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I believe the hall of fame is as much about the story the press can write for ones place in history as it is about accomplishment. Rings are not that significant to purists who understand great players can be on teams that nevertheless don't make it, and marginal players can be on great teams. (First three time ring wearer was Marv Flemming, a back up on the Packers and the Dolphins, so obviously rings dont decide the issue) I just think his story just got better and that helps IMO. It also takes away one argument for detractors.
Get your ketchup ready, because Bettis is a mortal lock.
I think Thomas should be in too.
Who is retiring this year, or who has retired in the past few, that is going to render Bettis obsolete when he comes up for induction? No way Holmes gets in over Bettis, especially now that Bettis has the ring, if Holmes retires... and other than Emmitt Smith, who will already be in before Bettis is eligible, I don't see who is going to outshine him on the ballot. Maybe I'm wrong - but what backs are going to be on there with Jerome when the voters get their first ballot with Bettis on it?
I know you were responding directly to a post about other backs possibly keeping Bettis out, but it doesn't have to be other backs keeping him out that first year. Deion and Favre will probably be up the same year and they are locks for the first year. If the veterans committee has a couple guys, they usually get in. Any word from Faulk? I wouldn't be surprised if he was done this year. Add to that people that have been overlooked for a year or much longer and Bettis could easily slip a year or two. And, once you slip a year or two, then enter David's argument that other backs may have now blown away Bettis' numbers.I don't know many people when Monk retired that said Monk would not get in pretty quickly. Well...
Great points Yuds. With more passing, and rule changes, NFL games run about twice as many plays as they did in the 60's and 70's. Career stats, and even the 1k season for rushing/receiving, or 3k for passing, have been diminished. Where they used to be great, they're merely average now. Career numbers measure longtime contributions, not greatness. I'm not a huge stat guy. I look at the play of the guy, and yes he's a great one, or no he's not. Statistics play more into situation, talent level of the team, how many times and how far in the playoffs (bus boosted there, as was Emmitt) the longer season, diluted talent of the late 90's (expansion) and so many other factors. It's a stick, but not I like to use.
His beard is very nicely groomed. We were discussing that yesterday - that s--t is sharp.
Obviously Emmitt gets in. If Faulk retires this offseason, he would get more votes than Bettis. Martin will get in and also could retire maybe next year. That's 3 other guys that could hold up Bettis' induction (assuming they only take one RB each year). If that extends his time away from the game to 6 or 7 years, there could be several RB that eclipse some of his numbers. As others besides myself have posted, not a lot of RB have ever even made it in.There also could be other notables at other positions (Favre, Rice, Brown, etc.) that could keep Bettis out initially.I fully understand that his resume has a lot more on it than just stats, so the numbers alone may not carry as much weight as with other players.
I know it doesn't have to be backs, but if there are no more deserving backs on the ballot, it's going to make Bettis look that much better.Deion and Favre will get in as well, and while Favre is a shoo-in, I don't know that Deion is any more of a lock than Bettis. He was a transcendant talent, no doubt, but his prime (no pun intended) was relatively short. Besides which, they usually take about 5-6 guys a year anyway, I can't imagine 6 guys on that ballot when Bettis is first eligible being more attractive options. Bettis is LOVED.
That is the sweetest beard this side of Katie Holmes. Nice trim, both of them.
Favre for sure. Curtis Martin at this point (with no ring) may not be a more attractive candidate than Bettis. I get what you're saying, and I even understand the argument against him. I just don't think there's any way he doesn't make it. Did anyone see all the interviews last night with the other Steelers? That guy is revered by his teammates - every guy they talk to says that he is a better player and a better person for having known Bettis. His impact and leadership in that locker room were immeasurable, and several players said his influence was the single most important factor in the Steelers winning it all this year.
Hate to hijack, but teams rarely threw to his side for 3 years in Atlanta, 1 year in SF and 4 years in Dallas. This is where stats betray his effect NOt to mention he was a top notch return man. He wasn't much for contact, but he was the epitome of a shutdown corner for a number of years. I think he goes in as soon as he's eligible. This goes to the core of greatness over compilation.
I disagree with your comment about Priest Holmes. Priest also has a SB under his belt in essentially the same role as Bettis (according to Wikipedia he actually started the game http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXV). Priest was perhaps the best player in the league for 3-4 years, and broke the TD record (which was broken by SA this year). To me, Holmes perhaps has a far better resume for being in the HOF than Bettis, because Bettis was very good over a length of time and because Priest was GREAT for a length of time (admittedly much shorter period of time). The thing that Bettis has going for him more than most other players, is that he is a media darling. That will certainly help him in his bid to the HOF. But if Priest and Bettis both retire this year, I think Priest definitely creates a problem for Bettis. I could be way off on this though.
Other than providing an interesting sidelight to an otherwise ho-hum game, I don't think earning a ring in a season in which he was a reserve with 300 rushing yards and 40 rushing yards in the Super Bowl really makes a bit of difference on whether he makes it or doesn't. There are plenty of players that have been inducted without winning a Super Bowl, and I hardly think that that is a barometer for induction. Multiple Super Bowl rings gets you brownie points, but I can't see one ring making you go from "out" to "in."Essentially, Bettis did the LEAST for this Steelers team than any other Steelers team he played for. Nice story, yes. Deal breaker? Lord I hope not.
It just enhances his resume, that's all. When the initial thread was up, a lot of detractors pointed to his lack of a ring as a reason to keep him out. they no longer have that reason. And this isn't a situation where he did nothing to contribute - the guy was still toting the rock 10-15 times a game down the stretch and made a couple of key runs late Sunday that allowed Pittsburgh to ice the win.
You should be right. But Bettis, although a backup, was the biggest story of this year's SB. Everyone will remember him being in this game. Bledsoe was an afterthought in that super bowl, and many casual fans probably don't even remember he was the backup(although he did play in the AFCC game that year). I don't think this SB should enhance his chances, but I think it will.
