Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Ken Crippen mentioned in the 2016 HOVG thread about someone starting one about the 2017 class and maybe discussing it. So, here goes.

Here are a few players I like: Ron Kramer (Green Bay and Detroit), Ernie Green and Milt Morin (Cleveland Browns), Jack Stroud and Alex Webster (New York Giants).

I still remember Kramer in the 1961 championship game when he looked awesome. Morin was a similar type of tight end.

Green was a very good all around back who was a great blocker, and very good pass receiver and runner. A perfect compliment for Jim Brown and Leroy Kelly.

Stroud was a standout on the Giants offensive lines, but maybe overlooked some on a team with many stars. Alex Webster made a lot of big plays for those great Giants teams of the Gifford-Huff era.

Far as I can tell, the following are not current HotVG members:

Abe Woodson (5/5/none), John Niland (3/6/none), Ken Gray (4/6/none), Lionel Taylor (4/3/none), Art Powell (5/4/allAFL), Bob Talamini (6/6/allAFL), Mark Gastineau (4/5/none), Ernie Ladd (3/4/none), Earl Faison (4/5/none), Mike Stratton (5/6/allAFL), Ron McDole (4/2/allAFL), Houston Antwine (4/6/allAFL), Les Bingaman (4/2/none), Cornell Green (4/5/none), George Saimes (5/5/allAFL), Lee Roy Jordan (2/5/none), Dick Anderson (3/3/none), Clem Daniels (2/4/allAFL), Abner Haynes (3/3/allAFL), Goose Gonsoulin (3/5/allAFL), Butch Byrd (5/5/allAFL), Fred Smerlas (3/5/none), Deron Cherry (3/6/80s), and George Christensen (4/-/30s).

I don't have a vote, but for what it's worth.

bachslunch wrote:Far as I can tell, the following are not current HotVG members:
I don't have a vote, but for what it's worth.

You are welcome to join the PFRA to get a vote.

A few players that I usually put up to get some recognition:

-Benny Boynton
-Chet Mutryn
-Bob Skoronski

Forgot to list Joe Fortunato (3/5/50s), Bobby Boyd (4/2/60s), and Dave Grayson (6/6/allAFL).

I've been listing possible candidates with decent postseason arguments above, but will mention that Bob Skoronski scores really well at Ken's film study site despite a short 0/1/none profile. If memory serves, they've looked at a lot of games for him, too, and he grades out as well as Jerry Kramer and Mick Tingelhoff. Definitely see a good case for him.

If I had to guess, his low honors might come from Packer overload given that Kramer, Gregg, and Ringo routinely got recognition. Same might be true of Fuzzy Thurston (2/0/none), who is in the HotVG already.

bachslunch wrote:I've been listing possible candidates with decent postseason arguments above, but will mention that Bob Skoronski scores really well at Ken's film study site despite a short 0/1/none profile. If memory serves, they've looked at a lot of games for him, too, and he grades out as well as Jerry Kramer and Mick Tingelhoff. Definitely see a good case for him.

If I had to guess, his low honors might come from Packer overload given that Kramer, Gregg, and Ringo routinely got recognition. Same might be true of Fuzzy Thurston (2/0/none), who is in the HotVG already.

When I interviewed Kramer a few years ago, he said that the Lombardi coaching staff regularly graded Skoronski better than anyone else on the line.

Fred Smerlas (3/5/none)

I was about to nominate Smerlas for 2016 but realized he's not eligible until 2017.

My 2016 nominees...
Bobby Boyd
Dwight Clark
Dave Grayson
Isiah Robertson
Mike Stratton

From bachslunch's list I'd really like to see Gray, Antwine, Jordan and Cherry get in. Along with Tony Latone.