2011 Hall of Fame Inductees (1 Viewer)

[Jason Wood]

Even though off the field stuff is not supposed to matter, you can't help but wonder if the drug and alcohol problems early in his career is why they are not letting Cris Carter in. Or maybe he turned off some with his obsession with stats and numbers. I remember him being too hurt to play in a Sunday night game later in his career, but he went in for like two plays so he could keep his consecutive games streak alive.

I can't believe that has anything to do with it. Players like Michael Irvin and Lawrence Taylor had far more egregious dalliances with drug addiction and got in on their merits. If anything I would think Carter's drug use would be inspirational, since he was one of those rare people who was on the brink of failure due to addiction and completely turned his life around to then go on and have a massively successful career.

 

[Ghost Rider]

Even though off the field stuff is not supposed to matter, you can't help but wonder if the drug and alcohol problems early in his career is why they are not letting Cris Carter in. Or maybe he turned off some with his obsession with stats and numbers. I remember him being too hurt to play in a Sunday night game later in his career, but he went in for like two plays so he could keep his consecutive games streak alive.

I can't believe that has anything to do with it. Players like Michael Irvin and Lawrence Taylor had far more egregious dalliances with drug addiction and got in on their merits. If anything I would think Carter's drug use would be inspirational, since he was one of those rare people who was on the brink of failure due to addiction and completely turned his life around to then go on and have a massively successful career.

True, but LT is a top 10 all-time player according to most, and Irvin was one of the triplets on an offensive dynasty. Carter, despite his numbers, doesn't have anything like that to cling to that clearly puts him in. I think he'll make it eventually, but I am surprised he isn't in yet.

 

[Jason Wood]

Even though off the field stuff is not supposed to matter, you can't help but wonder if the drug and alcohol problems early in his career is why they are not letting Cris Carter in. Or maybe he turned off some with his obsession with stats and numbers. I remember him being too hurt to play in a Sunday night game later in his career, but he went in for like two plays so he could keep his consecutive games streak alive.

I can't believe that has anything to do with it. Players like Michael Irvin and Lawrence Taylor had far more egregious dalliances with drug addiction and got in on their merits. If anything I would think Carter's drug use would be inspirational, since he was one of those rare people who was on the brink of failure due to addiction and completely turned his life around to then go on and have a massively successful career.

True, but LT is a top 10 all-time player according to most, and Irvin was one of the triplets on an offensive dynasty. Carter, despite his numbers, doesn't have anything like that to cling to that clearly puts him in. I think he'll make it eventually, but I am surprised he isn't in yet.

I think Carter nailed it this week when he ascribed his lack of postseason success to the delay in his induction.

 

[David Yudkin]

I think Carter nailed it this week when he ascribed his lack of postseason success to the delay in his induction.

I'm a bit shuked on what the voters truly value these days. Didn't Art Monk win 3 rings yet still waited and waited? Maybe his body of work was not up to snuff (well, that's my opinion), but he eventually made it in. Andre Reed seems to be another one in the Monk category (who I also think was very good but perhaps not a HOFer). But then again, MY Hall of Fame would have fewer people in it.

 

[Jason Wood]

I think Carter nailed it this week when he ascribed his lack of postseason success to the delay in his induction.

I'm a bit shuked on what the voters truly value these days. Didn't Art Monk win 3 rings yet still waited and waited? Maybe his body of work was not up to snuff (well, that's my opinion), but he eventually made it in. Andre Reed seems to be another one in the Monk category (who I also think was very good but perhaps not a HOFer). But then again, MY Hall of Fame would have fewer people in it.

It appears the HOF committee has fallen into a bit of a rut in terms of slotting. One voter (I forget which) said this week that the general view in the room was that all 10 finalists this year would be in within the next three years. If that's true, it seems the committee is forming some sort of ranking system by position and making sure their "best guy standing" gets the nod first. Monk had the rings, but he was a compiler otherwise. Reed doesn't have the rings, but he has the SB appearances and his cohorts are already in the HOF.Of Reed/Carter/Brown I thought Reed might have the toughest road, but now he appears to be the next given the fact he's made the final list the last two years. And off the top of my head, until Marvin Harrison becomes eligible in a few years, there's really no WR I can see threatening knocking either of those guys out of the short list. You figure Harrison would be next. And then probably Owens, assuming he doesn't sign somewhere this year (he probably will), so you've got at least five years, if not more until the likes of Moss/Owens come into the conversation. I guess Torry Holt factors into the discussion although I can't see him being given serious consideration before Cris Carter, can you?

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

And off the top of my head, until Marvin Harrison becomes eligible in a few years, there's really no WR I can see threatening knocking either of those guys out of the short list. You figure Harrison would be next. And then probably Owens, assuming he doesn't sign somewhere this year (he probably will), so you've got at least five years, if not more until the likes of Moss/Owens come into the conversation. I guess Torry Holt factors into the discussion although I can't see him being given serious consideration before Cris Carter, can you?

Interesting comparison made by Peter King today.

Obviously, the arguments on Carter simply aren't working. And I'm getting the feeling more and more that it's possible receivers are being seen as interchangeable parts in a league in which teams are throwing so much more than ever. I fear Carter and Brown and Reed may end up being viewed as compilers rather than legitimate game-breaking players.

This leads me to think that Marvin Harrison might have a tough road too. Harrison: 1,102 catches, 128 touchdowns, 13.2 yards per catch playing with Peyton Manning ... Carter: 1,101, 130, 12.6, playing with much lesser quarterbacks. So why will Harrison be viewed differently by our group? I'm not saying I agree; I have supported Carter's candidacy because of his acrobatic sideline and end zone ways, and his tremendous hands, and his consistent production. I'm also one of 44.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writ...l#ixzz1DJ6oIih7Personally, I think the voters are having a hard time reconciling the huge spike in passing/receiving numbers over the past decade or two and what it means for HOF WRs.

I would have thought that Carter and probably Brown were clearly ahead of Reed, but I think being a part of those 90s Bills teams and the comeback win over Houston, and playing outdoors in a cold weather city in a run-oriented offense, and coming along before passing numbers truly exploded might be giving Reed something of an edge. All 3 of these players stand out in different ways, but Reed was a master of going over the middle and making plays after the catch. It definitely seems like he is gaining momentum and will get in as soon as there's a WR opening.

 

[David Yudkin]

One has to wonder about Isaac Bruce as well. On first blush I would say he's a no or maybe borderline, but he's #3 all time in receiving yards to go with #7 in receptions and #9 in TD. Maybe he's another example of too many guys putting up monster receiving stats over the past 20 years . . .

As for Harrison, didn't King make a case once that Harrison was not a HOFer, or am I confusing him with someone else?