Chase Stuart
Footballguy
Hypothetically, of course, but would Brian Urlacher make the HOF if he retired today (for argument's sake, due to injury)?
He is?Maybe not a 1st Ballet, but yes he would be a shoe in Hall or Famer. No championship's but 6x Pro Bowler, 4X All Pro, Defensive MVP and the face of the Chicago Bears Franchise for the last Decade. He's looked at on the same level as Singletary and Butkus... he would have my vote.
If you're saying Chicago fans look at him the same as Singletary and Butkus, then it lowers my respect for Chicago fans... a lot.IMO he is not in their class, and I don't think it's that close, either.He's looked at on the same level as Singletary and Butkus...
If the question was should he get in in this scenario, I'd say no. But the question is would he. And I think the answer is probably yes, though it would take him a while.An issue for him in this scenario would be that he'd become eligible around the same time, give or take a year or two, as Brooks, Seau, Thomas, and Lewis, who would all be more deserving IMO... and there are currently only 9 LBs in the HOF who played in the 1980s or later, including Rickey Jackson, who is getting in this year.That said, Rickey Jackson becomes a fairly good argument for putting Urlacher in, for those who subscribe to the "if player A is in, and player B is as good as or better than player A, then player B should get in" argument.Hypothetically, of course, but would Brian Urlacher make the HOF if he retired today (for argument's sake, due to injury)?
I dont believe he is looked upon as good as either of those 2 LB's. Not outside of Chicago or inside of Chicago. Butkus is a legend and always will be. Singletary was leader on a Superbowl winner that people in Chicago will tell you was the greatest Defense ever. If Urlacher were to retire today, 5 years from now fans would have fond memories of an exceptional football player, but as time goes on, they won't be remeber as the BIG 3.Maybe not a 1st Ballet, but yes he would be a shoe in Hall or Famer. No championship's but 6x Pro Bowler, 4X All Pro, Defensive MVP and the face of the Chicago Bears Franchise for the last Decade. He's looked at on the same level as Singletary and Butkus... he would have my vote.
i don't look at pro bowls as meaning much, especially after this past one.1 DPOY is nice, DROY is nice. and he has had some good seasons, but when i think of him, i think of injuries and lost time for whatever reason. (well I guess it's only really been 2 seasons) but that is 20%. hall or very good - yes.hall of fame - no.now if he plays 5 or 6 more seasons and plays well then maybe.1 Defensive Player of the Year Award, 4-time 1st team All Pro, 6 Pro Bowls, Defensive Rookie of the Year
Well, I think Bill George already makes it the Big 3, but I agree that Urlacher probably isn't in the big 4, at least as it stands now.I dont believe he is looked upon as good as either of those 2 LB's. Not outside of Chicago or inside of Chicago. Butkus is a legend and always will be. Singletary was leader on a Superbowl winner that people in Chicago will tell you was the greatest Defense ever. If Urlacher were to retire today, 5 years from now fans would have fond memories of an exceptional football player, but as time goes on, they won't be remeber as the BIG 3.Maybe not a 1st Ballet, but yes he would be a shoe in Hall or Famer. No championship's but 6x Pro Bowler, 4X All Pro, Defensive MVP and the face of the Chicago Bears Franchise for the last Decade. He's looked at on the same level as Singletary and Butkus... he would have my vote.
Veryi don't look at pro bowls as meaning much, especially after this past one.1 DPOY is nice, DROY is nice. and he has had some good seasons, but when i think of him, i think of injuries and lost time for whatever reason. (well I guess it's only really been 2 seasons) but that is 20%.1 Defensive Player of the Year Award, 4-time 1st team All Pro, 6 Pro Bowls, Defensive Rookie of the Year
hall of very good - yes.
hall of fame - no.
now if he plays 5 or 6 more seasons and plays well then maybe.
. Too many guys getting into Canton lately who have no business there.out of a 10-year career, he's played in all 16 games 8 times. he suffered two season-ending injuries. he's played through injuries, but hasn't really missed time because of any thing that wasn't major.when i think of him, i think of injuries and lost time for whatever reason. (well I guess it's only really been 2 seasons) but that is 20%.
there's a lot of HOF type players on this similarity chart for him already.NumYrs Players whose career was of similar quality and shape
3 Jack Lambert*, Sam Huff*, Lofa Tatupu, Derrick Thomas*, Jack Ham*, Zach Thomas, Willie Lanier*, **** Butkus*, Joe Schmidt*, Ted Hendricks*
4 Jack Lambert*, Isiah Robertson, Ted Hendricks*, Zach Thomas, Lance Briggs, Ray Lewis, Joe Schmidt*, Willie Lanier*, DeMarcus Ware, Dale Dodrill
5 Ted Hendricks*, Zach Thomas, Lance Briggs, Jack Lambert*, Derrick Brooks, Bryan Cox, Bill George*, Randy Gradishar, Ray Lewis, Phil Villapiano
6 Zach Thomas, Ted Hendricks*, Bill George*, Sam Huff*, Derrick Brooks, Lance Briggs, Jack Lambert*, Ray Lewis, Randy Gradishar, Mike Singletary*
7 Ray Lewis, Bill George*, Willie Lanier*, Mike Singletary*, Zach Thomas, Sam Huff*, Pat Swilling, Derrick Brooks, Isiah Robertson, Jack Lambert*
8 Derrick Brooks, Zach Thomas, Bill George*, Willie Lanier*, Isiah Robertson, Pat Swilling, Greg Lloyd, Sam Huff*, Ray Lewis, Mike Singletary*
9 Zach Thomas, Willie Lanier*, Derrick Brooks, Sam Huff*, Isiah Robertson, Wilber Marshall, Bill George*, Pat Swilling, Jack Lambert*, Randy Gradishar
Career Greg Lloyd, Pat Swilling, Willie Lanier*, Randy Gradishar, Wilber Marshall, Charles Haley, Jeremiah Trotter, Mike Curtis, **** Butkus*, Andre Tippett*
not a chance
I was thinking similarly. Can the 3rd best MLB of an era make it? I love Urlacher but putting it that way makes me think he's going to have trouble getting in(in this instance).1 Defensive Player of the Year Award, 4-time 1st team All Pro, 6 Pro Bowls, Defensive Rookie of the YearI think he's not quite as good as his resume suggests, but they certainly would put him in the conversation.Among the MLBs of his era, Ray Lewis is clearly ahead. Not sure who else. Zach Thomas probably. That's about it.
While I'm about the biggest London Fletcher fan there is, this isn't necessarily true.In 138 career regular season games, Urlacher has 37.5 sacks, 17 INTs, 8 FF, and 9 FR.In 191 career regular season games, Fletcher has 30.0 sacks, 15 INTs, 12 FF, and 9 FR.Fletcher has way more tackles but that's not an official NFL stat and there's quite a bit of subjectivity in how those are credited.Also, as ridiculous as it was, Fletcher didn't make a Pro Bowl until this year and only then as an injury replacement.Statistically he is no London Fletcher.
The guys from the 90's are just becoming eligible though for the most part. The only guy that played the majority of his career in the 90's so far is D Thomas. Of guys that played the majority of their career in the 80's you have Singletary, Carson, R Jackson, A Tippett, and LT. Seau would be considered more of a 90's guy, yeah he's hung around a long time but that's where the bulk of his HOF credentials come from. Urlacher definitely compares favorably to Tippett and Carson. If they find room for 5 LB's from the 00's like they did the 80's then Urlacher should definitely make it. I doubt he's 1st ballot, but he's eventually going to get in.If the question was should he get in in this scenario, I'd say no. But the question is would he. And I think the answer is probably yes, though it would take him a while.An issue for him in this scenario would be that he'd become eligible around the same time, give or take a year or two, as Brooks, Seau, Thomas, and Lewis, who would all be more deserving IMO... and there are currently only 9 LBs in the HOF who played in the 1980s or later, including Rickey Jackson, who is getting in this year.That said, Rickey Jackson becomes a fairly good argument for putting Urlacher in, for those who subscribe to the "if player A is in, and player B is as good as or better than player A, then player B should get in" argument.Hypothetically, of course, but would Brian Urlacher make the HOF if he retired today (for argument's sake, due to injury)?
To an extent Int's. and Sacks cxan be a bit of a fortuituos stat. Tackles, on the other hand, over a career, maybe not sao much. Personally, I think tackling the prime job of a MLB. Also, while I like Fletcher's game, I do not see him as even approaching the HOF.Urlacher to me has been hype. The NFL always has a face of a franchise, even when that franchise sucks. Urlacher has been the face of the Bears and hyped pregame as the designated story not so much because of his excellence, but because the bears lacked other stories.While I'm about the biggest London Fletcher fan there is, this isn't necessarily true.In 138 career regular season games, Urlacher has 37.5 sacks, 17 INTs, 8 FF, and 9 FR.In 191 career regular season games, Fletcher has 30.0 sacks, 15 INTs, 12 FF, and 9 FR.Fletcher has way more tackles but that's not an official NFL stat and there's quite a bit of subjectivity in how those are credited.Also, as ridiculous as it was, Fletcher didn't make a Pro Bowl until this year and only then as an injury replacement.Statistically he is no London Fletcher.
1 and 2- **** Butkus and Mike Singletary (it can be argued as to who was better)3- Bill George4, 5 and 6- Joe Fortunato, Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs (it can be argued as to who was better)Well, I think Bill George already makes it the Big 3, but I agree that Urlacher probably isn't in the big 4, at least as it stands now.I dont believe he is looked upon as good as either of those 2 LB's. Not outside of Chicago or inside of Chicago. Butkus is a legend and always will be. Singletary was leader on a Superbowl winner that people in Chicago will tell you was the greatest Defense ever. If Urlacher were to retire today, 5 years from now fans would have fond memories of an exceptional football player, but as time goes on, they won't be remeber as the BIG 3.Maybe not a 1st Ballet, but yes he would be a shoe in Hall or Famer. No championship's but 6x Pro Bowler, 4X All Pro, Defensive MVP and the face of the Chicago Bears Franchise for the last Decade. He's looked at on the same level as Singletary and Butkus... he would have my vote.
Year Yds Pts Yds Y/A1999 29 20 23 28 <-- year before Urlacher came2000 16 20 19 102001 15 1 2 42002 25 25 26 152003 14 22 16 172004 21 13 25 16 <-- year Urlacher missed 7 games2005 2 1 11 92006 5 3 6 112007 28 16 24 242008 21 16 5 32009 17 21 23 18 <-- year Urlacher missed 15 gamesavg 16 13 15 12 Year Yds Pts Yds Y/A1973 19 15 6 9 <-- year before Gradishar came1974 21 22 13 11 <-- Gradishar's rookie year/backup1975 9 18 13 61976 8 6 3 21977 9 3 1 11978 6 2 6 41979 10 5 1 11980 15 16 20 121981 6 9 13 221982 24 25 7 21983 21 9 10 91984 25 2 5 10 <-- year after Gradishar leftavg 13 12 9 7
the face of the Chicago Bears Franchise for the last Decade.
These two points, while both true are completely irrelevant to the discussion as to whther or not he will be a HOFer. Whther or not he lived up his hype or he was the face of the franchise have little to do with his onfield accomplishments.I always thought that Urlacher was more hype than substance.
No, he isn't. I am a Bears fan and one who owns an Urlacher jersey. He compares weakly to Singeltary (who was a play-maker much longer) and doesn't come close to Butkus. Interestingly, Chase avoided using the word "should" he be a HOFer. If he had maintained his performance level over a longer period, this really wouldn't be up for discussion. He was an excellent MLB, but for too short a time span to put him with the elite. Early in his career, the discussion of Urlacher vs. Ray Lewis were close - but Lewis was not only as dominant (if not more so) than Urlacher - he has maintained it. Urlacher has not. He may still sneak in (Not being as good as Lewis doesn't automatically discount him) - but I'd say it's 50/50 at best.He is?Maybe not a 1st Ballet, but yes he would be a shoe in Hall or Famer. No championship's but 6x Pro Bowler, 4X All Pro, Defensive MVP and the face of the Chicago Bears Franchise for the last Decade. He's looked at on the same level as Singletary and Butkus... he would have my vote.
I agree completely. I've always liked Rickey Jackson and thought he was a good linebacker but it never even occurred to me that he was a Hall-of-Famer. Before Jackson's election, I would've said "no" on Urlacher but he should be in if Jackson is the benchmark.That said, Rickey Jackson becomes a fairly good argument for putting Urlacher in, for those who subscribe to the "if player A is in, and player B is as good as or better than player A, then player B should get in" argument.
I don't think Rickey Jackson is a good comparison because he was a 3-4 OLB for the majority of his career. Also, Rickey's put up 1180 tackles, 128 sacks, 8 int, 40 ff, and 29 fr. He also played great well into his 30s as he was making all pro teams at ages 34 and 35. He also finished his career at age 37 with 9.5 sacks. Throughout his career he made 6 legit pro bowls and was named an all pro by at least 1 publications in 7 different seasons. In 13 seasons in New Orleans he led a top 10 defense 7 times (while being on 2 more as a 49er). Urlacher, in comparison, made 4 legit pro bowls appearances (2000 was an injury sub, and 2003 was a horrible selection) and has been named an all pro by any publication in only 4 seasons during his career. In addition he has only led 2-3 top 10 defenses during his 10 seasons as a Bear and unlike Jackson has been playing poorly since he turned 29/30 years old. I think Jackson's longevity, being named an all pro 7 different seasons, and ridiculous stats are what got him into the HOF.I agree completely. I've always liked Rickey Jackson and thought he was a good linebacker but it never even occurred to me that he was a Hall-of-Famer. Before Jackson's election, I would've said "no" on Urlacher but he should be in if Jackson is the benchmark.That said, Rickey Jackson becomes a fairly good argument for putting Urlacher in, for those who subscribe to the "if player A is in, and player B is as good as or better than player A, then player B should get in" argument.
Grange #40? I have trouble taking that list seriously.Article on the 50 Best Bears of all time...
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...bears05.article
Urlacher #13
Singletary #11
See he is looked at on par with the Great Linebackers of the Bears by the Chicago media.
That list is embarrassing. Most Chicago media doesn't put Urlacher anywhere near those other all time greats. Heck, even most Bears fans now don't think he is a HOFer or should even be a MLB anymore.Grange #40? I have trouble taking that list seriously.Article on the 50 Best Bears of all time...
http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/be...bears05.article
Urlacher #13
Singletary #11
See he is looked at on par with the Great Linebackers of the Bears by the Chicago media.
No....when I think of him I immediately think of overrated.Hypothetically, of course, but would Brian Urlacher make the HOF if he retired today (for argument's sake, due to injury)?
He is?Maybe not a 1st Ballet, but yes he would be a shoe in Hall or Famer. No championship's but 6x Pro Bowler, 4X All Pro, Defensive MVP and the face of the Chicago Bears Franchise for the last Decade. He's looked at on the same level as Singletary and Butkus... he would have my vote.