Spending all but one of his professional seasons with the Chicago Bears, Olin Kreutz was chosen to represent Chicago six consecutive seasons in the Pro Bowl. The former Center was a mainstay on Chicago’s Offensive Line for years and was selected to the NFL 2000’s All-Decade Team. As a star Center, he might have an interesting case for the Professional Football Hall of Fame, but Centers do not often hear their names called from Canton.

An NFL 2000s All-Decade Team member, Joey Porter had a productive run in the National Football League, especially with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he won a Super Bowl Ring.  The four-time Pro Bowl Linebacker fell two Sacks shy of the 100 mark and would be regarded as one of the dirtiest defensive players of his time, but definitely someone you wanted on your side.

The all-time leader in Receiving, Receiving Yards, and Receiving Touchdowns in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers franchise, Hines Ward brings the accumulative statistical resume that you would expect from a Wide Receiver in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Ward amassed over 12,000 Yards Receiving, an even 1,000 Receptions, and, most importantly, was a large part of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Super Bowl wins in 2006 and 2009, the first of which he was named the MVP.

Still, Ward was never named to a First Team All-Pro squad, and despite his strong numbers and high-profile market, he was never called the best Wide Receiver in the game.  He ranks much lower than the other great names of his era in Yards per Game and career touchdowns. Does that take away the great lifetime stats and the Super Bowl wins?  It shouldn't, but it might explain why he has yet to escape the semi-finals through the glut of talented WRs who are consistently eligible.

Although Derrick Mason produced strong career statistics and had multiple seasons tabulating over 1,000 Receiving Yards, it is hard to make a strong case for Mason to receive a Hall of Fame induction. Mason was the star receiver for both Tennessee and Baltimore, though he played in an era when the game opened up, and stars were perceived as superior at Wide Receiver. Only earning a trip to the Pro Bowl twice and one All-Pro Selection reflects that fact, though that was primarily from his Punt and Kick Returning. Still, that was the season (2000) in which he led the NFL in All-Purpose Yards.