As we are approaching the NFL Draft, our Notinhalloffame.com list of 300 former players to consider for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  

As always, whenever we do a revision, four things take place:

1. We remove the names who were chosen.  This took out six players, Peyton Manning (#1), Charles Woodson (#2), Alan Faneca (#4), John Lynch (#25), Calvin Johnson (#27) and Drew Pearson (#28).

2. We add the relevant players who are now eligible for the Hall of Fame.

3. We take into account your votes and comments.

4. We add any players who we should have had listed before.

So, let’s get to it!

Here is our new top ten:

#1. DeMarcus Ware.  Once again, we have a debut of a first-year eligible at the top, but unlike last year’s #1, Peyton Manning, Ware is not a lock to enter Canton immediately.  The Linebacker was a four-time First Team All-Pro, nine-time Pro Bowler and two-time leader in Sacks, and while Ware is mostly known for his work as a Dallas Cowboy, he won a Super Bowl with the Denver Broncos.

#2. Randy Gradishar. Gradishar moves up to #2 from #5, and this is the highest ever rank for the former Bronco.  The Linebacker was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1978, and was also a five-time First Team All-Pro, and in 2020 he was a Finalist in the Centennial Slate Class.  Gradishar was also a Finalist twice before, and is only eligible as a Senior Candidate.

#3. Chuck Howley.  Howley, who is a former #1, moves back near the top from last year’s #6 rank.  The third Linebacker in a row, was First Team All-Pro five times, and a Super Bowl MVP. Like Gradishar, his only path to the Hall is via the Senior Committee.

#4. L.C. Greenwood. Greenwood, who was chosen for the 1970s All-Decade Team, was a key member of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ “Steel Curtain”, and is a four-time Super Bowl Champion.  The Defensive End slid one spot from #3.

#5. Roger Craig.  Craig is our highest rated offensive player, and the Running Back moves up two spots.  The former 49er was the 1988 Offensive Player of the Year and he was the first player to rush for 1,000 Yards and receive for 1,000 Yards.  Like Gradishar, Craig was a Centennial Slate nominee.

#6. Torry Holt.  Holt was a Finalist the last two years, and it should be only a matter of time, following the selection of his fellow Rams Wide Receiver, Isaac Bruce.  Holt is currently 16^thin Receiving Yards (12,382) and has been eligible for the Hall since 2016.  He was slotted at #9 last year.

#7. Ken Anderson. The former Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback was a Finalist in 1996 and 1998, and was the MVP in 1981.  Anderson is one of the best Quarterbacks not inducted, and arguably the best Bengal not inducted.  He moves up from #10.

#8. Lavvie Dilweg.  Dilweg won three NFL Championships with the Green Bay Packers (1929-31) and was also a Centennial Slate Finalist.  He moved up from #12.

#9. Reggie Wayne.  The former Colts Wide Receiver has been a Finalist the last two years and is tenth all-time in Receiving Yards (14,345). Wayne won a Super Bowl with Colts, went to six Pro Bowls but slipped one spot from last year.

#10. Ronde Barber.  Barber played his entire career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where the Cornerback won a Super Bowl.  A three-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl Selection, Barber was a Finalist for the first time last year.

As mentioned, there are many new entries in our top 300.

Steve Smith makes his first appearance at #12.  The Wide Receiver is arguably the greatest offensive Carolina Panther ever, and the two-time First Team All-Pro is eighth all-time in Receiving Yards (14,731).

Another Wide Receiver, former Houston Texan, Andre Johnson, makes his first appearance at #30.  Johnson is currently eleventh overall in Receiving Yards (14,185).

We made a colossal error in overlooking Ken Riley, the former Cincinnati Cornerback who has 65 career Interceptions.  He comes in at #41.  

At #73 is another first-year eligible Wide Receiver,Anquan Boldin.  Boldin went to three Pro Bowls and has 13,779 career Receiving Yards.

Devin Hesterdebuts at #103, and could be the next Special Teams player to enter the Hall of Fame.  He was chosen for his returning acumen for the NFL 100^thAnniversary Team.

Former Colt Defensive End, Robert Mathis, enters at #111.  Mathis has over 100 Sacks, went to six Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl.

Exceptionally popular Nose Tackle and former New England Patriot, Vince Wilfolk, debuts at #145.

Wayne Walker, a former Detroit Lion, who should have consideration on this list before, is ranked at #222.  Walker played at Linebacker and Place Kicker.

Former San Francisco 49er Offensive Lineman, Randy Cross, also should have been ranked last year when we expanded to 300.  The three-time Super Bowl Champion is slotted at #229.

Another former Lion who we overlooked in our expansion is Jim David, who enters at #236.  David was a six-time Pro Bowl Defensive Back.

Seven-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro Center, Nick Mangoldis at #253.  

Defensive End, Ron McDole, also should have been on our list of 300. The two-time AFL Champion with Buffalo enters at #270.

The final new entry in Herman Moore, another Detroit Lion, who we missed out on.  He debuts at #295.

We thank you for your support, and look forward to your feedback.

For most people, the Super Bowl is one of their favorite days of the year.  It is for us too, but we have one day on the football calendar that we like just a little bit more.  It is the day before the Super Bowl, when they announce the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Class.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame committee met virtually two weeks ago due to COVID-19.  This is atypical, as they usually meet in person close to the Super Bowl.  We expected that leaks would come out, but to the credit of those involved, the spilling of details were minimal:

Let’s get to it!

The Class of 2021 is:

Alan Faneca:  Guard: 1998-07 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets & 2010 Arizona Cardinals.  A Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers, Faneca went to nine Pro Bowls and was a six-time First Team All-Pro.  Faneca has been a Semi-Finalist and Finalist in his first five years of eligibility, and this made year six.  He has been arguably been “leapfrogged” by Steve Hutchinson and Kevin Mawae, and it won’t happen again.  Faneca has been overdue for some time.  Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Calvin Johnson: Wide Receiver:  2007-15 Detroit Lions.  Johnson went to six Pro Bowls, three First Team All-Pros and was considered the most exciting Wide Receiver of his day.  This was his first year on the ballot, and while other Wide Receivers exceed his overall stats, there was no one who passed the eye test more than “Megatron”.  Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Peyton Manning: Quarterback:  1998-11 Indianapolis Colts & 2012-15 Denver Broncos.  Manning took both the Colts and Broncos to a Super Bowl win, and he is a five-time MVP with 14 Pro Bowls and seven First Team All-Pros.  He would throw for 71,940 Yards and 539 Touchdowns and this is his first year on the ballot. There was zero doubt that Manning was going in, and it was already leaked that his selection was filmed at a party.  Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Lynch: Free Safety:  1993-03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers & 2004-07 Denver Broncos.  Lynch went to seven Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.  Lynch gets in on his eighth try.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charles Woodson:  Cornerback/Safety:  1998-05 & 2013-15 Oakland Raiders & 2006-12 Green Bay Packers.  Woodson is a Super Bowl Champion with the Packers and has 65 career Interceptions.  The nine-time Pro Bowler is also a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (1998) and Defensive Player of the Year (2009).  This was Woodson’s first year of eligibility, and like Manning, he was considered a sure thing.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Drew Pearson: Wide Receiver:  1973-93 Dallas Cowboys.  Pearson is this year’s senior inductee, and it has been a long time coming.  Pearson was a Finalist last year for the Centennial Slate, and his reaction when he was not chosen was heartbreaking.  There are many fans, and not just those of the Cowboys who are happy for the former Wide Receiver.  Ranked #28on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Flores: Head Coach:  Flores, a former quarterback with Oakland, Buffalo and Kansas City, became the first Hispanic Head Coach in NFL history when Al Davis promoted him in 1979 after being the Wide Receivers Coach.  Flores helmed the Raiders until 1987 and would win two Super Bowls (XV & XVIII).  He came out of retirement as Seattle’s Head Coach from 1992 to 1994, and he had an overall coaching record of 97-87.

Bill Nunn: Scout:   A reporter for the Pittsburgh Courier, Bill Nunn had a keen knowledge of the history black colleges.  These were schools that were underrepresented in the NFL, and Art Rooney, owner of the Steelers hired him as a scout, and he would also be their Assistant Personnel Director.  He remained with the Steelers until 2014, and he helped them win six Super Bowl rings. Nunn was also a charter member of the Black College Football Hall of Fame.   

The ten Finalists who did not get in were:

Jared Allen: Defensive End:  2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-13 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears & 2016 Carolina Panthers.  This was Allen’s first year of eligibility, and anyone who makes it as a Finalist in his first year of eligibility will make it to Canton eventually.  Allen led the NFL in Sacks twice (2007 & 2011) and had 136.0 in total.  He was also a five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber:  Cornerback/Safety:  1997-12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Barber is a former Super Bowl Champion and was the 2001 leader in Interceptions.  He has over 1,000 Solo Tackles with 47 career Interceptions.  After four years as a Semi-Finalist, Barber makes it through to the Finals, but it is believed that he was not going to get in until Lynch did.  Now that this has happened, Barber has a much clearer path to Canton.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Boselli:  Tackle: 1995-01 Jacksonville Jaguars & 2002 Houston Texans.  The career of Boselli was short, but he is believed to be the greatest Jaguar of all-time. The Lineman has now been a Finalist for the five years in a row, and will likely see a sixth next year.  He is a beneficiary of Faneca’s selection.  Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com.

LeRoy Butler: Safety: 1990-01 Green Bay Packers.  Butler had 38 career Interceptions, won a Super Bowl and went to four Pro Bowls over his career.  He is on a four-year streak of Semi-Finalist nods, and he was also a Finalist last year.  In terms of gaining momentum over the past three years, Butler is in the upper-tier of the list, but he did not get in.  Butler leaked earlier last week that he was not chosen.   Ranked #73 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Torry Holt:  Wide Receiver:  1998-08 St. Louis Rams & 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars.  Holt won a Super Bowl with the Rams, and he went to seven Pro Bowls with 12,832 career Receiving Yards.  Holt is now a two-time Finalist, but the Wide Receiver position is loaded with worthy candidates. Johnson’s immediate induction will help him in the future.  Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Clay Matthews:  Linebacker: 1978-93 Cleveland Browns & 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons.  A four-time Pro Bowler, Matthews had 69.5 Sacks with 1,595 Combined Tackles.  Matthews was in his last year of eligibility, and this was the first time he made it as a Finalist.  While he has the most fervent fan base on social media regarding this year’s potential class, he came up empty.  Matthews will have to get in via the senior committee.  Ranked #75 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sam Mills:  Linebacker: 1986-94 New Orleans Saints & 1995-97 Carolina Panthers.  A five-time Pro Bowler, Mills began his pro career in the USFL.  A four-time Semi-Finalist, Mills made it to the Finals for the first time, last year but he is now down to one year left of Modern Era eligibility.  Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richard Seymour:  Defensive End/Defensive Tackle:  2001-08 New England Patriots & 2009-12 Oakland Raiders.  Seymour won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, went to seven Pro Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  Seymour has now been a Finalist three times.  Ranked #39 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Zach Thomas:  Linebacker:  1996-07 Miami Dolphins & 2008 Dallas Cowboys:  Thomas led the NFL in Combined Tackles twice (2002 & 2006) and he is five-time First Team All-Pro.  He also has 1,727 career Combined Tackles.  Thomas is a two-time Finalist, and has plenty of time left in his eligibility.  Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com

Reggie Wayne:  Wide Receiver:  2001-14 Indianapolis Colts.  A six-time Pro Bowl and one-time Super Bowl Champion, Wayne has 14,345 Receiving Yards with 82 Touchdowns.  Wayne was a Finalist in his first two years of eligibility, and like Holt, the induction of Johnson helps him.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

We will be altering our Notinhalloffame.com Football list next month to reflect the deletion of this year’s inductees and adding those who are eligible.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Oh, what a day!

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 15 Finalists for the Class of 2021.  This group was pared down from 25 Semi-Finalists, who were chosen from 133 Preliminary Candidates.  

Let’s get right to who they chose for the final stage.

Jared Allen: Defensive End:  2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-13 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears & 2016 Carolina Panthers.  This is Allen’s first year of eligibility, and anyone who makes it as a Finalist in his first year of eligibility will make it to Canton eventually.  Allen led the NFL in Sacks twice (2007 & 2011) and had 136.0 in total.  He was also a five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber:  Cornerback/Safety:  1997-12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Barber is a former Super Bowl Champion and was the 2001 leader in Interceptions.  He has over 1,000 Solo Tackles with 47 career Interceptions.  After four years as a Semi-Finalist, Barber makes it through to the Finals.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Boselli:  Tackle: 1995-01 Jacksonville Jaguars & 2002 Houston Texans.  The career of Boselli was short, but he is believed to be the greatest Jaguar of all-time. The Lineman has now been a Finalist for the five years in a row.  Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com

LeRoy Butler: Safety: 1990-01 Green Bay Packers.  Butler had 38 career Interceptions, won a Super Bowl and went to four Pro Bowls over his career.  He is on a four-year streak of Semi-Finalist nods, and he was also a Finalist last year.  In terms of gaining momentum over the past three years, Butler is in the upper-tier of the list.  Ranked #73 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Alan Faneca:  Guard: 1998-07 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets & 2010 Arizona Cardinals.  A Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers, Faneca went to nine Pro Bowls and was a six-time First Team All-Pro.  Faneca has been a Semi-Finalist and Finalist in his first five years of eligibility, and this makes year six. He has been arguably been “leapfrogged” by Steve Hutchinson and Kevin Mawae.  Could this be his year?  Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Torry Holt:  Wide Receiver:  1998-08 St. Louis Rams & 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars.  Holt won a Super Bowl with the Rams, and he went to seven Pro Bowls with 12,832 career Receiving Yards.  Holt is now a two-time Finalist, but the Wide Receiver position is loaded with worthy candidates.  Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Calvin Johnson: Wide Receiver:  2007-15 Detroit Lions.  Johnson went to six Pro Bowls, three First Team All-Pros and was considered the most exciting Wide Receiver of his day.  This is his first year on the ballot, and while other Wide Receivers exceed his overall stats, there was no one who passes the eye test more than “Megatron”.  Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Lynch: Free Safety:  1993-03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers & 2004-07 Denver Broncos.  Lynch went to seven Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.  He is now a Finalist for the eighth straight year.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Peyton Manning: Quarterback:  1998-11 Indianapolis Colts & 2012-15 Denver Broncos.  Manning took both the Colts and Broncos to a Super Bowl win, and he is a five-time MVP with 14 Pro Bowls and seven First Team All-Pros.  He would throw for 71,940 Yards and 539 Touchdowns and this is his first year on the ballot. It is expected that Manning will enter the Hall immediately.  Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Clay Matthews:  Linebacker: 1978-93 Cleveland Browns & 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons.  A four-time Pro Bowler, Matthews had 69.5 Sacks with 1,595 Combined Tackles.  Matthews is a Semi-Finalist for the fifth straight time, but has never been a Finalist.  He finally makes it on what is last year of Modern Era eligibility.  Ranked #75 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sam Mills:  Linebacker: 1986-94 New Orleans Saints & 1995-97 Carolina Panthers.  A five-time Pro Bowler, Mills began his pro career in the USFL.  A four-time Semi-Finalist, Mills made it to the Finals for the first time, last year and he returns but only has two more years left of Modern Era eligibility.  Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richard Seymour:  Defensive End/Defensive Tackle:  2001-08 New England Patriots & 2009-12 Oakland Raiders.  Seymour won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, went to seven Pro Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  This is his third consecutive year as a Finalist.  Ranked #39 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Zach Thomas:  Linebacker:  1996-07 Miami Dolphins & 2008 Dallas Cowboys:  Thomas led the NFL in Combined Tackles twice (2002 & 2006) and he is five-time First Team All-Pro.  He also has 1,727 career Combined Tackles.  Thomas is now a two-time Finalist.  Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com

Reggie Wayne:  Wide Receiver:  2001-14 Indianapolis Colts.  A six-time Pro Bowl and one-time Super Bowl Champion, Wayne has 14,345 Receiving Yards with 82 Touchdowns.  Wayne was a Finalist last year in what was his first year on the ballot, and he now goes two-for-two.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charles Woodson:  Cornerback/Safety:  1998-05 & 2013-15 Oakland Raiders & 2006-12 Green Bay Packers.  Woodson is a Super Bowl Champion with the Packers and has 65 career Interceptions.  The nine-time Pro Bowler is also a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (1998) and Defensive Player of the Year (2009).  This is Woodson’s first year of eligibility, and like Manning, he is considered a lock.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The ten men who were eliminated were Eric Allen, Willie Anderson, Cornelius Bennett.  Steve Tasker, Fred Taylor   Hines Ward, Patrick Willis, Darren Woodson and Bryant Young

We can’t wait to see who the Pro Football Hall of Fame selects, and a reminder that we will be doing our Mock Committee two Tuesdays before the Super Bowl.

Two months ago, we put together our first ever Notinhalloffame.com mock committee which sought to mimic the process of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and select 25 Semi-Finalists.  

It was one of the best ideas that we ever had, conversing on a topic we are passionate about, and we knew that we wanted to do it again, with the second meeting discussing who we would put through the Finalists.  

We went with two groups of Semi-Finalists; the one that we came up with two months ago and the other that is official from the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Through Twitter, this is the group that was assembled:

@notinhalloffame(Official Twitter site of Notinhalloffame.com and run by Kirk Buchner)

@2ndHandBurrito(Evan Nolan, co-host of the Hall of Fame Show)

@konadreamssssss(Glen Pawlowski, triathlete from Buffalo)

@readjack(Jack M. Silverstein, Sports Historian and writer from Chicago)

@lhd_on_sports(David Whitlock is a blogger and commentator on lhd-on-sports.com.

@tedcrockettlll(Ted Crockett is a veteran and follows all sports halls.

@ThomasHallNFL(Thomas Hall follows the Denver Broncos and is the host of Convincing Numbers, a show on Football Analytics.  He also contributes to @milehighhuddle.

@Profhofcantonf(As his Twitter handle will tell you, Paul Lawrence has been studying the process of the Pro Football Hal of Fame for years.

@VinLospinuso91(Vinny Lospinuso studies journalism at Hofstra, and is a regular guest on our shows.  

@TheFakeSith(Alec Tessitore is a baseball hall enthusiast and avid Jacksonville Jaguars and Clemson fan.

This was a group that comes from varying fan bases and differing perspectives.  As we progress, we hope to expand it, adding more people from different parts of the United States, and beyond.  

Please note that in our Zoom discussion, Paul were unable to attend, but his initial votes were counted.   We hope to have him on for future roundtables.  This is also Alec’s first appearance, as he was not part of our initial group. 

Echoing what was said in our first write-up this is still a work in progress and will be constantly tweaking to make things better.

Each person was asked to submit their 15 selections from ours and the official list. 

First off, the lists, with the number of votes given (out of nine):

Please note that we decided unilaterally NOT to just accept the top 15 vote-getters and call it a day. The best part of this endeavor is exchanging our opinions as to why a player should, or should not be where they are. 

Before we go on, yes it intrigued the hell out of us that some players did not receive the same amount of votes on each list.  

Also, if you think you know where this is going to go, we can assure you that there are surprises ahead.

Here was our process:

Step One: Automatic Elimination:

If a former player received no votes, they would not be discussed, and were automatically eliminated from consideration.  

This was simple, as only Tillman from our NIHOF list was eliminated.

Step Two: Automatic Elimination Part Two:

We openly asked if there was a player who had only one vote, is there any reason to go into a deep dive and convince others, that he had the legs to continue?  We quickly decided that our limited time could be best spent with those who we thought warranted further discussion.  

This eliminated Webb and Wisnieuski from the NIHOF list and Allen, D. Woodson and Ward.

Takeaway:  

We may have done this quickly but these are six players who we all respect and could build a Super Bowl winning team around easily.  

Step Three: Automatic Advancement, Part One.

If a player received all nine votes, they would not be discussed, and they automatically advanced to our list of Finalists.  

This meant that we unilaterally agreed to advance Butler, Faneca, Holt, Johnson, Manning and C. Woodson from the NIHOF list and Faneca, Johnson, Lynch, Manning and C. Woodson from the initial list.

As we mentioned before, it was interesting that there were players who unanimous in one list and not the other, do we really as a group have an issue advancing them?  For that matter, if a player received all but one vote, are we really going to agree to eliminate them?

This advanced Barber and Lynch on our NIHOF list and Butler and Holt on the official one.

Takeaway:  

Admittedly, with this being our second kick at the can, we were more conscious of time, and we wanted to focus more on those that would be meatier discussions.  Our process of worming from the top and bottom to get to the middle also was in its second go-around, and it was definitely proving it easier for us to determine who we wanted to advance.

Synopsis at this stage:

Step Four:  Another group at the top?

So, when you go “seven for nine”, again we ask are these people that we would really kick out of the top 15.

This is essentially our “we think so” group, and subconsciously put through to talk in far greater depth as a Finalist.  This put Barber in the official group in right away, as well as Boselli and Thomas. On the NIHOF list, Allen, Thomas and Willis went through, but the passion wasn’t there to put them through, or really to take them out of a final fifteen.

Nobody said it, but were any of us really passionate about them getting to the top fifteen when we discuss who we would elect in 2021?  

Not to a high enough degree to continue to debate it, but we guarantee this will be a group who we will dissect in our final round.  

Boselli, who was a six in the NIHOF list went through by proxy.  So did Allen and Willis, who had six in the official list.  

There will be a lot more on Boselli, Allen and Willis in our next meeting.

Synopsis at this stage:

Step Five: Steve Tasker.

Yep.  Tasker has his own section.

Let’s make it really simple. Steve Tasker was the best Special Teams player of his era, and with the way football is evolving, he could be the last great one.  

There was not a single one of us who disagreed that he wasn’t great.  He was, and this not a disputable fact.  The struggle with us is the same with the 48 men and women who decide the Pro Football Hall of Fame is to whether or not Special Teams is Hall of Fame worthy.

We decided to table Tasker temporarily.

Step Six: Reggie Wayne.

Some of us thought Wayne belonged in the top 15.  Some of us didn’t.  The thoughts ranged everywhere from statistically relevant to not being “the guy”. Like others we spoke about, Wayne felt like someone we “felt” like we would need to do a deeper look later. Perhaps, that should have happened this round.

Nevertheless, we advanced him in both groups.

Synopsis at this stage:

Step Seven: Who’s at Two? 

From what we did last time, we found that anyone who received at least two votes generated a discussion, or at least was worthy of one.  Arguably, this was the group we discussed the most.  

With each group, it was hard to determine who to advance.  Bluntly, we did not want to eliminate any of them, and this was the round it became especially difficult in the one that we created.

How could it not be?  

Pardon the tangent, but we are taking this very seriously as if we were the ones who really would tell each of these former stars whether they are Hall of Fame worthy or not.  In our Zoom meeting, this is where we felt the emotion of the room begin to take shape, and dare we say, just how much we care.

With the NIHOF list, we had five at two votes, Brown, Ellard, Nalen, Swilling and Williams.  

Let’s be clear.  We love all of these guys.  

Lomas Brown is criminally forgotten, and he was once not even a Preliminary Nominee, this despite being a seven-time All-Pro with an Approximate Value of 159.

Henry Ellard, who had 13,777 Receiving Yards, which was third all-time at the time of his retirement.

Tom Nalen, who Thomas Hall of our group laid out how he is the best Center not in Canton.  He did such a good job, that we brought him to this point, and we encourage you to talk to Thomas, who can expertly explain his credentials.

Pat Swilling, who we unilaterally agree should be in the spot that is currently held by his former teammate, Sam Mills.

Kevin Williams, a star with the Minnesota Vikings and five-time First Team All-Pro who from 2006 to 2009 was considered by many (including us) as the best in his position.

With the official group that had two votes, we again had a rough vote.

There were long discussions on all of them, but Anderson and Bennett emerged as the two that generated the most.  

From our group, Bennett was referred to as the “Reverse Charles Haley”, in that he was a key defensive cog on five teams that lost the Super Bowl.  If Bennett wins two, are we discussing this player, or is he already in? That is a worthy question.

With “Big Willie”, we have a player who analytics will tell you only allowed 16 Sacks in 13 Years.  We will let that speak for itself.  The agreement was again to take out at least two players from each list, and it was voted to remove Nalen and Swilling from our list and Taylor and Harrison from the official one.

Synopsis at this stage:

Step Eight: Three more has to go 

We now have two spots open with seven people vying for it.  To make it easier, it made more sense to eliminate three more, and it would be voted from the remaining pool.

Richard Seymour had five votes on both lists and was well respected by our group, but the question was asked, was “he the guy?”.  Was he the best player on the defensive side of the ball for many Patriots teams? When these are questions that you are openly asking and find it very hard to answer, doubt creeps up.  

On our list, we then opened the conversation to Shaun Alexander and Randall Cunningham.    

Alexander is a former MVP and at one time had a claim for as the best Running Back in the world, but his peak period was small and his compiling numbers are lower than players like Fred Taylor, who is on the other list.  While the respect for Taylor existed among our group, the consensus was that Alexander should have been a “real” Semi-Finalist before Taylor.  

With Cunningham, we have a three-time Bert Bell Award winner, and if one of those were instead an AP MVP, would he at least have been a Semi-Finalist by now?  (Again, we mean on the real list).  

With Mills, the question arose as to whether the story exceeded the player.  Should Swilling, his past teammate be in that spot instead?  Many of us thought so.

As for Clay Matthews, you already know the argument before you read any further.  Matthews was a very good player for a very long time, but never was he considered elite.  Never.

Do you hear our passion on this stage?  

With our votes we eliminated Seymour, Ellard and Brown on our list, and Mills, Matthews and Young removed on the official one.

Takeaway:   This is hard, especially on our own.  Seymour survives, but only one list, so what does that mean on the official one?

Synopsis at this stage:

Step Nine:  Last Call

There was not much more we could say.  With the remaining seven players, pitches were made, both for and against.  A weighted vote, 4-3-2-1 was then done.

Steve Tasker, who was in our purgatory from earlier steps made it through as Finalist #14.  On our NIHOF list, Williams advanced, beating out Alexander. On the official list, Anderson advanced with Bennett being the last man out.

Takeaway:  

Two huge shocks for us all. We had one player in Seymour, who we are sure will make the Finals in the official list, and could advance all the way through.  Did any of us really think going in to this that Seymour would not be one of our top fifteen?  Not even, Evan, our resident Patriots fan saw that coming.

The second is the power of persuasion and sharing data.  Both Williams and Anderson had no momentum when we started this two months ago, but this is why you look at players a second, third, fourth and fifth time.  

Our Final Result:

So, there you have it.

Will the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters replicate what we did?

Probably not.

What comes next?

In January, the Pro Football Hall will announce their Finalists, so we will reconvene two Tuesdays before the Super Bowl.

We will be recording and uploading our Zoom meeting for the purpose of transparency.

To best reflect how the Pro Football Hall of Fame does exist, we will be each be presenting the case of someone who we are most passionate about.  Everyone will have an “advocate” amongst our group, and we will decide that long before we meet.

We hope that you will be watching, and we want your comments and input.  This is the final stamp on a player’s greatness, and we take this seriously. 

Thank you to everyone who participated, and we look to do more of these in the future.

We would like to close with this. 

We here at Notinhalloffame.com thought it would be fun to take a look at the major awards in North American team sports and see how it translates into Hall of Fame potential.

Needless to say, different awards in different sports yield hall of fame potential.  In basketball, the team sport with the least number of players on a roster, the dividend for greatness much higher.  In baseball, it is not as much as a great individual season does not have the same impact.

Last time, we looked at the now defunct Rolaids Reliever of the Year, an award that was mathematically calculated to honor the best closer. This time, we have another award from the past, in the Delivery Man of the Year.

Existing from 2005 to 2013, the Delivery Man of the Year was not awarded in each league, but the rather to best Relief Pitcher in Baseball. Its time overlapped the Rolaids Reliever of the Year (which ended in 2012) and ended when the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year came into fruition in 2014.

So how many Delivery Man of the Year winners have made the Baseball Hall of Fame?

Let’s find out!

The following are the past players who have won the Delivery Man of the Year Award who are eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame and have been enshrined.

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: 7-4, 43 Saves, 1.38 ERA, 80 SO, 2005   

Who else should win this first?  Rivera, who was also the Rolaids Reliever of the Year also led the American League in Games Finished (67), and this was the first year he had an ERA under 1.50.  He finished second in Cy Young voting and ninth in MVP voting.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: 5-5, 34 Saves, 1.80 ERA, 55 SO, 2006 (2)   

An All-Star for the eighth time, Rivera again kept his ERA under two (1.80) and WHIP under one (0.960), a sick statistic considering he did that seven times! 

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

Mariano Rivera, New York Yankees: 3-3, 44 Saves, 1.76 ERA, 72 SO, 2009 (3) 

This was Rivera’s third and final Delivery Man of the Year win and it also coincided with his fifth (and final) Rolaids Reliever of the Year Award. Rivera would later take the Yankees to another World Series win, his fifth.  He played until 2013, was a thirteen-time All-Star, and retired with 652 Saves, the most all-time.  Rivera entered the Baseball Hall of Fame with a perfect ballot, the first man to do so.

Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019.

The following are the players who have won the Delivery Man of the Year who are eligible for the Baseball Hall of Fame and have not been selected:

Brad Lidge, Philadelphia Phillies: 2-0, 41 Saves, 1.95 ERA, 92 SO, 2008

After six years with the Houston Astros, Brad Lidge was traded to the Houston Astros where in his first year, he was an All-Star for the second time, won the Rolaids Relief Award, the Delivery Man of the Yeat, and helped the Phillies win the World Series.  He would also finish fourth in Cy Young voting.  Lidge played five more years, but it was up and down, and he never came close to his 2008 season again.  He retired with 225 Saves.

Eligible since 2018.  Lidge was on the ballot for one year on 2018 but did not receive any votes.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Heath Bell, San Diego Padres: 6-1, 47 Saves, 1.93 ERA, 86 SO, 2010 

Bell went back-to-back for the Rolaids Award, exceeding his 42 Save mark to 47.  Winning his only Delivery Man of the Year Award, this would be the only year where he dropped his ERA to below two, and he was an All-Star again.  Bell had 43 Saves in 2011, and was an All-Star for the third straight year.  His All-Star runs were over, as was his stay in San Diego.  Bell played three more seasons, one with Miami, Arizona and Tampa Bay, and accrued 168 Saves over his career. 

Eligible since 2020.  Bell was on the ballot for one year on 2020 but did not receive any votes.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jose Valverde, Detroit Tigers: 2-4, 49 Saves, 2.56 ERA, 78 SO, 2011 

Joining the Detroit Tigers in 2010, Valverde led the AL in Saves (49), Games Finished (70) and Games Pitched (75) this season. He would also win the Rolaids Reliever of the Year, and was fifth in Cy Young voting.  Valverde played until 2014, with a final year as a Met, and he accrued 288 Saves.

Eligible since 2020.  Valverde was on the ballot for one year but did not receive any votes.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Let’s update our tally, shall we?       

So, who is up next?

The following are the players who have won the Delivery Man of the Year Award in MLB who have retired but have not met the mandatory years out of the game to qualify for the Baseball Hall of Fame:

Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox: 1-3, 37 Saves, 1.85 ERA, 84 SO, 2007

A year after finishing second for the Rookie of the Year and going to his first All-Game, Papelbon was again an All-Star, and the winner of the Delivery Man of the Year.  Papelbon and the Red Sox won the World Series that year, and he would later go to four more All-Star Games, continuing his career with Philadelphia and Washington.  He retired after 2016 with 368 career Saves.

Eligible in 2022.

Fernando Rodney, Tampa Bay Rays: 2-2, 48 Saves, 0.60 ERA, 76 SO, 2012

Fernando Rodney debuted in 2002 at the age of 25, and a decade later after playing for the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels, he debuted for the Tampa Bay Rays and had a season unlike any other he had previously.  Rodney went to his first All-Star Game, and his ERA of 0.60 was anemic, as was his 0.777 WHIP.  Rodney was fifth in Cy Young voting.  He played another seven years, going to two more All-Star Games, one with Seattle and one with San Diego.  Rodney also played for Chicago (NL), Miami, Arizona, Minnesota, Oakland, and he closed his career with Washington in 2019, going out on top as a World Series Champion. He accumulated 327 Saves.

Eligible in 2025.

The following are the players who have won the Delivery Man of the Year who are still active.

Craig Kimbrel, Atlanta Braves: 4-3, 50 Saves, 1.21 ERA, 98 SO, 2013

Two year earlier, Craig Kimbrel won the National League Rookie of the Year while leading the NL in Saves (46).  The year after Kimbrel’s save totals were a little less this year (42), but was still league-leading, and it won him the last National League Rolaids Reliever of the Year of the Year Award.  This year, Kimbrel led the NL in Saves for the third straight year with 50, a career-high, and he was fourth in Cy Young voting.  Later in his career, Kimbrel won a World Series Ring with the Cubs.

33 Years Old, Playing for the Chicago Cubs.

The only way this tally changes is if Craig Kimbrel makes the Hall, as realistically, there are no other past winners who will make their ways to Cooperstown.

So, what is up next?

We venture away from the defunct awards for closers and to the current ones, the Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year and Trevor Hoffman NL Reliever of the Year.

As always, we thank you for your support, and look for that soon.

A huge day is afoot for us as the Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced their 25 Semi-Finalists for the Class of 2021.

The 25 were pared down from 130 Preliminary nominees, which includes four first year eligible players:

They are:

Eric Allen:  Cornerback: 1998-94 Philadelphia, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints & 1998-01 Oakland Raiders.  Eligible since 2007, Allen cracked his way to Semi-Finals for the first time.  He has 54 career Interceptions and is a six-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.  

Jared Allen: Defensive End:  2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-13 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears & 2016 Carolina Panthers.  This is Allen’s first year of eligibility, and he was expected by many to make it to this round.  Allen led the NHL in Sacks twice (2007 & 2011) and had 136.0 in total.  He was also a five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Willie Anderson: Tackle: 1996-07 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens.  Anderson has been Hall of Fame eligible since 2014, but this is his first time making it as a Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #283 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber:  Cornerback/Safety:  1997-12 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  Barber is a former Super Bowl Champion and was the 2001 leader in Interceptions.  He has over 1,000 Solo Tackles with 47 career Interceptions.  Barber is a Semi-Finalist for the fourth consecutive year, all beginning with his first year of eligibility.  This has not yet translated into a Finalists appearance.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Cornelius Bennett:  Linebacker: 1987-95 Buffalo Bills, 1996-98 Atlanta Falcons & 1999-00 Indianapolis Colts.  Bennett has been eligible since 2006 but this is the first time, he has made it to the Semi-Finals.  Over his career, Bennett helped take Buffalo to four Super Bowls, had 71.5 Sacks and was a five-time Pro Bowler. Ranked #124 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Boselli:  Tackle: 1995-01 Jacksonville Jaguars & 2002 Houston Texans.  The career of Boselli was short, but he is believed to be the greatest Jaguar of all-time. The Lineman has been a Finalist for the last four years.  Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com

LeRoy Butler: Safety: 1990-01 Green Bay Packers.  Butler had 38 career Interceptions, won a Super Bowl and went to four Pro Bowls over his career.  He is on a four-year streak of Semi-Finalist nods, and he was a Finalist last year.  Ranked #73 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Alan Faneca:  Guard: 1998-07 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets & 2010 Arizona Cardinals.  A Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers, Faneca went to nine Pro Bowls and was a six-time First Team All-Pro.  Faneca has been a Semi-Finalist and Finalist in his first five years of eligibility, and this is year six.  Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rodney Harrison:  Safety: 1994-02 San Diego Chargers & 2003-08 New England Patriots.  Winning two Super Bowls with the Patriots, Harrison is also a two-time Pro Bowler. Eligible since 2014, Harrison is a Semi-Finalist for the first time.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

Torry Holt:  Wide Receiver:  1998-08 St. Louis Rams & 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars.  Holt won a Super Bowl with the Rams, and he went to seven Pro Bowls with 12,832 career Receiving Yards.  Holt made it to the Finals last year, and has been a Semi-Finalist every year, with this ballot making number seven.   Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Calvin Johnson: Wide Receiver:  2007-15 Detroit Lions.  Johnson went to six Pro Bowls, three First Team All-Pros and was considered the most exciting Wide Receiver of his day.  This is his first year on the ballot.  Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Lynch: Free Safety:  1993-03 Tampa Bay Buccaneers & 2004-07 Denver Broncos.  Lynch went to seven Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.  He has been a Finalist the last seven years, and is likely set for an eighth.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Peyton Manning: Quarterback:  1998-11 Indianapolis Colts & 2012-15 Denver Broncos.  Manning took both the Colts and Broncos to a Super Bowl win, and he is a five-time MVP with 14 Pro Bowls and seven First Team All-Pros.  He would throw for 71,940 Yards and 539 Touchdowns and this is his first year on the ballot.   Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Clay Matthews:  Linebacker: 1978-93 Cleveland Browns & 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons.  A four-time Pro Bowler, Matthews had 69.5 Sacks with 1,595 Combined Tackles.  Matthews is a Semi-Finalist for the fifth straight time, but has never been a Finalist.  This is his last year on the Modern Era ballot, so it is now or (likely) never.  Ranked #75 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Sam Mills:  Linebacker: 1986-94 New Orleans Saints & 1995-97 Carolina Panthers.  A five-time Pro Bowler, Mills began his pro career in the USFL.  A four-time Semi-Finalist, Mills made it to the Finals for the first time, last year, but only has two more years of Modern Era eligibility.  Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richard Seymour:  Defensive End/Defensive Tackle:  2001-08 New England Patriots & 2009-12 Oakland Raiders.  Seymour won three Super Bowls with the Patriots, went to seven Pro Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He is a Semi-Finalist for the fourth straight year and was a Finalist the last two years.  Ranked #39 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Tasker:  Special Teams/Wide Receiver:  1985-86 Houston Oilers & 1986-97 Buffalo Bills.  Tasker went to seven Pro Bowls, and despite having never been a Finalist, he has been a Semi-Finalist seven other times.  Ranked #106 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Fred Taylor:  Running Back:  1998-08 Jacksonville Jaguars & 2009-10 New England Patriots.  With 11,695 career Rushing Yards, Taylor is also a one-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Taylor, who was first eligible in 2016, is on his second straight Semi-Finalist ballot.  Ranked #171 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Zach Thomas:  Linebacker:  1996-07 Miami Dolphins & 2008 Dallas Cowboys:  Thomas led the NFL in Combined Tackles twice (2002 & 2006) and he is five-time First Team All-Pro.  He also has 1,727 career Combined Tackles.  A Semi-Finalist for the last three years, Thomas was a Finalist for the first time, last year.  Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com

Hines Ward:  Wide Receiver:  1998-11 Pittsburgh Steelers.  Ward won two Super Bowls with a Super Bowl MVP on his resume, and the four-time Pro Bowl Selection recorded an even 1,000 Receptions with 12,083 Yards with 86 Touchdowns.  Ward has been a Semi-Finalist every year since eligibility, but it has not translated into a spot in the Finals.  Ranked #33 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Reggie Wayne:  Wide Receiver:  2001-14 Indianapolis Colts.  A six-time Pro Bowl and one-time Super Bowl Champion, Wayne has 14,345 Receiving Yards with 82 Touchdowns.  Wayne was a Finalist last year in what was his first year on the ballot.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Patrick Willis:  Linebacker: 2007-14 San Francisco 49ers.  The Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2007, Willis went to five First Team All-Pros over his career.  Willis was a Semi-Finalist last year in what was his first year of eligibility.  Ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charles Woodson:  Cornerback/Safety:  1998-05 & 2013-15 Oakland Raiders & 2006-12 Green Bay Packers.  Woodson is a Super Bowl Champion with the Packers and has 65 career Interceptions.  The nine-time Pro Bowler is also a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (1998) and Defensive Player of the Year (2009).  This is Woodson’s first year of eligibility.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Darren Woodson:  Safety: 1992-03 Dallas Cowboys.  Woodson won three Super Bowls with Dallas and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  This is his fifth year as a Semi-Finalist but Woodson has yet to be named a Finalist.  Ranked #94 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bryant Young:  Defensive Tackle:  1994-07 San Francisco 49ers.  Eligible since 2013, Young was a Semi-Finalist and Finalist last year for the first time.  The career Niner had 89.5 Sacks, won a Super Bowl and went to four Pro Bowls.  Ranked #164 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The only two eligible Semi-Finalists from last year who did not reach this stage are Ricky Watters and Simeon Rice.

This group will be shrunk to 15 in January.  

We are in the preliminary stages of creating a Zoom meeting of football bloggers and Hall of Fame aficionados who will act as if we are the Pro Football Hall of Fame Committee and debate as to who we think should advance.   

Why didn’t we do this before?

Allow me to pull back the curtain here at Notinhalloffame.com.  

Notinhalloffame.com grew from a simple idea; rank those who are not in various Halls of Fame from the world of sports and music and create a platform for individuals to campaign for their favorite musician/athlete, or at the very least, reminisce.

As it grew, we had the opportunity to interact with other people about the various Halls of Fame, what we like, what we don’t like, and changes we would like to see made.  Since, we aren’t privy to what the actual committees discuss, why not make one of our own?  That is what we did.

Through Twitter, this is the group that was assembled:

@notinhalloffame (Official Twitter site of Notinhalloffame.com and run by Kirk Buchner)

@2ndHandBurrito (Evan Nolan, co-host of the Hall of Fame Show)

@konadreamssssss (Glen Pawlowski, triathlete from Buffalo)

@vancemeek (Vance Meek has blogged about the Bengals and has been a guest on our podcast.

@readjack (Jack M. Silverstein, Sports Historian and writer from Chicago)

@lhd_on_sports (David Whitlock is a blogger and commentator on lhd-on-sports.com.

@tedcrocketiiil (Ted Crockett is a veteran and follows all sports halls.

@ThomasHallNFL (Thomas Hall follows the Denver Broncos and is the host of Convincing Numbers, a show on Football Analytics.  He also contributes to @milehighhuddle.

@Profhofcantonf (As his Twitter handle will tell you, Paul Lawrence has been studying the process of the Pro Football Hal of Fame for years.

@VinLospinuso91 (Vinny Lospinuso studies journalism at Hofstra, and is a regular guest on our shows.  

This was a group that comes from varying fan bases and differing perspectives.  As we progress, we hope to expand it, adding more people from different parts of the United States, and beyond.  

Please note that in our Zoom discussion, Vance and Paul were unable to attend, but their initial votes were counted.  We hope to have them on for future roundtables.  

As this was the first time, we had ever done this, we decided not to record and air our discussion.  As the Philadelphia 76ers management says, “Trust the Process”, and in the future, we will air our meetings to keep everything transparent.  

Here was our process:

Step One: Automatic Elimination, Part One.

Each person was asked to submit their 25 selections.  

If a former player received no votes, they would not be discussed, and were automatically eliminated from consideration.

Those players were:

QB Drew Bledsoe

QB Jake Delhomme

QB Jeff Garcia

QB Dave Krieg

FB Mike Alstott

RB Tiki Barber

RB Earnest Byner

RB Larry Centers

RB Eddie George

RB Jamal Lewis

RB Glyn Milburn

WR Chad Johnson

WR Derrick Mason

WR Mushin Muhammad

WR Roddey White

TE Dallas Clark

TE Brent Jones

TE Heath Miller

TE Jeremy Shockey

TE Wesley Walls

OL Matt Birk

OL D’Brickashaw Ferguson

OL Kevin Glover

OL Jordan Gross

OL Chris Samuels

OL Chris Snee

OL Brian Waters

OL Erik Williams

DL La’Roi Glover

DL Michael Dean Perry

DL Justin Smith

DL Greg Townsend

LB Seth Joyner

LB Jarod Mayo

LB Willie McGinest

LB Chris Spielman

LB Takeo Spikes

LB Darryl Talley

DB Nick Collins

DB Merton Hanks

DB James Hasty

DB Albert Lewis

DB Tim McDonald

DB Allen Rossum

DB Bob Sanders

DB Adrian Wilson

K David Akers       

K Gary Anderson

K Jason Elam

K Jason Hanson

K John Kasay

K Ryan Longwell

K Nick Lowery

P Jeff Feagles

P Sean Landeta

P Rohn Stark

P Matt Turk

KR/PR Josh Cribbs

Takeaway:  

There was no visceral reaction from any of us regarding those shut out of the vote.  Perhaps with Chad Johnson, but we went through this stage was very quickly.  

Step One: Automatic Elimination, Part Two.

If a player received all ten votes, they would not be discussed, and they automatically advanced to our list of Semi-Finalists.  

Those players were:

QB Peyton Manning

WR Calvin Johnson

OL Alan Faneca

DB Charles Woodson

Takeaway:  

Many of us thought there would be more unanimous picks, but it was a quick reminder why we do this, and how much fun this was going to be.  It is also very clear at this time that this was a group that wanted to discuss who should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame; possibly more than those who get to make those selections.  Manning, Woodson and Johnson are on their first ballot.  Faneca has been a Finalist for the fifth straight year.

Step Two: Almost Unanimous 

Once we determined who we would not discuss, we decided to alternated to the remaining vote getters from highest to lowest, and “sandwich” our way to the middle.

Those players were:

WR Torry Holt

OT Tony Boselli

DB LeRoy Butler

DB John Lynch

Takeaway:

We asked each other a simple question.  Do we have any objection, if we put all of these men through to the Semi-Final round? Nobody had an issue, and all four of the above, all of which are former Finalists advanced.

Step Three: One and done? 

There was a glut of former players who only received one vote. They were:

QB Steve McNair

RB Steven Jackson

RB Eddie George

RB Priest Holmes

RB Eric Metcalf

RB Warrick Dunn

FB Lorenzo Neal

WR Jimmy Smith

WR Donald Driver

WR Rod Smith

TE Ben Coates

OL Willie Anderson

OL Kent Hull

OL Olin Kreutz

DL Ray Childress

DL Casey Hampton

DL Justin Tuck

DL Simeon Rice

DL Leslie O’Neal

DL John Abraham

LB Cornelius Bennett

LB Tedy Bruschi

LB Joey Porter

LB London Fletcher

DB Asante Samuel

DB Charles Tillman

DB Troy Vincent

DB Rodney Harrison

KR Mel Gray

P Reggie Roby

We asked people if they wanted to make a push for one of these players, and Thomas Hall made an incredible case for Tom Nalen, the former Broncos Center.  It swayed many of us, who were previously on the fence about him, and elevated him many of our minds, that it was Nalen, on not Jeff Saturday, who is the best Center available.  Hall had a great piece that he wrote for Broncos Wire, that best sums up his cause.

Jack Silverstein trumpeted the pure role of a Fullback that former Charger, Lorenzo Neal, brought to the table, but it was his push of Charles “Peanut” Tillman, and reminding us all about the “Peanut Punch”, and how he helped to evolve Defensive Backs.

Everyone was then asked to submit three votes, with the top three vote-getters advancing to the round of those receiving two votes.  Nalen, Tillman and Simeon Rice advanced.  Others receiving consideration were Lorenzo Neal, Jimmy Smith, Donald Driver, Willie Anderson, Leslie O’Neal, John Abraham, London Fletcher, Rodney Harrison, Reggie Roby and Steve McNair.

Takeaway:

I think we would all agree that this was the round where we enjoyed the most.  A free exchange of ideas and opinions and we all left re-thinking how we viewed selective players.  This is what it was all about.

Step Five:  Those with 80%, so still an “A”.

Back to the top, we had three who received all but two votes.  They were:

WR Reggie Wayne

LB Zach Thomas

LB Patrick Willis

This was another rapid conversation, as nobody had any overt objection to push them through.  Willis’s name did illicit a mild surprise that he was not a Finalist last year.

Takeaway:

Wayne and Thomas were both Finalists last year, with Willis making the Semi-Finals.  Since this part was moving so quickly, we decided to continue on with the upper half of the ledger.

This brought our total to 11.

Step Six:  Completing the “Upper Part of the Sandwich”

There were six players who had either seven, six or five votes.  They were:

RB Shaun Alexander (7)

DL Jared Allen (7)

DL Richard Seymour (7)

LB Sam Mills (5)

DB Ronde Barber (6)

ST Steve Tasker (6)

We went with five of these players.  Seymour was a Finalist last year, and is likely to be so again, and there was no concern among our group to place him through to the next round.  Barber has yet to be a Finalist, but has been a Semi-Finalist.  While none of us disagreed that Barber should advance, it brought up a conversation on just how good Tampa’s defence was back in the early 2000s.  So far, two Hall of Famers (Warren Sapp and Derrick Brooks) and counting.

Allen is on his first ballot, and many project him to be a Semi-Finalist, though based on reading the room, we may not push him further in our next meeting.  As for Alexander, the Running Back and former MVP, has never been a Semi-Finalist, and has been eligible since 2014.  He might be under 10,000 career Rushing Yards, but the former Seahawk is one of nine players to have 100 TDs on the ground.  Alexander is the only eligible player not to be enshrined.  

The love of our group for Tasker was unanimous, and those who did not vote for him initially had no problem putting him through to our Semi-Finals.  Tasker was a Semi-Finalist last year, and this is his penultimate year of Modern Era eligibility.

This brings us to Sam Mills, a Finalist last year.  While the respect was there for Mills, most of agreed that as good as he was, this was a very good player with an excellent story.  He did not advance, and was placed in the middle section; ie; the “meat of our Hall of Fame conversation.”

Takeaway:  

While the discussion on Sam Mills brought up apathy, did any of us really think that we wouldn’t put him through the Semi-Finals?  

Step Seven:  Two Votes

We go back to bottom with those who received two votes.  As mentioned before, Nalen, Tillman and Rice advanced to this conversation.  We did the same thing and opened up the floor to anyone who wanted to make a statement on these players.  Those in this round are:

RB Corey Dillon

RB Herschel Walker

RB Fred Taylor

TE Keith Jackson

OL Tom Halen (advanced from previous round)

OL Logan Mankins

DL Kevin Williams

DL Simeon Rice (advanced from previous round)

LB Lance Briggs

DB Charles Tillman (advanced from previous round)

KR Brian Mitchell

The Chairman (Kirk) pushed for Herschel Walker, citing his USFL stats, and that it is a “Pro” Football Hall of Fame.  Evan made a case for Kevin Williams, citing advanced analytics.  Like the previous round, each person could vote on three people, with the top three voters advancing.  Those were Nalen, Williams and Tillman.

Takeaway:

Taylor might have been a Semi-Finalist last year, but along with Dillon, the belief is that 10,000 Rushing Yards do not hold the same cache they used to.  Shaun Alexander might not have five digits in Rushing Yards, but he was without question the best Running Back at one time.  Taylor and Dillon were not.  Mankins received respect in our discussion, as did Lance Briggs, as we were trying to decipher his overall impact.  Brian Mitchell also received consideration.  

Step Eight:  The Meat of the Hall of Fame Sandwich

Here we go.

What we have left are those who received three or four votes in our original tally, and the one who fell (Mills), and the three who advanced (Nalen, Williams and Tillman).

We had nine spots left with 19 remaining candidates.  They are:

QB Donovan McNabb (4)

QB Randall Cunningham (4)

RB Ricky Watters (4)

WR Hines Ward (4)

WR Henry Ellard (3)

OL Jeff Saturday (4)

OL Steve Wisnieuski (4)

OL Richmond Webb (4)

OL Lomas Brown (3)

OL Ruben Brown (3)

OL Tom Nalen (Advanced from 1 & 2)

DL Neil Smith (4)

DL Bryant Young (3)

DL Kevin Williams (Advanced from 2)

LB Sam Mills (5) (Demoted from previous round)

LB Clay Matthews (3)

LB Pat Swilling (3)

DB Eric Allen (3)

DB Charles Tillman (3)

In this final round, we opened up the floor.  Here are some notes on some of the players not yet discussed.

Former Philadelphia Eagles Quarterbacks, McNabb and Cunningham were at the forefront.  Neither have been a Semi-Finalist, and both have unique cases. McNabb led the Eagles to four straight NFC Championship Games, winning the fourth, but losing the Super Bowl. Randall Cunningham is a three-time Bert Bell Award winner, who was a large link in the evolution of Quarterbacks.

Lomas Brown, a nine-time Pro Bowler who recently was not even on the Preliminary Candidate list, blocked for Barry Sanders.  Somebody had to help Sanders during those years right?  Glenn, our Bills fan, was the biggest supporter of Richmond Webb, a seven-time Pro Bowler with the Dolphins.  

Ward might have been a Semi-Finalist, but we were looking more at Henry Ellard, who at the time of his retirement was third all-time in Receiving Yards.  

There was a groundswell for Swilling over Mills, for the the detitle of the defacto “Most deserving New Orleans Saint.”  As for Clay Matthews, the former Cleveland Brown who is now on his last year of eligibility, was deemed to be “very good”, and nothing more.

For his round, each voter could assign three votes for their top choice, two for their second, and one vote for the next five.  The results we had saw Cunningham, Webb, L. Brown, Nalen, Williams, Swilling, Ellard, Wisnieuski and Tillman advance as our Semi-Finalists.

Takeaway:

Our selection of Nalen, Williams and Tillman came out of nowhere, and proves the power of conversation.  While Sam Mills is probable to be a Finalist again, it did not prevent him from falling out of our Semi-Finalists.

Just for fun, we voted as to who would be our last “five out”.  They were McNabb, R. Brown, Smith, Saturday and Watters.

Summing Up: 

Our 25 Semi-Finalists are:

QB Peyton Manning

QB Randall Cunningham

RB Shaun Alexander

WR Calvin Johnson

WR Torry Holt

WR Reggie Wayne

WR Henry Ellard

OL Alan Faneca

OL Tony Boselli

OL Steve Wisnieuski

OL Richmond Webb

OL Lomas Brown

OL Tom Nalen

DL Jared Allen

DL Richard Seymour

DL Kevin Williams

LB Zach Thomas

LB Patrick Willis

LB Pat Swilling

DB Charles Woodson

DB LeRoy Butler

DB John Lynch

DB Ronde Barber

DB Charles Tillman

ST Steve Tasker

Will this be the group that the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee actually puts through?

Probably not.  

While we are not making public our Zoom discussion, we intend to that in the future so that all conversations on the Hall will be transparent.  We ask that of the various Halls, so we will work towards providing the same.  As it stands now, you know much more about our process!

We hope you enjoyed this, and if you have any questions, please contact us.  It is a conversation that we all welcome.

For more on this, on our upcoming “The Buck Stops Here: Hall of Fame Show”, Kirk and Evan go into a deep conversation as to what was discussed.  Look for that soon.

What comes next?

In November, the Pro Football Hall will announce their Semi-Finalists, so we will reconvene, and see how they compared to ours.  We will then take their 25, and reduce them to 15, the same way that the PFHOF does.

Thank you to everyone who participated, and we look to do more of these in the future.

During last night’s halftime of the Thursday Night Cincinnati VS Cleveland game, Pro Football Hall of Fame President, David Baker was in a pre-recorded segment announcing that Joe Buck, who was broadcasting that game with Troy Aikman won the Pete Rozelle Award.  The annual winner receives automatic entry to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Pete Rozelle Award was first given in 1989, with one of the past inductees being Jack Buck, the father of Joe.  Buck is a previous Emmy winner, and he has called six Super Bowls.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate Joe Buck for earning this honor. 

For us at Notinhalloffame.com, this is our march toward our Christmas.  The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced the Modern-Era Preliminary Nominees for the Class of 2021, a total of 122 former players.  

To qualify, a player must have retired less than 25 years ago and at least 5 years ago:

The nominees are:

Quarterbacks:

Drew Bledsoe: 1993-2006, NE, BUF, DAL. Bledsoe was a four-time Pro Bowler and he twice led the NFL in Completions.  He threw for 44,611 Yards and 251 Touchdowns.  Ranked #99 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Randall Cunningham: 1985-2001, PHI, MIN, DAL, BAL. Cunningham is a three-time Bert Bell Award winner a four-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Ranked #31 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jake Delhomme: 1999-11, NOR, CAR, HOU. Delhomme went to the Pro Bowl in 2005 and he would throw for over 20,000 Yards.

Jeff Garcia:  1999-09, SFO, CLE, DET, PHI, TAM.  Garcia was a four-time Pro Bowler and would throw for over 25,000 Passing Yards.

Dave Krieg:  1980-98, SEA, KAN, DET, ARI, CHI, TEN.  Krieg went to three Pro Bowls with the Seahawks and threw for 38,147 Yards and 261 Touchdowns over a 19-year career.  Ranked #120 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Peyton Manning:  1998-2015, IND, DEN.  Manning was a five-time MVP, two-time Offensive Player of the Year, three-time Bert Bell Award winner and two-time Super Bowl Champion.  The 14-time Pro Bowl Selection threw for 71,940 Yards and 539 Touchdowns and is a first ballot nominee.  Ranked #1 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Donovan McNabb:  1999-01, PHI, WAS, MIN.  McNabb took the Eagles to the Super Bowl and was a six-time Pro Bowler.  He threw for 37,276 Yards with 234 Touchdowns and ran for another 3,459 Yards and 29 TDs.  Ranked #70 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve McNair:  1995-2007, HOU, TEN, BAL.  McNair was a three-time Pro Bowl and former MVP.  He threw for 31,204 Yards and 174 Touchdowns.  Ranked #108 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Running Backs:

Shaun Alexander:  2000-08, SEA, PHI.  Alexander went to three straight Pro Bowls and in the last one he won the Rushing Title and was named the AP MVP.  Alexander retired with 10,973 Yards From Scrimmage and 112 Touchdowns.  Ranked #90 on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Mike Alstott:  1996-06, TAM.  Alstott won a Super Bowl with the Bucs and was a six-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro.  He would total 7,373 Yards From Scrimmage with 71 Touchdowns.  Ranked #184 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tiki Barber:  1997-06, NYG.  Barber rushed for over 10,000 Yards and was a three-time Pro Bowler.  He also caught another 5,000 Yards and was a two-time leader in Yards From Scrimmage.  Ranked #139 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Earnest Byner:  1984-97, CLE, WAS, BAL.  Byner won a Super Bowl with the Washington Redskins and he was a two-time Pro Bowler. He would accumulate 12,866 Yards From Scrimmage with 71 Touchdowns over his career.

Larry Centers:  1990-03, PHO, ARI, WAS, BUF, NWE.  Centers was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection and totalled 8,985 Yards From Scrimmage

Corey Dillon:  1997-06, CIN, NWE.  Dillon won the Super Bowl with the Patriots and was a four-time Pro Bowl Selection.  Dillon accumulated 13,335 All-Purpose Yards over his career.

Warrick Dunn:  1997-08, TAM, ATL.  Dunn was the 1997 Offensive Rookie of the Year and was a three-time Pro Bowler who rushed for 10,957 Yards and 49 Touchdowns.

Eddie George:  1996-04, HOU, TEN, DAL.  George went to four straight Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro in 2000.  He would rush for 10,441 Yards.  Ranked #173 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Priest Holmes:  1997-07, BAL, KC.  Winning the Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens, Holmes had greater individual success with the Chiefs where he was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He would tabulate 11,134 Yards From Scrimmage.  Ranked #111 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steven Jackson:  2004-15, STL, ATL, NWE.  Jackson is nominated in his first year of eligibility and he accrued 15,121 Yards From Scrimmage and 78 Touchdowns.  He is the Rams’ all-time leading rusher.  Ranked #225 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jamal Lewis:  2000-09, BAL, CLE.  In 2003, Lewis entered rarified air as he entered the 2,000-Yard club when he went for 2,006.  He would rush for 10,607 Yards.  Ranked #204 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Eric Metcalf:  1989-02, CLE, ATL, SDG, ARI, CAR, WAS, GNB.  Incredibly versatile, Metcalf was also used as a Wide Receiver and Returner and the three-time Pro Bowler would total 17,230 All-Purpose Yards.

Glyn Milburn:  1993-01, DEN, DET, CHI, SDG.  Milburn was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection who had 14,911 All-Purpose Yards.  He led the NFL in Kick Return Yards in 1998.

Lorenzo Neal:  1993-08, NOR, NYJ, TAM, TEN, CIN, SDG, BAL.  Playing at Fullback, Neal would go to four Pro Bowls and was named to two First Team All-Pros.

Fred Taylor:  1998-10, JAX, NWE.  Taylor was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2007 and would accumulate 14,079 Yards From Scrimmage, 11,695 on the ground.  Ranked #171 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Herschel Walker:  1986-97, DAL, MIN, PHI, NYG.  Walker was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection who had 13,084 Yards From Scrimmage with 82 Touchdowns.  He is also the best player in USFL history, though we aren’t sure how much (if at all) the Pro Football Hall of Fame cares about that.  Ranked #30 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ricky Watters:  1992-01, SFO, PHI, SEA.  Watters was a Super Bowl Champion with the 49ers and he would go to the Pro Bowl in his first five years in the NFL.  He would lead the NFL in Yards From Scrimmage in 1996 and would have 14,891 in total.  Ranked #43 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wide Receivers:

Donald Driver:  1999-12, GNB.  Driver was a Super Bowl Champion with the Packers where he would also go to three Pro Bowls.  He would accumulate 10,137 Receiving Yards.

Henry Ellard:  1983-98, LAR, WAS, NWE.  Ellard led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 1988 and was a three-time Pro Bowl as well as a two-time First Team All-Pro.  He would have 13,777 Receiving Yards with 81 Touchdowns over his career.  Ranked #129 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Torry Holt:1999-09, STL, JAX.  A Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice.  He finished his career with 13,382 Yards and 74 TDs.  Holt has previously been a Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #9 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Calvin Johnson:  2007-15, DET.  Johnson played his entire career with the Lions where he had 11,619 Receiving Yards with 83 Touchdowns.  “Megatron” is in his first year of eligibility.  Ranked #27 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chad Johnson:  2001-11, CIN, NWE.  Johnson went to six Pro Bowls as a Bengal and he would accumulate 11,059 Receiving Yards, punching 67 of them into the end zone.  “Ocho Cinco” was also a First Team All-Pro twice.  Ranked #87 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Derrick Mason:  1997-11, TEN, BAL.  Mason would record 12,061 Receiving Yards and was chosen for the Pro Bowl twice.  Ranked #181 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Muhsin Muhammad:  1996-09, CAR, CHI.  Muhammad led all NFL Wide Receivers in Yards in 2004, which was the season he was chosen as a First Team All-Pro.  He would net 11,438 Receiving Yards in total.

Jimmy Smith:  1992-05, DAL, JAX.  Smith was chosen for five consecutive Pro Bowls (1997-01) and in 1999 he led the NFL in Receptions.  He would retire with 12,287 Receiving Yards and 67 Touchdowns.  Ranked #151 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rod Smith:  1995-06, DEN.  Smith would win two Super Bowls with the Broncos and was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He recorded 11,389 Yards with 68 TDs.  Ranked #53 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Hines Ward:  1998-11, PIT.  Ward won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and was the MVP in one of them.  A previous Semi-Finalist, he has four Pro Bowls, 85 Touchdowns and 12,083 Yards on his resume.  Ranked #33 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Reggie Wayne:  2001-14, IND.  Wayne won a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts and was the Receiving Yards leader in 2007.  A six-time Pro Bowler, Wayne’s 14,345 Yards ranks him 10^thall-time.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wes Welker:  2004-15, MIA, SDG, NEW, DEN, STL.  Welker led the NFL three times in Receptions and the five-time Pro Bowl Selection had 9,924 career Receiving Yards.  This is Welker’s first year of eligibility.  Ranked #161 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Roddy White:  2005-15, ATL.  White is in his first year of eligibility and the career-Falcon led the league in Receptions in 2010.  He was a four-time Pro Bowler and accrued 10,863 Yards with 63 Touchdowns.  Ranked #291 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tight Ends: 

Dallas Clark:  2003-13, IND, TAM, BAL.  Clark would win the Super Bowl with the Colts and was a First Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl Selection in 2009.  He would record 5,665 Yards with 53 Touchdowns.

Ben Coates:  1991-00, NWE, BAL.  Coates was a Pro Bowler in five straight years from 1994 to 1998 and was a two-time First Team All-Pro.  He would accumulate 5,555 Yards with 50 Touchdowns.  Ranked #88 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Keith Jackson:  1988-96, PHI, MIA, GNB.  Jackson was a five-time Pro Bowl Selection and in his first three seasons in the NFL was a First Team All-Pro.  He would have 5,283 Receiving Yards with 49 TDs.  Ranked #59 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brent Jones:  1987-97, SFO.  Jones went to four Pro Bowls in a row (1992-95) and he was a three-time Super Champion with San Francisco.  He accrued 5,195 Yards with 33 TDs over his career.

Heath Miller:  2005-15, PIT.  Playing his entire career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miller went to two Pro Bowls and helped his team win two Super Bowls.  In his first year of eligibility, Miller had 6,569 Yards and 45 Touchdowns.

Jeremy Shockey:  2002-11, NYG, NO, CAR.  Shockey would go to four Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro as a rookie.  He would later win a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints.

Wesley Walls:  1989-03, SFO, NOR, CAR, GNB.  Walls was named to the Pro Bowl five times when he was with the Carolina Panthers.  He would have 5,291 Yards with 54 TDs in his career.  Ranked #265 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Offensive Lineman:

Willie Anderson:  1996-08, CIN, BAL.  Anderson was chosen for four Pro Bowls in a row (2003-06), with his last three being First Team All-Pro worthy.  Ranked #283 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Matt Birk:  1998-12, MIN, BAL.  Birk is a Super Bowl Champion with the Baltimore Ravens and would prior have six Pro Bowls as a Minnesota Viking.  Ranked #74 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Boselli:  1995-01, JAX.  Boselli was a Finalist for the last three years and he was a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro Selection.  Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lomas Brown:  1985-02, DET, ARI, CLE, NYG, TAM.  Brown had seven straight Pro Bowls (1990-96) and in his last season in the NFL, he would win a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.  Ranked #175 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ruben Brown:  1995-07, BUF, CHI.  Brown was a nine-time Pro Bowl Selection who started all of his 181 Games.  Ranked #112 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Alan Faneca:  1998-10, PIT, NYJ, ARI.  Faneca has been a Finalist for the last three years and he is a Super Bowl Champion with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He is also a nine-time Pro Bowl and a six-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #4 on Notinhalloffame.com.

D’Brickashaw Ferguson:  2006-15, NYJ.  Playing his entire career with the Jets, Ferguson went to three Pro Bowls and started all of his 160 Games at Left Tackle.  This is his first year of eligibility.

Kevin Glover:  1985-99, DET, SEA.  Glover was a three-time Pro Bowl Selection at Center with the Lions.

Jordan Gross:  2003-13, CAR.  A career Carolina Panther, Jordan Gross went to three Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro in 2008.

Kent Hull:  1986-96, BUF.  Hull was a three-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.

Olin Kreutz:  1998-11, CHI, NOR.  Kreutz went to six Pro Bowls and was also a one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #60 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Logan Mankins:  2005-15, NWE, TAM.  A seven-time Pro Bowler, Mankins started all of his 161 Games at. Left Guard.  This is his first year of eligibility.  Ranked #126 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Nalen:  1994-07, DEN.  Nalen was a five-time Pro Bowl, two-time First Team All-Pro who played his entire career with Denver.  He also won two Super Bowls.  Ranked #211 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Samuels:  2000-09, WAS.  Samuels went to six Pro Bowls in a career spent only as a Redskin. Ranked #281 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jeff Saturday:  1999-02, IND, GNB.  Saturday won a Super Bowl with the Colts and he was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #102 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Snee:  2004-13, NYG.  Snee was a two-time Super Bowl Champion who played all 141 of his Games starting at Right Guard.  He was also a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  

Brian Waters:  2000-13, KAN, NWE, DAL.  Waters would go to six Pro Bowls and was named to two First Team All-Pros.  Ranked #156 on Notinhalloffame.com

Richmond Webb:  1990-02, MIA, CIN.  Webb was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first seven seasons with two of them earning First Team All-Pro nods.  Ranked #65 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Erik Williams:  1991-01, DAL, BAL.  Williams won three Super Bowls with Dallas and he went to four Pro Bowls.

Steve Wisniewski:  1989-01, RAI, OAK.  A previous Semi-Finalist, Wisniewski played his entire career with the Raiders and he was an eight-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Linemen:

John Abraham:  2000-14, NYJ, ATL, ARI.  Recording 133.5 Sacks, Abraham was a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #51 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jared Allen:  2004-15, KAN, MIN, CHI, CAR.  Allen twice led the NFL in Sacks and would have 136.0 in total.  In his first year of eligibility, Allen was a five-time Pro Bowler, and was a First Team All-Pro in four of those years.  Ranked #19 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ray Childress:  1985-96, HOU, DAL.  This is the last year that Childress is eligible as a Modern Era Candidate.  He was a five-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro with 76.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #10 on Notinhalloffame.com.

La’Roi Glover:  1996-08, OAK, NOR, DAL, STL.  Glover was a six-time Pro Bowl Selection and in 2000 he would lead the NFL in Sacks and was also a First Team All-Pro that year. He would have 83.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #154 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Casey Hampton:  2001-12, PIT.  Hampton played his entire career with the Steelers where he won two Super Bowls and was chosen for five Pro Bowls.  Ranked #286 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Leslie O’Neal:  1986-99, SDG, STL, KAN.  O’Neal was a six-time Pro Bowler during his tenure with the Chargers and was the 1986 Defensive Rookie of the Year.  O’Neal had 132.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #113 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Simeon Rice:  1996-07, ARI, TAM, IND, DEN.  Rice won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers and was a three-time Pro Bowler.  He would have 122.0 Sacks over his career.  Ranked #147 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richard Seymour:  2001-12, NWE, OAK.  Seymour won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and was a seven-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro Selection.  Seymour was a Finalist last year.  Ranked #39 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Justin Smith:  2001-14, CIN, SFO.  Smith went on a five-year streak in the second half of his career of Pro Bowls (2009-14) and was a one-time First Team All-Pro in the middle of it.  He had 87.0 career Sacks.  Ranked #157 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Neil Smith:  1988-00, KAN, DEN, SDG.  Smith would go to six Pro Bowls and was also a First Team All-Pro in 1993.  He would also win two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and had 104.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #40 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Greg Townsend:  1983-97, RAI, PHI, OAK.  Townsend is a Super Bowl Champion with the Raiders and would be named to two Pro Bowls.  He would have 109.5 career Sacks.

Justin Tuck:  2005-15, NYG, OAK.  Tuck was a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl Champion as a Giant.  This is his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility.

Kevin Williams:  2003-15, MIN, SEA, NOR.  Williams had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros in a career spent mostly in Minnesota.  He is entering his first year of eligibility.  Ranked #109 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bryant Young:  1994-07, SFO.  Young won a Super Bowl with the 49ers and he would be chosen for four Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro.  He had 89.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #164 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Linebackers:

Cornelius Bennett:  1987-00, BUF, ATL, IND.  Bennett would go to five Pro Bowls and he was a First Team All-Pro in 1988.  He had 71.5 Sacks and 1,190 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #124 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lance Briggs:  2003-14, CHI.  Briggs went to seven straight Pro Bowls (2005-11) and he was a First Team All-Pro in the first year of that streak.  He had 1,181 career Combined Tackles, 16 Interceptions and 15.0 Sacks.  Ranked #95 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tedy Bruschi:  1996-08, NWE.   Bruschi won three Super Bowls with the Patriots and was a Pro Bowler in 2004.

London Fletcher:  1998-13, STL, BUF, WAS.  Fletcher would win a Super Bowl early in his career with the Rams and late on his career, he would make the Pro Bowl four years in a row as a Redskin. He would accumulate over 2,000 Combined Tackles over his career.  Ranked #63 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Seth Joyner:  1986-98, PHI, ARI, GNB, DEN.  Joyner was a three-time Pro Bowler and would win a Super Bowl late in his career with the Packers.  He would have 1,123 career Combined Tackles and 52.0 Sacks.

Wilber Marshall:  1984-95, CHI, WAS, HOU, ARI, NYJ.  Marshall was a Super Bowl Champion with both the Chicago Bears and Washington Redskins and he would go to three Pro Bowls.

Clay Matthews Jr.:  1978-96, CLE, ATL.  Matthews played 278 Games and would go to four Pro Bowls while playing for the Cleveland Browns.  With 1,598 career Combined Tackles, 69.5 Quarterback Sacks and 14 Interceptions, this is his last year as a Modern Era Finalist.  He is ranked #75 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jerod Mayo:  2008-15, NWE.  Mayo was the 2008 Defensive Rookie of the Year and two years later he was the league-leader in Tackles.  A two-time Pro Bowl Selection, Mayo also has a Super Bowl Ring and he is in his first year of Hall eligibility.

Willie McGinest:  1994-08, NWE, CLE.  McGinest would win three Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and was named to two Pro Bowls.  He has 86.0 career Sacks and 804 Combined Tackles.

Sam Mills:  1986-97, NOR, CAR.  Mills was chosen for five Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro. He had 1,265 Combined Tackles and 20.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Joey Porter:  1999-11, PIT, MIA, ARI.  Porter helped the Steelers win a Super Bowl and was a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  He recorded 98.0 Sacks over his career.  Ranked #152 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Spielman:  1988-97, DET, BUF.  Spielman would lead the NFL in Tackles in 1994 and was a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  He led the NFL in Tackles in 1994 and had 1,363 career Combined Tackles. 

Takeo Spikes:  1998-12, CIN, BUF, PHI, SFO, SDG.  Spikes was chosen for two Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro in 2004.  He was also one Interception shy of the 20-20 club and he accumulated 1,431 career Combined Tackles.

Pat Swilling:  1986-98, NOR, DET, OAK.  Swilling was the 1991 Defensive Player of the Year, and he was a five-time Pro and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Over his career, Swilling had 107.5 Sacks.  Ranked #91 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Darryl Talley:  1983-86, BUF, ATL, MIN.  Talley was a Pro Bowl Selection twice and had 38.5 Sacks and 1,252 Combined Tackles.  This is his last year of eligibility as a Modern Era candidate.

Zach Thomas:  1996-08, MIA.  Thomas is an eight-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro who has twice led the NFL in Tackles.  He was a Finalist last year.  Ranked #23 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Patrick Willis:  2007-14, SFO.  Willis retired before the age of 30 and is now in his first year of eligibility. The career 49er led the league in Tackles twice and is a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #15 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Defensive Backs:

Eric Allen:  1988-01, PHI, NOR, OAK.  Allen secured 54 Interceptions and would have six Pro Bowl Seasons, with one of them earning a First Team All-Pro Selection.  Ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ronde Barber:  1997-12, TAM.  Barber helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win their only Super Bowl and he would record 47 Interceptions and 1,231 Tackles.  A five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro, Barber has been a Semi-Finalist. Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

LeRoy Butler:  1990-01, GNB.  Butler won a Super Bowl with the Packers and in all four of his Pro Bowl Selections, he would also be named a First Team All-Pro.  Butler had 38 career Interceptions and 889 Combined Tackles and he was been a Finalist last year.  Ranked #73 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Nick Collins:  2005-11, GNB.  Collins won a Super Bowl with the Green Bay Packers and was a Pro Bowler three times. He would lead the NFL in Interception Return Yards in 2008 and had 21 career Interceptions.

Merton Hanks:  1991-98, SFO, SEA.  Hanks won a Super Bowl with the Niners and was also a Pro Bowl Selection four times.  He recorded 33 career Interceptions.

Rodney Harrison:  1994-08, SDG, NWE.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and he was a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro twice.  He would have 34 career Interceptions and 1,206 Combined Tackles.

James Hasty:  1998-01, NYJ, KAN, OAK.  Hasty was a two-time Pro Bowler who had 45 Interceptions and 910 Combined Tackles over his career.

Albert Lewis:  1983-98, KAN, RAI, OAK.  Lewis would record 42 Interceptions and he was a four-time Pro Bowler.  He also had two First Team All-Pro Selections and grabbed 42 Interceptions, 12.5 Sacks and 832 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #278 on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Lynch:  1993-07, TAM, DEN.  A Finalist for the last six years, Lynch won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers and was a Pro Bowl Selection nine times.  He also was a First Team All-Pro twice.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tim McDonald:  1987-99, STL, PHO, SFO.  McDonald recorded 40 Interceptions and was a six-time Pro Bowler.  He would win a Super Bowl with the 49ers and had 40 Interceptions and 1,139 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #236 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Allen Rossum:  1998-09, PHI, GNB, ATL, PIT, SFO. DAL.  Rossum is listed as a Cornerback, but he was more of a Returner.  He was a Pro Bowler in 2004 and had 15,046 All-Purpose Yards.

Asante Samuel:  2003-13, NEW, PHI, ATL.  Samuel was a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.  Twice a Super Bowl Champion with New England, Samuel had 51 career Interceptions.  Ranked #155 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bob Sanders:  2004-11, IND, SDG.  Sanders only played 50 Games but was the 2009 Defensive Player of the Year and is the owner of a Super Bowl Ring with the Colts.

Charles Tillman:  2004-11, CHI, CAR.  Tillman is in his first year of eligibility and he was a two-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He would have 38 career Interceptions with 930 Combined Tackles.

Troy Vincent:  1992-06, MIA, PHI, BUF, WAS.   Vincent’s five Pro Bowls would all come consecutively when he was with the Eagles. He would earn First Team All-Pro honors in 2002 and had 47 Interceptions and 893 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #275 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Adrian Wilson:  2001-12, ARI.  Wilson was a five-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro who had 27 career Interceptions and 903 Combined Tackles.

Charles Woodson:  1998-16, OAK, GNB.  Woodosn was a nine-time Pro Bowler who had two separate four-year streaks that were six years apart.  Also, a three-time First Team All-Pro, Woodson was the 1998 Defensive Rookie of the Year, 2009 Defensive Player of the Year and was a Super Bowl Champion with the Packers.  With 65 career Interceptions and 1,220 Combined Tackles, Woodson is in his first year of eligibility.

Darren Woodson:  1992-03, DAL.  A part of the Cowboys three Super Bowl Titles in the early 90s, Woodson was a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro.  He has been a Semi-Finalist before and has 23 career Interceptions with 11 Sacks and 967 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #94 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Place Kickers:

David Akers:  1998-13, PHI, SFO, DET.  Akers was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro Selection.  Ranked #251 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Gary Anderson:  1982-04, PIT, PHI, SFO, MIN, TEN.  Anderson went to four Pro Bowls and at the time of his retirement, he was the all-time leader in Points Scored and Field Goals Made.  Ranked #246 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jason Elam:  1993-09, DEN, ATL.  Elam won two Super Bowls with Denver and is a three-time Pro Bowl Selection.

Jason Hanson:  1992-12, DET.  Hanson played his entire career with the Detroit Lions and was chosen for two Pro Bowls. He is fourth all-time in Points Scored and Field Goals Made.

Ryan Longwell:  1997-12, GNB, MIN, SEA.  Longwell is 17^thall-time in Field Goals Made.

Nick Lowery:  1978-96, KC, NYJ.  Lowery is a three-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  He is 13^thall-time in Field Goals Made.

Punters:

Jeff Feagles:  1988-09, NEW, PHI, ARI, SEA, NYG.  Feagles was a two-time Pro Bowler and won a Super Bowl with the Giants.

Sean Landeta:  1985-05, NYG, LAR, STL, TAM, GNB, PHI.  Landeta won two Super Bowls with the Giants and was chosen for three First Team All-Pros.  He is currently third all-time in Punting Yards.

Reggie Roby:  1983-98, MIA, WAS, TAM, HOU, TEN, SFO.  Roby went to three Pro Bowls and two First Team All-Pros.

Rohn Stark:  1982-97, BAL, IND, PIT, CAR, SEA.  Stark was a four-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro.

Matt Turk:  1995-11, WAS, MIA, NYJ, STL, HOU, JAX.  Turk’s three Pro Bowls were consecutive from 1996 to 1998.  He was a First Team All-Pro in ’95.

Special Teams:

Josh Cribbs (PR/KR/WR): 2005-14, CLE, NYJ, IND.  Cribbs was a three-time Pro Bowl and one-time First Team All-Pro and collected 15,453 All-Purpose Yards.  

Mel Gray (PR/KR/WR): 1986-97, NOR, DET, HOU, TEN, PHI.  Gray was chosen for four Pro Bowls and three First Team All-Pros.  He would accrue 13,279 All-Purpose Yards.  Ranked #267 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Mitchell (KR/PR/RB): 1990-03, WAS, PHI, NYG.  Mitchell was a one-time Pro Bowl recipient and a four-time leader in All-Purpose Yards. He totaled 23,330 in APY, and is second all-time in that statistic.  Ranked #162 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Tasker (ST/WR): 1985-97, HOU, BUF. Tasker is a seven-time Pro Bowl Selection at Special Teams.  Ranked #106 on Notinhalloffame.com.

There are fourteen first-year nominees in this group consisting of Manning, Jackson, Johnson, Welker, White, Miller, Ferguson, Mankins, Allen, Tuck, K. Williams, Mayo, Tillman and C. Woodson.

With all due respect to many of these candidates, there are several of these Preliminary Nominees that have no realistic chance for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but it is a much better list than last year, where there were some obvious omissions.  

This group will be pared down to 25 in November and reduced to 15 in January.

Whomever those 15 Modern Era Finalists are, they will be joined by Senior Finalist, Drew Pearson, Contributor Finalist, Bill Nunn and Coach Finalist, Tom Flores.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the 130 former players who made it to this stage.

Our second annual pre-season Active 150 NFL Player Monitor ranking their current status for future Hall of Fame consideration is now up.  

Our Football Hall of Fame monitor for football looks at the following criteria:

The biggest factor we look at is how each active player measures up to the last five players at their position who were chosen.  To reflect the modern era and how stats have changed, Senior Inductees will not be considered as part of the last five inductees.  To keep everything simple, we are looking at Pro Bowl Selections, First Team All-Pro Selections, traditional statistics, games played and approximate value.  

Obviously, there are other intangibles, such as playoff success, content of character etc. and we have adjusted where we think necessary due to those considerations. 

While we don’t see this as a perfect system, these are the points that people make when determining whether or not someone is a Pro Football Hall of Famer, it does put forth a good baseline for us to work with.

The other criteria we look at is dominating seasons.  We call this the Terrell Davis Rule.  In Davis’ Hall of Fame resume, you see that he was an elite player for three seasons and was the difference maker aiding the Denver Broncos to win their first two Super Bowls.  The induction of Davis and others with similar careers (like Gale Sayers for example) shows that the Pro Football Hall of Fame recognizes bursts of excellence over years of above average consistency.  This will reflect in our ranking as a younger player who may have less accolades than a more tenured one could be ranked higher if he has more years where he was unquestionably an elite player at his position.  

We also have to add the caveat that we will only qualify those who have been chosen via the Modern Era class in the last fifteen years.

For reference, here are the last five Hall of Famers for each position and we have created what we call the Modern Positional Average, the MPA:

Quarterbacks: Troy Aikman, Brett Favre, Dan Marino, Kurt Warner, Steve Young.

Note that three of these QBs (Aikman, Marino & Young) competed in the 1990’s where offensive output is not what it is today.  This is one of the reasons why we are adding Super Bowls and Super Bowl appearances to offset this and since Quarterbacks are graded on that accomplishment more than all other positions combined, it seems appropriate. Please also note that while Quarterbacks are not initially thought of based on their rushing totals, more and more pivots act as a dual threat, and this helps to offset those who aid their offense as much as with their legs as they do with their arm.

200.4 Games, 175.5 Approximate Value, 0.8752 AV/G, 7.4 Pro Bowls, 2.2 First Team All-Pros, 46,122 Passing Yards, 306.6 Touchdown Passes, 1,537.6 Rushing Yards, 15.8 Rushing Touchdowns, 1.6 Super Bowls, 2.6 Super Bowl Appearances.

*Note that this is the same as last year, as no modern era Quarterbacks were inducted in 2020.

Running Backs:  Jerome Bettis, Terrell Davis, Edgerrin James, Curtis Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson.

151.2 Games, 120.6 Approximate Value, .7976 AV/G, 4.6 Pro Bowls, 2.0 First Team All-Pros, 12,240 Rushing Yards, 89.2 Rushing Touchdowns, 2,839 Receiving Yards, 9.2 Receiving Touchdowns.

*Edgerrin James replaces Marshall Faulk in regards to the last five Running Backs.  This changed the averages from 2019’s: 156.8 Games, 126.4 Approximate Value, .8061 AV/G, 5.2 Pro Bowls, 2.4 First Team All-Pros, 12,266.6 Rushing Yards, 97.2 Rushing Touchdowns, 3,541 Receiving Yards, 14.2 Receiving Touchdowns.

Wide Receivers: Tim Brown, Isaac Bruce, Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens.

221 Games, 153.6 Approximate Value, .6950 AV/G, 6.6 Pro Bowls, 2.4 First Team All-Pros, 1,056 Receptions, 15,189 Receiving Yards, 125.6 Receiving Touchdowns.

*Isaac Bruce replaces Andre Reed in regards to the last five Wide Receivers.  This changed the averages from 2019’s: 223.2 Games, 152.8 Approximate Value, .6581 AV/G, 7.2 Pro Bowls, 2.4 First Team All-Pros, 1,041.4 Receptions, 14,787.6 Receiving Yards, 124.8 Receiving Touchdowns

Tight Ends: Tony Gonzalez, Shannon Sharpe.

Please note that there are only two Tight Ends who have been inducted in the last sixteen seasons and we will base the average only on these two players.

237 Games, 126.5 Approximate Value, .5338 AV/G, 11 Pro Bowls, 5 First Team All-Pros, 1,025 Receptions, 12,593.5 Receiving Yards, 86.5 Receiving Touchdowns.

*Note that this is the same as last year, as no modern era Tight Ends were inducted in 2020.

Offensive Linemen: Steve Hutchinson, Walter Jones, Kevin Mawae, Orlando Pace, Will Shields.

196.6 Games, 141.4 Approximate Value, .7192 AV/G, 8.6 Pro Bowls, 3.4 First Team, All-Pros.

*Steve Hutchinson replaces Larry Allen and Jonathan Ogden.  Allen and Ogden entered the Hall of Fame in the same year; hence we used the last six Offensive Linemen as a baseline as opposed to five.  This changed the averages from 2019’s: 223.2 Games, 152.8 Approximate Value, .6581 AV/G, 7.2 Pro Bowls, 2.4 First Team All-Pros.

Defensive Lineman: Chris Doleman, Charles Haley, Cortez Kennedy, Michael Strahan, Jason Taylor.

203.4 Games, 138.8 Approximate Value, .6824 AV/G, 6.8 Pro Bowls, 2.8 First Team All-Pros, 5 Interceptions, 118 Quarterback Sacks, 753.4 Tackles.

*Note that this is the same as last year, as no modern era Defensive Linemen were inducted in 2020.

Linebackers: Derrick Brooks, Kevin Greene, Ray Lewis, Junior Seau Brian Urlacher.

226 Games, 152 Approximate Value, .7699 AV/G, 9.8 Pro Bowls, 4.8 First Team All-Pros, 62.6 Sacks, 1,478.8 Tackles, 20.2 Interceptions.

*Note that this is the same as last year, as no modern era Linebackers were inducted in 2020.

Cornerbacks: Champ Bailey, Ty Law, Ed Reed, Aeneas Williams.

203.5 Games, 146.5 Approximate Value, .7199 AV/G, 8.5 Pro Bowls, 3.5 First Team All-Pros, 53.5 Interceptions, 770.3 Tackles.

*Note that in 2019, all Defensive Backs were grouped together, and were Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins, Ty Law, Ed Reed and Aeneas Williams. Now, Cornerbacks and Safeties are separated.  We are only using four for both Corners and Safeties to keep everything relatively modern.  Last year’s composite for Defensive Backs were 202.6 Games, 134 Approximate Value, 0.6614 AV/G, 8.8 Pro Bowls 3.4 First Team All-Pros, 48 Interceptions and 861.8 Tackles.

Safeties: Steve Atwater, Brian Dawkins, Troy Polamalu, Ed Reed.

180.8 Games, 130.5 Approximate Value, .7218 AV/G, 8.5 Pro Bowls, 3.8 First Team All-Pros, 39.3 Interceptions, 925.3 Tackles.

*Note that in 2019, all Defensive Backs were grouped together, and were Champ Bailey, Brian Dawkins, Ty Law, Ed Reed and Aeneas Williams. Now, Cornerbacks and Safeties are separated.  We are only using four for both Corners and Safeties to keep everything relatively modern. Last year’s composite for Defensive Backs were 202.6 Games, 134 Approximate Value, 0.6614 AV/G, 8.8 Pro Bowls 3.4 First Team All-Pros, 48 Interceptions and 861.8 Tackles.

Note that over the last sixteen years, there was only one Place Kicker and Punter and no Special Teamers, thus we elected not to feature that average and input based on our elective opinion.

This list is based on the beginning of the 2020 Season:

Any asterisk in front of a statistic indicates that this metric exceeds the average.

Please remember that this list is based on accomplishments and not necessarily future potential.  Think of it as where they stand if their career ended today, with a partial look at where they are trending.  

This is interesting.

Recently, Larry Michael, 62, the voice of the Washington Football Team and Senior Vice President for years stepping down in those capacities.  As abrupt as it was, it became evident that it was due to his participation in allegations of sexual harassment that ran rampant among Washington executives. Michael was also a member of the 48-member Pro Football Hall of Fame Committee, but the key word here is “was”.

It is not known whether he was asked to leave the Hall of Fame Committee or quit on his own, but nevertheless he is gone, and Tony Dungy is in.

This is about as good an addition as you can get. Dungy is a Pro Football Hall of Fame Coach with a career record of 148-79, split between Tampa Bay and Indianapolis, the latter who he took to a Super Bowl Championship.  Following his coaching career, Dungy took on a position as an analyst for NBC.

Dungy is the third new member of the committee this year, joining fellow Hall of Famer, Bill Polian, and Lisa Salters.

As part of the new structure for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, at least one Coach, one Senior and one Contributor will be nominated and pushed through the final round.  This will go for at least four years.  

Days earlier, we learned that Tom Flores and Drew Pearson were named the Coach and Senior Finalist respectively.  Today, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced that scout, Bill Nunn will be moving forward as the Contributor Finalist.

Originally a journalist in the Pittsburgh area, Nunn openly lobbied Steelers’ owner, Dan Rooney, to look at the History Black Colleges to accumulate talent.  This was not a common place where teams would look, but rather than dismiss Nunn’s idea, he hired him to do exactly that.  

The Steelers became a powerhouse in the 1970s, and Nunn helped Pittsburgh draft HBCU players like Mel Blount, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes, Donnie Shell and John Stallworth.

Nunn was an Assistant Personnel Director from 1970-1987, and a Scout from 1987 to 2014.  He has six Super Bowls and was elected as an inaugural member to the Black College Hall of Fame.

This is not a lock for Nunn to enter Canton, but it definitely bodes well.

Recently, the Pro Football Hall of Fame made its announcement as to how it would go forward with Senior, Coach and Contributor candidates, as they stated they would have one Finalist going forward in the next four years.  We already know who the Coach and Senior candidates are for the 2021 Class, which are Tom Flores and Drew Pearson respectively.

Flores was a Finalist in 2019, and was a 2020 Centennial Slate Finalist.  The first Hispanic Coach of the NFl, Flores had a career record of 105-90 with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders & the Seattle Seahawks, taking the former to two Super Bowl Titles (XV & XVIII).

The Hall faced backlash when Jimmy Johnson and Bill Cowher appeared to have leapfrogged Flores and six-time Finalist, Don Coryell.  Coryell has long since passed, but Flores is still alive at 88, and was upset about his snub last year, especially after being told by Hall of Fame President, David Baker, that he was a “shoe-in”.

Pearson was never a Finalist in the Modern Day Committee, and like Flores, he too was on the Centennial Slate list of Finalists.  Pearson played for the Dallas Cowboys from 1973 to 1983 and he was a three-time First Team All-Pro and the Receiving Yards leader in 1977.  He helped Dallas win Super Bowl XII, and was a member of the 1970s All-Decade Team.  He had 7,822 Yards with 48 Touchdowns over his 11-year career.

Pearson was filmed watching the 2020 Hall of Fame 100^thAnniversary selection show.  He was clearly crushed by his omission, and felt that the hall did him wrong.  Based on the fact that it was a two-hour show, and he had to wait until the end to learn for certain that he wasn’t selected.  The pain had to have come early, as in the show’s first segment, fellow Wide Receiver, Harold Carmichael came to accept his gold jacket.  It had to be evident to Pearson, and those watching that if he hadn’t already known that he was being inducted, it was unlikely that he would be.

Pearson in ranked #28 on our latest Notinhalloffame.com Football list.  We do not rank Coaches at this time.

Please keep in mind that this is not a guarantee that both will be inducted by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, although it seems inconceivable that they will not be chosen.

We cautiously offer our congratulations to Flores and Pearson at this time, and hope that the Pro Football Hall of Fame committee will do the right thing.

This wasn’t the news we were hoping for.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their process going forward for Coaches, Contributors and Seniors Finalists for the next four years (2021-24), and if you are a worthy Senior Candidate, the road to Canton seems a lot narrower.

Prior to the 2020 selection process, Coaches and Contributors were in the same category as modern players. This system did not guarantee that at least one Coach and/or Contributor would be chosen in a given year.  For the 100^thAnniversary Class, the Coaches and Contributors were pooled with the Senior Candidates, and ten Seniors, two Coaches, and three Contributors were chosen.  In the next four years, there will be one new member in each of those categories.

For the worthy Coaches, this makes it a little easier.  We would have made (and lost) a significant wager that under the 2020 system, both Don Coryell and Tom Flores, both previous finalists, were going to get in. Flores, who is 88, was even told by Hall of Fame Commissioner, that he was a “shoe-in”.  Clearly, he wasn’t, as we Baker use his mammoth hands to knock on the unnecessary doors on the sets of NBC and FOX’s NFL coverage to award gold jackets to both Bill Cowher and Jimmy Johnson.  While the resumes of both Cowher and Johnson are strong, many (including us) felt it was pandering to the television by Baker.

Moving forward, it is assumed that Flores and Coryell will be the next two in, and now that don’t have to compete against modern era players, there won’t be an omission of a Coach.  

But stranger things can happen in Canton.

The real heartbreak is for the Seniors.  The hope of many was that after they inducted ten for the Centennial Class, they would open up the doors for more in the future, with at the number of Senior Inductees at least being in the plural.  The silver lining is that before 2020, there was no guarantee that they committee would induct any, so at least there will be one slot for this group. This news has to be devastating for the likes of Drew Pearson and Randy Gradishar, both of whom were Senior Finalists last year, who just saw their chances diminish.  

Gradishar and Pearson are just two of a glut of players in the Senior pool with Hall of Fame worthy resumes. There are over 50 former All-Decade players who are not in, and this news is devastating not only for those worthy gridiron greats but for all of their passionate fans who want to honor their legacy.

In other significant Hall of Fame news, Bill Polian and Lisa Salters will be on the 48-person Hall of Fame Committee, replacing Ira Miller and Vito Stellino, who are exiting. Polian is a six-time NFL Executive of the Year, and is a Pro Football Hall of Famer; inducted in 2015.  Salters has worked for ESPN since 2000, covering basketball and football.  She becomes the first African-American woman to be a part of the Committee. 

Joe Burrow was the No.1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft when he was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals but can the former LSU quarterback follow his top pick in the draft with a 'Hall of Fame' career amongst the pros...?

The Iowa native enjoyed a stellar college career and is an enormous talent, having won the Heisman Trophy and Maxwell Award during his final year with LSU.

The signal caller has all the attributes to succeed in the NFL but history doesn't dictate that he'll transition from being first pick amongst the class of 2020 to becoming a hall of famer in the future.

Having grabbed its first College Football Championship since 2007, the LSU that Burrow leaves behind is +650 in the American football odds for NCAAF glory in 2021.

Burrow meanwhile starts out into the rest of his career with the weight of being No.1 draftee on his back. 

Of the 14 previous No.1 picks to make it into the Hall of Fame, here's a reminder of the three most recent inductees.

Orlando Pace – No.1 pick in 1997

The St Louis Rams took Pace as the top pick in the '97 Draft following his promising time at Ohio State. On his induction to the HOF, it was recorded that Pace had become "one finest offensive linemen of his era" during his NFL career.

His Rams team shattered NFL scoring records with their outstanding offensive play and their thrilling 23-16 win over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV marked the end of almost a half-century waitfor ultimate success for the St Louis franchise on the biggest stage. 

Pace would also line out in the Super Bowl against New England at the end of the 2001 season but his side lost out in a knife-edge contest. 

He was selected in seven consecutive Pro Bowls and made 169 NFL appearances, making the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 2000s.

Troy Aikman – No.1 pick in 198

After switching to UCLA from Oklahoma, Aikman finished his college career as the third highest rated passer in NCAA history at that time. 

He was drafted by a struggling Dallas Cowboys outfit coming off their worst record since going 0-11-1 in its 1960 inaugural season.

In his dozen NFL season he made six Pro Bowls and led Dallas to three Super Bowl wins ('92, '93 and '95) as well as recording more NFL wins during the 1990s than any other quarterback.

In his career, Aikman threw a stunning tally of 32,942 yards and 165 touchdowns, giving him a passer rating of 81.6 on his retirement.

Bruce Smith – No.1 pick in 1989

Blessed with raw speed and acceleration, Smith impressed anyone who watched him at Virginia Tech and he attracted top pick from the Buffalo Bills in 1989.

He enjoyed an NFL career that spanned close to two decades and was selected on 11 Pro Bowls during his run. 

At the end of 1990 season, his Bills side lost 20-19 to the New York Giants in Super Bowl XXI in Florida. That was as close as Smith got to a ring, with the Bills well beaten in future appearances against the Washington Redskins and Dallas Cowboys (twice). Smith started in all four of those Super Bowls.

With 200 career sacks, he's recognized as an all-time leader in defensive play and holds the NFL record for most sacks. 

Finally, the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team has been announced, and history has shown that it is a huge catapult to Pro Football Hall of Fame entry. 

Initially, we were going to look at the ten players who benefited the most from the selection, but since at some point they will all be referred to anyway, let’s look at them all!

Quarterbacks:

Tom Brady, New England Patriots: 156 Games, 64.2 Completion Percentage, 43,727 Passing Yards, 316 Touchdown Passes, 80 Interceptions, 99.6 Quarterback Rating, 160 Approximate Value.  2 MVPs, 1 OPOY, 2 First Team All-Pros, 9 Pro Bowls, 3 Super Bowls.

A unanimous pick, Brady doesn’t need this accolade for enshrinement, and he already was an All-Decade choice in the 2000s.  He was ranked #1 on our pre-2019 active HOF list, and he is the GOAT.

Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers: 142 Games, 64.7 Completion Percentage, 38,145 Passing Yards, 305 Touchdown Passes, 63 Interceptions, 103.6 Quarterback Rating, 150 Approximate Value, 2 MVPs, 2 First Team All-Pros, 7 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl. 

Rodgers likely eked out Drew Brees, who could have easily gotten this spot, and if anyone is considered a snub for this All-Decade list, it is Brees.  Like Brady and Brees, Rodgers is already Hall of Fame worthy.  He was ranked #5 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Running Backs: 

Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins & Buffalo Bills:  153 Games, 9,786 Rushing Yards, 47 Rushing Touchdowns, 2,065 Receiving Yards, 11 Receiving Touchdowns, 78 Approximate Value, 3 Pro Bowls.

This should be a huge line in the resume of Frank Gore for Canton.  While he did go to three Pro Bowls in the first half of the decade, he has never finished in the top five in Rushing Yards or Rushing Touchdowns, and his highest finish in Yards from Scrimmage was fourth.  In that stat, he was only in the top ten three times.  Gore is one of four Running Backs to be named to the All-Decade team, but was he ever considered to be among the best four Running Backs ever? This is the ultimate compiling Running Back, and he could be in Jim Marshall/Clay Matthews territory.  With no sign that he is looking to retire, Gore is currently third all-time in Rushing Yards, 1,379 behind Walter Payton for second. That won’t happen in one season for Gore, but it could in two.  No player benefits more being an All-Decade player than Frank Gore.  He was ranked #18 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks & Oakland Raiders:  153 Games, 7,812 Rushing Yards, 68 Rushing Touchdowns, 1,551 Receiving Yards, 8 Receiving Touchdowns, 69 Approximate Value, 1 First Team All-Pro, 4 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

In terms of yardage, Lynch may not measure up in this era, but his impact certainly does.  “Beast Mode” returned late last season with the Seattle Seahawks, looking to extend his legacy, and if he returns for 2020, he will do just that.  He is notably six TDs away from 100.  

LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills & Kansas City Chiefs: 144 Games, 10,434 Rushing Yards, 69 Rushing Touchdowns, 3,489 Receiving Yards, 16 Receiving Touchdowns, 96 Approximate Value, 2 First Team All-Pros, 6 Pro Bowls.

As good as LeSean McCoy has been, it can be argued that he has flown under the radar in some circles. That should not be the case as he was close to 14,000 in Yards from Scrimmage for the decade, and this All-Decade selection is a reminder of how good he has been.  He was ranked #35 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints & Washington Redskins:  118 Games, 9,732 Rushing Yards, 71 Rushing Touchdowns, 1,536 Receiving Yards, 5 Receiving Touchdowns, 81 Approximate Value, 1 OPY, 2 First Team All-Pros, 4 Pro Bowls.

While Adrian Peterson was unanimous amongst the voters, you could argue that he statistically not the best Running Back of the decade.  That really doesn’t matter, as AP belongs here, and he is still adding to his stats. He was ranked #4 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Despite what may have looked like a knock on Gore, there was not really any credible person to replace him. (Ezekiel Elliott, maybe?)  It should be noted that no Full Back was part of the All-Decade Team, which had to anger (and did) Kyle Juszczyk.

Wide Receivers:

Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers & New England Patriots:  131 Games, 11,263 Receiving Yards, 74 Receiving Touchdowns, 102 Approximate Value, 4 First Team All-Pros, 7 Pro Bowls.

Did anyone do more to delay his Hall of Fame chances than Antonio Brown?  This All-Decade Selection was more than earned, and he was definitely in a Canton conversation, but what did he cost himself this year?  What might he cost himself next year?  Brown has a new accolade, but a brand-new reputation.  This All-Decade doesn’t do much for his chances but not because he was already there, but more because on-field accomplishments are no longer his talking point.   He was ranked #14 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals:  142 Games, 9,212 Receiving Yards, 57 Receiving Touchdowns, 74 Approximate Value, 6 Pro Bowls.

With the Arizona Cardinals since 2004, Fitzgerald seems to never age.  At 37, he looks like he has a lot left, and is second all-time in Receiving Yards, but more than 5,000 behind Jerry Rice.  Fitzgerald is however eight Touchdowns away from tying Marvin Harrison for fifth.  He was ranked #3 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons:  126 Games, 12,125 Receiving Yards, 57 Receiving Touchdowns, 113 Approximate Value, 2 First Team All-Pros, 7 Pro Bowls.

Jones is a two-time leader in Receiving Yards, and is still at the top of his game.  Statistically speaking, Jones is the best Wide Receiver of the decade, which was cemented by Brown’s inaction in 2019.  He was ranked #19 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions:  61 Games, 6,257 Receiving Yards, 45 Receiving Touchdowns, 70 Approximate Value, 3 First Team All-Pros, 6 Pro Bowls.

“Megatron” retired in his prime, but the first half of this decade would see him as the best Wide Receiver. In this period, he would lead the NFL twice in Receiving Yards.  Johnson is eligible for the Hall in 2021. 

Other Wide Receivers who could have been considered were A.J. Green or Demaryus Thomas, but neither were as dominant as Johnson, who arguably could be considered the “fourth” Wide Receiver. Green, however, did not play in 2019 due to injury, and he was 1,093 Yards away from five digits.  

Flex:

Darren Sproles, San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints & Philadelphia Eagles:  115 Games, 2,599 Rushing Yards, 17 Rushing Touchdowns, 3,936 Receiving Yards, 23 Receiving Touchdowns, 3 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

The first of one All-Decades that Sproles would win, Sproles retired this year and was one of the most unique offensive weapons in football since 2000.

Tight Ends:

Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots:  115 Games, 7,861 Receiving Yards, 79 Receiving Touchdowns, 82 Approximate Value, 4 First Team All-Pros, 5 Pro Bowls, 3 Super Bowls.

Gronkowski was an absolute phenom, and there was no doubt that when he was healthy, that he was the best Tight End in the game.  “Gronk” is a Hall of Famer, and the only question is which ballot.

Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs: 96 Games, 6,465 Receiving Yards, 37 Receiving Touchdowns, 66 Approximate Value, 2 First Team All-Pros, 5 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

Kelce arguably picked up where Gronkowski left off, and he is coming off his fifth straight Pro Bowl, and fourth straight 1,000 Yard plus year.  Some might see him as a Hall of Famer now, and this accolade combined with another dominant year and a Super Bowl may have put him there.  He was ranked #34 on our pre-2019 active HOF list. 

If any Tight End was arguably left off, it was Jason Witten, who had 7,012 Yards, 45 Touchdowns, five Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro.  Witten likely will get into Canton, but this would have been a nice honor, but was as he good as Kelce at his best?  The answer is no.

Offensive Tackles:

Jason Peters, Philadelphia Eagles:  125 Games, 88 Approximate Value, 2 First Team All-Pros, 6 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

Jason Peters’ career might be deep in the back nine, but he adds another one here, in what should be Canton bound.  He was ranked #11 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Tyron Smith, Dallas Cowboys: 131 Games, 91 Approximate Value, 2 First Team All-Pros, 7 Pro Bowls.

Smith is currently on a seven-year streak of Pro Bowls, and he could easily add to this.  If his career stalls, this honor could be critical for future Hall consideration.  He was ranked #34 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Joe Staley, San Francisco 49ers: 140 Games, 88 Approximate Value, 6 Pro Bowls.

As good as Staley has been, he has never been a First Team All-Pro, though does have three Second Team All-Pros over his career.  The All-Decade Team Selection should assist Staley, as his Pro Bowl days are likely behind him.  He was ranked #42 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Joe Thomas, Cleveland Browns: 112 Games, 77 Approximate Value, 5 First Team All-Pros, 7 Pro Bowls.

Thomas was a unanimous selection, and he has an excellent chance to be a first ballot inductee in 2023. 

As it is not an offensive skill position, there are no real “controversies” but Kansas City’s Mitchell Schwartz (128 G, 84 AV), has been sneaky good.  Don’t let his lone First Team All-Pro fool you.  Andrew Whitworth (153 G, 115 AV) had to have received strong consideration, and likely should have taken Staley’s spot.  This could be a critical snub in terms of any remote Hall of Fame shot he had. 

Offensive Guards:

Jahri Evans, New Orleans Saints & Green Bay Packers:  105 Games, 96 Approximate Value, 3 First Team All-Pros, 5 Pro Bowls.

Evans played all but his last season in football with the Saints, and he is Hall of Fame eligible in 2023.

Logan Mankins, New England Patriots & Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  91 Games, 67 Approximate Value 1 First Team All-Pro, 5 Pro Bowls.

Mankins never did win a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots, but securing an All-Decade spot should help him overall.  He is Hall of Fame eligible in 2021.

Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys: 94 Games, 74 Approximate Value, 4 First Team All-Pros, 6 Pro Bowls.  

As of this writing, Martin is arguably the best Tackle in the NFL, and he is on a Hall of Fame path.  He was ranked #38 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Marshal Yanda, Baltimore Ravens: 140 Games, 101 Approximate Value, 2 First Team All-Pros, 8 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

Yanda retired with his eighth Pro Bowl selection, which along with this honor, should cement him as a future Hall of Fame inductee.  Yanda was one of seven unanimous selections.  He was ranked #27 on our pre-2019 active HOF list. 

There had to be some consideration for Mike Iupati (130 G, 76 AV) and Trent Williams (120 G, 78 AV).

Centers:

Alex Mack, Cleveland Browns & Atlanta Falcons:  149 Games, 89 Approximate Value, 5 Pro Bowls.

Having played for Cleveland and Atlanta, Mack has not received a lot of national attention, and this accolade certainly should help.  He was ranked #44 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Maurkice Pouncey, Pittsburgh Steelers:  121 Games, 86 Approximate Value, 2 First Team All-Pros, 8 Pro Bowls.

Pouncey earns this All-Decade nod, and he is on a streak of five straight Pro Bowls.  This should put him over.  He was ranked #25 on our pre-2019 active HOF list. 

Other Centers worthy of consideration is the recently retired Travis Frederick (96 G, 61 AV) and Jason Kelce (126 G, 79 AV).  

Defensive Ends:

Calais Campbell, Arizona Cardinals & Jacksonville Jaguars:  154 Games, 118 Approximate Value, 81.0 Sacks, 620 Tackles, 1 First Team All-Pro, 5 Pro Bowls.

Campbell has been on fire with five Pro Bowls in the last six years.  In 2013, an All-Decade Selection would have been improbable for Campbell, but here we are, and this is a validation for all of the work he has done. He still has more work to do for a Canton home.  He was ranked #45 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Cameron Jordan, New Orleans Saints:  144 Games, 92 Approximate Value, 87.0 Sacks, 463 Tackles, 1 First Team All-Pro, 5 Pro Bowls.

Jordan is on a three-year run of Pro Bowls, and this could be considered a mild surprise for him to make All-Decade. He was ranked #70 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers & Carolina Panthers:  128 Games, 88 Approximate Value, 73.5 Sacks, 330 Tackles, 1 First Team All-Pro, 4 Pro Bowls.

Like Tom Brady, Peppers was also selected to the 2000s All-Decade Team, though we don’t see a lot of press on that!  Peppers retired in 2018, and is Hall of Fame eligible in 2024.  He will be an early Hall of Fame inductee.

J.J. Watt, Houston Texans:  112 Games, 112 Approximate Value, 96.0 Sacks, 479 Tackles, 3 DPOYs, 5 First Team All-Pros, 5 Pro Bowls.

Watt was a unanimous selection, and with three Defensive Player of the Year Awards, he doesn’t need any other accolades for Canton.

Defensive Tackles:

Geno Atkins, Cincinnati Bengals: 153 Games, 104 Approximate Value, 75.5 Sacks, 383 Tackles, 2 First Team All-Pros, 8 Pro Bowls.

Geno Atkins is a Cincinnati Bengal, and that means he needs all the accolades he can get to enter Canton! He has been a Pro Bowl Selection in eight of his ten seasons, and he is on six-year streak.  He was ranked #26 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Fletcher Cox, Philadelphia Eagles:  125 Games, 88 Approximate Value, 48.0 Sacks, 367 Tackles, 1 First Team All-Pro, 5 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

To date, Cox has played his entire career with the Eagles, and he is on a five-year streak of Pro Bowls. The next two years should be critical for Cox’ overall HOF chances. He was ranked #54 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Aaron Donald, Los Angeles Rams: 94 Games, 90 Approximate Value, 72.0 Sacks, 367 Tackles, 2 DPOYs, 5 First Team All-Pros, 6 Pro Bowls.

Like Watt, Donald was a unanimous selection, and the two-time Defensive Player of the Year is likely a Hall of Famer right now.  He was ranked #23 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams & Tampa Bay Buccaneers:  158 Games, 106 Approximate Value, 58.5 Sacks, 519 Tackles, 2 First Team All-Pros, 5 Pro Bowls. 

Suh’s profile hasn’t been the same as he was a Detroit Lion, but this one great decade that will follow him in terms of legacy.  This could be huge for Suh in regards to future consideration.  He was ranked #37 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Linebackers:

Chandler Jones, New England Patriots & Arizona Cardinals:  119 Games, 77 Approximate Value, 96.0 Sacks, 421 Tackles, 2 First Team All-Pros, 3 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

Jones could be considered a mild surprise, and realistically, it can be argued he spent more time on Defensive End.  He was not considered by most to be a Hall of Famer, but in 2019 he was a First Team All-Pro for the second time and set a career-high with 19 Sacks.  He is just four away from 100, and he could arguably be the player who is helped the most from this honor.

Luke Kuechly, Carolina Panthers: 118 Games, 107 Approximate Value, 12.5 Sacks, 1,092 Tackles, 1 DPOY, 5 First Team All-Pros, 7 Pro Bowls.

Kuechly retired at the end of this year, and he has likely done more than enough to enter the Hall of Fame. He was ranked #17 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Khalil Mack, Oakland Raiders & Chicago Bears:  94 Games, 76 Approximate Value, 61.5 Sacks, 398 Tackles, 1 DPOY, 3 First Team All-Pros, 5 Pro Bowls.

Mack is in the prime of his career, and this accolade will go a long way in terms of his legacy.  He was ranked #47 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Von Miller, Denver Broncos: 135 Games, 117 Approximate Value, 106.0 Sacks, 490 Tackles, 3 First Team All-Pros, 8 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

Miller is one of the seven unanimous selections, and he has been a Pro Bowl Selection in all but one of his nine NFL seasons.  If anything, this All-Decade Selection could cement him as a first-ballot inductee.  He was ranked #13 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Bobby Wagner, Seattle Seahawks. 119 Games, 112 Approximate Value, 19.5 Sacks, 1,075 Tackles, 5 First Team All-Pros, 6 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

Wagner may not have been the most recognized defensive player for the Seattle Seahawks, but he is the most decorated.  This adds to his already impressive list.  He was ranked #21 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Patrick Willis, San Francisco 49ers.  64 Games, 58 Approximate Value, 11.5 Sacks, 483 Tackles, 3 First Team All-Pros, 4 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

Willis had a relatively brief career, but it was still good enough to make the All-Decade Team.  Willis has already been a Semi-Finalist for the Hall. 

Before we get to the Defensive Backs, there a few who feel like they were left off, though it would be hard to determine whose spot they would take.  Terrell Suggs (119 G, 75 AV) could conceivably have taken Willis’ spot, and Cameron Wake (141 G, 92 AV) also had a great decade.

Cornerbacks:

Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals:  138 Games, 100 Approximate Value, 25 Interceptions, 438 Tackles, 3 First Team All-Pros, 8 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

Peterson is coming off his worst season, and that does take into account that he was suspended, as he when he did come back, he was sub-par.  This won’t matter here, as he had already locked up the All-Decade.  He was ranked #15 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Darrelle Revis, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots & Kansas City Chiefs:  97 Games, 67 Approximate Value, 15 Interceptions, 296 Tackles, 3 First Team All-Pros, 5 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

Revis island shut down in 2017, and he is Hall of Fame eligible in 2023.  Add this to the accolades of what should be a future Hall of Fame inductee.

Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks & San Francisco 49ers:  134 Games, 103 Approximate Value, 35 Interceptions, 466 Tackles, 3 First Team All-Pros, 5 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl. 

With a comeback year of sorts, Sherman probably did not need it to make the All-Decade Team, but it does bode well for his future Canton possibilities.  He was ranked #29 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Safeties:

Eric Berry, Kansas City Chiefs: 89 Games, 57 Approximate Value, 14 Interceptions, 445 Tackles, 3 First Team All-Pros, 5 Pro Bowls.

The fact that Berry came back at all from cancer is heartwarming, but is that story and this All-Decade enough? It will have to be, as even though he has not officially retired, his career appears to be over.  

Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens & Los Angeles Rams:  157 Games, 94 Approximate Value, 25 Interceptions, 916 Tackles, 2 First Team All-Pros, 6 Pro Bowls.  

Weddle may have two First Team All-Pros, but was he ever considered to be the best Safety in the NFL?  He had no trouble entering this All-Decade Team, which should show how good he was to many for who he flew under the radar.  He was ranked #30 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Earl Thomas, Seattle Seahawks & Baltimore Ravens:  140 Games, 92 Approximate Value, 30 Interceptions, 713 Tackles, 3 First Team All-Pros, 6 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.  

Thomas finished the decade with a sixth Pro Bowl and he was ranked #31 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.  

It is hard to argue with this trio, but on some lists, Kam Chancellor (109 G, 51 AV) was considered. Was the former Seahawk snubbed?

Defensive Backs:

Chris Harris, Denver Broncos: 139 Games, 73 Approximate Value, 20 Interceptions, 518 Tackles, 1 First Team All-Pro, 4 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl. 

As we will outline before, this could be massive for Harris, but it feels like an add-on based on the vague position. He was ranked #75 on our pre-2019 active HOF list. 

Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans and Kansas City Chiefs:  98 Games, 44 Approximate Value, 17 Interceptions, 472 Tackles, 2 First Team All-Pros, 1 Pro Bowl, 1 Super Bowl.

See below, as we aren’t sure what this really does for his chances, if anything.

This is a little strange as this generic defensive category did not exist last time, and arguably it took the spot of the Full Backs from the previous decade.  Granted, this is in line with what the AP has done recently, but this is not universally liked.  With a vague position, does this do that much for their Hall of Fame chances?  It certainly paces them at a metaphoric level that they were not in before.

Punters:

Johnny Hekker, St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams:  128 Games, 23 Approximate Value, 608 Punts, 28,600 Punt Yards, 4 First Team All-Pros, 4 Pro Bowls.

Hekker has been brilliant over his career, but in a position that only has Ray Guy as the representative. He was ranked #62 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Shane Lechler, Oakland Raiders & Houston Texans:  128 Games, 28 Approximate Value, 666 Punts, 31,865 Punt Yards, 1 First Team All-Pro, 2 Pro Bowls. 

Lechler also was named to the 2000s All-Decade Team and he is Hall of Fame eligible in 2023.

Place Kickers:

Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots:  136 Games, 34 Approximate Value, 264 Field Goals, 88.3 Field Goal Percentage, 1 First Team All-Pro, 3 Pro Bowls, 3 Super Bowls.

Following in the footsteps of Adam Vinatieri, Gostkowski became a star in his own right.  He was ranked #49 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens: 128 Games, 41 Approximate Value, 265 Field Goals, 90.8 Field Goal Percentage, 4 First Team All-Pros, 3 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

Tucker is the only Special Teams player to be voted unanimously, and regardless of the position, a unanimous vote helps you in future Hall of Fame consideration.  He was ranked #84 on our pre-2019 active HOF list.

Punt Returners:

Tyreek Hill, Kansas City Chiefs: 59 Games, 1,009 Punt Return Yards, 2 First Team All-Pro Selections, 4 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

With all due respect to this accomplishment, this does nothing for his Hall of Fame chances, as moving forward, it is all about what he does as a Wide Receiver.  To date he has 4,115 Yards in that role, and that is where three of his Pro Bowls and one of his First Team All-Pro is generated from.

Darren Sproles, San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles:  121 Games, 2,192 Punt Return Yards, 3 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

Sproles is also an All-Decade Selection as a Flex, and when all of this is put together, do we have a Hall of Famer here?  He should receive more consideration than people will give him credit for, and this is the reason why.

Kick Returners:

Devin Hester, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens and Seattle Seahawks:  96 Games, 2,059 Kick Return Yards, 1 First Team All-Pro, 2 Pro Bowls.

Named to the 2000s All-Decade Team as a Punt Returner, many people feel that Hester will get into the Hall of Fame as the next Special Teams player.  He is eligible for the Hall in 2022, so we will find out soon!

Cordarelle Patterson, Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots & Chicago Bears:  96 Games, 6,101 Kick Return Yards, 3 First Team All-Pros, 3 Pro Bowls, 1 Super Bowl.

Patterson has been great in this role, but he will need a lot more for the Hall.

In the last 15 years, only one Kicker and one Punter have entered Canton, so All-Decade Teams don’t do much to shine a light on these perpetually undervalued positions. 

What are everyone’s thoughts as to who benefited the most, and whose omissions hurt their Hall of Fame chances.  As always, we want your input, and we thank you from Notinhalloffame.com.  

There is always Hall of Fame related news when you look hard enough!

With the hope that the Pro Football Hall of Fame Ceremony will go on in August, impending inductee, Jimmy Johnson has given some insight as to his inductor will be.

On Twitter, he was asked if Jerry Jones, his former boss and owner of the Dallas Cowboys would induct him.  He responded that the honor will go to Troy Aikman and that Terry Bradshaw will put the jacket on him.

While there remains a rift between Johnson and Jones, there is hope that the Hall of Fame induction of Johnson will lead to a place in the Cowboys’ Ring of Honor.  It is worth noting that Tom Landry did not enter the Ring until three years after his Hall of Fame induction.

Hopefully we will find more Hall of Fame related news, and of course, we will be looking!

It seems that the more lists we create, the more we have to continue to update them.  

That sounded pretty obvious didn’t it?  Of course, we have to, and we love it!

Today, we have the unveiling of our 2021 version of the Notinhalloffame.com football list.  Only a few months ago, we expanded our list to 300, and this is the number that we are going to keep it firm at. 

Last season, the National Football League celebrated its 100^thAnniversary, and to coincide with the landmark, the Pro Football Hall of Fame added 15 new members, 10 of which were former players.  In addition to the five who were chosen by the regular committee, this means that we had to remove 15 names in total, the most we have ever done.

To recap, the 15 removed were Steve Atwater (#5), Troy Polamalu (#7), Isaac Bruce (#9), Alex Karras (#14), Edgerrin James (#20), Donnie Shell (#21), Mac Speedie (#22), Steve Hutchinson (#24), Cliff Harris (#26), Duke Slater (#33), Harold Carmichael (#37), Bobby Dillon (#118), Winston Hill (#147), Ed Sprinkle (#164) and Jimbo Covert (#285) 

We have added new names are now eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and a few who we might have overlooked in the past.  Those who we had on our Futures Section, we have taken your votes and comments into account and inputted them into our revised list.  We have also looked at your existing votes, and we are proud to present the new list of those to consider for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The complete list can be found here, but here is our new Top Ten:

#1. Peyton Manning.  Everyone else is fighting the remaining spots, as there has not been a lock this solid since Brett Favre’s first year of eligibility. Manning won a Super Bowl with Indianapolis and Denver, and he is a five-time MVP.  The Quarterback is also a fourteen-time Pro Bowl, seven-time First Team All-Pro and has a resume of 71,940 Passing Yards with 539 Touchdown Passes. Who else could be number one?

#2. Charles Woodson.  Woodson makes his debut at the second spot on our list, and like Manning, the Defensive Back looks like he is entering on his first year on the ballot. Splitting his career between Green Bay and the Oakland Raiders, Woodson won the Defensive Rookie of the Year (1998), and would later win the Defensive Player of the Year in 2009.  The two-time Interception leader owns a Super Bowl Ring as a member of the Green Bay Packers (XLV).

3. L.C. Greenwood.  Greenwood drops from #2 to #3.  The former Defensive End is a four-time Super Bowl Champion with Pittsburgh and was a member of the 1970s All-Decade Team.

4. Alan Faneca.  Faneca fell from #3, and the former Offensive Lineman and Super Bowl Champion with the Steelers has been a Finalist the last five years.

5. Randy Gradishar.  A star in the Broncos’ Orange Crush Defense, Randy Gradishar fell from #4 to #5.  Gradishar was a Finalist in the recent Centennial Slate Class of nominees, and while he did not get in, he could see himself as a Senior Class Finalist.

6. Chuck Howley:  Howley was number #1 last year but dropped to #6 this year.  Howley is the MVP of Super Bowl V (even though his Dallas Cowboys lost), and he is a five-time First Team All-Pro.

7. Roger Craig.  The versatile Running Back dropped one rank from #6 to #7.  The long-time San Francisco 49er was a nominee this year for the 100^thAnniversary Centennial Slate Class.

8. Reggie Wayne.  Wayne was a first time Finalist last year, and the former Indianapolis Colt will likely get inducted in the next few years.

9. Torry Holt.  Holt moved up from #11 and he is coming off his first appearance as a Finalist.  The induction of his teammate and fellow Wide Receiver, Isaac Bruce, bodes well for Holt in the near future.

10. Ken Anderson.  The former Bengals Quarterback returns to the top ten after being ranked #12 last year. To the dismay of Southern Ohio, Anderson was not even a Finalist in the 100^thCentennial Slate Class.

There are two other significant debuts to mention.

Jared Allen makes his first appearance at #19.  The former Defensive End was a five-time First Team All-Pro, and was one of the most popular defensive players of his day.  He could become a Finalist in his first year, but entry as a first-ballot inductee will likely elude him.  Calvin Johnson enters at #27.  While the former Wide Receiver had Hall of Fame talent, he retired in his prime, and the brevity of his career will likely delay his entry.  

The other first time entries are:

109. Kevin Williams.  Williams was a star with the Minnesota Vikings and the Defensive Tackle has six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros on his resume.

126. Logan Mankins.  Mankins was with the New England Patriots for most of his career, and the Offensive Lineman would go to seven Pro Bowls.

161. Wes Welker.  Welker was exceptionally popular when he played with the Patriots, and he would go to six Pro Bowls and secure two selections to the First Team All-Pro roster.

180. Jerry Smith.  We did not include him in our first expansion to 300, and we heard it from you.  At the time of his retirement, he had more Receiving Yards than any other Tight End.

193. William Heffelfinger.  Heffelfinger was another former player we did not initially include.  He is considered to be the first man to ever be paid as a pro football player.

221. Michael Vick.  The dual-threat Quarterback remains one of the greatest rushing QB in the game’s history. He is a former Bert Bell Award winner.

225. Stephen Jackson.  Jackson is the Rams’ all-time leading rusher and is a three-time Pro Bowl Selection.  He would lead the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage in 2006.

228. Charles Follis.  Like Heffelfinger, Follis predates the NFL, and is the first African-American to be a paid professional in the game the football. We should have had him when we expanded to 300 last year.

291. Roddy White.  White spent his entire career with the Atlanta Falcons and would be a four-time Pro Bowler.

As always, you know what we want you to do!

Take a look at the new entries, cast your vote, and offer your opinions.  This helps us in future rankings!

We will keep making new lists and revise our existing ones, and we thank you for your support.

We were wondering how they were going to do this.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2020 is the largest of all-time, and it was announced that it will span over two ceremonies.

The Regular Class will take place on August 8, coinciding with the beginning of the NFL pre-season.

The Centennial Class will be inducted on September, 18, which will not receive the same national coverage. As such, this has angered some of the fan bases, who have hoped that their respective candidate wild receive their proper due.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to again congratulate the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.