Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Who would you guys picked to be the 15 finalists, 2 Contributor Category nominees and Senior nominee?
15 Modern Era Finalists
Steve Atwater, Terrell Davis, Joe Jacoby, Alan Faneca, Terrell Owens, Ty Law, Don Coryell, John Lynch, Kurt Warner, Jason Taylor, Brian Dawkins, LaDainian Tomlinson, Morten Andersen, Edgerrin James and Jimmy Johnson. 2 Contributor: Bobby Beathard and Gil Brandt. 1 Senior Chuck Howley.
5 Finalists Elected: LaDainian Tomlinson, Joe Jacoby, Kurt Warner, Terrell Owens and John Lynch. 2 Contributors Elected: Bobby Beathard and Gil Brandt. 1 Senior Elected: Chuck Howley.

I know that I'm in the minority and will be criticized, but I think that the PFHOF needs a referee for a contribuidor spot. I would vote for Art McNally, who has been with the NFL since 1959 in every officiating capacity.

I have only one prediction, and it will be from the preliminary list: former Dolphins OT Richmond Webb (7-time ProBowler and twice All-Pro) won't be on it. Each year I write to the HOF to include him and every year they don't listen. Sadly, Webb has slipped to the cracks, and it shows that the HOF doesn't bother to review their lists and correct ommissions.

Teo wrote:I have only one prediction, and it will be from the preliminary list: former Dolphins OT Richmond Webb (7-time ProBowler and twice All-Pro) won't be on it. Each year I write to the HOF to include him and every year they don't listen. Sadly, Webb has slipped to the cracks, and it shows that the HOF doesn't bother to review their lists and correct ommissions.

Have noticed that as well, and no idea why he never makes the preliminary list. I doubt I'd vote for him, but he's no less reasonable than several stiffs who seem to show up on these lists regularly.

Even stranger are the years when an obviously deserving player is simply omitted from the ballot for reasons unknown. If memory serves, Randall McDaniel and Cortez Kennedy were left off the prelims entirely in successive years back a while ago. Both of course are now in.

And Teo, like you I stopped writing in after a couple years for this purpose when it became obvious nobody corrects such mistakes.

Teo wrote:I know that I'm in the minority and will be criticized, but I think that the PFHOF needs a referee for a contribuidor spot. I would vote for Art McNally, who has been with the NFL since 1959 in every officiating capacity.

I'd vote for McNally also, at least given what I know about him. Certainly he's a better candidate than any of the owners, and probably no worse than Paul Tagliabue.

bachslunch wrote:

Teo wrote:I have only one prediction, and it will be from the preliminary list: former Dolphins OT Richmond Webb (7-time ProBowler and twice All-Pro) won't be on it. Each year I write to the HOF to include him and every year they don't listen. Sadly, Webb has slipped to the cracks, and it shows that the HOF doesn't bother to review their lists and correct ommissions.

Have noticed that as well, and no idea why he never makes the preliminary list. I doubt I'd vote for him, but he's no less reasonable than several stiffs who seem to show up on these lists regularly.

Even stranger are the years when an obviously deserving player is simply omitted from the ballot for reasons unknown. If memory serves, Randall McDaniel and Cortez Kennedy were left off the prelims entirely in successive years back a while ago. Both of course are now in.

And Teo, like you I stopped writing in after a couple years for this purpose when it became obvious nobody corrects such mistakes.

I agree with you, bachslunch, I don't think that Webb is a Hall of Famer, but is more deserving to be included in a 100+ list that many other players. I know he may even not crack the semifinalists, but as SI's "expert" Peter King said (in his own words) when he didn't vote for Art Monk for enshrinment, that their jobs as selectors also included the preliminary lists, so maybe there are players that are not deserving of enshrinment, but certainly there are worthy of being included with the other players eligible.

bachslunch wrote:

Teo wrote:I have only one prediction, and it will be from the preliminary list: former Dolphins OT Richmond Webb (7-time ProBowler and twice All-Pro) won't be on it. Each year I write to the HOF to include him and every year they don't listen. Sadly, Webb has slipped to the cracks, and it shows that the HOF doesn't bother to review their lists and correct ommissions.

Have noticed that as well, and no idea why he never makes the preliminary list. I doubt I'd vote for him, but he's no less reasonable than several stiffs who seem to show up on these lists regularly.

Even stranger are the years when an obviously deserving player is simply omitted from the ballot for reasons unknown. If memory serves, Randall McDaniel and Cortez Kennedy were left off the prelims entirely in successive years back a while ago. Both of course are now in.

And Teo, like you I stopped writing in after a couple years for this purpose when it became obvious nobody corrects such mistakes.

I do recall that Peter KIng said when McDaniel was finally inducted into the HOF in his third try that many coaches complained with him about McDaniel...but why he had to wait. KIng was surprised that McDaniel had so much respect amongst his peers. I know that in his first year McDaniel had to compete with perpetual Pro Bowler Bruce Matthews, and Matthews was inducted.

HBGFBFAN wrote:Who would you guys picked to be the 15 finalists, 2 Contributor Category nominees and Senior nominee?

I think I posted this already elsewhere, but I can only predict 13 of the 15 regular finalists with any confidence: Faneca, Jacoby, Owens, Warner, Davis, James, Tomlinson, Coryell, Andersen, Taylor, Dawkins, Atwater, and Lynch. The last two spots will likely come from a group including Mawae, Law, Bruce, Holt, Johnson, Mecklenburg, and Kenn -- your guess is a good as mine here. Would probably opt for Kenn and Mecklenburg since their eligibility expires in a couple years and I think they're deserving.

And guessing the Senior and Contributor nominees strikes me as futile; if choosing today, would probably opt for Al Wistert since he's still alive (I think the oldest deserving Senior candidate who is), as well as Bobby Beathard and Art McNally (both also alive and deserving).