Modern cutdown: 50 names are in

[readjack]

It wouldnt surprise me Robert if the wide receivers get lost in the mix, at least till Fitz gets voted in. This system probably hurts the offensive line positions.

lets wait and see if this system helps or hurts o linemen before we rush to judgment same thing goes for wide receivers

So far, the top 50 has been a benefit to offensive linemen, with these guys all on the list who have never been finalists:

- L. Brown
- R. Brown
- Kreutz
- Mankins
- Saturday
- Webb
- Williams
- Wisniewski (only one here who has been a semifinalist, which he was once)

So that's really good. It gets their names in the mix.

The place where I'm guessing the new system will hurt OLs is that the odds of a modern class under five are vastly greater. You could end up easily with four and even three. When voters have to pit stat guys vs. o-linemen, that has shown in the past to hurt o-linemen. So we'll wait and see on that.

[rewing84]

Glad we can agree on the wait and see part readjack

[Brian wolf]

Nope, they will choose receivers from a so-called backlog over accoladed linemen. The next lineman for first ballot election will be Zack Martin, when he retires.

[rewing84]

Nope, they will choose receivers from a so-called backlog over accoladed linemen. The next lineman for first ballot election will be Zack Martin, when he retires.

BW you are 100% right for some reason it's hard to elect an offensive lineman for the hall of fame maybe because they don't get the publicity like a qb, rb or a wr does

Most likely this year in terms of wide receivers it will be either Wayne or Holt

[JameisBrownston]

Jeff Saturday getting no traction is puzzling. Maybe AV and HOF monitor are no good for OL, but he sure has a lot of them.

[Brian wolf]

Not really Robert, most of these receivers in the backlog were HOVG at best. At least Smith or Ward were known for special teams, running or blocking, the rest stayed healthy and accumulated numbers. This group, like the runners will accumulate retired players. Its very close though and some but not all, will get voted in.

[rewing84]

Not really Robert, most of these receivers in the backlog were HOVG at best. At least Smith or Ward were known for special teams, running or blocking, the rest stayed healthy and accumulated numbers. This group, like the runners will accumulate retired players. Its very close though and some but not all, will get voted in.

You have your opinions on wr's BW I have mine and we will just leave it at that

[Brian wolf]

Thats why its a forum ... about good discussion, ideas and opinion ... besides, when you have too many players in a particular group, nobody really stands out. Fitz was a great player but had many middling seasons. He also had outstanding numbers with Boldin on the team. If he is first ballot elected, its because he is fresh in voters memories, that along with longevity and great hands. Was he better than Marvin Harrison? No, but his chance at first ballot selection, will be ...

[readjack]

Jeff Saturday getting no traction is puzzling. Maybe AV and HOF monitor are no good for OL, but he sure has a lot of them.

Saturday being on the top 50 is traction. We'll see what happens on the 25.

[readjack]

Not really Robert, most of these receivers in the backlog were HOVG at best. At least Smith or Ward were known for special teams, running or blocking, the rest stayed healthy and accumulated numbers. This group, like the runners will accumulate retired players. Its very close though and some but not all, will get voted in.

A note on voting patterns —

Semifinalist round started in 2004. Longest wait for Canton for a first-ballot...
...semifinalist: 11 years
...finalist: 6 years

The WRs who were semis or finals in 2024, based on when they should get in. First-ballot finalists:
* Reggie Wayne, 2020 — 2025 (this year)

First-ballot semifinalists:
* Torry Holt, 2015 — 2025 (this year)
* Hines Ward, 2017 — 2027
* Anquan Boldin and Steve Smith, 2022 — 2032

Wayne and Holt won't both get in this year, and Ward needs to make a stratospheric climb to get in within the next three years, especially when Larry Fitzgerald is going to be first ballot next year.

But the big-picture point here is that every WR who made the semis last year has been at least in the semis every year of their eligibility, which is a one-way ticket to a bronze bust.