For anyone comparing NBA prediction sites, the most revealing page may not be the one showing today's best pick. It is the page showing yesterday's misses.

That became clear during a month-long editorial test of five services that publish NBA predictions, betting picks or model-driven forecasts. We followed what each site made available before games, checked whether selections remained identifiable after the final buzzer, and looked for a simple answer: could a reader reconstruct the service's record without relying on screenshots, promotional claims or a hand-picked list of winners?

The answer was surprisingly uneven.

Two of the five services offered the kind of public, loss-inclusive record that allows a reader to audit performance. The other three provided useful NBA analysis and predictions, but did not give us the same straightforward, pick-by-pick view of wins and losses for the predictions we were following. That distinction matters more than a glossy accuracy percentage.

The test was not designed to declare a single site the most accurate NBA predictor. A month is too short for that, particularly in a sport where injuries, rest, rotations and late line moves can change a game dramatically. The purpose was narrower: to examine how much evidence a normal reader gets after the prediction has been made.

The test was about accountability, not marketing

We deliberately avoided judging the services by how convincing their previews sounded. Almost every serious NBA prediction site can explain why a team should cover, why a total may go over or why a player prop looks attractive.

For the test, we looked at five different types of NBA prediction service. The group included established betting-analysis publishers, a computer-model driven prediction site, and newer services that explicitly promote public records. We did not treat all predictions as identical bets. A moneyline, a spread, a total and a player prop have different break-even points and different levels of volatility.

Instead, the central question was deliberately basic: after a prediction was published, could a reader later see what happened to that prediction?

Action Network, for example, publishes extensive NBA betting analysis and individual expert picks, and its game pages can show recent records for contributors. A June 2026 game page, for example, displayed both positive and negative 30-day records for individual experts. That is useful evidence, but it is not the same thing as a single, complete public ledger of every prediction made by the service.

Covers takes a similarly broad approach. Its NBA section combines expert picks, computer picks, odds, projections and analysis across markets including spreads, totals, moneylines and player props. The information is valuable for researching a game, but a reader looking for a simple, complete loss-inclusive record of every selection does not get the same experience as on a dedicated public track-record page.

Dimers is another example of a model-heavy prediction service. It publishes NBA moneyline, spread and total predictions, together with probabilities and projected scores, and explains that its models cover the NBA slate throughout the season. But the product is primarily presented around current predictions and matchup information rather than the kind of permanent, pick-by-pick public record used in our test.

None of that makes these services unreliable. It simply means that prediction quality and record transparency are two different questions.

What happened when we looked for the losses

The first service that clearly met our transparency test was Sport Insights.

Its NBA page does something refreshingly simple: it displays correct calls and missed calls side by side. At the time we checked the page, it showed 843 correct predictions and 522 missed predictions, for 1,365 NBA predictions and a stated accuracy of 61.8%. The site says it has been publishing predictions since 2024 and that the record updates automatically as fixtures settle. It also explicitly says results are published whether the prediction wins or loses.

The significance is not the 61.8% figure. A reader should be cautious about treating any historical hit rate as a forecast of future performance. The important part is that the denominator is visible. The service does not ask the reader to judge it from 20 highlighted winners; it shows that 522 calls missed as well.

That makes the number meaningful in a way that a collection of screenshots is not.

The second clear example was NBAPredictions.ai.

Its public track-record page is even more explicit about the principle. It says every pick is published before the game starts, graded from the final score and left on the record after the result. The page currently reports 2,586 graded picks, with 1,390 wins and 1,196 losses, and separately reports its higher-confidence “best bets” as 67 wins and 22 losses. It also provides the record as a downloadable spreadsheet.

There is an important detail here that is easy to overlook. The site itself warns that the record is still young, with 19 graded days in the current sample. That is the correct way to frame such data. A large number of predictions accumulated quickly does not automatically turn a short observation period into proof of a durable betting edge.

But from an accountability perspective, the mechanism is clear. If the model loses, the loss remains visible.

That is the standard the other services did not match in the same direct way during our test.

Why a visible loss is more valuable than a winning streak

The betting industry has a built-in presentation problem. A winner is easy to advertise. A losing pick is not.

A site can show a successful parlay, a correctly predicted spread or a player prop that landed comfortably. None of those examples tells a reader how many unsuccessful predictions surrounded it.

This is why the phrase “NBA predictions” can be misleadingly broad. A service may publish hundreds of projections but highlight only a small subset as its “best bets.” Another may publish every game but only promote the selections that later won. A third may change which market it considers the preferred bet as the odds move.

Those are not necessarily dishonest practices. But they make independent evaluation difficult.

A genuine record should answer several questions without requiring detective work. When was the prediction made? What exactly was the line or market? Was it a win, loss or push? How many previous selections are included? Are losing predictions still visible? And, where relevant, what odds were available when the prediction was published?

The more of those questions a site answers, the less the reader has to trust the marketing around the model.

Accuracy is not the same as profitability

This is where many comparisons of NBA prediction sites go wrong.

Suppose one model wins 60% of its picks and another wins 56%. It would be tempting to declare the first one better. But if the first model routinely recommends expensive favorites while the second finds plus-money prices, the simple win percentage does not tell the whole story.

At standard -110 odds, a bettor needs to win roughly 52.4% of wagers just to break even before considering other costs. That means a 55% record can be meaningful, while a 60% record can still be misleading if the quoted prices or methodology are unclear.

The same problem appears with player props. A model can have a high hit rate while offering little value if the market has already priced the probability correctly. Conversely, a lower hit rate can sometimes produce positive returns if the successful selections were available at sufficiently attractive odds.

This is why our test treated the public record as the starting point rather than the final verdict.

The question was not “Which website had the biggest number?”

It was “Which website gave the reader enough information to understand what that number actually represents?”

A prediction needs a timestamp

There is another weakness in many public pick feeds: timing.

A prediction made at 9 a.m. is not necessarily the same prediction at 6:45 p.m. NBA betting markets move when injury reports arrive, when a starting lineup changes and when large pieces of information enter the market.

For that reason, a transparent record should make it possible to establish when a pick existed.

This is one reason newer verification platforms have started emphasizing timestamped or locked predictions. BetEdge AI, for example, says its model picks are hashed before games and that results are subsequently graded and published, while Backt describes server-locked, timestamped predictions and public records containing wins, losses and voids. These systems illustrate where the wider prediction industry is heading: away from screenshots and toward records that are harder to rewrite after the event.

That does not mean a timestamp proves a real-money wager was placed. A prediction record and a sportsbook account are two different things. But a timestamp does establish a much more useful historical fact: the prediction existed before the result was known.

The difference between a forecast and a bet

Readers should also be careful with the word “pick.”

A site may predict that the Lakers have a 67% chance to win. That is a forecast.

A site may recommend Lakers -3.5 at -110. That is a betting selection.

A site may project 238 total points while the market is 232.5. That is a model signal that could lead to an Over bet.

These statements cannot be compared simply by counting wins.

A serious NBA prediction service should make the distinction visible. If the published line changes, the value of the selection can change with it. A spread at -2.5 and the same spread at -5 are not equivalent. A player prop at +105 and the same prop at -125 are not equivalent. A moneyline at +140 and +105 can have very different expected value even if the underlying team prediction is unchanged.

That is why a public record is strongest when it preserves the actual selection and, ideally, the price or line attached to it.

For readers comparing NBA best bets, this distinction is particularly important. The phrase sounds like a ranking of the strongest opportunities, but unless the site records which bets were actually designated as best bets before tip-off, it can become a label applied retrospectively to the winners.

What we learned from the month

Three services gave us substantial material to read: matchup analysis, projections, injury information, expert opinions or computer-generated probabilities. For a reader preparing for a particular slate, that information can be genuinely useful.

But useful analysis is not the same as an auditable history.

The two services that passed our stricter test made it possible to see losses without having to request them, reconstruct them from old articles or infer them from a changing percentage.

That difference becomes especially important after a bad week.

A model can have a losing Tuesday and still be a good model. NBA results contain plenty of randomness. A star can leave after five minutes, a team can shoot 15% from three, or a late injury can completely change the matchup. One losing night proves very little.

What matters is whether the losing night remains part of the record.

If it disappears, the reader cannot tell whether the model recovered because it is genuinely strong or because the unsuccessful selections were simply removed from view.

The strongest record is not necessarily the highest record

There is a temptation to turn this test into a leaderboard. We deliberately did not.

A public record with 1,000 selections and a 55% hit rate may deserve more confidence than a new model showing 80% after 20 picks. Sample size changes how much weight a statistic deserves.

The same applies to the 2,586-pick record currently displayed by NBAPredictions.ai. The volume makes the record easier to inspect, but the site's own warning about the short period is equally important. It is evidence of transparency, not proof that the model will outperform the market indefinitely.

Sport Insights provides a different kind of useful evidence because its NBA history stretches back further and its page explicitly shows both correct and missed calls. Again, the record should be judged on its methodology and market context, not on one percentage alone.

This distinction is worth making because transparency can itself become a marketing claim. Saying “we publish every loss” is only useful if readers can actually verify the underlying record.

The record needs to be accessible, understandable and consistent.

What readers should check before trusting an NBA model

The month-long test left us with a fairly simple checklist.

First, look for the full record rather than a highlights page. If only winning selections are easy to find, ask why.

Second, check whether predictions are posted before the game. A result cannot be used to validate a prediction if the timing is unclear.

Third, identify the market. Moneyline, spread, total and player prop results should not be thrown into one percentage without explanation.

Fourth, look for the line and odds. A pick without the price is often incomplete information.

Fifth, check whether pushes and voids are handled consistently. A model should not quietly exclude inconvenient outcomes.

Finally, consider sample size. Twenty wins from 25 picks is interesting. It is not the same evidence as hundreds or thousands of graded selections.

Transparency changes the conversation

There is a broader lesson here for the growing market of AI and data-driven sports prediction.

As models become easier to build, the prediction itself becomes less impressive. Anyone can publish a probability, a projected score or a confidence percentage. The difficult part is maintaining a public record after reality disagrees with the algorithm.

That is where prediction services should be competing.

Not only on how many winners they can display, but on how comfortably they can display the losers too.

The most credible model is not the one that never appears to be wrong. In NBA betting, that model does not exist. It is the one that lets the reader see exactly where it was wrong, how often, under what market conditions and over what sample.

Our five-site test therefore produced a result that was less glamorous than a conventional “best NBA predictions” ranking, but arguably more useful. Two services gave us a clear loss-inclusive record that could be checked after the games. Three offered substantial prediction and analysis content, but did not provide the same straightforward public accounting for the selections we monitored.

That does not prove that the two transparent services are better predictors.

It proves something narrower, and more important for anyone considering a prediction service: they gave the reader more evidence to work with.

In a market full of confident language, that may be the most valuable feature of all.

A prediction can be wrong. A model can have a bad month. Even a strong statistical process can suffer a losing streak.

What should not be difficult to find is the record.

If a site is willing to show you the wins, the losses, the timing and the sample behind them, you can make your own judgment. If it only shows you the winners, you are not really evaluating a track record. You are evaluating a marketing page.

2003 Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project Class.

Here we are!  Again!!

If you have been following our Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project, you know we have asked the question: What if the PFHOF had begun in January 1946?

After soliciting and obtaining a passionate group of football fans and historians, we sent out a ballot for a Preliminary Vote, in which each voter selected 25 names as their semi-finalists and five names for the Senior Pool. 

We then asked the group to vote for their 15 Finalists in the Modern Era and 3 in the Senior Category. The final stage was to vote for their five Modern Era inductee and one Senior inductee.

These are the results of the 61st official class. 

Below are the final results of this project based on 38 votes.

Remember that we have reverted back to the top five candidates entering the Hall in the Modern Era

This is for the “Modern Era”

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 2003:

This is for the “Senior Era.”, 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 2003.

This is for the “Coaches/Contributors.” 

*Bold indicates they have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Class of 2003.

About the 2003 Inductees:

Marcus Allen, RB, RAI 1982-92 & KAN 1993-97: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2003 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

Drafted 10th overall in 1982 by the Los Angeles Raiders, Allen made an immediate impact by winning the NFL Rookie of the Year award during a strike-shortened season. His rare combination of running power, elite pass-catching ability, and willingness to block quickly established him as the focal point of the Raiders' offense and one of the league's premier young superstars.

The pinnacle of Allen’s time with the Raiders came during the 1983 season, culminating in a dominant performance in Super Bowl XVIII. On January 22, 1984, Allen rushed for a then-record 191 yards against the Washington Redskins, highlighted by a breathtaking, field-reversing 74-yard touchdown run that remains one of the most iconic plays in NFL history. His spectacular performance earned him the Super Bowl MVP trophy. Just two seasons later, in 1985, Allen secured the NFL Regular Season MVP award after leading the league with 1,759 rushing yards and scoring 14 total touchdowns, cementing his status at the absolute peak of professional football.

Despite his immense success, the latter half of Allen's tenure with the Raiders was marred by a highly publicized and bitter feud with team owner Al Davis. This conflict left Allen underutilized, benched, and moved to fullback to make way for other players like Bo Jackson. Demonstrating his ultimate professionalism and versatility, Allen excelled in this secondary role, showcasing his elite short-yardage skills and goal-line intuition. However, after years of tension, he finally left the franchise following the 1992 season, eager to prove he was still a premier feature back.

In 1993, Allen signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, rejuvenating his career and instantly becoming a fan favorite in the Heartland. Reunited with quarterback Joe Montana, Allen silenced his critics by leading the Chiefs to the AFC Championship Game in his first year, winning the NFL Comeback Player of the Year award after scoring a league-high 12 rushing touchdowns. He spent five productive seasons in Kansas City as a revered team leader and reliable goal-line weapon who consistently found the end zone when his team needed it most.

He was the first player in NFL history to gain more than 10,000 rushing yards and 5,000 receiving yards in a career, finishing with 12,243 rushing yards, 5,411 receiving yards, and 145 total touchdowns.

Gary Zimmerman, T, MIN 1986-92 & DEN 1993-97: Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2003 on his 1st Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2008.

Originally selected by the New York Giants in the 1984 NFL Supplemental Draft, Gary Zimmerman instead began his professional journey in the United States Football League (USFL) with the Los Angeles Express. Over two seasons in the upstart league, he protected young quarterback Steve Young and established a reputation for elite athleticism and fundamental footwork. When the USFL folded, the Giants traded his rights to the Minnesota Vikings, setting the stage for his arrival as a premier blindside protector in the NFL.

Upon joining the Minnesota Vikings in 1986, Zimmerman immediately assumed the starting left tackle position and became the cornerstone of their offense. Over his seven seasons in Minnesota, he was a model of consistency, starting all 108 games. His quiet efficiency and masterful execution of block mechanics earned him four Pro Bowl nods and two First-Team All-Pro selections during his tenure. Zimmerman’s exceptional play strengthened the Vikings' pass protection and run game, establishing him as one of the most dominant offensive linemen of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

In 1993, Zimmerman brought his elite talents to the Denver Broncos, a pivotal acquisition that transformed the franchise's trajectory. Tasked with protecting legendary quarterback John Elway, Zimmerman brought instant veteran leadership and stabilizing excellence to a line that desperately needed it. His pairing with Elway created a formidable offensive foundation, allowing Denver's passing game to flourish while enabling a high-octane zone-blocking scheme. In Denver, Zimmerman earned three additional Pro Bowl selections and another First-Team All-Pro honor, remaining an elite force well into his thirties.

Zimmerman's crowning achievement came in 1997, culminating in Super Bowl XXXII on January 25, 1998. Battling through painful shoulder and knee injuries, the aging veteran put together a masterclass performance to help the Broncos defeat the heavily favored Green Bay Packers 31-24. Zimmerman’s relentless blocking cleared paths for running back Terrell Davis's historic MVP performance and provided the crucial pocket stability Elway needed to capture his elusive first championship. Having finally reached the pinnacle of the football world, Zimmerman retired on top following the historic victory.

Curley Culp, DT-NT-G, KAN 1968-74, HOU 1974-80 & DET 1980-81.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2003 on his 17th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2013.

The pioneer of the modern nose tackle position, Curley Culp was initially drafted in the second round of the 1968 draft by the Denver Broncos, who tried to transition the former Arizona State NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion into an offensive guard. When that experiment stalled, he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs, where his immense physical strength immediately helped reshape pro football’s defensive landscape.

During his early years in Kansas City, Culp became a crucial interior component of head coach Hank Stram’s brilliant, suffocating defense. In just his second season, he helped guide the Chiefs to a dominant victory over the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV. During this historic championship run, Stram effectively experimented with a prototype 3-4 defense, sliding Culp directly over the center. Culp’s unprecedented ability to demand and destroy double teams paralyzed opposing offensive game plans, earning him an AFL All-Star nod in 1969 and a Pro Bowl selection in 1971.

In 1974, Culp was sent to the Houston Oilers in a blockbuster trade for John Matuszak, along with a first-round draft pick. His arrival in Houston instantly transformed the trajectory of a struggling franchise that had endured back-to-back 1-13 seasons. Installed at nose tackle under defensive assistant (and later coordinator) Wade Phillips, Culp served as the absolute centerpiece of the Oilers’ newly adopted, permanent 3-4 defensive scheme. His impact was so immediate that he single-handedly elevated Houston to a 10-4 record in 1975—marking the club’s first winning season in eight years.

The 1975 campaign stood as the statistical and accolades peak of Culp's illustrious career. He wreaked havoc from the interior, amassing 11.5 sacks—a staggering number for a nose tackle—while leading the Oilers to the AFC's top-ranked run defense. For his individual dominance, the Newspaper Enterprise Association named Culp NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and he earned First-Team All-Pro honors. He remained the emotional leader and physical anchor of the iconic "Luv Ya Blue" Oilers teams, guiding them to consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances in 1978 and 1979.

He followed that with a brief final stint with the Detroit Lions. Culp retired after the 1981 season with 179 career games, 68.5 unofficial sacks, and six Pro Bowl invitations.

Drew Pearson, WR, DAL 1973-83.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2003 on his 15th Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2021.

Revered as one of the ultimate clutch wide receivers in football history, Drew Pearson was signed out of the University of Tulsa in 1973, where he had transitioned from quarterback to receiver. Pearson initially made the roster by proving his worth on special teams. However, a teammate's injury midway through his rookie season opened the door for him to enter the starting lineup. He capitalized immediately, recording 388 receiving yards and establishing a remarkable chemistry with Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach that would define an era of football.

As the decade progressed, Pearson grew into the focal point of the Dallas passing attack, earning the iconic nickname "Mr. Clutch" for his uncanny ability to make game-winning plays when everything was on the line. His defining moment occurred on December 28, 1975, during an NFC Divisional Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings. With the Cowboys trailing in the final seconds, Pearson caught a dramatic, game-winning 50-yard touchdown pass from Staubach—a historical play that Staubach famously described as a "Hail Mary," forever entering the sports lexicon. Pearson was on the receiving end of multiple game-deciding plays that NFL Films recognized among the greatest in league history.

Pearson’s legacy is also deeply intertwined with the prestige of the Dallas Cowboys' No. 88 jersey, a lineage of wide receiver excellence he helped launch. As the "Original 88," he set a golden standard of productivity, leading the team in catches and receiving yards for four consecutive seasons starting in 1974. His regular-season peak came in 1977, when he led the NFL with 870 receiving yards. Pearson's individual dominance was matched by team success, as he served as the offensive captain and helped propel the Cowboys to three Super Bowl appearances, ultimately capturing a ring in Super Bowl XII against the Denver Broncos.

Over his 11-year career, he played entirely with the Dallas Cowboys. Pearson amassed an impressive list of accolades. He earned three consecutive Pro Bowl selections and three First-Team All-Pro honors (1974, 1976, and 1977). His consistency across the era earned him selection to the prestigious NFL 1970s All-Decade Team. At the time of his retirement following a severe automobile accident in 1984, Pearson hung up his cleats as the franchise’s all-time leader in both receptions (489) and receiving yards (7,822), alongside 48 touchdown receptions

Ken Anderson, QB, CIN 1971-86.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2003 on his 12th Ballot. Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016.

Drafted out of tiny Augustana College in the third round of the 1971 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. Anderson was initially seen as an unheralded small-school prospect. However, his rare combination of field vision, flawless mechanics, and a strong engineering mind quickly elevated him into the starting role. He would ultimately spend nearly two decades transforming the franchise's identity and establishing a blueprint for modern quarterback play.

Anderson’s early-career trajectory changed forever when he paired with legendary assistant coach Bill Walsh in Cincinnati. As one of the primary pioneers and earliest practitioners of what became known as the West Coast Offense, Anderson used quick reads, precise timing, and rhythm over brute force to dissect opposing defenses. This cerebral style yielded staggering efficiency; he led the NFL in passing yards twice (1974 and 1975) and earned back-to-back league passer rating titles during those same seasons. His off-field leadership earned him the prestigious Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award in 1975, cementing his legacy as a pillar both on and off the gridiron.

The apex of Anderson’s career came during an iconic, decorated 1981 campaign. After being benched in the opening game, Anderson returned with relentless poise to orchestrate one of the greatest single-season turnarounds in NFL lore, throwing for 3,754 yards and 29 touchdowns. He single-handedly swept the major individual accolades, claiming the NFL Most Valuable Player, Offensive Player of the Year, and Comeback Player of the Year honors. Anderson also famously conquered the legendary, bone-chilling "Freezer Bowl" AFC Championship game, guiding Cincinnati to its first-ever franchise appearance in Super Bowl XVI.

Even as the league evolved into the 1982 strike-shortened season, Anderson continued his historic surgical dominance from the pocket. He captured yet another passer rating crown while setting a then-NFL single-season record by completing 70.6% of his passes—an astonishing efficiency milestone that stood unmatched for over 25 years until Drew Brees finally eclipsed it. This remarkable feat made Anderson the only quarterback in NFL history to win consecutive league passing titles across two entirely separate decades (1974–1975 and 1981–1982), a definitive testament to his enduring longevity and masterclass consistency.

When Ken Anderson retired after the 1986 season, he left behind a staggering statistical profile: 32,838 passing yards, 197 passing touchdowns, and an additional 2,220 yards on the ground. He sits in an exclusive group of just five signal-callers to earn four or more NFL passing efficiency titles alongside Bart Starr, Roger Staubach, Steve Young, and Aaron Rodgers.

Arch Ward.  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2003 on his 14th Senior Ballot.  Was never inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame.

After graduating from Notre Dame, where he served as a sports publicity director under the legendary Knute Rockne, Arch Ward joined the Chicago Tribune in 1925 and became sports editor in 1930. From this influential platform, he earned the nickname the "Cecil B. DeMille of Sports" for his knack for creating mass-spectacle sports events. While he famously created baseball's All-Star Game and boxing's Golden Gloves, his immense passion for gridiron football profoundly reshaped both the amateur and professional ranks.

Ward's first massive contribution to the football landscape came in 1934 with the creation of the Chicago Charities College All-Star Game. Hosted at Soldier Field, this highly anticipated annual preseason spectacle pitted a squad of the nation's best recently graduated college stars against the reigning NFL champions. The event became an immediate national institution, drawing massive crowds and serving as a vital bridge that brought professional football—still struggling for mainstream respectability—to a college-centric sports public. Ward's soaring reputation in football circles grew so large that the National Football League offered him the role of NFL Commissioner in 1941, though he ultimately turned down the massive salary to maintain his editorial independence at the Tribune.

Believing the NFL operated like a "cheap-john minor league outfit" that underpaid its players, Ward took matters into his own hands by founding a major rival league: the All-America Football Conference (AAFC). Launching in 1946, the AAFC directly challenged the NFL monopoly, establishing professional football franchises in major unserved markets across the United States. Though the star-crossed league lasted only four seasons before a merger, Ward's creation permanently forced the sport's evolution; it introduced the world to the dominant Cleveland Browns and the San Francisco 49ers, both of which transferred directly into the NFL in 1950. Through his independent leagues and promotion, football historians recognize that Ward forced the NFL to become a true major-league enterprise.

Jim Finks, Executive, MIN 1964-71 (General Manager), Chicago Bears 1974-82 (General Manager) & NO 1986-92 (General Manager).  Inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Revisited Project in 2002 on his 15th Coaches/Conrtibutors Ballot.  Inducted into the actual Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1995.

Celebrated as one of the most prolific and transformative front-office architects in NFL history, Jim Finks had a legendary reputation as a master evaluator who resurrected three separate losing franchises into perennial powerhouses. 

After a playing career as a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and a successful management run in the CFL, Finks broke into the NFL executive ranks in 1964 as the general manager of the struggling expansion Minnesota Vikings. Refusing to rely on quick-fix gimmicks, he meticulously built the team for long-term sustainability, drafting core defensive legends like Alan Page and Carl Eller to form the feared "Purple People Eaters" defensive line. Finks made the bold decision to hire an unheralded CFL coach named Bud Grant in 1967 and orchestrated a major trade to bring back quarterback Fran Tarkenton, moves that successfully propelled Minnesota to five divisional titles and two Super Bowl appearances during his ten-year tenure, earning him NFL Executive of the Year honors in 1973.

In 1974, Finks brought his team-building blueprint to the Chicago Bears, taking absolute control of football operations from legendary owner George Halas, who had personally run the team since 1920. In his first season, Finks conducted a massive assessment of the league’s talent pool before rebuilding the stagnant Bears roster. His draft precision fundamentally transformed the franchise, highlighted by the monumental selection of Walter Payton in 1975. Under Finks’ guidance, Chicago broke a 14-year postseason drought by securing playoff berths in 1977 and 1979. Though he resigned in 1982 due to ownership interference, Finks left behind a golden championship inheritance: he personally drafted 19 of the 22 starters who went on to dominate the league on the historic 1985 Super Bowl XX championship squad.

Finks undertook what was arguably his greatest executive miracle in January 1986, taking the reins of a New Orleans Saints organization that had famously never experienced a single winning season or playoff appearance in its entire 19-year history. He immediately instilled a culture of accountability by hiring head coach Jim Mora and building a physical, defense-first roster. The turnaround was astonishingly rapid; by his second season in 1987, the Saints exploded for a 12-win campaign, capturing the franchise's first-ever winning record and postseason berth. Finks’ brilliant executive management over seven seasons guided New Orleans to four separate playoff appearances and the team's first-ever division crown in 1991, earning him his second career NFL Executive of the Year award in 1987. 

We are bringing it back!

In previous years, we ran the Notinhalloffame NBA Cup, where we awarded points in descending order (5, 4, 3, 2, 1) to the top five players in every game, and at the end of the season, we awarded the Cup to the player with the most points.

Here is what we look at:

Traditional Statistics:  It is obvious what we mean here: points, rebounds, steals, and blocks…the core group of statistics that we look at in any box score.

Plus/Minus/Shooting Percentage:  This is a stat that we love.  It's fine if you dropped 30 points, but if your time on the floor results in a negative plus/minus, how effective were you overall?  Additionally, a huge scoring performance done with a horrible shooting percentage isn’t held in as high regard as scoring less with high accuracy.

Clutch/Takeovers:  When are you putting up stats?  Fourth-quarter and clutch performances are held in a premium, and conversely, we hate turnovers, and we dock accordingly.

This isn’t a testament to who is necessarily having the best season, but to who’s winning the most Cup Points.  A 50-point/20 rebound game can’t generate any more than five Cup Points.  Conversely, in a sloppy game by both sides, a mediocre performance can still earn a player Cup Points.

Here is the first top 10 of the 2026/27 Season

1. Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers, 34 Cup Points:  8 Games, 4.25 Cup Points per Game, 38.5 PPG, 8.1 RPG, 8.0 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 34.2 PER, 1.9 WS.

In the first eight games of the season, Doncic has been on a scoring tear, leading the league in PPG (38.5), three-pointers (5.9), free throws (9.4), and the advanced stats of PER (34.2) and win shares (1.9).  While Doncic’s turnover rate is very high at 5.2, he has never handled the ball more.  The Lakers are 6-2, and Doncic, who was the Western Conference Player of the Week in Week 1, is why.

2. Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers, 33 Cup Points:  9 Games, 3.67 Cup Points Per Game, 28.0 PPG, 3.8 RPG, 5.4 APG, 1.6 SPG, 0.8 BPG, 22.6 PER, 1.4 WS. 

The Sixers are 8-1, and despite the additions of Jaylen Brown and LeBron James, Tyrese Maxey has been Philadelphia's top scorer.  Maxey got off to a scorching start, earning Eastern Conference Player of the Week honors in Week 1. 

3. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami Heat, 31 Cup Points, 9 Games, 3.44 Cup Points per Game, 27.3 PPG, 12.7 RPG, 5.6 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 27.8 PER, 1.1 WS. 

The Heat made a huge splash with the acquisition of Antetokounmpo, who, in his first nine games of the season, is doing Giannis things; however, at only 3-6, the Heat are not gelling and began the year 0-4. There is still a lot of time for the Antetokounmpo/Bam Adebayo pairing to work, but outside shooting needs to come to life.  Nevertheless, it’s no surprise to see Giannis here.

4. Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs, 30 Cup Points:  8 Games, 3.75 Cup Points per Game, 29.0 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 4.5 BPG, 33.9 PER, 1.5 WS. 

Doesn’t fourth seem low for him?  Seriously, this is the guy who just put up a 52-point/24-rebound/8-block performance against Dallas on Nov. 4, and if the rules let us award more than five Cup Points, we would!  Wemby might “only” be fourth, but he is the top MVP contender.  Ah, Cup Point rules are fun!

5. Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors, 29 Cup Points:  8 Games, 3.63 Cup Points per Game, 23.5 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 5.1 APG, 2.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 19.6 PER, 0.4 WS. 

This is the first of two strangely high results so far for two straight Toronto Raptors, as Barnes, for the 4-4 Raptors, has been the engine driving a sneaky good team.  Nevertheless, this rank is unlikely to hold as we move into the coming weeks…much like…

6. RJ Barrett, Toronto Raptors, 28 Cup Points:  8 Games, 3.50 Cup Points per Game, 20.9 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 17.7 PER, 0.7 WS. 

With Kawhi Leonard out (what a shock that Kawhi is hurt), Barnes and Barrett have been scooping up the Cup Points for the Raptors, who don’t have anybody else accruing them in mass.  So the Raptors are the first team with two players on this.  We don’t expect it to stay this way, but again, this is why we said we don’t think it is as defining a statement as to who the top players are in the game.  It isn’t, and in the coming weeks the usual suspects should fall where they are supposed to.  Regardless, Barrett has been Toronto’s most consistent performer, and how he and Barnes fare on the second ranking should be fascinating.

7 (TIE). Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics, 27 Cup Points:  7 Games, 3.86 Cup Points per Game, 20.1 PPG, 13.2 RPG, 8.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 23.5 PER, 8.4 WS. 

The Celtics are 5-2 with Tatum (6-2 overall), and Tatum is carrying the workload as expected.  Recently, Tatum won his 14th Player of the Week Award, and his overall production has been as consistent as past campaigns. Notably, he is in the top ten with just seven games played…much like…

7 (TIE). Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, 27 Cup Points:  7 Games, 3.86 Cup Points Per Game, 29.9 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 4.4 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 33.1 PER, 1.5 WS. 

Curry is defying age and remains an elite shooter as efficient as ever, as shown by his 33.1 PER.  At age 38, he has yet to have a game where he scored under 20 points, and his doing so with load management and a sub-30-minute-per-game average.

9. Deni Avdija, Portland Trail Blazers, 26 Cup Points, 7 Games, 3.71 Cup Points per Game, 23.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 6.4 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 22.1 PER, 1.0 WS. 

Avdija has been Portland’s best player this season, and while he has been on the floor, the Trail Blazers have been 6-1.  He has not scored less than 18 points in a game this year.

10 (TIE). Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons, 25 Cup Points:  8 Games, 3.13 Cup Points Per Game, 24.0 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 7.6 APG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 22.7 PER, 1.0 WS. 

The playmaking point guard remains the heart of a Pistons team and has averaged at least 20 points and 8 steals in his last four games.

10 (TIE). Yaxel Lendeborg, Golden State Warriors, 25 Cup Points:  9 Games, 2.78 Cup Points per Game, 21.0 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 4.1 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.6 BPG, 20.9 PER, 1.0 WS. 

Landeborg is the rookie with the highest Cup Points, and he has been a huge asset for Curry and the Warriors.  The Memphis Grizzlies’ Cameron Boozer might be the current favorite for Rookie of the Year, but he is trailing Lendeborg for our prestigious Cup.

Well, we think it is prestigious.

…especially if we keep telling ourselves that.

The rest of the Top 25 are:

12. Ty Jerome, Memphis Grizzlies, 23 Cup Points in 7 Games.

12. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder, 23 Cup Points in 8 Games (This can’t stay under the top ten, right?).

12. Anthony Davis, Washington Wizards, 23 Cup Points in 8 Games.

15. Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks, 22 Cup Points in 7 Games.

15. Austin Reaves, Los Angeles Lakers, 22 Cup Points in 9 Games.

17. Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets, 21 Cup Points in 7 Games.

17. Alperin Sengun, Houston Rockets, 21 Cup Points in 7 Games.

17. Tyler Herro, Milwaukee Bucks, 21 Cup Points in 8 Games.

17. Zion Williamson, New Orleans Pelicans, 21 Cup Points in 8 Games.

21. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Atlanta Hawks, 20 Cup Points in 9 Games.

21. Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers, 20 Cup Points in 8 Games.

21. Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets, 20 Cup Points in 7 Games.

21. Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets, 20 Cup Points in 9 Games.

21. Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks, 20 Cup Points in 9 Games.

21. Trae Young, Washington Wizards, 20 Cup Points in 8 Games

We knew it would differ from the Kia MVP Standings, and if we did our own (why wouldn't we, when so many others do), our top 25 MVP contenders wouldn’t look like our Cup Point standings.

But that is the fun!

Look for the revised Notinhalloffame NBA Cup standings next week!

Yesterday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the five contributor finalists for the Class of 2027.

Today, they announced the final five coaching candidates, and we know the man Jim Porter (and many others) wants in…that is Bill Belichick, one of the five.  The five were cut from a group of 14, with the other nine being unknown.

For reference, the sub-committee members are Jared Allen (NFL Hall of Fame Defensive End), Jarrett Bell (NFL Reporter for USA Today), Vic Carucci (NFL Analyst for WGRZ in Buffalo), Peter Dougherty (Green Bay Packers beat writer for the Green Bay Press-Gazette), Dan Fouts (NFL Hall of Fame Quarterback and broadcaster), Bob Glauber (author), Nicki Jhabvala (Pro Football Writers of America President), Ira Kaufman (NFL Columnist and Veteran Tampa Bay Reporter), Sam Kouvaris (Columnist), Rob Maaddi (Associated Press), Sal Paolantonio (ESPN), Mike Sando (The Athletic), Jim Trotter (Retired NFL Journalist) and Charean Williams (Pro Football Talk)

Here are the five.

Bill Belichick.  With all due respect to this loaded group of candidates, no one matches Bill Belichick's resume.  He began his coaching career as a special assistant in Baltimore, joined the New York Giants in 1979, worked his way up to Defensive Coordinator, and won two Super Bowls in that role.  He became Cleveland’s Head Coach, but he posted a winning record in only one of his six years.  He got another chance as head coach in New England, and the rest was history.  Belichick ushered in the Patriots' dynasty, leading the Pats to six Super Bowl wins, nine Super Bowl appearances (both records as a Head Coach), and presided over the most remarkable run by any Head Coach associated with one team in NFL history.  Belichick finished with a 333-178 record, a 31-13 playoff record, and three AP Coach of the Year Awards.  He was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary Team.

Tom Coughlin: Coughlin worked his way up the ranks and became head coach of the expansion Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995.  He was their Head Coach for eight years, leading them to two AFC Championship Games, the first in the franchise’s second year.  After being fired, he joined the New York Giants, where the stoic leader led the G-Men to two Super Bowl wins (XLII & XLVI).  He retired with an overall record of 170-150 and is already a member of the New York Giants Ring of Honor and Pride of the Jaguars.

Mike Holmgren.  Holmgren won two Super Bowls with San Francisco, first as a quarterback coach and then as their Offensive Coordinator, which propelled him to the Head Coaching job in Green Bay in 1992.  He led the Packers to a Super Bowl win at SBXXXI.  Holmgren accepted the Seattle Seahawks coaching job and took them to a Super Bowl appearance in 2005.  A member of the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame and the Seattle Seahawks Ring of Honor, Holmgren finished with a 161-111 record.

Dan Reeves.  Reeves won a Super Bowl as an Assistant Coach in Dallas and was hired by Denver as their Head Coach in 1981.  He led the Broncos to three AFC Titles but could not punch their ticket to a Super Bowl win.  After Denver let him go, he signed with the Giants and won the 1993 AP Coach of the Year.  Later, he took over as Atlanta’s Head Coach, leading them to their first Super Bowl appearance—a loss to his former team (Denver)—and earning his second Coach of the Year award.  He finished with a 190-165-2 record and is a member of the Broncos Ring of Honor.

Mike Shanahan.  Shanahan joined Denver as wide receivers coach in 1984, and a year later began a three-year stint as offensive coordinator, where he caught the eye of Raiders owner Al Davis, who hired him to replace Tom Flores.  That didn’t last long; he returned to Denver but was let go after a dispute between Quarterback John Elway and Dan Reeves.  He went to San Francisco, where he won Super Bowl XXIX as offensive coordinator. He returned to Denver in 1995, leading the Broncos to their first two Super Bowl wins (XXXII & XXXIII) during a 14-year run.  He finished his career with three years at Washington, posting an overall record of 170-138.  He is also a member of the Broncos Ring of Fame.

With all due respect to the other four candidates, there is no doubt Bill Belichick will advance.