As good as he was, he had been overtaken by the stats later receivers tabulated in the more open game. This could be why someone like Pearson who was considered to be bubble Hall of Fame candidate could not even get on the Semi-Finalist list. What did occur is that he was chosen as a Finalist for the 100th Anniversary Centennial Slate Class. He didn't get in and his reaction was heartbreaking.
Should Drew Pearson be in the Hall of Fame?
Definitely put him in! - 88.5%
Maybe, but others deserve it first. - 5.2%
Probably not, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. - 2.4%
No opinion. - 0.4%
No way! - 3.5%
Comments
Pearson's stats are much better than Lynn Swann's. While his career was cut short by a car wreck, Pearson averaged more yards and receptions per game than Cliff Branch and Swann, and more than John Stallworth in the 1970s (Stallworth' s career numbers are skewed up by playing through the stat inflated 80s). Otis Taylor's stats are skewed by playing in the 1960s, and in the pass happy AFL to boot, the 1970s being the only decade in NFL history where passing stats declined from the previous decade, probably due to the combination of the merger (weaker AFL teams watered down NFL numbers and saw their own previously gaudy stats fall crashing to earth with the onset of inter-confer ence play) and the simultaneous rise of several of the greatest defenses of all time. Taylor had nowhere near the impact that Drew Pearson did.
Pearson was involved in so many great, historically important plays that the history of the league can't really be told without him.
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