Days after we lost Hall of Fame Coach, John Madden, we lost another great coach, as Dan Reeves passed away at the age of 77.

A Quarterback at the University of South Carolina, Dan Reeves would play eight seasons at Running Back for the Dallas Cowboys, accumulating 3,683 Yards with 42 Touchdowns.  He would also win a Super Bowl (VI) with the Cowboys.

Immediately after he retired, Reeves went into coaching, winning a second ring (XII) as an Assistant Coach for Dallas.  Reeves’ work with the Cowboys landed him a job as Denver’s Head Coach in 1981, and he would lead them to the playoffs six times, winning three AFC Championships, though losing all three Super Bowls.

Reeves would take over as the New York Giants’ Head Coach in 1993, though he was less successful, only reaching the post season once in four years.  His last coaching role was with the Falcons (1997-03), and he would take them to the Super Bowl in 1998, though again, tasted defeat, this time to his former team, Denver.

Reeves retired with an overall coaching record of 190-165-2.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, friends and family of Dan Reeves.

The Basketball world lost a legend as Hall of Fame inductee, Sam Jones, passed away today at the age of 88.

Playing at North Carolina Central, Jones was not highly recruited on the NBA level, but Red Auerbach took a chance on him after being told by his scouts that this was, in fact, the best player in the state.  The gamble proved fruitful as the versatile Jones would prove to be one of the best clutch shooters of his era, so much so, that he was nicknamed "Mr. Clutch."

Jones' shooting skills and his smooth shot would find many imitators, and he would finish in the top ten in Points per Game four times.  He would be named an All-Star five times, a Second Team All-NBA selection three times and was part of that Celtics dynasty that won eight straight championships from 1959 to 1966 and would win two more in 1968 and 1969.  Jones was a champion in ten of twelve of his NBA seasons, and his mid-range jumper was forever etched into opponents' minds.

Jones would be inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1989.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to extend our condolences to the fans, friends and family of Sam Jones.

Two Days ago, we here at Notinhalloffame.com had our mock Pro Football Hall of Fame Committee, where we debated and advanced the 15 we felt should be this year’s Finalists.  As much as we would love to be the deciders, we are not, but the process is always fun, and let’s get to was chosen by the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Finalists pared down from 26 Semi-Finalists, who were chosen from 126 Preliminary Candidates.  

 They are:

Jared Allen: Defensive End:  2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-13 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears & 2016 Carolina Panthers.  This is Allen’s second year of eligibility, and was a Finalist last year, and anyone who makes it as a Finalist in his first year of eligibility will make it to Canton eventually.  Allen led the NFL in Sacks twice (2007 & 2011) and had 136.0 in total.  He was also a five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #24 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Willie Anderson:  Right Tackle: 1996-07 Cincinnati Bengals & 2008 Baltimore Ravens:  Anderson is a three-time First Team All-Pro, four time Pro Bowler, and is a Finalist for the first time after being eligible since 2014.  Ranked #268 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber:  Cornerback/Safety:  1997-12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Barber is a former Super Bowl Champion and was the 2001 leader in Interceptions.  He has over 1,000 Solo Tackles with 47 career Interceptions.  Barber is a Finalist for the second time, and is in his sixth year of eligibility.  Ranked #10 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Boselli:  Tackle: 1995-01 Jacksonville Jaguars & 2002 Houston Texans.  The career of Boselli was short, but he is believed to be the greatest Jaguar of all-time. The Lineman has now been a Finalist for six years in a row.  Ranked #36 on Notinhalloffame.com.

LeRoy Butler: Safety: 1990-01 Green Bay Packers.  Butler had 38 career Interceptions, won a Super Bowl and went to four Pro Bowls over his career.  He is on a five-year streak of Semi-Finalist nods, and he was also a Finalist the last two years.  In terms of gaining momentum over the past three years, Butler is in the upper-tier of the list.  Ranked #69 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Devin Hester:  Wide Receiver/Returner:  2006-16 Chicago Bears. 2014-15 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens & 2016 Seattle Seahawks.  Hester becomes a Finalist on his first year on the ballot, and he was the most feared returner of his day.  A three-time First Team All-Pro, Hester had 14,455 Return Yards and an all-time record 19 Return Touchdowns.  Ranked #103 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Andre Johnson:  Wide Receiver: 2003-16 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts 2016 Tennessee Titans.  Easily the best offensive player in Texans history, Johnson was a two-time leader in Receptions and Receiving Yards, and would amass 14,185 total Receiving Yards and 64 Touchdowns.  Johnson is a two-time First Team All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl Selection and is in his first year of eligibility.  Ranked #30 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Torry Holt:  Wide Receiver:  1998-08 St. Louis Rams & 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars.  Holt won a Super Bowl with the Rams, and he went to seven Pro Bowls with 12,832 career Receiving Yards.  Holt is now a four-time Finalist, but the Wide Receiver position is loaded with worthy candidates.  Ranked #6 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sam Mills:  Linebacker: 1986-94 New Orleans Saints & 1995-97 Carolina Panthers.  A five-time Pro Bowler, Mills began his pro career in the USFL.  Mills made it as a Finalist for the first time three years ago, but is in his last year of eligibility.  It is now or never.  Ranked #40 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richard Seymour:  Defensive End/Defensive Tackle:  2001-08 New England Patriots & 2009-12 Oakland Raiders.  Seymour won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, went to seven Pro Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  This is his fourth consecutive year as a Finalist.  Ranked #35 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Zach Thomas:  Linebacker:  1996-07 Miami Dolphins & 2008 Dallas Cowboys:  Thomas led the NFL in Combined Tackles twice (2002 & 2006) and he is five-time First Team All-Pro.  He also has 1,727 career Combined Tackles.  Thomas is now a three-time Finalist.  Ranked #21 on Notinhalloffame.com

DeMarcus Ware:  Linebacker:  2005-13 Dallas Cowboys & 2014-16 Denver Broncos:  Ware is a four-time First Team All-Pro and two-time Sack leader who had 138.5 Sacks overall.  Also, a nine-time Pro Bowl Selection, Ware helped Denver win Super Bowl 50.  He is a Finalist on his first year of eligibility.   Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Reggie Wayne:  Wide Receiver:  2001-14 Indianapolis Colts.  A six-time Pro Bowl and one-time Super Bowl Champion, Wayne has 14,345 Receiving Yards with 82 Touchdowns.  Wayne in now a Finalist in his first three years on the ballot.  Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Patrick Willis:  Linebacker:  2007-14 San Francisco 49ers.  Willis played his entire career with San Francisco, and was a five-time First Team All-Pro Selection, went to seven Pro Bowls, and twice led the NFL in Tackles. He is in his third year of eligibility and is a Finalist for the first time.  Ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bryant Young:  Defensive Tackle:  1994-07 San Francisco 49ers.  Like Willis, Young played his entire career with San Francisco where he won a Super Bowl as a rookie.  He went to four Pro Bowls, was a one-time First Team All-Pro and had 89.5 career Sacks.  Young was a Finalist before in 2020.  Ranked #159 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The ten men who were eliminated were Eric Allen, Anquan Boldin, Eddie George, Robert Mathis, Steve Smith, Steve Tasker, Fred Taylor, Hines Ward, Ricky Watters, Vince Wilfork and Darren Woodson.

We can’t wait to see who the Pro Football Hall of Fame selects, and a reminder that we will be doing our Mock Committee two Tuesdays before the Super Bowl.

Seattle Mariners Third Baseman, Kyle Seager, announced his abrupt retirement today, ending speculation that he might sign with his brother, Corey, in Texas.

An 11-year veteran, Seager debuted with Seattle in 2011, and never played for any other MLB team.  A solid slugger, Seager had over 20 Home Runs eight straight years (2012-19), and smacked 35 last year, a career-high, but also had a career-low .212 Batting Average.  He retired with 242 Home Runs, 1,395 Hits with a Slash Line of .251/.321/.442.

Seager is eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2027, though is unlikely to gain induction.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to wish Kyle Seager the best in his post-playing career.