Professional Football Researchers Association Forum
PFRA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the history of professional football. Formed in 1979, PFRA members include many of the game's foremost historians and writers.
Brian wolf wrote:I could be wrong T&S, maybe JuggernautJ has the answer but Faison and Kenn are locks this year ?
I get Kenn, but why Faison? I assume he got hurt? Seems to be a lot of passion for AFL/AAFC sometimes, turns me off when passion outweighs reason, but probably I'm being a bit unfair.
Every person here seems to have a passion for a particular era, team, player ... Some people seem to have a lot of passion for pre-NFL and early NFL players ...
What's one to make of me, then? Three of my, I'd say, 5 favorite players ever fall into each of these classes:
Brian wolf wrote:If the vote came to you J&L ... who would you choose, Lionel Taylor or Hennigan ? What are your thoughts on Burford, Powell and Otis Taylor ?
Burford is the only one who isn't slam-dunk HOVG. He has some argument. Lionel also needs to be in the HOVG. Hennigan belongs in the HOF. Dude was peak Jerry Rice levels of unbelievable while he lasted. Bill Groman could be HOVG, but he's a matter of taste (he is very much to my own). It's probably not difficult to tell that I have a strong predilection for flashy guys.
SixtiesFan wrote:Just out of curiosity to throw out a couple of names, have Jon Arnett and Willie Galimore ever been considered for the HOVG?
Or Dick Bass, who had two 1000 yard seasons?
Bass is the only one there with a case. Not while Lionel Taylor isn't in, though.
In the 1980's NFL Films made several films on the 1950s which they used to show on ESPN. I read in a coffee table book on running backs that at Steve Sabol's urging one year Willie Galimore was an Old Timers candidate for the HOF, but didn't get far.
Hennigan definitely had an impact on Blanda and Willie Brown's career and Powell should be in the HOF in my view.
With both Otis and Lionel having cases as well.
Powell overshadowed HOF players Maynard and Biletnikoff on his own teams. Imagine had he not gotten hurt in 1967?
I still wonder how good George Sauer Jr's career would have been had he not retired after only six seasons ?
Just rechecked Powell's stats; yes, he's a great HOF candidate. He was more consistent than Howton and healthier longer than Shofner; it just depends on how you view AFL vs. NFL. Powell was 80% of Hennigan at his best, and obviously racked up more career counting numbers. He should absolutely be in if Biletnikoff is.
Jameis Loseston wrote: Bill Groman could be HOVG, but he's a matter of taste (he is very much to my own).
I heard about him for the first time just a few years ago. So I did some research on him. He really does seem like a "hidden gem" of a player. It's a shame he got injured when he did (and in the manner that he did). Based on "early returns" it looks like he could've been a H.o.F. candidate if he'd stayed healthy.
