HoF finalist list released

[ChrisBabcock]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... -finalists

Ray Lewis, LB - 1996-2012 Baltimore Ravens
Brian Urlacher, LB - 2000-2012 Chicago Bears
Edgerrin James, RB - 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks
Randy Moss, WR - 1998-2004, 2010 Minnesota Vikings, 2005-06 Oakland Raiders, 2007-2010 New England Patriots, 2010 Tennessee Titans, 2012 San Francisco 49ers
Terrell Owens, WR - 1996-2003 San Francisco 49ers, 2004-05 Philadelphia Eagles, 2006-08 Dallas Cowboys, 2009 Buffalo Bills, 2010 Cincinnati Bengals
Isaac Bruce, WR - 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers
John Lynch, FS - 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos
Brian Dawkins, S - 1996-2008 Philadelphia Eagles, 2009-2011 Denver Broncos
Everson Walls, CB - 1981-89 Dallas Cowboys, 1990-92 New York Giants, 1992-93 Cleveland Browns
Ty Law, CB - 1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005, 2008 New York Jets, 2006-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 Denver Broncos
Tony Boselli, T - 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve)
Kevin Mawae, C/G - 1994-97 Seattle Seahawks, 1998-2005 New York Jets, 2006-09 Tennessee Titans
Joe Jacoby, T - 1981-1993 Washington Redskins
Steve Hutchinson, G - 2001-05 Seattle Seahawks, 2006-2011 Minnesota Vikings, 2012 Tennessee Titans
Alan Faneca, G - 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals


I'm surprised to see Atwater and BOTH coaches (Coryell and Johnson) not make the cut. I thought one would slide through.
I am really surprised to see Walls get this far. I wonder if he ends up taking a Joe DeLamielleure path to the Hall. No years as a finalist for 20 years and then, bam, he's in in one of his last years of eligibility.

[Bryan]

I'm surprised to see Atwater and BOTH coaches (Coryell and Johnson) not make the cut. I thought one would slide through.
I am really surprised to see Walls get this far. I wonder if he ends up taking a Joe DeLamielleure path to the Hall. No years as a finalist for 20 years and then, bam, he's in in one of his last years of eligibility.

I would have liked to see Coryell make the finalist list, but his lack of postseason success will always be an issue. Walls is a real head-scratcher to me, but the rest of the group seems fine. I was worried that someone like Urlacher/Moss/Owens would be left off the list in favor of Hines Ward or Roger Craig. Here is who I would vote for among the finalists:

Brian Dawkins - YES
Alan Faneca - YES
Steve Hutchinson - YES
Ray Lewis - YES
Randy Moss - YES
Terrell Owens - YES
Brian Urlacher - YES

[NWebster]

Yes to:
Ray Lewis, LB - 1996-2012 Baltimore Ravens
- Mt.Rushmore I/MLB
Brian Urlacher, LB - 2000-2012 Chicago Bears
- Best LB of the generation not named Ray Lewis or Derrick Brooks
Randy Moss, WR - 1998-2004, 2010 Minnesota Vikings, 2005-06 Oakland Raiders, 2007-2010 New England Patriots, 2010 Tennessee Titans, 2012 San Francisco 49ers,
- May have been a jerk but consideration as Mt.Rushmore WR
Terrell Owens, WR - 1996-2003 San Francisco 49ers, 2004-05 Philadelphia Eagles, 2006-08 Dallas Cowboys, 2009 Buffalo Bills, 2010 Cincinnati Bengals
- A total jerk and one of the players in the League who I like the least, but there's no "Morality Clause" for the FB HOF
Brian Dawkins, S - 1996-2008 Philadelphia Eagles, 2009-2011 Denver Broncos,
- To me a head above John Lynch who I think is overrated but is actually more likely to make it due to his continued public exposure. Not happy about that, but that's the way it is.
Ty Law, CB - 1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005, 2008 New York Jets, 2006-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 Denver Broncos
- A highly underrated CB in my mind, his passer rating allowed was exceptionally low, he played for championship teams, he happened to overlap (early) with Deion and Rod Woodson - that blocked him out from a lot of recognition.
Alan Faneca, G - 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals
- A tad above Hutchinson, who belongs in as well but I'd go with Faneca first

[JohnTurney]

Yes to:
Ray Lewis, LB - 1996-2012 Baltimore Ravens
- Mt.Rushmore I/MLB
Brian Urlacher, LB - 2000-2012 Chicago Bears
- Best LB of the generation not named Ray Lewis or Derrick Brooks
Randy Moss, WR - 1998-2004, 2010 Minnesota Vikings, 2005-06 Oakland Raiders, 2007-2010 New England Patriots, 2010 Tennessee Titans, 2012 San Francisco 49ers,
- May have been a jerk but consideration as Mt.Rushmore WR
Terrell Owens, WR - 1996-2003 San Francisco 49ers, 2004-05 Philadelphia Eagles, 2006-08 Dallas Cowboys, 2009 Buffalo Bills, 2010 Cincinnati Bengals
- A total jerk and one of the players in the League who I like the least, but there's no "Morality Clause" for the FB HOF
Brian Dawkins, S - 1996-2008 Philadelphia Eagles, 2009-2011 Denver Broncos,
- To me a head above John Lynch who I think is overrated but is actually more likely to make it due to his continued public exposure. Not happy about that, but that's the way it is.
Ty Law, CB - 1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005, 2008 New York Jets, 2006-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 Denver Broncos
- A highly underrated CB in my mind, his passer rating allowed was exceptionally low, he played for championship teams, he happened to overlap (early) with Deion and Rod Woodson - that blocked him out from a lot of recognition.
Alan Faneca, G - 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals
- A tad above Hutchinson, who belongs in as well but I'd go with Faneca first

Only dsiagreement is with Faneca/Hutch. I think Hutch is close to a foirst-ballot guy but not one. So, I would put Faneca in this year and Hutch next year

But, IMO, Hutch a slightly better player. But not enough to make a deal out of it, people see things differently. But Hutch's pass pro was slightly better.

I am with you on Law and Dawkins.

I think Owens this year and Moss next.

The real debate will be the tackles.
Jacoby's last year is this year
Kenn next year
Hinton after that
Boselli has a few years.

To me they are hard to separate. Kenn best pass pro, started 17 years, but had some doldrums in middle of career

Jacoby has the hardware and the endorsements of Joe Gibbs and a lot of the old HOFer like Joe D and Yary and others

Hinton was overlooked, but his numbers are good but there is some buzz for him

Boselli, is he good enough to get Stephenson exception?

So, the way to get them all in is Jacoby now, Kenn next year, Hinton and then Boselli then they can talk about Webb and Lomas

Or, just say none of them are worthy and move on

[rewing84]

Yes to:
Ray Lewis, LB - 1996-2012 Baltimore Ravens
- Mt.Rushmore I/MLB
Brian Urlacher, LB - 2000-2012 Chicago Bears
- Best LB of the generation not named Ray Lewis or Derrick Brooks
Randy Moss, WR - 1998-2004, 2010 Minnesota Vikings, 2005-06 Oakland Raiders, 2007-2010 New England Patriots, 2010 Tennessee Titans, 2012 San Francisco 49ers,
- May have been a jerk but consideration as Mt.Rushmore WR
Terrell Owens, WR - 1996-2003 San Francisco 49ers, 2004-05 Philadelphia Eagles, 2006-08 Dallas Cowboys, 2009 Buffalo Bills, 2010 Cincinnati Bengals
- A total jerk and one of the players in the League who I like the least, but there's no "Morality Clause" for the FB HOF
Brian Dawkins, S - 1996-2008 Philadelphia Eagles, 2009-2011 Denver Broncos,
- To me a head above John Lynch who I think is overrated but is actually more likely to make it due to his continued public exposure. Not happy about that, but that's the way it is.
Ty Law, CB - 1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005, 2008 New York Jets, 2006-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 Denver Broncos
- A highly underrated CB in my mind, his passer rating allowed was exceptionally low, he played for championship teams, he happened to overlap (early) with Deion and Rod Woodson - that blocked him out from a lot of recognition.
Alan Faneca, G - 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals
- A tad above Hutchinson, who belongs in as well but I'd go with Faneca first

Only dsiagreement is with Faneca/Hutch. I think Hutch is close to a foirst-ballot guy but not one. So, I would put Faneca in this year and Hutch next year

But, IMO, Hutch a slightly better player. But not enough to make a deal out of it, people see things differently. But Hutch's pass pro was slightly better.

I am with you on Law and Dawkins.

I think Owens this year and Moss next.

The real debate will be the tackles.
Jacoby's last year is this year
Kenn next year
Hinton after that
Boselli has a few years.

To me they are hard to separate. Kenn best pass pro, started 17 years, but had some doldrums in middle of career

Jacoby has the hardware and the endorsements of Joe Gibbs and a lot of the old HOFer like Joe D and Yary and others

Hinton was overlooked, but his numbers are good but there is some buzz for him

Boselli, is he good enough to get Stephenson exception?

So, the way to get them all in is Jacoby now, Kenn next year, Hinton and then Boselli then they can talk about Webb and Lomas

Or, just say none of them are worthy and move on

I have the same logical time line as you do john Jacoby 2018 Kenn 2019 Hinton 2020 Boselli 2021

[bachslunch]

Walls is the only surprise here. I don’t think he’s HoF worthy (3/4/none, reportedly not the best in film study). It’s his last eligible year, though, and maybe they wanted to at least give him his day in the room. It’s possible he may sneak through, though, because he has a fair number of interceptions. We’ll see. I also hope they’re as generous with Kenn and Mecklenburg next year, but not expecting much.

Aside from Lewis, it’s really hard to guess who else gets elected. My thought is Dawkins, Mawae, Jacoby, and Law — though it wouldn’t surprise me to see Owens, Faneca, or Lynch replace one of these folks.

[Ness]

Why has Walls made it this far, but Eric Allen and Louis Wright haven't even gotten close?

[bachslunch]

Why has Walls made it this far, but Eric Allen and Louis Wright haven't even gotten close?

I think it’s the lifetime INTs coupled in part with all pro selections. Walls has 57 and was named a 1st team all pro 3 times (3/4/none) Allen has 54, but only one season as a 1st team all pro (1/6/none). Wright has a respectable profile of 4/5/70s, but only 26 career picks plus a reputation of “hands of stone.”

FWIW, am on the fence with Wright for the PFHoF (okay if he’s in, fine if he’s not) and not taken with either Walls or Allen.

[rewing84]

is walls going to leap lynch dawkins or law i highly doubt it my 2018 class Faneca Law Lewis Mawae my fifth one is up in the air i do have a question for bachs after lewis do you see this as wide open as who could get selected

[JohnH19]

I think Owens this year and Moss next.

I hope that's not the case, John. Moss is an all-time great...easily one of the top 10 WRs in history. Owens was never thought to be better, more consistent or more dangerous, so if only one goes in, it should be Moss. It would be a gross miscarriage of justice if the voting committee selects only Owens.