There are a lot of polarizing debates regarding the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but the one for Quarterback, Jim Plunkett, might be one of the hottest debates of all.

Truthfully, this debate is straightforward.

The vocal fans who support him in Canton point out that he is a two-time Super Bowl-winning Quarterback, the first of which saw him win MVP.

Those who don’t will say he was never chosen for a Pro Bowl, is an All-Pro, has a .500 regular-season record, and threw more Interceptions than Touchdowns.

Again, this is the easiest cut-and-dry debate, and we know the comments will be very one-sided on both sides!

In terms of notoriety, there are few on the defensive side of the ball that can match Lyle Alzado.  Known for his anger and ferocious play on the gridiron, Alzado debuted in 1971 with the Denver Broncos, and the following season he led all players in Fumble Recoveries.  Alzado played predominantly at Defensive End, and after missing most of the 1976 season due to a blown-out knee, he returned to help the Broncos and their defense reach their first Super Bowl.  A contract dispute led to his trade to the Cleveland Browns, and he later moved to the Los Angeles Raiders, where his popularity rose and he helped them win Super Bowl XVIII.

Alzado retired with 112.5 "unofficial" Sacks and was a two-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro Selection.  After his career ended, his life came to a tragic end as he was an admitted steroid abuser and believed that his PED use would cause the brain tumor that would take his life.

Considering that Todd Christensen was drafted as a Running Back, it is impressive that he developed into one of the most successful Tight Ends of the 1980s. 

The transition to Tight End was not a quick one, and it was not until his fifth year in the NFL that Christensen was productive.  He would then embark on a five-year stretch that would see him set (then) records for receptions for the position.  The Raider would twice lead the league in receptions, which is still unheard of for a Tight End.  The five-time Pro Bowler may not have been the Raiders’ most explosive weapon, but he was their most consistent.

It could be imagined how many totals Todd Christensen could have put up had he learned the Tight End position earlier in his career.  Regardless, with two Super Bowl Rings and his early 80’s exploits, he has a legacy in Raiderland that few can match.

What points do you get for being one of the best players to come out of Vermont?  Okay, not that much, but regardless of what state Steve Wisniewski came from, there was no doubt that he was one of the finest Offensive Linemen of the 1990s.

Steve Wisniewski was the de facto leader of the Silver and Black’s O-Line for over a decade.  Many considered him a dirty player, and to many, he was the embodiment of the Silver and Black.  Regardless of whatever tactics the “Wiz” would use, there was no doubt that he was a talented Left Guard, and in addition to eight Pro Bowls, he was named to the prestigious NFL 1990s All-Decade team.

For reasons we have yet to figure out, Wisniewski has not received nearly the same support from the Raiders fan base as other former players with less of a resume.  Can anyone explain that to us?  Perhaps, because as good as he was, he was never part of a Raiders championship team.

Many Hall of Fame candidates watch their push for the Hall build and build.  This doesn’t seem to be the case for Lester Hayes, who was a finalist in his first four years of eligibility but has only been a semifinalist six years thereafter.

Lester Hayes is best known for two things.  The first was in 1980, when he had 13 picks and won Defensive Player of the Year. The year after, the “Lester Hayes” rules were put into effect, banning players from the use of “stickum,” an adhesive that Hayes was using to get a better grip on the ball.  Hayes was more than that, with his bump-and-run coverage and route disruption showing few peers in professional football.

Hayes' 1980 season was so good that he was forever associated with that year.  Had he had another monster year, perhaps he would not be seeing his chances diminish as appears to be happening now.  Regardless, Hayes was a key contributor on a Super Bowl championship team, where he was a top defensive player.  That alone places him ahead of other Hall of Fame candidates.