Committee Chairman
7. Steve McNair
The University of Florida and other high-profile Division I programs coveted Steve McNair as a Running Back, but he wanted to play Quarterback, and he chose to play at Alcorn State in the SWAC. McNair’s belief in his ability as a pivot was correct, as he dominated the conference and was so good that he was a Heisman Finalist and won the Walter Payton Award as the top Division I-AA player in 1994. The Houston Oilers took him third overall in the draft, and they had no plans to use him as a Running Back.
McNair was a backup in his first two years and took over in 1997, the franchise's first in Tennessee. When the team was renamed the Titans in 1999, McNair led the team to the Super Bowl, a narrow loss as the St. Louis Rams stopped the Titan's last drive at the one-yard line. Nevertheless, McNair was considered a top Quarterback, and in 2003, he won the MVP and was the youngest player at the time to throw for 20,000 Yards.
A three-time Pro Bowler, McNair took the Titans to four playoffs. Still, issues with his contract and actions by the Tennessee (they would not let him rehab his injury during the offseason at team facilities fearing that an injury in the building would activate another year) led to his release. Injuries would, however, take him out of football two years later. McNair died tragically in 2009 at age 36, when he was shot and killed by a woman who was alleged to be his mistress.
In 2019, the Titans retired McNair’s number, 11 years after the organization inducted him into their RIng of Honor.
6. George Blanda
George Blanda played for George Halas’ Chicago Bears in the 1950s, but Halas used him more as a Kicker than Quarterback, and a frustrated Blanda retired after the 1958 season. When the American Football League formed, Blanda returned to the game, signing with the Houston Oilers, where he was able to prove that he belonged as a pivot all along.
Blanda was the Oilers Quarterback and Kicker for seven seasons, and he led the Oilers to the first AFL Championship. Blanda repeated that in 1961, but individually, he had his best year, leading the AFL in Passing Yards (3,330) and Touchdowns (36) while winning the MVP. An AFL All-Star that season, Blanda would be again in 1962 and 1963, the latter year winning his second Passing Yard Title.
Blanda threw for 19,149 Yards and kicked for another 91 Field Goals and 301 Extra Points as an Oiler.
He joined the Oakland Raiders after the 1966 season and played until his mid-40s, donning the pads for 26 total seasons.
Blanda was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility in 1981, and arguably it was on the strength of his accomplishments in Houston. He would be inducted into the Titans Ring of Honor in 1999.
5. Robert Brazile
With the imposing nickname of "Dr. Doom," Robert Brazile was one of the first players from an HBCU to be a high First Round selection when the Houston Oilers took the Jackson State star sixth in 1975.
Brazile instantly won the starting Right Outside Linebacker job for the Oilers and was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year. A devastating tackler, Brazile was one of the few Linebackers who could stop the run at the same high level that he could pass rush, and his leadership on defense helped take Houston to back-to-back AFC Championship Games in the late 70s.
The seven-time Pro Bowler played all of his career with Houston, retiring after the 1984 season following the death of his wife, Cookie, in a car crash.
Brazile entered the Titans Ring of Honor in 2018, the same year that he was chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame via the Senior Committee.
Our All-Time Top 50 Florida Panthers have been revised to reflect the the last five seasons.
Yes, we know that this is taking a while!
As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists out and we always consistently look to update them when we can and based on necessity. As such, we are very happy to present our pre-2021-22 revision of our top 50 Florida Panthers.
As for all of our top 50 players in hockey we look at the following:
1. Advanced Statistics.
2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the NHL.
3. Playoff accomplishments.
4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.
Please note, that this is our first revision in in the last five years, and it has resulted in numerous new entries and elevation of existing players.
As always, we present our top five immediately:
You can find the entire list here.
The top five did change significantly. Barkov, who won the Frank J. Selke Trophy last year and the Lady Byng two years ago, rocketed to #3 after a #32 rank from our inaugural list. Huberdeau, who won the Calder in 2013, and was a Second Team All-Star last year shot up to #4 from #17.
Our highest debut is Keith Yandle at #12, who just signed with Philadelphia. The Defenseman was an All-Star in 2019.
Vincent Trocheck, who is now a Carolina Hurricane, climbed from #47 to #17. He was an All-Star in 2017.
Right Wing, Evgeni Dadonov, who is now with St. Louis, debuts at #22.
Former backup Goalie, James Reimer, who was traded to Carolina in 2019, enters at #23.
Defenseman, MacKenzie Weeger comes in at #32.
Mike Matheson, who also plays at Defense, and is now a Penguin, enters at #33.
Mike Hoffman, a Center who is now with St. Louis, makes his first entrance at #36.
Scott Clemmensen, another Goailie, who we should have looked on our first list is at #45.
The last new entry is Mark Pysyk, a Defenseman now with Dallas is at #46.
We welcome your input and comments and as always, we thank you for your support.