You never had to wonder what was on Ricky Watters's mind.  He would tell you whether it was good or bad, and that brashness made him a very polarizing figure in the NFL.  This may also be why the Hall of Fame has yet to seriously consider him. 

Ricky Watters was one of the most consistent Running Backs in the National Football League.  He gained 1,000 yards on the ground seven times while catching fifty passes five times.  Watters was the player that teams went to when they wanted to move the chains.  With that said, he was far from a darling of the press, and it has been speculated that this could be a factor that could keep him out of the Hall of Fame, despite being one of the most durable dual-threat backs in NFL history.  

He posted sufficient career numbers (14,891 YFS & 91 TD) but never had that one season where he was the most dominant Running Back in the NFL.  If he had, it would have been nearly impossible for Ricky Watters to be snubbed.  Saying that, he had a similar career to Roger Craig, and now that Craig is in, Watters could get another look.

The recipient of five straight Pro Bowls as a member of the San Francisco 49ers, Defensive End Justin Smith was a major force of the Niners ' defense and was named the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by multiple publications in 2011. For a five-year stretch (2009-13), Smith was in the conversation for the top Defensive End in football, and the consummate disruptor had found his mojo.  He retired with 87.5 Sacks and 884 Tackles, numbers that showed he was devastating on both the rush and pass.

Today it was announced by Wide Receiver, Brandon Lloyd, who last played with the San Francisco 49ers last season will retire. 

The Kansas City native and product of the University of Illinois began his career with the 49ers who drafted him in the 4th Round of the 2003 Draft.  Lloyd would be productive but was traded to the Washington Redskins where he would wind up in the doghouse of Head Coach Joe Gibbs, who rarely played him, especially in the 2007 where he would catch two passes. 

Considered damaged goods by many, Lloyd would sign with the Bears and put up a good season to where he was signed the following year with the Denver Broncos in 2010 and it was at Mile High that he would have his best season in the NFL.  Lloyd would catch 77 passes for an NFL leading 1,448 Yards and earn Pro Bowl and Second Team All Pro Selections.  2011 and 2012 would see him close to 1,000 Yards with Denver/St. Louis and New England respectively but injuries would catch up and he would sit out the 2013 season before trying a comeback with the 49ers last season, though that campaign would not result in numbers that he had posted before.

Overall, Brandon Lloyd finishes his career with 5,989 Yards Receiving with 36 Touchdowns.  These may not be Canton numbers, but still indicative of an above average career in the NFL.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com wish Brandon Lloyd the best on his post career efforts. 

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced that Eddie DeBartolo Jr. has been announced as the contributor nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

DeBartolo Jr. is the former owner of the San Francisco 49ers and is regarded as the grand architect for the Niners past success.  He owned the franchise for a twenty-three year period and oversaw an organization that won five Super Bowls in that time frame. 

Under the new format, Contributor nominees are automatically forwarded to the Final round.  Last year, there were two Contributor nominees (Bill Polian and Ron Wolf), both of whom were inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Debartolo Jr. has been a Hall of Fame semi-finalist in the past

As you can imagine, we here at Notinhalloffame.com will be keeping a close eye on who will be inducted in to the next Pro Football Hall of Fame Class.

Does anyone want to play defence for the San Francisco 49ers this year?



Following the retirement of Patrick Willis, a possible Hall of Fame contender, five time Pro Bowl selection, Justin Smith also announced that he will not be returning to the Niners and has elected to retire citing his inability to compete at 100 percent.

The Defensive End entered the NFL with the Cincinnati Bengals where he played his first seven seasons but it was with San Francisco, the team he signed as a free agent in 2008 where his career would reach its greatest heights. 

Smith would make five consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-13) and was a First Team All Pro in 2011.  Smith was also named the San Francisco 49ers MVP in 2008 and 2011 and Sports Illustrated named him their Defensive Player of the Year.

Justin Smith retires with 87 Quarterback Sacks and started 211 and 214 Games.

The 16th Overall Pick in the 2000 Draft, Julian Peterson carved out a good career in the National Football League.  Winning the Left Outside Linebacker job midway through his rookie year with the San Francisco 49ers, Peterson would go to the Pro Bowl in 2002 and 2003, the last season seeing him earn First Team All-Pro accolades.  He would later sign with the Seattle Seahawks in 2006 and was a Pro Bowl Selection in all three seasons playing there.  He would go to Detroit for his final two years, and he accumulated 51.5 Sacks over his career.