Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

At what point in his career do you think he "clinched" the HOF? Passed the "bus test"? Was it during the '77 season - his 5th All-Pro/6th Pro Bowl selection? Or could it have come prior? Perhaps '74?

Claude had a better 76 season than 77, and I think that might have been when. The Gritz Blitz scheme was just what it sounded like - a blitz scheme, Humphrey had 10 sacks but wasn't what made the scheme at all, if anything it minimized the role of a dominant three down DE by emphasizing scheme over talent. Once he came back from injury just as strong that's probably when you knew he was going in, so to be fair, maybe he didn't clinch it (Can you say a guy who took multiple senior ballots clinched anyway?) but you could see it coming from then forward.

Claude quit (retired from) the Falcons after their 1-3 start in '78 because he was tired of being on a losing team only for Atlanta to finally make the playoffs at season's end (and beat his future team 1st-round; Atl also beating Eagles two years later at Vet en route to home field advantage). Of course Claude would end up in more playoff games as well as a Super Bowl (XV) by going to Philly. Many forget he had 14.5 (unofficial) sacks in '80 with the Eagles as a now designated pass-rusher. Had he stayed in Atl, being there in '80, do you think his role diminishes as well or do you think he stays a 3-down DE?

NWebster wrote:Once he came back from injury just as strong that's probably when you knew he was going in, so to be fair, maybe he didn't clinch it (Can you say a guy who took multiple senior ballots clinched anyway?) but you could see it coming from then forward.

Yeah, Humphrey took nearly the maximum amount of time to get enshrined, so its hard to say he 'clinched it' during any midpoint of his career. I would say he clinched it after he proved to still be effective with the 1980 Eagles.

Strange topic. As Nick and Bryan said, he never "clinched it" since it took over 30 years for him to be elected.