Debating Hall of Fame candidates with a true football historian - Dr. Z - SI.com

For all you on here who love to discuss the HOF.

over 3 years ago tkired 12 comments 0 recs |

Comments

Dawson

Was that Ron Wolf saying DD isn’t a hall of famer? It may be my bias, but I think of him as belonging with the greats. Anybody have some thoughts?

by tkired on May 25, 2008 1:57 PM EDT reply actions

i would think that DD is a sure bet

I’m not at all familiar with the Center position and the Hall of Fame but Dawson was so good for so long that I’d think he’d get in. BUt again, I have no idea what the precedents are really.

BTW, I’m glad you put this in the fanshots section. They haven’t really caught on here, but I think they will eventually. This is a perfect example of how to use them.

by Michael Bean on May 26, 2008 2:20 PM EDT reply actions

Thanks for the comment though, was thinking nobody’d read it.
I think Zimmeman is one of few, and certainly the most thorough, writers who discuss the HOF with any insight. He is a voter, and has written about a lot of the politics involved. Here he talks to Ron Wolf, up for candidacy as a FO type, made GB relevant again, etc. So, yeah i like the article.

Here’s to Dermontti making it in soon! Wolf’s argument against him is the Dwight Stephenson is already in, and as a C from the same era, DD will have it tough. I think this is due to having less centers in general in the hall(only 1 C on o-line, 2G’s, etc). Oh, and Wolf and Z have Rod Woodson making it easily. He was awesome. One of the few older players i was sad to see the Steelers let go, had a solid career after leaving.

by tkired on May 26, 2008 7:02 PM EDT reply actions

Great article

I saw a reference to Spec Sanders, in there, too!

There were a lot of players in that list that I think should be in the Hall. I don’t see how Dawson doesn’t get in. Who’s Dwight Stephenson? I don’t remember his name from the 90s.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 27, 2008 3:53 PM EDT reply actions

Stephenson

Didnt make it to the 90’s, he was the Dolphins center for much of the 80’s.

Also, yeah what do you think of the TD/spec sanders comparison, as far as the Hall?

by tkired on May 28, 2008 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions

TD - Spec Sanders

Well, I had leaned toward the thought that TDs career was too short, but, like Spec, his career was cut short due to injury, not from quickly deteriorating skills. Also, his four years were four of the greatest seasons of any RB in history (two of them were in the top 25 all time). Add to that the fact that he is basically the reason that Elway went out a two time champ, and it’s hard to argue that he shouldn’t be in the HOF.

Spec dominated at multiple positions for four years, and part of his career was shortened due to WWII. On the other hand, he played in the AAFC, which was considered an inferior league, overall (although the Browns came from it, and dominated the NFL for the next decade).

I would say it’s a good comparison. In both cases, four outstanding years with careers cut short due to injury.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 29, 2008 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions

As a guy who loves HOF talk

Here’s my take on the list: (and I’ll stick to guys I actually saw play)
Sharpe – yea he’s a first ballot even though I never really like him
John Randle – always loved him and his painted face but not a first ballot, may take him a while
Bruce Smith – no doubt, first ballot
Rod Woodson – no doubt, maybe not first ballot but he’s in sooner rather than later
Darren Woodson – not first ballot and borderline but all the Cowboys Super Bowls probably get him in
Mobley & Romanowski – no way to either
Chris Carter – I always like him but I’m not sure if was ever truly special though. I sure did love his sideline catches, no one did it better.
Tony Boselli – he was dominant but career wasn’t long enough
D Dawson – I’m biased of course but come on, 7 pro bowls, 6 all-pro teams and on the 90’s all decade team. He’s got to be in.

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on May 29, 2008 12:59 PM EDT reply actions

Rod Woodson

Gotta be first ballot. He was part of the Top 75 Team for the first 75 years of the NFL.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 29, 2008 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions

good point

forgot about that

Revenge of the Birds

by cgolden on May 29, 2008 2:36 PM EDT up reply actions

Dermontti should be in,

unfortunately, offensive linemen have a difficult finding their way to Canton.

Rod, I agree, has to be considered a first-ballot guy. Winning a Super Bowl with the Ravens, as it much as it pained me, could only help him there.

by Desroko on May 29, 2008 1:26 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah

IMO, the only good thing about that game was that Rod got a SB win.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on May 29, 2008 1:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Darren Woodson, Dermontii Dawson

Very good player, but not a HOFer IMO.

Was Darren Woodson any better than Carnell Lake? I don’t think so. Sure he was on 3 Super Bowl teams, but then again, Donnie Shell was on 4.

I can see why Dawson might have a hard time getting in. I haven’t looked it up, but I believe most centers and guards that are in the HOF have more than the 7 Pro Bowls that Dawson has. For example, Mike Webster has 9, Mike Munchak has 9, Bruce Mathews has 14, Jim Otto has 12….

Dwight Stephenson doesn’t have that many Pro Bowls under his belt, but his career was abruptly cut short by injury and he was Dawson before Dawson.

by steeler1275 on Jun 11, 2008 5:01 AM EDT reply actions