gold star for USAHOF

Terrell Owens 2017 HOF Debate

Terrell Owens 2017 HOF Debate
04 Feb
2017
Not in Hall of Fame
Here we are in the National Football League playoffs but for us that it means it is time to discuss the potential class of the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame.  The Finalists have been announced, and along with regular contributor, Spheniscus, we will go back and forth with each candidate and openly debate as to which player would be a worthy Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee.

Spheniscus, We now have T.O., who I think should have gotten in last year.

We know why he didn’t, as he was often a selfish player and killed Quarterbacks.  You think Jeff Garcia wants to see him get inducted?  Does it irk the hell out of Donovan McNabb that Owens is a finalist and he isn’t?  It has to right?

Sorry Donovan but when you were in the Super Bowl together, you threw up during the game and T.O. excelled on a bum leg. 

Going back to Owens, there is no statistical argument against him, but I get why the Hall of Fame committee wanted to make him wait one year as a “penance”.  I don’t think they will make him wait a second.

Spheniscus: To paraphrase Silky Johnson “What can I say about the sportswriters’ opinion of Terrell Owens that hasn’t been said about Afghanistan?”

Should they make him wait a second? No. They shouldn’t have made him wait a first. But I have this feeling that as long as there is a viable alternative, the sportswriters will talk themselves into that alternative.

Owens is 2nd all-time in receiving yards. Last year they chose the 8th place guy on the list Marvin Harrison. Next year they will choose the 3rd place guy on the list Randy Moss, who despite also having a tough reputation, has the redemption of the 2007 Patriots on his resume. The question is whether or not they decide to take the 4th place guy Isaac Bruce. Because I think that they will.

Committee Chairman: Ten points for quoting Silky.


I think I am a lot more optimistic on T.O., so much so that when I ever get to Chicago (or when you take your family to the beautiful vacation destination of the Canadian Rockies), I will bet a round on it. The beer will be Canadian by the way, leave that Pabst stuff at home!

I think a nightmare for the Hall is to have both Owens and Moss on the ballot, and for Owens, I never thought he was a bad guy, but does have some mental issues that made him act out the way he did. I am not saying that tongue and cheek, I really think he does have them.

I don’t know how much this has spread to the U.S., but Bell Canada here sponsors a “Let’s Talk” campaign talking about mental disease. I always thought Owens had something especially after watching this:



Whether I am right or wrong about the state of Owens’ mind, it just doesn’t take away what he did on the field. If he was maybe five percent less in production, it might make a difference in my eyes, but I still believe it was a one year slap on the wrist.

Spheniscus: I already made the beer bet offer in the Isaac Bruce section, but I will reiterate it here. I am saying that he won’t make the Hall of Fame until the next presidential election. It will be Bruce in 2017, Moss in 2018, Tony Gonzalez in 2019, and Calvin Johnson in 2020.

I’m not saying he doesn’t deserve it, I’m just saying they don’t like him. At all.

Committee Chairman: Well, you know my thoughts on this one. If I am wrong for this year, than yes, I will acquiesce to your line of thinking. This is an all or nothing year for T.O. I am still hoping for all.

Spheniscus: I fully admit that I am a bit out on a limb on this one. You’re right that Owens probably goes in. I just think that Bruce is an attractive enough option for them to say no again this year.

At some point not putting Owens in is going to be an issue and an embarrassment. I just don’t think the voters have reached that point yet.
Last modified on Friday, 21 April 2017 13:54
Committee Chairman

Kirk Buchner, "The Committee Chairman", is the owner and operator of the site.  Kirk can be contacted at [email protected] .
More in this category: « Ty Law 2017 HOF Debate

Comments powered by CComment