Professional Football Researchers Association Forum
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For some reason I don't associate Eddie George with the rest of those players. Maybe its because of my perception as him being a 3.0 YPC guy, but I view him more like a Joe Morris than a Priest Holmes. But I would be fine with any of the other guys you listed being in the HOF.
Yeah, I'd drop George but add Del Shofner. I tend to think he'd be in already had he not shuffled back and forth between WR and DB and had a couple extra receiving seasons.
Second that about replacing george with shofner 100% didn't know he shuffled between wr and db
Played DB only (maybe give or take a couple plays) as a rookie in 1957. Goes to wideout in 1958 and 1959 and is AP1 in both seasons. Then in 1960 he was like Deion for Dallas in '96, in on all the defensive plays (give or take) but gets some special "packages" as a WR. He doesn't make any "All's". Then 1961 - 1963 with NYG he's a Wideout and AP1 each year.
So in 5 of his first 7 seasons he plays wideout and is AP1 in EVERY ONE of those years. I'm convinced the Rams indeciceveness keeps him from the Hall . . . though fice AP1's is better than most making it in recently.
Jeez remember arguing about Reed vs. Brown vs Carter they went 0, 0 and 2 on AP1's. So I'll take one Shofner and no Reed's, Brown's and Carter's - if we're being fair. He was also 4th in UPI MVP vote in '58, something none of those moderns can say . . . sadly forgotten and rarely mentioned.
rewing84 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 01, 2024 10:30 pm
Appreciate the additional information on Shofner I agree that the rams indecisiveness in terms of Shofner cost him a hof spot
What Nick said is right. Plus there is a little more
Rams brass got down on him in 1960, he was dropping balls and they accused him of not being in shape or that he'd lost his speed but it was probably something wrong with his legs -- some sort of pulls or tears that lingered all year. In camp of 1961 he didn't impress ... not sure why or how, given what he did in NY that year. Also Rams thought Carroll Dale was ready to step it up.
It was Crazylegs that offered Shofner up. Mara wanted to know what was wrong --- Hirsch said the "boys lost confidence" in him after the drops and the injuries --- Mara asked his guys, Dick Lynch and Tittle and they said Shofner was great, so the deal went through. Shofner tore the league up for a few years, then leg injuries returned.
I didn't add Shofner because I tried to only list players that had short careers like Sharpe's ... nine years or less. I felt his election might help those other players down the road but probably wouldn't help players like Don Doll, William Andrews, Billy Sims, Mike Reid or other players who played six or less years.
NaVorro Bowman was like Sharpe, dominant in his seven years but since Willis has been elected, he might wait awhile.
Getting back to Shofner, he along with Carroll Dale both could have had better careers without the Rams offensive ineptness. Waterfield could play but wasn't much of a coach and only Red Phillips seemed to play well after Shofner left. Could Van Brocklin had thrived more with Shofner in LA had he stayed?
Brian wolf wrote: ↑Fri Aug 09, 2024 12:31 am
Getting back to Shofner, he along with Carroll Dale both could have had better careers without the Rams offensive ineptness. Waterfield could play but wasn't much of a coach and only Red Phillips seemed to play well after Shofner left. Could Van Brocklin had thrived more with Shofner in LA had he stayed?
Yes both could have much much better numbers if the rams' offense was a tad bit better when those two played in Los Angeles