I don't think any of this will matter. James has already been a finalist once and will likely be in future; he'll probably wait a while, but I'll be very surprised if he doesn't get elected eventually. And Gore is now 9th all time, having just passed Jim Brown and is less than 200 yards behind Tony Dorsett and ca. 700 yards behind Eric Dickerson. He could very easily end up 7th all time, maybe better if he holds up well, which he seems to be so far.L.C. Greenwood wrote:Frank Gore is close, but voters may struggle to recall signature moments from his career. I don't know if 12,000 yards will be enough, with other HOF candidates. Edgerrin James is very close, but it doesn't help the Colts won the year after he departed, and James wasn't a factor in SB43. He was a dangerous back, both running and receiving, but I'm struggling to recall big games when Manning wasn't himself, and James had to carry the Colts to victory.bachslunch wrote:I think Edgerrin James will be elected and for the same reason as Frank Gore -- both reached 12,000 career rushing yards. James has been a finalist also, so I think he gets in though after a solid wait, and Terrell Davis likely makes it in soon enough having reached the finals now. Adrian Peterson should sail right in, possibly first ballot. Ladanian Tomlinson should be first ballot this time around. I don't think anyone else gets in who isn't otherwise.
Who's best after this bunch? I'd probably rank them Corey Dillon, Tiki Barber, Shaun Alexander, Rickey Watters, Jamal Lewis, Priest Holmes, Fred Taylor, Rickey Williams, Clinton Portis, Warrick Dunn, and Eddie George. Or thereabouts. But I don't see good HoF cases for any of them.
Consider also that except for LaDanian Tomlinson (who should go in 1st ballot this year), Terrell Davis (who has been a finalist a couple times and should get in soon enough, likely this year or next), and Adrian Peterson, they don't have any real competition at the position. If there were several RBs with numbers like theirs in the pipeline, that would likely make a difference -- but there simply aren't.