 seasons he took the Chargers to the playoffs and 2 championship games. Then, things started to fall apart. He won 2 coach of the year awards, one with each team and had a lifetime record of 114-89-1. Strictly from a record and longevity point of view, he does not belong in the HOF, but his offense in San Diego was a sight to see. For six straight seasons "Air" Coryell's Chargers led the league in passing. That offense did not win any titles, but it did leave a huge mark on the game which is why he is being considered. I don't think that he makes it though.

Running Backs:
**Emmitt Smith – 1990-2002 Dallas Cowboys, 2003-04 Arizona Cardinals Emmit was at the Pro Bowl 8 of his first 10 years and an All-Pro 4 times. He led the league in rushing 4 times and has more career TDs, carries, and rushing yards. He, like Rice is an automatic HOF player. Only Rice has more total yards from scrimmage. It is fitting that they be enshrined together.

Roger Craig – 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings. He was the grinder for the 49ers in the Montana years. The only player to ever have 1000 rushing and 1000 receiving in one year when he actually led the league in receptions. This makes him unique, but I'm not sure that the one great year should put him in. He also had another season where he topped 2000 total yards, but never led the league in rushing or touchdowns. He was an important part in the 49ers Super Bowl teams, but he was not a leading the part. He made it to 4 Pro Bowls and was select All Pro 1 time. He was a very good back, hard to tackle as he always kept his legs churning, but I don't see him in the HOF at least not this year.

Floyd Little – 1967-1975 Denver Broncos. A Senior committee nomination, Floyd played 9 years and was a pro bowler 5 times and all pro twice. He led the league in rushing as well as total yards from scrimmage one year, but does not have career marks that rank very high. He was the Bronco's first ever 1000+ yard rusher and led the league in kick returns a couple of years and punt return average one year. He was also an apt receiving threat at a time when passing was not nearly as big as it is today. I have a hard time seeing him in the HOF, but there may be more that I am missing.

Offensive Linemen:
Dermontti Dawson – Center – 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers. Dawson replaced HOF center Mike Webster and continued the excellence at the position. He went to 7 Pro Bowls and was All-Pro 6 times. The Steelers led the league in rushing behind the line that he anchored a couple of seasons and one year they led the league in scoring. He had a string of 170 starts. It is hard to argue with a man who was the consensus best for 6 years straight, but he'll have to wait.

**Russ Grimm – Guard – 1981-1991 Washington Redskins. The founding member of the 'Hogs', Grimm was a 4 time All-Pro and Pro Bowler blocking for the offensive line that is recognized as one of the best in NFL history. During his 11 years the Redskins went through 5 different running backs and 4 quarterbacks and still made the playoffs 7 times and were in the top five scoring 6 times winning 3 Super Bowls and losing 1. Russ would be the only member of that front 5 in the HOF. It is time that line was represented and Grimm was the embodiment of the 'Hogs.'

Defensive Linemen:
Richard Dent – Defensive End – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles. Dent was part of the stifling 1985 Bear defense that went 15-1, was not scored on in the playoffs and only allowed 10 points in the Super Bowl where he was the very few defensive MVPs. He had 17 sacks that year after 17.5 the year before. He retired as #3 on the all-time sack list with 137.5 behind HOF players Reggie White and Bruce Smith. He also grabbed 21 turnovers and scored 2 TDs. He played in 4 Pro Bowls and was All Pro 4 times. He belongs in the HOF both because of his individual accomplishments on the field and I give him a bit of a push also because of the part that he played in perhaps the best defense ever with the '85 Bears, but I'm going to ask him to wait one more year to let Rickey Jackson in this year.

Charles Haley – Defensive End/Linebacker – 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys. Haley played about the same time as Dent. He didn't generate the same sack totals as Dent, only recording 100.5 sacks, but that was partially because his first 6 seasons were spent at linebacker, not defensive end. He was named to 2 All-Pro teams and 5 pro bowls. He is uniquely the only player to win 5 Super Bowls. He seems to be a worthy candidate, but I don't think that this is his year.

Cortez Kennedy – Defensive Tackle – 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks. Cortez was an 8 time pro bowler and 5 time All Pro anchor for the Seahawks d-line. He was commonly double or even triple teamed and still was one of the team leaders in tackles and led the team in sacks twice totaling 58 sacks in his career. He didn't get a lot of recognition because the Seahawks were not very good, but Cortez was amazing and needs to be in the HOF.

John Randle – Defensive Tackle – 1990-2000 Minnesota Vikings, 2001-03 Seattle Seahawks. In 14 years John Randle tied Richard Dent's 137.5 sacks, but he did it from the defensive tackle position. Nobody else has matched his totals from the interior of the line. He played in 183 consecutive games with a wild personality. Face paint and a running mouth characterized him. Favre took most of his sacks and called him unblockable on turf. He was selected to 7 Pro Bowls and was All Pro 6 times. As the best pass rushing defensive tackle he must get in the Hall... next year.

Linebacker
**Rickey Jackson – 1981-1993 New Orleans Saints, 1994-95 San Francisco 49ers. Many think that this should be Rickey Jackson's year so that the first Saint gets in the Hall as the Saints play in the their first Super Bowl, and while that is sweet. We need to look at the merits of the 6 time Pro Bowler. He was an excellent linebacker and defensive end his last 2 seasons with the 49ers. His 128 sacks would be 136 counting 1981 when it was not an official stat. Which makes him 10th all-time, but second for a linebacker. He forced 40 fumbles recovered 29 to go with 8 picks. While he was racking up his sacks he was also leading the Saints in tackles a combination which rarely goes hand in hand. The curious think is why no All Pro selections? He played almost exactly the same career as HOF linebackers Lawrence Taylor, Andre Tippett, and Mike Singletary and overlapped with Derrick Thomas as well. His stats stand up with theirs but with much less hoopla since much of his career his team was not very good and he never got to a Super Bowl. I agree, it is time for Rickey to be in the Hall.

Cornerback:
**Dick LeBeau* – 1959-1972 Detroit Lions. LeBeau is another senior committee nominee. His play was above average and had a number of interceptions between that of HOF corners Herb Adderley and Dick (Night Train) Lane who played the same era. He was selected for 3 Pro Bowls and had a reputation for playing very solid run defense as well as pass. He seems to the stats to be in the discussion, but when people discuss the top corner for the era, it is always Dick Lane, so I'm not sure I have the information to make a judgment on his playing career, but where LeBeau has shined even more is as a coach/coordinator. He may coach too long to be able to live long enough to see his bust put in Canton for his work on the sidelines which may be a good enough reason in itself to get him in as a player and then add him as a coach as well later.