Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

bachslunch wrote:

JuggernautJ wrote:I am a little surprised John Lynch progressed to the finalist round as his career in the NFL is still "active."

He’s active in a HoF Contributor sense, and you can be active in this category and still be elected. Players and coaches are a different story.

Ozzie Newsome worked for the Ravens (not as the GM) when he was elected as a tight end.

A number of HOF players were active coaches at the time of their enshrinement. Off the top of my head, I can think of Norm Van Brocklin, Bart Starr, James Lofton, Mike Munchak, Kevin Greene, Emmitt Thomas, Dick LeBeau, and Mike Ditka.

Rupert Patrick wrote:When discussing Ray Lewis, I wonder if the voters will even bring up the whole double murder thing in Atlanta at Super Bowl XXXIV? Lewis has kept his nose clean and been nothing short of an exemplary role model since then, but the murder was never solved and many believe that a member of his entourage was responsible for it (Ray's rented limo was at the scene but Ray was not) and Lewis knew and may have lied about it to police. Or will it be a mic drop like Favre was? The character issues won't stop him from going in, but it is a part of his football career.

I think Moss and Owens will both go in this year.

The case was solved; both of the Co-Defendants were found not guilty at trial due to justifiable homicide (self defense). The D.A. charged Lewis and the 2 co defendants but dropped the charges on Lewis half way through he trial in exchange for a misdemeanor plea. That is a very rare as a D.A. never offers a plea on a Murder charge unless they legitimately have no evidence to win at trial. A D.A. can make their career on a case like this and will do everything they can to win.

In the end Lewis pled to what he did, obstruct justice, and like on 95% of misdemeanors was given probation and a fine.

This case was “solved” though.

Rupert Patrick wrote:

Reaser wrote:There was the deer antler spray thing, too.

That was a horrible thing, when I think of some deer out there in the wilderness who had his antlers removed so somebody could make a spray out of them that Ray Lewis could use on his torn muscle.

Deer shed their antlers yearly as do other hoofed mammals of this type such as elk. So unlike the unfortunate situation with rhinos and elephants, the deer needn’t be killed for this purpose.