# Which current NFL players are shoo-ins for the Hall of Fame? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 1, 2003, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877 "2003-11-01T20:11:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/46a35a/32.png) [@A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_wizard_song_for_thee)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2003, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/61 "2003-11-06T06:11:26Z")
Yeah, I gotta chime in with the whole “Why does McNair need to go to the Pro Bowl in order to get to the Hall?” sentiment. The quarterback’s job is to lead his team and McNair does that as consistently as any other in the league. Tennessee, however, has been a traditionally run-heavy team, so his name didn’t, until the past couple of seasons, come up when discussing the great quarterbacks of the NFL. Now that Eddie George has become less effective, Tennessee’s gameplan runs more obviously through McNair (though some would argue that it did all along), and we’re seeing what this guy can do. Which is sort of another reason to vote McNair for the Hall of Fame. He has never been the type of player who needed to be the marquee player. He seems to have started the league with the kind of ethos that Brett Favre has developed only in the latter years of his career; the only stat that matters to these guys is wins. While Favre has this luxury because he no longer needs to prove anything to anone (notice that no one has disputed his inclusion in the HOF or even put him in their “on the bubble” list), McNair came into the league as a team player and has been such since the start. He never went to pro bowls because he wasn’t a self-aggrandizer and was willing to sacrifice some of his own stats to let someone like Eddie George be the focal point of the offense. However, once George faltered, McNair stepped up in a classic style. ---
**Author:** ![mouthbreather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a698b9/32.png) [@mouthbreather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mouthbreather)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2003, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/62 "2003-11-07T06:57:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dutchboy208 \* > You’re nuts, mate. > > Kurt Warner not a Hall of Famer? You’re the nutty one if you think two good (or even great) years of football gets you to Canton. Without hesitation, he is not a hall of famer. > [@](#): > > As far as Seau goes- he was the best linebacker in the league for nearly ten years; he’s still in the top ten in his 15th year. How you can suggest he’s on the bubble is beyond me. Which Ten years was he the top linebacker in Football? I must have been asleep. Don’t get me wrong, He’s been very, very good. He was **among** the league’s best for a stretch. To say he is top ten now is laughable. He’s not even top 25 now. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2003, 9:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/63 "2003-11-08T09:08:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jimmy Chitwood \* > \*\* > One name I’d like to throw out there just because I’m curious is Randall Cunningham. I’m admittedly biased towards him, because I grew up during his glory years in Philly, but some of the stuff he did was mind-blowing. Consider 1990: 3466 yards and 30 TD’s passing, and **942 yards rushing.** He’s never even mentioned, though, in my experience. What do you all think? Why doesn’t he deserve to get in? \*\* He also holds the Eagles franchise record for longest PUNT, at 91 yards, which is pretty impressive for any player, let alone a quarterback. ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/64 "2003-11-08T14:35:11Z")
Paraphrase original post by _jimmmy chitwood \* \*\* What do you think of RCunningham as a possible Hof’er_\* Paraphrase **Pro** He was Among the league’s all-time top 50 in: Pass attempts: 25 Completions: 24 Passing yards: 25 Passing TDs: 22 **CON** but he played 17 seasons. He was 5-7 in the post season. In 17 years this it for being among the NFL’s top 10: \* Passing yards: 1987-9th, 1988-3rd, 1989-10th, 1990-6th, 1998-5th Passing TDs: 1987-4t, 1988-4, 1989-9t, 1990-2, 1992-6t, 1998-2 Adjusted yards per pass: 1990-6, 1992-8, 1998-2 \* **Conclusion** He had an awesome 1988 & 1998. Watching him in the 80’searly90’s when he was interested he was a special QB, who could work magic. He was a good QB later into his career than his contemporaries – & that was after he had been beaten badly for a decade behind a poor Eagle O-line & made living as a “running” QB. But he was never even good enuff to ride that awesome Eagles D to the Superbowl Dilfer-like – in fact he was a loser in the playoffs. His teammates hated him for most of his career. He was a disruptive force almost as much to his own team, and to the game plan as to the opposition. I think of Randall as a guy who never reached his potential and never helped the very good teams he was playing on to reach thiers and become great (which wasn’t out of the question at times in Philly & in 98-99 MN) and become great. That is the QB RC was to me rather than a HoF’er. ---
**Author:** ![EllisDee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellisdee/32/4531_2.png) [@EllisDee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EllisDee)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/65 "2003-11-09T01:53:53Z")
Randall hasn’t been mentioned because this thread is for current players. ---
**Author:** ![665\_aka\_The\_Semi-Christ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/2bfe46/32.png) [@665\_aka\_The\_Semi-Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/665_aka_The_Semi-Christ)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/66 "2003-12-29T04:33:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bucky \* > \*\*1) There are too many quarterbacks compared to other positions in the Hall already. > > 1. There are also too many announcers in the Hall whose careers weren’t really all that great. > > 2. PLEASE let us all hope that neither Boomer E. nor Phil Simms is ever elected!!! > > 3. I think that a player should arguably be the best at his position for at least a five year period to be in the football Hall. “The best” can be lots of things, but my simple version is that that one person would be the one most people would pick first in filling that position on an ultimate team. > > 4. The Hall needs a lot more linemen in it, although Dan Dierdorf is probably not one of the ones who should be in. \*\* Let’s see how many utterly incorrect things you passed off as fact, shall we? 1. **There are too many quarterbacks compared to other positions in the Hall already.** 2. \*\* The Hall needs a lot more linemen in it, although Dan Dierdorf is probably not one of those who should be in.\*\* Really? If you had bothered to take all of two minutes you would have found out that a grand total of 25 quarterbacks have been elected to the Hall of Fame. That includes pre-modern and modern area players. Putting both defensive and offensive linemen together one finds that there are 67 enshrined in the Hall, with 28 offensive lineman from the Modern era alone. 1. **There are also too many announcers in the Hall whose careers weren’t all that great.** 2. While there are a few announcers who are also in the Hall of Fame, Dan Dierdorf being the only one I can think of at the moment, all of them were elected **for their performance on the playing field, not in the announcers booth.** The pro football hall of fame doesn’t induct announcers, that is left to the baseball hall of fame. 3. **I think that a player should arguably be the best at his position for at least a five year period to be in the Hall.** Well, guess we’ll have to kick out John Stallworth, Lynn Swann, Gale Sayers, John Riggens, Jackie Smith, Joe Namath, Charley Taylor, Bobby Mitchell, Lee Roy Selmon, Elvin Bethea, George Halas, Doak Walker, Bob Griese, and just for kicks, Larry Csonka. None of those players were the best player at their position in the entire league for 5 years during the course of their careers, but between them they have 14 Super Bowl rings and 8 Super Bowl Championships, not to mention being a founder of the NFL. (Halas who is in as a player, coach and contributor.) Your ignorance is shocking, considering that is what this board tries to fight. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f8ce5/32.png) [@The\_Peyote\_Coyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Peyote_Coyote)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/67 "2003-12-29T04:42:31Z")
As a Colts fan, I should kick myself for forgetting him on my first post, but if Mike Vanderjagt keeps it up, I don’t see how he can be excluded from the Hall of Fame. I agree that the number of appearances in a Pro Bowl is meaningless. If McNair keeps it up, he should be inducted. Warner? No way. ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/68 "2003-12-29T05:01:39Z")
Deion should be in: Best cover corner ever, and not so bad kick returner. anderson and andersen kickers are both in. As for currents: Also Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith are no duh. Also Brett Favre just for starting 180 straight games, including that immortal Monday Night the day after his father’s death. Probably: Jamal Lewis Curtis Martin ---
**Author:** ![A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/46a35a/32.png) [@A\_wizard\_song\_for\_thee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A_wizard_song_for_thee)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/69 "2003-12-29T05:15:03Z")
Nitpick: It’s 205 straight games for Favre, because you have to include his playoff games. Plus, I mean, it’s not like that’s the only reason he’s going to go in first ballot… ---
**Author:** ![HomerIU](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HomerIU](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HomerIU)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/70 "2003-12-29T05:33:31Z")
Ricky Watters I don’t think makes it. He had some good years and was a solid player, but was he ever really one of the top runners in the league? Or in the top five? I guess I’d have to go back and look at his stats, but offhand, no, he misses. Same with Herschel Walker. ``` McNair is a shoe in. And he deserves it, but even beyond that the press seems to gave a love affair with this guy that knows no end. ANd it has nothing to do with race. I don't know what it has to do with, but they have tried their best to somehow find a way to give him the MVP award this year. He's had a great season, but he's not the MVP. Kurt Warner does not make it. Neither does Terrel Davis. As good as they both were, not at the top long enough. Everyone seems to have forgotten Bruce Smith. Sure to be there despite the mediocrity of his game in the past two seasons and seemingly only sticking it out for the sacks record. Oh, wait, looking back now, someone did mention him. Bettis is kind of iffy, but I bet he makes it. Larry Allen is the best guard in the game for the past decade. I don't know about ever, but certainly the best of his generation. Bledsoe is a wait and see. Career started out good, but then tailed off quickly. He could still recover and make it, but not with more seasons like Buffalo just had. At the other end, a guy like Jake Plummer seems to have a chance now that he is on a decent team. ANd Tom Brady is well on his way, but still too early to say for sure. Keyshawn?! KeyShawn?! No way. Only HOF he'll make it in is the overrated player HOF. He is a good receiver that does not live up to the hype and, for the last three years, has not even really put up Pro Bowl type numbers, let alone HOF numbers. This year, even before he was cut, he was not even the best receiver on the Bucs. No way he will make it. ``` ---
**Author:** ![HomerIU](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a88e4f/32.png) [@HomerIU](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HomerIU)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/71 "2003-12-29T05:40:50Z")
I think Cunningham could have made it, but injuries cut short many of his years. Plus his teams always seemed to be underachieving. DId he win a SB ring one year as a Cowboys back up? I know he spent one or two years with the team. ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/72 "2003-12-29T05:41:27Z")
> [@](#): > > _originally posted by HomerIU_ > **Keyshawn?! KeyShawn?! No way. Only HOF he’ll make it in is the overrated player HOF. He is a good receiver that does not live up to the hype and, for the last three years, has not even really put up Pro Bowl type numbers, let alone HOF numbers. This year, even before he was cut, he was not even the best receiver on the Bucs. No way he will make it.** Boy am I sorry I ever even mentioned his name…mere weeks after I originally posted he was removed from the roster. ---
**Author:** ![665\_aka\_The\_Semi-Christ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/2bfe46/32.png) [@665\_aka\_The\_Semi-Christ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/665_aka_The_Semi-Christ)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2003, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/73 "2003-12-29T06:33:47Z")
The thing I’ve noticed is how many posters to this thread have said that a player has to be the best at their position for a certain number of years, usually more then 4 before they can even be considered for the Hall of Fame. The average career of an NFL player is something like 3.5 years. And lets take the case of Gale Sayers, who didn’t even play 5 full seasons yet was unanimously elected to the Hall. In his rookie year he scored a total of 22 touchdowns, including the game on December 12, 1965 against the san Francisco 49ers in which he scored a record tying 6 touchdowns. He led in the league in rushing twice, first in 1966 with 1,231 yards and again in 1969 with 1,032. His career numbers are far from spectacular, and the arguement has been made, fairly or unfairly that George Halas exerted a good deal of pressure on the Hall of Fame Voting committee when Sayers was eligible for enshrinement. ---
**Author:** ![sadnil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@sadnil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sadnil)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/74 "2004-01-02T21:15:34Z")
I’ll admit that I skimmed through some of the second page of this thread, but I don’t think I’ve seen Ahman Green, yet. I would think that by this point in the season people would finally be giving him some respect. He’s been the [all around most productive](http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs03/columns/story?columnist=garber_greg&id=1698742) back over the past four years. He runs as hard at the hole (funny expression)as anyone, he’s fast and shifty, he’s smart and patient. Ahman Green has been fanfriggin’ tastic and he has a few years left in him. Statistically, he’s edging his way up with the big dogs in history (beat some long standing team records this year). Ahman Green may not be a lock, but I am quite surprised to see his name not mentioned along side the likes of some other halfbacks mentioned. Also, please, don’t ever mention Alstot alongside the great fullbacks. William Henderson is much more valuable and could catch just as well and score as much but his team doesn’t need him to be a halfback/receiver. They need him to be a fullback. ---
**Author:** ![Wilson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/96bed5/32.png) [@Wilson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wilson)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877/75 "2004-01-03T00:10:18Z")
Ahman Green’s a bit young to know for sure, but if he puts up four more years like his last four, then he’ll be a lock. Problem is running backs don’t age so well - see Davis, Terrell. Another name that I think is close, but not quite - Jimmy Smith. If he comes back with a couple of more 1000+ yard seasons, which is not impossible (but also not likely) for a receiver his age, he’d be in. He’s already barely in the top 20 in receptions and yards. His relative lack of scoring hurts him. He’s Isaac Bruce without some of the touchdowns (and a couple of years older so less likely to pad his stats). Another name in the category of too young to know for sure, but got a good chance - Torry Holt. Two of the top ten alltime seasons in receiving yards in his first five years. If he stays at that pace, he’s in, of course. Corey Dillon’s got an outside chance, if he can get his act together. I’m not holding my breath on that, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/which-current-nfl-players-are-shoo-ins-for-the-hall-of-fame/210877.md?page=3)