# future hall of famers in NFL **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 4, 2009, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508 "2009-10-04T02:03:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/21 "2009-10-05T01:46:49Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Kurt Warner. > > He took the Cardinals to a Super Bowl. Of course, his work with the Rams was great as well… Yeah, perhaps, but not within his first few years of eligibility I wouldn’t think. ---
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/22 "2009-10-05T01:50:49Z")
Hmmmm, does Junior Seau belong on this list? ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/23 "2009-10-05T04:43:36Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Michael Strahan - **no argument there, though I always wondered how he had that one huge season because he never seemed that dominant as a pass rusher. Merits inclusion as probably the most balanced 4-3 end ever though.** Well, he did have seasons of 14, 15, and 18.5 sacks in addition to the 22.5 season, and stands 5th on the all-time sack list. Speaking of pass rushers, let me throw out a name: [Chris Doleman](http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DoleCh00.htm). Eight 11+ sack seasons (including a 21-sack year), 8 Pro Bowls. You could say that he wasn’t the run defender that Strahan was, which is true, but maybe we’re judging the position too harshly if Doleman doesn’t meat our standards. Offensive skill position players are \*vastly \*over-represented in the Hall (especially QBs and RBs), consequently the other positions are under-represented, lineman in particular. I think that, in general, we’d do well to support the candidacy of marginal lineman-candidates over, say, marginal QB candidates. > [@Shig](#): > > Hmmmm, does Junior Seau belong on this list? Hell yes. ---
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/24 "2009-10-05T05:09:53Z")
> [@VarlosZ](#): > > I think that, in general, we’d do well to support the candidacy of marginal lineman-candidates over, say, marginal QB candidates. Speaking of quarterbacks, I was thinking about Randall Cunningham. 29,979 yards, 207 TD-134 INT, 57% completion, 81.5 rating. 4 Pro Bowls, 35 rushing TDs and a QB record of 4928 rushing yards. Also, just watching footage of him (especially as an Eagle) is pretty incredible sometimes. I was just looking at a QB I’ve never been a fan of just to compare stats… Joe Namath: 27,663 yards, 173 TD-220 INT, 50% completions, 65.5 rating. Sure Cunningham didn’t model pantyhose, wear a big fur coat, or promise to win a Super Bowl, but looking at his accomplishments and stats, I can’t believe he’s not even on that preliminary list that the voters start with every year! Another QB that isn’t just marginal and needs in is Ken Anderson. Oh and as for Doleman, I’m with you on that. He is on the preliminary list each year. ---
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/25 "2009-10-05T05:16:10Z")
> [@Shig](#): > > Sure Cunningham didn’t model pantyhose, wear a big fur coat, or promise to win a Super Bowl, but looking at his accomplishments and stats, I can’t believe he’s not even on that preliminary list that the voters start with every year! Oops! He is on the list. I’m a dummy. ---
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/26 "2009-10-05T05:23:00Z")
Players on the next list for the first time (2010): Gary Anderson, Tim Brown, Rich Gannon, Eddie George, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Aeneas Williams ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/27 "2009-10-05T13:40:00Z")
> [@Shig](#): > > Well, I guess you’re right about Shaun Alexander after looking at his career just now. Guess I’ve got him bigger in my head than he is. He was good at one thing and one thing only- he was a touchdown machine. I can see why his name might come up; after all, MVPs are not exactly thick on the ground, especially non-quarterback MVPs. > [@](#): > > Lynch I put on here just because he’s so well liked and was such a great leader. As far as safeties, I personally would rather see Steve Atwater get in and he’s been on the prelim list for years. I’m probably biased when it comes to Atwater though. I would put Atwater, Reed or Dawkins in first. > [@](#): > > John Randle is a name I thought about, but I never hear anything about him in reference to the HOF. I didn’t look at his stats or achievements or anything. I remember him being dominant as hell, but since I never hear mention of him, I guess I just scratched him off. That’s pretty much what most people think of him. I don’t know why he doesn’t get any love from the writers. Players universally respected the hell out of him. > [@](#): > > As for your comment about Prater (ands I’m talking out of my ass here because I really don’t know), isn’t a kickoff and field goal two different types of kick? Just thinking about it, I would think maybe a field goal would be a more precise kick where a kicker wouldn’t be able to put as much “ummmph” into it. Like I said though, I don’t know… just kinda guessing. Oh, absolutely they’re different types of kick, but you can figure out a guy’s leg strength from watching him kick off, and thereby roughly estimate how much leg he could put into a field goal. I should have said Prater never kicked for touchbacks in college, if it makes things simpler (which is also true). > [@dalej42](#): > > Kurt Warner. > > He took the Cardinals to a Super Bowl. Of course, his work with the Rams was great as well… I think there’s going to be a big fight over Warner. Huge numbers, but over two really short periods. I think he’d need to win another league MVP, Offensive POTY or Super Bowl MVP award to get real consideration, though. I mean, think about it- for all his gaudy numbers the last two years, did you at any time but him in the Brady/Manning/Brees conversation? Because that’s what you have to be to make the Hall of Fame- a candidate as the top player at your position. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/28 "2009-10-05T13:41:57Z")
> [@Shig](#): > > Players on the next list for the first time (2010): Gary Anderson, Tim Brown, Rich Gannon, Eddie George, Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Aeneas Williams I hope Gannon doesn’t get in. I could go either way on George and Williams. Anderson, Brown, Rice and Smith should be shoe-ins, though Anderson won’t be. ---
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/29 "2009-10-05T14:25:26Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I hope Gannon doesn’t get in. I could go either way on George and Williams. Anderson, Brown, Rice and Smith should be shoe-ins, though Anderson won’t be. For Eddie George to go in while Roger Craig continues to be passed up would just be wrong. Same goes for Gannon and Ken Anderson. Ken Anderson has a career and stats in Gannon’s range, but I think should get in for his early use/ development of the West Coast Offense while Bill Walsh was his QB coach. Oh, and I realized last night that John Randle was actually one of the ten finalists last year that didn’t quite make it. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/30 "2009-10-05T14:26:35Z")
As all things football for me revolve around University of Michigan, I have to put in a good word for Steve Hutchinson. Only 9 years so far, and most Offensive linemen who make it in seem to have 14+ year careers, so he isn’t there yet. But he has been dominant so far, making Shaun Alexander a star, made Chester Taylor look good, and with Peterson running behind him now it isn’t going to drop off much, and a chance for maybe a superbowl or two on his resume. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/31 "2009-10-05T14:31:47Z")
He’s already been to a Super Bowl. You mean win one? ---
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/32 "2009-10-05T14:31:50Z")
> [@wolfman](#): > > As all things football for me revolve around University of Michigan, I have to put in a good word for Steve Hutchinson. Only 9 years so far, and most Offensive linemen who make it in seem to have 14+ year careers, so he isn’t there yet. > > But he has been dominant so far, making Shaun Alexander a star, made Chester Taylor look good, and with Peterson running behind him now it isn’t going to drop off much, and a chance for maybe a superbowl or two on his resume. Yeah, along with Roaf, Mawae, Faneca, and Ogden, I thought about putting Hutchinson on the list, but decided not to since he doesn’t have as many years as the others. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/33 "2009-10-05T15:04:24Z")
I think Cunningham would be an interesting choice, a little down the line, but more as a “very good player with an \*important \*career” type than as simply a “great player” type. [Ken Anderson](http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/A/AndeKe00.htm) should absolutely get in, and this from a guy who wants a moratorium on all but the slam-dunks at QB and RB. His stats look really ordinary today, but you have to keep in mind that he was playing in the 1970s. In 1974 he threw for 2,667 yards . . . _ **and led the league in passing** _. He had ten Top 10s in passer rating (including four years leading the league). Seven times in the Top 7 in YPA (two Firsts). Eight times Top 6 in Int% (3 Firsts). He was a great \*passer \*during an era in which being a great “quarterback” largely meant being an able complement to your great defense and running game. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/34 "2009-10-05T15:37:05Z")
Charles Woodson is making a late career push, but I am sure he will not quite make it. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/35 "2009-10-05T18:11:30Z")
> [@Shig](#): > > Speaking of quarterbacks, I was thinking about Randall Cunningham. 29,979 yards, 207 TD-134 INT, 57% completion, 81.5 rating. 4 Pro Bowls, 35 rushing TDs and a QB record of 4928 rushing yards. Also, just watching footage of him (especially as an Eagle) is pretty incredible sometimes. I was just looking at a QB I’ve never been a fan of just to compare stats… Joe Namath: 27,663 yards, 173 TD-220 INT, 50% completions, 65.5 rating. Sure Cunningham didn’t model pantyhose, wear a big fur coat, or promise to win a Super Bowl, but looking at his accomplishments and stats, I can’t believe he’s not even on that preliminary list that the voters start with every year! Another QB that isn’t just marginal and needs in is Ken Anderson. Well, Namath is one of the worst players in the hall and absolutely does not deserve to be in it. It’d be better to compare to a more representative player. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/36 "2009-10-05T20:30:02Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Kurt Warner. > > He took the Cardinals to a Super Bowl. Of course, his work with the Rams was great as well… > [@Shig](#): > > Yeah, perhaps, but not within his first few years of eligibility I wouldn’t think. He has had five great years out of a twelve year (so far) career. 2002 through 2006, getting benched by two teams and 93 fumbles will really count against him. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/37 "2009-10-05T23:13:25Z")
> [@CapnPitt](#): > > After a quick look at some stats: > > He doesn’t “feel” like a Hall of Famer to me, but Torry Holt’s numbers (inflated by the Greatest Show on Turf) could make an argument for him. How is this “inflation?” It was a great offense, and he was a key element. Were Jerry Rice’s numbers “inflated” because of the WCO, or Jim Kelly’s because of the K-Gun? ---
**Author:** ![Shig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Shig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shig)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2009, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/38 "2009-10-05T23:48:44Z")
> [@CapnPitt](#): > > His stats don’t bear it out and he’s not nearly as good as the others on the list, but Ben Roethlisberger’s won two Super Bowls. Every other QB with two SB wins has made the HoF Jim Plunkett is not in the HoF. He has two rings. ---
**Author:** ![HongKongFooey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c4cdca/32.png) [@HongKongFooey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HongKongFooey)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/39 "2009-10-06T00:14:12Z")
> [@Jman](#): > > While he might be borderline if his career ended right now, I don’t think there’s any doubt that Troy Polamalu is a Hall of Famer. > [@Shig](#): > > Close. Just don’t see him as a shoe-in. If the NFL tracked tackles for loss instead of sacks (which they should), Polamalu would be a much stronger candidate. He does many things that don’t show up on the stat sheet and is a dominant safety. I think Ed Reed and Brian Dawkins should be shoo-ins too. I’m a big fan of safeties and pay a lot of attention to them. The safeties playing now are better than ever. Ronnie Lott and Rod Woodson paved the way for these guys. The big knock on Ed Reed always seems to be that he doesn’t tackle. I don’t buy it. In the passing game he aims to keep the ball out of the reciever’s hands rather than knock it loose and in the run game he’s playing behind Ray Lewis, there just aren’t that many guys getting through. He’s not an enthusiastic hitter like Polamalu is but he’s definitely an elite safety. I’d like to see all three get in. Obviously Polamalu needs to put in more years to qualify but he definitely has the skills. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2009, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508/40 "2009-10-06T02:04:34Z")
> [@Shig](#): > > Well, we know there’s a lot of players that probably should be in but are not. This seems to happen a lot to WR’s because there’s just so many of them. Anyway, what I’m thinking about is recently retired players who will almost undoubtedly be inducted within their first few years of eligibility. Also, current players who would be inducted if their careers were to end today. Here’s my list, and I’d love to hear input from others: > > RETIRED: > Deion Sanders > Shannon Sharpe (shocked that he wasn’t inducted his first year.) > Cris Carter (see above.) > Jerry Rice > Emmitt Smith > Marshall Faulk > Michael Strahan > Jonathan Ogden > Willie Roaf > Tim Brown > Larry Allen > John Lynch > Warren Sapp > Curtis Martin > ACTIVE: > Brett Favre > Peyton Manning > Tom Brady > Tony Gonzalez > Ray Lewis > Derrick Brooks > Marvin Harrison > Orlando Pace > Kevin Mawae > Terrell Owens (stats) > Alan Faneca > Richard Seymour > Champ Bailey > Brian Urlacher > Brian Dawkins > Isaac Bruce > Randy Moss > Ed Reed > > Also, a couple kickers that I think should be inducted: Adam Viniateri & Jason Elam. > > Players that people talk about being inducted that just don’t seem HoF caliber to me: Terrell Davis, Kurt Warner, (had like ten in mind, now my brain is failing me.) Kickers over Jason Hanson? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/future-hall-of-famers-in-nfl/512508.md?page=3)