Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Is it fair to say that Robert Brazile will most likely be the Senior Nominee for the 2017 Class?

I don't think so, I mean, to assume it will be him based on how close he was. He will be in the mix, but Tommy Nobis was in top 3 more than once and never broke through.

I think the only thing one can assume about predicting the Senior candidates is that you can't predict them.

With Stabler getting in last year one might expect a push for Ken Anderson, who was in all likelyhood a stronger HOF candidate than Stabler.

I'd argue you can predict them based on who passes away right before the nomination.

NWebster wrote:I'd argue you can predict them based on who passes away right before the nomination.

And you wouldn't be wrong. I think Wistert has real chance this year

JohnTurney wrote:

NWebster wrote:I'd argue you can predict them based on who passes away right before the nomination.

And you wouldn't be wrong. I think Wistert has real chance this year

Winston Hill passed away closer to the balloting. He has the edge over Wistert.

Rupert Patrick wrote:With Stabler getting in last year one might expect a push for Ken Anderson, who was in all likelyhood a stronger HOF candidate than Stabler.

Don't know if Anderson will ever get in, Stabler's edge in the postseason makes him a better QB in my opinion. Anderson has good stats, but rarely led the Bengals from behind, and that played out in the playoffs.

L.C. Greenwood wrote:

Rupert Patrick wrote:With Stabler getting in last year one might expect a push for Ken Anderson, who was in all likelyhood a stronger HOF candidate than Stabler.

Don't know if Anderson will ever get in, Stabler's edge in the postseason makes him a better QB in my opinion. Anderson has good stats, but rarely led the Bengals from behind, and that played out in the playoffs.

I don't agree with this. I think Anderson will be elected as a Senior eventually, and rightly so. Any edge Stabler may have in postseason play (and given that he only won one SB, not sold on how big that edge is) is at least offset and probably surpassed by Anderson being much better in career regular season stats adjusted for era -- rankings by folks such as Stuart and Rasaretnam show Anderson near the top of the heap surrounded by HoFers, while Stabler is at the periphery at best alongside folks like Joe Theismann. And Anderson merits some pioneer/innovator status boost as the first successful West Coast type QB.

As a result, I see Stabler as marginal and Anderson as a no-brainer and thus more deserving.

bachslunch wrote:

L.C. Greenwood wrote:

Rupert Patrick wrote:With Stabler getting in last year one might expect a push for Ken Anderson, who was in all likelyhood a stronger HOF candidate than Stabler.

Don't know if Anderson will ever get in, Stabler's edge in the postseason makes him a better QB in my opinion. Anderson has good stats, but rarely led the Bengals from behind, and that played out in the playoffs.

I don't agree with this. I think Anderson will be elected as a Senior eventually, and rightly so. Any edge Stabler may have in postseason play (and given that he only won one SB, not sold on how big that edge is) is at least offset and probably surpassed by Anderson being much better in career regular season stats adjusted for era -- rankings by folks such as Stuart and Rasaretnam show Anderson near the top of the heap surrounded by HoFers, while Stabler is at the periphery at best alongside folks like Joe Theismann. And Anderson merits some pioneer/innovator status boost as the first successful West Coast type QB.

As a result, I see Stabler as marginal and Anderson as a no-brainer and thus more deserving.

Stabler was much better than Anderson in the playoffs, with five standout performances, not counting nearly beating the Steelers in '72. Ken Anderson managed just two playoff wins, some of his numbers came when he was trailing by double digits.