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Re: Frank Gore for HOF?
Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2016 9:25 pm
by conace21
Reaser wrote:conace21 wrote:He was never the best player at his position, but honestly, how many HOF players ever are?
Here's the RB's who's careers overlapped (played at least one season during Bettis' career) who are in the HOF:
Marcus Allen
Eric Dickerson
Marshall Faulk
Curtis Martin
Barry Sanders
Emmitt Smith
Thurman Thomas
All of them can say they were the best RB at one point. Next level, 6 of the 7 not only can say they were the best at their position but they can say they were the best player at any position at one point in their career (or at least we can say 6 of them won MVP/Player of the Year awards).
If we're in agreement Tomlinson will be in the HOF then you can add another name to that list and to the MVP list.
Terrell Davis has been a finalist so maybe for him, if ever gets in then that's another that was the best at his position and another that can say not only the best RB, not only the best offensive player, but the best player overall.
So the question, how many HOF players are ever the best at their position? Well, in this specific case the answer is all of them. Except Bettis, of course.
Off the top of my head: Franco Harris, Tony Dorsett, Floyd Little, and John Riggins all played in the Super Bowl era and were never "the best" at their position. I would argue that Martin never was, but the position is debatable. (He won the rushing title by one yard over Shaun Alexander, who had more TD's and a better YPC average.)
At QB: Aikman, Moon and Elway. (Montana was better than Elway was in 1987.)
WR: Biletnikoff, Joiner, Reed, Monk.
OL and defenders: that's a longer project that will have to wait.
Re: Frank Gore for HOF?
Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2016 11:39 pm
by L.C. Greenwood
bachslunch wrote:I'm not surprised Jerome Bettis waited a few years before being elected. As mentioned already, his peak (being best in the league) was minimal -- his reputation rests almost entirely on being a long-career compiler. He was also pretty much a non-factor as a receiver, had a fairly low average yards per rush, played on run-heavy offenses which helped him compile, and wasn't necessarily elite at scoring TDs or avoiding fumbles. Have seen some folks even question whether he belongs in, though I wouldn't go that far. For me, Bettis is a reasonable big-hall/second-tier HoF choice.
Agree about Bettis being an outer circle Hall of Famer, definitely below the likes of Barry Sanders, and I would also rate Franco Harris ahead of him as well. It's worth noting Bettis has the same yards per carry average as John Riggins, who was much faster. For me, the term "compiler" describes someone who is hanging on, like a Vinny Testaverde. Late in Jerome's career, the wear and tear finally was taking its toll, and Duece Staley was the lead back for the first half of the 2004 season. But when Staley went down, Bettis ripped off six 100 yard games in his eight as a starter, that doesn't sound like someone going out with a whimper. In his 2005 final season, Bettis agreed to a pay cut, in order to go for a title in a reserve role. As I mentioned earlier, when called upon, Bettis delivered a big game in the huge regular season win versus Chicago.
Re: Frank Gore for HOF?
Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2025 11:51 pm
by Raptorfan
16,000 yards and you couldn’t put together a 30 second highlight reel
Re: Frank Gore for HOF?
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025 1:27 am
by SeahawkFever
Raptorfan wrote: ↑Mon Sep 29, 2025 11:51 pm
16,000 yards and you couldn’t put together a 30 second highlight reel
Just because a player's career doesn't have many if any highlights that are replayed doesn't mean they didn't carve out an excellent career for themself. Gore isn't a shoe-in for me, but he had a great career, and even if not the most efficiently, he rushed for more total yardage than most players are likely to going forward with the way player usage and schemes have changed since his prime.
Re: Frank Gore for HOF?
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025 3:49 am
by JuggernautJ
SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 1:27 am
Just because a player's career doesn't have many if any highlights that are replayed doesn't mean they didn't carve out an excellent career for themself. Gore isn't a shoe-in for me, but he had a great career, and even if not the most efficiently, he rushed for more total yardage than most players are likely to going forward with the way player usage and schemes have changed since his prime.
Not to be argumentative but a great player... a Hall of Fame player... (in my opinion)
should have some amazing "highlight reel" plays/moments.
To me, what you described is the very definition of a "compiler."
If there was a Hall of Longevity he'd get my vote but...
I'm a 49ers fan and I saw a lot of Gore's career but I can't enthusiastically support his candidacy for the Hall of Fame.
I can't recall ever watching Gore play and thinking "
that is a Hall of Fame player/performance" or that he was the best player on the team or field at the time... something I could say about 49ers who are not in the Hall like Roger Craig or John Taylor.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... reFr00.htm
Re: Frank Gore for HOF?
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025 8:30 am
by Raptorfan
SeahawkFever wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 1:27 am
Raptorfan wrote: ↑Mon Sep 29, 2025 11:51 pm
16,000 yards and you couldn’t put together a 30 second highlight reel
Just because a player's career doesn't have many if any highlights that are replayed doesn't mean they didn't carve out an excellent career for themself. Gore isn't a shoe-in for me, but he had a great career, and even if not the most efficiently, he rushed for more total yardage than most players are likely to going forward with the way player usage and schemes have changed since his prime.
Sounds nice but that’s not HoF.
Re: Frank Gore for HOF?
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025 12:56 pm
by JeffreyMiller
I don't see Gore as a HoFer. I have to laugh when supporters use the "third most yards in history" argument, as if that means he was better than Jim Brown, OJ Simpson, LaDainian Thomlinson, Earl Campbell ... a nice career but HoVG ... I feel like he's the modern Jim Marshall ... never considered the best at his position while he was playing (5 PB/0 AP/0 championships), but pretty good.
Re: Frank Gore for HOF?
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025 2:33 pm
by SeahawkFever
JeffreyMiller wrote: ↑Tue Sep 30, 2025 12:56 pm
I don't see Gore as a HoFer. I have to laugh when supporters use the "third most yards in history" argument, as if that means he was better than Jim Brown, OJ Simpson, LaDainian Thomlinson, Earl Campbell ... a nice career but HoVG ... I feel like he's the modern Jim Marshall ... never considered the best at his position while he was playing (5 PB/0 AP/0 championships), but pretty good.
He had one second team all pro selection from the AP in 2006, but other than that point taken.
At least Hall of Very Good. I wouldn’t be offended if he got in from a Seahawks fan, but he’s definitely more of a compiler, longevity player than a peak one.
One thing that Gore would have over say a quarterback like Philip Rivers, or most receivers, is that due to individual running back usage going down, his career mark may not be reached for a lot longer than most people that put up a higher career total like that.
Re: Frank Gore for HOF?
Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2025 8:07 pm
by Brian wolf
I somewhat disagree ... He overcame knee injuries in college and nearly led the the 49ers to a championship. He kept them in postseason games when the passing game or special teams faltered. A compiler who epitomized longevity, which helps a player get elected. He wasnt flashy because he always ran between the tackles, which some great backs didnt want to do.
I dont have a problem with him having to wait to get elected but like Marshawn Lynch, how long will the wait be?