Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

these days it is a matter of if we are going to be surprised (Floyd Little-type) or not.

There has been talk of Andy Russell, but I hope it's talk. I don't expect him to emerge. As I posted Jim Marshall being pushed by Bud Grant and the Minny voter. Joe Klecko's name is showing up in media quite a bit, too. I hear Eddie Meador's family is doing a push.

Will be quite interesting

JohnTurney wrote:these days it is a matter of if we are going to be surprised (Floyd Little-type) or not.

There has been talk of Andy Russell, but I hope it's talk. I don't expect him to emerge. As I posted Jim Marshall being pushed by Bud Grant and the Minny voter. Joe Klecko's name is showing up in media quite a bit, too. I hear Eddie Meador's family is doing a push.

Will be quite interesting

It would be lousy if Andy Russell (1/7/none) got the Senior nomination ahead of about 10 other LBs, including:

Chuck Howley (5/6/none)
Maxie Baughan (5/9/none)
Robert Brazile (5/7/70s)
Randy Gradishar (4/7/none)
Joe Fortunato (3/5/50s)
Bill Forester (4/4/none)
Larry Grantham (5/5/allAFL)
Bill Bergey (4/5/none)
Mike Stratton (4/6/allAFL)

and perhaps

Tommy Nobis (2/5/60s)
Lee Roy Jordan (2/5/none)

as well.

Russell's one 1st team all pro selection was far from unanimous also, via Pro Football Writers only, in 1975. He was all conference several times and was 2nd team on three occasions via various organizations. Very good player for sure, but I don't see the case for him bypassing all these other LBs unless maybe there's an overwhelming film study case.

bachslunch wrote: It would be lousy if Andy Russell (1/7/none) got the Senior nomination ahead of about 10 other LBs, including:

Chuck Howley (5/6/none)
Maxie Baughan (5/9/none)
Robert Brazile (5/7/70s)
Randy Gradishar (4/7/none)
Joe Fortunato (3/5/50s)
Bill Forester (4/4/none)
Larry Grantham (5/5/allAFL)
Bill Bergey (4/5/none)
Mike Stratton (4/6/allAFL)

and perhaps

Tommy Nobis (2/5/60s)
Lee Roy Jordan (2/5/none)

as well.

Russell's one 1st team all pro selection was far from unanimous also, via Pro Football Writers only, in 1975. He was all conference several times and was 2nd team on three occasions via various organizations. Very good player for sure, but I don't see the case for him bypassing all these other LBs unless maybe there's an overwhelming film study case.

Agree, I think it was just talk, Chuck Howley, Robert Brazile, Randy Gradishar have shot, Baughan's name has been on final 15 before, and could be again. Nobis was close about 10 years ago (guessing) he made it to the top 3 a couple of times, then wasn't one of the final 2.

Brazile has the "added honor" of the 1970s Decade team, Gradishar as the 1978 DPOY "added honor" Howley has teh SB MVP. As far as on paper credentials, hard to get closer than those three to each other

JohnTurney wrote:these days it is a matter of if we are going to be surprised (Floyd Little-type) or not.

There has been talk of Andy Russell, but I hope it's talk. I don't expect him to emerge. As I posted Jim Marshall being pushed by Bud Grant and the Minny voter. Joe Klecko's name is showing up in media quite a bit, too. I hear Eddie Meador's family is doing a push.

Will be quite interesting

John, are you hearing anything on Kramer, Robinson, Pearson and Brazile chances?

HBGFBFAN wrote:

JohnTurney wrote:these days it is a matter of if we are going to be surprised (Floyd Little-type) or not.

There has been talk of Andy Russell, but I hope it's talk. I don't expect him to emerge. As I posted Jim Marshall being pushed by Bud Grant and the Minny voter. Joe Klecko's name is showing up in media quite a bit, too. I hear Eddie Meador's family is doing a push.

Will be quite interesting

John, are you hearing anything on Kramer, Robinson, Pearson and Brazile chances?

All 4 have a chance, all are on the finalist list as I understand it.

Is Grantham's eligibility helped because of the Ken Stabler "He Died This Year" Rule?

BD Sullivan wrote:Is Grantham's eligibility helped because of the Ken Stabler "He Died This Year" Rule?

I'd say no on that one. Hopefully, that won't ever be a factor. I really despise all the parochial interests in the committees... I know they have to represent their cities but to do it with such cock-suredness...I had a debate with a Jax writer (not the HOF voter) but he used t ocover the team. He's sure Fred Taylor is a HOFer and what a "crime" it is that Boselli has had to wait and that Boselli is "clearly" better than Jacoby and Mike Kenn, et al.
However seen them all play AND does research and looked at game in the past 2-3 years I concluded that Kenn was the best of those 3 in pass blocking and Jacoby was the best of those three in run blocking with Boselli being 2nd in both/ No, that wasn't good enough for him. Call the Kenn being a better pass blocker a "myth".

I use that as an example of what you not want in a potential voter (and he could be someday). Fans? Sure, everyone want's their teams' guys in.

It gets old after a while of Raider this or Cowboy that, etc. (talking fans, not those here)

i have a feeling that jerry kramer will not be a senior nominee just saying

rewing84 wrote:i have a feeling that jerry kramer will not be a senior nominee just saying

Hard to know . . . he has a chance but I really don't know.

JohnTurney wrote:

rewing84 wrote:i have a feeling that jerry kramer will not be a senior nominee just saying

Hard to know . . . he has a chance but I really don't know.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the 1967 Packers season--which Kramer immortalized in Instant Replay. Still, he's missed so many times before, it seems hard to believe that something like that will be what puts him over the top.