We are in the preliminary process of reworking our Notinhalloffame.com Football List, which ranks the top 300 former players who should be considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  The top new entrant will be DeMarcus Ware, a nine-time Pro Bowl Linebacker, who played most of his career with the Dallas Cowboys.  Ware is expected to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first year of eligibility, but he was recently asked about his former teammate, Quarterback, Tony Romo.

He had this to say:

“From his resume, yes.  If it’s going off championships, no.  If it’s one of those things where you’re looking at a Hall of Fame quarterback according to how many titles they won, he won’t make it.  But from the way he played and the stats that he put up, all of that? Yes.  He’ll make it for sure.  Especially with his image now in the media, being a big-time guy on television.  So, here is the perfect candidate for it.  To also promote the Hall of Fame classes and stuff, so it makes sense.”  

We are not sure that we will be even ranking Romo in our top 300, but should we?

As always, we will be paying attention to Hall of Fame news, and look for our revised Football list next March.  

It has been reported that Vincent Jackson, former NFL Wide Receiver, has been found dead in his hotel room in Brandon, Florida.  He was only 38 years old.  The cause of death has not been given, but it is known that his family reported him missing on February 10, and found at the hotel he was staying in two days later. He had checked in the hotel on the 11^th.

Jackson played his college football at Northern Colorado and he was drafted in the second round by the San Diego Chargers, where he played until 2011.  With the Chargers, he went to two Pro Bowls, and had three four-digit seasons in yardage.  Jackson joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he played five more seasons, where he again had three 1,000-yard plus years, and went to his third Pro Bowl in 2012. That year he led the NFL in Yards per Reception (19.2).

Jackson amassed 9,080 Yards with 57 Touchdowns over his 12-year career. 

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to offer our condolences to the friends, fans and family of Vincent Jackson.

League and multiple media sources reported last week that the league and NBPA are working on hosting the 2021 All-Star game on March 7 in Atlanta, Georgia, despite initial skepticism. For the league and the NBPA, this would be a big opportunity to cash in, especially in a season where revenues have been spread thin. Still, it goes beyond that for both organisations, who see this as a chance to rally support for relief groups, communities, and people that have been ravaged by the pandemic. Fans will undoubtedly flock to Georgia, one of the few States where the safety and health protocols are particularly freestyled with by the population. The news of the All-Star game being held, however, has not been a matter of common joy in and around the league, with the biggest stars having their say. The naysayers of the decision feel they may have more fun trying out the best betting sites for the grand national, than be in Atlanta.

One of the major critics is none other than the most prominent name and star in the league, LeBron James. King James may be leading the votes for the All-Star selection in the West, which may mean a third-consecutive captaincy for the Lakers superstar, but his mind is far from agreeing with the league about the event. Citing multiple reasons, including rest, especially for the Lakers who went deep into the postseason to eventually emerge as winners and then return to the regular season after 71 days, James detailed why he felt the All-Star game would be a "slap in the face". Another important take was that Atlanta does not appear to be the safest place to have such an event given the State of Georgia's laxity to enforce safety protocols while noting how hard the league has been riding players with stringent protocols and guidelines. Another player to lend their voice in opposition was Sacramento Kings' young point guard, DeAaron Fox, who called the decision point-blank "stupid", citing the health and safety concerns involved. According to the league and NBPA (in which LeBron James is VP), the decision to have the event goes way beyond basketball. Per media reports, the league may even be more worried about players not making the game and how much they could take in their hands with the freedom. 

The opposition of LeBron James could prove to be a major block for the event, given that he is more likely than not to end up as captain of the West teams and could force him to back up his opposition by not playing.

We have another significant retirement in the NFL.  Actually, two.

The Pouncey twins, (Maurkice and Mike) are both retiring at the age of 31.  

The Pounceys played at the University of Florida, both on the offensive line.  Winning the 2009 BCS National Championship with the Gators, the brothers were both taken in the first round in 2011, Mike 16^thoverall by the Miami Dolphins, and Maurkice, 18^thby the Pittsburgh Steelers.  Both would play at Center in the NFL.

Mike went to three Pro Bowls with Miami (2013-15), and went to a fourth in his first season with the Los Angeles Chargers, 2018.  Maurkice was with the Steelers his entire career, where he was a nine-time Pro Bowler, three-time First Team All-Pro and member of the 2010s All-Decade Team.

Both are eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026, though only Maurkice has a legitimate shot. We will be writing their bios for our football futures section shortly.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to wish Maurkice and Mike Pouncey the best in their post-playing career.