What it Takes to Make the HOF (1 Viewer)

[smackdaddies]

Jerry Rice will stand on a podium Saturday in Canton, Ohio, and give his enshrinement speech for football immortality. Behind him will sit his two star quarterbacks, Joe Montana and Steve Young, both already members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In front of him, in the crowd of thousands, will be someone who threw him more passes with the 49ers than Montana and Young combined.

You know Joe and Steve. Now, meet Ted

Nice article in the Chicago Tribune

 

[PhilLynott]

I really wish that Peyton Manning would knuckle down. He seems to have the talent to be something special.

I could also throw in Tomlinson, Larry Fitzgerald, or Ray Lewis. Of course, you have the old school with Payton, Sayers, Lott, Bednarik, etc.

Jerry Rice is the second best receiver behind Don Hutson.

I understand what you are saying about Jerry's work ethic but there are so many players that will not make the Hall who have worked as hard or harder than Jerry.

Terrell Davis, Brian Piccolo, Pat Tillman, or Jerry Kramer. These players worked as hard as any and may never receive HOF consideration.

 

[butcher boy]

Jerry Rice is the second best receiver behind Don Hutson.

Not again...

 

[PhilLynott]

Jerry Rice is the second best receiver behind Don Hutson.

Not again...

At least we've narrowed it down to two. Don or Jerry, you really can't go wrong.

 

[SSOG]

Terrell Davis, Brian Piccolo, Pat Tillman, or Jerry Kramer. These players worked as hard as any and may never receive HOF consideration.

Terrell Davis has made the HoF semifinalist list every season he's been eligible.

At least we've narrowed it down to two. Don or Jerry, you really can't go wrong.

Don't forget about Lance or Randy.

 

[Buddy Ball 2K3]

Jerry Rice is the second best receiver behind Don Hutson.

Not again...

At least we've narrowed it down to two. Don or Jerry, you really can't go wrong.

Hutson couldn't even carry Cris Carters jock.

 

[No. 16]

I really wish that Peyton Manning would knuckle down. He seems to have the talent to be something special.

I could also throw in Tomlinson, Larry Fitzgerald, or Ray Lewis. Of course, you have the old school with Payton, Sayers, Lott, Bednarik, etc.

Jerry Rice is the second best receiver behind Don Hutson.

I understand what you are saying about Jerry's work ethic but there are so many players that will not make the Hall who have worked as hard or harder than Jerry.

Terrell Davis, Brian Piccolo, Pat Tillman, or Jerry Kramer. These players worked as hard as any and may never receive HOF consideration.

Last I checked Jerry Rice is the only one of the players you mentioned that has played 21 seasons of pro football. The only players that I would say who worked as hard as Jerry Rice are the guys on the following list (non-K, 20+ years of pro football):

Junior Seau

Vinny Testaverde

Darrell Green - HOF

Jackie Slater - HOF

Jim Marshall

Maybe other players worked as hard or harder for the first 5,6,7, 10, etc years but every few players played as long as Rice and we know the older you get, the harder you have to work.

 

[FUBAR]

I really wish that Peyton Manning would knuckle down. He seems to have the talent to be something special.

I could also throw in Tomlinson, Larry Fitzgerald, or Ray Lewis. Of course, you have the old school with Payton, Sayers, Lott, Bednarik, etc.

Jerry Rice is the second best receiver behind Don Hutson.

I understand what you are saying about Jerry's work ethic but there are so many players that will not make the Hall who have worked as hard or harder than Jerry.

Terrell Davis, Brian Piccolo, Pat Tillman, or Jerry Kramer. These players worked as hard as any and may never receive HOF consideration.

Last I checked Jerry Rice is the only one of the players you mentioned that has played 21 seasons of pro football. The only players that I would say who worked as hard as Jerry Rice are the guys on the following list (non-K, 20+ years of pro football):

Junior Seau

Vinny Testaverde

Darrell Green - HOF

Jackie Slater - HOF

Jim Marshall

Maybe other players worked as hard or harder for the first 5,6,7, 10, etc years but every few players played as long as Rice and we know the older you get, the harder you have to work.

Don't disrespect Bruce Matthews.

 

[Sweet Love]

I really wish that Peyton Manning would knuckle down. He seems to have the talent to be something special.

I could also throw in Tomlinson, Larry Fitzgerald, or Ray Lewis. Of course, you have the old school with Payton, Sayers, Lott, Bednarik, etc.

Jerry Rice is the second best receiver behind Don Hutson.

I understand what you are saying about Jerry's work ethic but there are so many players that will not make the Hall who have worked as hard or harder than Jerry.

Terrell Davis, Brian Piccolo, Pat Tillman, or Jerry Kramer. These players worked as hard as any and may never receive HOF consideration.

Last I checked Jerry Rice is the only one of the players you mentioned that has played 21 seasons of pro football. The only players that I would say who worked as hard as Jerry Rice are the guys on the following list (non-K, 20+ years of pro football):

Junior Seau

Vinny Testaverde

Darrell Green - HOF

Jackie Slater - HOF

Jim Marshall

Maybe other players worked as hard or harder for the first 5,6,7, 10, etc years but every few players played as long as Rice and we know the older you get, the harder you have to work.

No offense, but that line of thinking is just flawed. What about a guy like Rod Smith who was not even drafted. I think it is fair to say that a guy who was drafted in round 1 has a lot more leeway (whether he takes it or not is his decision and Rice certainly did not take it) to coast from time-to-time. Take some schmo who was a late round pick, not expected to even make a team and parlayed that into an 8 year career...you can't take that away from him and while the guys you listed certainly took care of themselves, all of them had superior talent to start with. Testaverde had a stronger arm 16 years in than some guys drafted 2 years earlier, but that does not mean he worked extra hard at it OR that they were slacking. When I look at NFL rosters and see guys with 8 years of service and above, chances are I know 95% of them; the ones I don't know always draw my attention and I am awlways wondering, "how is THAT guy still in the league?".

 

[cvnpoka]

Pat Tillman

tillman did not have singular focus on football. in fact, he did detrimental training in the offseason, such as running marathons. dude obv had work ethic, but he didnt channel it to football.

 

[No. 16]

I really wish that Peyton Manning would knuckle down. He seems to have the talent to be something special.

I could also throw in Tomlinson, Larry Fitzgerald, or Ray Lewis. Of course, you have the old school with Payton, Sayers, Lott, Bednarik, etc.

Jerry Rice is the second best receiver behind Don Hutson.

I understand what you are saying about Jerry's work ethic but there are so many players that will not make the Hall who have worked as hard or harder than Jerry.

Terrell Davis, Brian Piccolo, Pat Tillman, or Jerry Kramer. These players worked as hard as any and may never receive HOF consideration.

Last I checked Jerry Rice is the only one of the players you mentioned that has played 21 seasons of pro football. The only players that I would say who worked as hard as Jerry Rice are the guys on the following list (non-K, 20+ years of pro football):

Junior Seau

Vinny Testaverde

Darrell Green - HOF

Jackie Slater - HOF

Jim Marshall

Maybe other players worked as hard or harder for the first 5,6,7, 10, etc years but every few players played as long as Rice and we know the older you get, the harder you have to work.

No offense, but that line of thinking is just flawed. What about a guy like Rod Smith who was not even drafted. I think it is fair to say that a guy who was drafted in round 1 has a lot more leeway (whether he takes it or not is his decision and Rice certainly did not take it) to coast from time-to-time. Take some schmo who was a late round pick, not expected to even make a team and parlayed that into an 8 year career...you can't take that away from him and while the guys you listed certainly took care of themselves, all of them had superior talent to start with. Testaverde had a stronger arm 16 years in than some guys drafted 2 years earlier, but that does not mean he worked extra hard at it OR that they were slacking. When I look at NFL rosters and see guys with 8 years of service and above, chances are I know 95% of them; the ones I don't know always draw my attention and I am awlways wondering, "how is THAT guy still in the league?".

Seems pretty simple to me. Rod Smith 12 year in the league, retired at age 36 - Last 1,000 yard season @ 35

Jerry Rice 21 years in the league, retired at age 41 - Last 1,00 yard season @ 40

Sure from age 25-36 Rod Smith (25 is when Smith broke into the NFL) probably worked as hard as Rice, but after that you have to give Rice credit for the 5 extra years of work he put in after Smith retired. Same with every other player you want to mention aside from the guys mentioned above. Sure those players could compare to Rice during the span of their careers, but Rice played longer than many of them and that gives him the edge.

Also I don't see where talent comes into play. Work ethic is independent of talent.

It's a lot easier for a player to keep a roster spot from age 21-30, than it is to remain a starter from age 31-40.