HOF Class of 2022

Seels

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Ware should be first ballot.

I don't see any of those other guys getting in right away -- maybe Hester.

My vote would be Ronde Barber, Richard Seymour, Patrick Willis, Leroy Butler, and Ware.

There are a lot of WR that are all roughly similar to each other and I'd be hard pressed to consider Steve Smith getting in while guys like Holt and Johnson aren't. I also personally don't get the Boselli argument but as Terrel Davis made it in, it seems like Boselli is going to happen at some point.
 

IdiotKicker

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Hester is the best player ever at his position, but it’s hard to tell how many people really recognize his position. I’m of the opinion he should be in, because I truly believe he is just a master at his craft (and I say this as someone who hated him coming out of college), but I agree he’s a maybe because of the niche he fills. But my love for Devin Hester has no bounds, and I’ve done a complete 180 on him since he came into the league.
 

Kliq

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Ware should be first ballot.

I don't see any of those other guys getting in right away -- maybe Hester.

My vote would be Ronde Barber, Richard Seymour, Patrick Willis, Leroy Butler, and Ware.

There are a lot of WR that are all roughly similar to each other and I'd be hard pressed to consider Steve Smith getting in while guys like Holt and Johnson aren't. I also personally don't get the Boselli argument but as Terrel Davis made it in, it seems like Boselli is going to happen at some point.
Ware and Jared Allen have extremely similar stats, I think he stands a chance at getting in.
 

snowmanny

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I'm always a little surprised when Seymour doesn't get it. He was first team all-Decade for the 2000's and that team is chosen by the HOF selection committee and those guys on the first team pretty much all get in.

Wilfork won't but for my money he was the best defensive player on the Pats for a lot of weeks over a lot of years of dominance.
 

Phil Plantier

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I'm always a little surprised when Seymour doesn't get it. He was first team all-Decade for the 2000's and that team is chosen by the HOF selection committee and those guys on the first team pretty much all get in.

Wilfork won't but for my money he was the best defensive player on the Pats for a lot of weeks over a lot of years of dominance.
I think for borderline cases (and Seymour seems to be a borderline case, although I agree with you), it comes down to the voter who stands up and argues for those players. Does anyone know who the New England voter is? Hopefully they revise their Seymour presentation for next February.
 

Hoya81

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I think for borderline cases (and Seymour seems to be a borderline case, although I agree with you), it comes down to the voter who stands up and argues for those players. Does anyone know who the New England voter is? Hopefully they revise their Seymour presentation for next February.
Rob Borges is the NE HOF voter. The Herald had some background on his presentation from the 2020 vote.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/02/01/former-patriot-richard-seymour-falls-short-in-pro-football-hall-of-fame-bid/
 

BaseballJones

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That's awful that Borges is the NE HOF voter. He has been so out of touch with football for like a decade at least.
 

TomTerrific

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That's awful that Borges is the NE HOF voter. He has been so out of touch with football for like a decade at least.
Plus, isn't he the guy that said that either Koren Robinson or David Terrell would have been much better choices, and if Belichick really wanted a DE he should have taken Kenyatta Walker instead? How ringing is his endorsement going to be knowing in the back of his mind he will be hearing that for the rest of his life if Seymour gets in?

If Borges were a different person I would be fine with this, because all media types write things they regret, it's part of the job. But I've never had the sense that he's someone inclined to ever admit he was wrong.
 
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Al Zarilla

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It should be Mike Reiss
Reiss got some nice praise on the Good Morning Football show this week. That's the one with Kay Adams, Peter Schrager, Kyle Brandt, and usually Nate Burleson (off doing Sunday analysis work for CBS). Said Reiss always does his homework, due diligence about the Patriots and you can always count him to be right. We all know that, but it's nice to hear it about a guy on a national show.
 

Phil Plantier

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Rob Borges is the NE HOF voter. The Herald had some background on his presentation from the 2020 vote.
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/02/01/former-patriot-richard-seymour-falls-short-in-pro-football-hall-of-fame-bid/
It sounds like he's making a good effort, at least

Borges presented testimony and recommendations from Bill Belichick, Tom Brady and Andre Tippett from the Patriots. He also had Hall of Fame center Kevin Mawae talk about how tough it was to play against him. Former Patriot Rodney Harrison provided testimony about what Seymour meant to the defense. Borges also had NFL offensive coordinator Norv Turner discussing how Seymour couldn’t be blocked by one guy.
 

lexrageorge

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Borges is at least motivated to make a strong case for the players in his region. I don't think he's qualified to do much else, and it's always fun to remind the world of what he wrote after the Pats drafted Seymour and Light. But I don't believe the Hall voters care at all about what Borges wrote 20 years ago when it comes to assessing the worthiness of a nominee.
 

Marciano490

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I didn’t realize Borges had a job still, much less a position of influence. Wasn’t he busted for plagiarism (maybe multiple times)? I hated that dude, even if he was the only one still writing about boxing.
 

NortheasternPJ

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Borges is at least motivated to make a strong case for the players in his region. I don't think he's qualified to do much else, and it's always fun to remind the world of what he wrote after the Pats drafted Seymour and Light. But I don't believe the Hall voters care at all about what Borges wrote 20 years ago when it comes to assessing the worthiness of a nominee.
So why not do it again?

View: https://twitter.com/OldTakesExposed/status/717405578222575620?s=20
 

AB in DC

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Ware, Willis, and Jared Allen are no-brainers to me. Not sure who's next. I'm guessing they'll vote for at least one WR from that crew. Then Hester maybe?
 

AB in DC

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Down to the final 15. https://www.nfl.com/news/finalists-for-pro-football-hall-of-fame-class-of-2022-revealed

Seymour makes the cut, Wilfork doesn't.

  • Jared Allen, DE – 2004-2007 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-2015 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers
  • Willie Anderson, OT -- 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
  • Ronde Barber, DB – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Tony Boselli, T -- 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve)
  • LeRoy Butler, S -- 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers
  • Devin Hester, PR/KR/WR -- 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-2015 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens, 2016 Seattle Seahawks
  • Torry Holt, WR -- 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
  • Andre Johnson, WR -- 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans
  • Sam Mills, LB -- 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers
  • Richard Seymour, DE/DT -- 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders
  • Zach Thomas, LB -- 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
  • DeMarcus Ware, LB -- 2005-2013 Dallas Cowboys, 2014-2016 Denver Broncos
  • Reggie Wayne, WR -- 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
  • Patrick Willis, LB -- 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers
  • Bryant Young, DE/DT -- 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers
No real surprises here IMHO. Only 3 WRs made it through the original logjam, which would seemingly increase the odds that at least one of them will be wearing a gold jacket next year.
 

djbayko

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Seymour made it! Surprised Ware wasn't elected.
Eight “Heroes of the Game” have been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2022. The Hall’s 49-person Selection Committee met virtually Jan. 18 for its annual meeting.

The new class of Enshrinees was just announced during “NFL Honors,” a two-hour primetime awards special that aired nationally tonight on ABC with simulcasts on ESPN+ and NFL Network. The newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame are tackle TONY BOSELLI, wide receiver CLIFF BRANCH, safety LeROY BUTLER, official ART McNALLY, linebacker SAM MILLS, defensive end/defensive tackle RICHARD SEYMOUR, coach DICK VERMEIL and defensive tackle/defensive end BRYANT YOUNG.
https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2022/2/pro-football-hall-of-fame-to-enshrine-eight-in-class-of-2022/
 

CaptainLaddie

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I really wanted to start a "Seymour is Inactive" thread in honor of him.

Man, that was a fun thread to bump.

So happy for Big Sey. Just a monster.

I wonder what Borges thinks of him making it to the HOF?
 

E5 Yaz

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Very happy for Sam Mills*, a guy who got every ounce out of his ability and drive.

*Unless something scurrilous comes out about him, at which point ... how could they put him in the HoF
 

rymflaherty

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Not sure if I’m just being a homer (pro football reference would seem to indicate I’m not) but I don’t understand how Mills is in before Thomas.

Oh well, would be nice if he gets his due someday.
 

Ale Xander

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Not sure if I’m just being a homer (pro football reference would seem to indicate I’m not) but I don’t understand how Mills is in before Thomas.

Oh well, would be nice if he gets his due someday.
I agree and I hate(d) both Thomas and his team
 

Ed Hillel

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If LeRoy Butler is in, Rodney sure ought to be, as well. Rodney’s hurt by the fact he only made 2 Pro Bowls because people hated him. He didn’t make it in 2003, yet he was 1st team all pro and 4th in DPoY voting lol. He should have made a handful. Troy Palamalu made 8 (and 4 All Pro), and Rodney leads him in almost every stat. I’d take Rodney all day over Polamalu.

Plus, Rodney had an incredible playoff resume.
 
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slamminsammya

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If LeRoy Butler is in, Rodney sure ought to be, as well. Rodney’s hurt by the fact he only made 2 Pro Bowls because people hated him. He didn’t make it in 2003, yet he was 1st team all pro and 4th in DPoY voting lol. He should have made a handful. Troy Palamalu made 8 (and 4 All Pro), and Rodney leads him in almost every stat. I’d take Rodney all day over Polamalu.

Plus, Rodney had an incredible playoff resume.
Serious question - do any stats for a safety tell you anything? Games started maybe?
 

E5 Yaz

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Here's the NFL.com write-up on Butler:

LeRoy Butler: LeRoy's long wait to leap into the annals of Canton is over. Butler, who spent the duration of his 12-year career with the Green Bay Packers, is in the Hall of Fame in his 16th year of eligibility. A four-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro in Green Bay, Butler was a ball-hawking, hard-hitting safety for the Brett Favre-era Packers. He's the only player in league history with at least three picks and three sacks in three straight seasons, and one of just six with 30-plus interceptions and 20-plus sacks in his career. A Super Bowl champion and member of the 1990s Hall of Fame All-Decade Team, Butler is also fondly remembered as the creator of the Lambeau Leap, a post-touchdown tradition that will live on in Green Bay as long as Butler is enshrined in Canton, which is to say, now, forever.
 

Gunfighter 09

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What'd they do? Wait for Cliff Branch to die?

Yep. Ridiculous. Happy they finally got it right, but electing Stabler and now Branch after their deaths kinda sucks. Branch had a better case than many of the 70s / early 80s era Raiders that made it before him.

49289


Allow me to join in on the Sam Mills over Zach Thomas confusion:

View: https://twitter.com/StephenRStone/status/1491954723112554498?s=20&t=hinA3GXtIn7X2dTEdgEoSg


I am awfully disappointed that Hester didn't get in. I'm happy for Seymour though, I'll make sure to post a picture of the HoF painting they put for him in Allegiant stadium next year.
 

Rudy's Curve

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Willie Anderson might be the best RT ever. OL expert Duke Manyweather certainly thinks so:

View: https://twitter.com/BigDuke50/status/1491975770939568128


He was a four-time All-Pro including three straight first team but was hurt playing an unglamorous position on mostly bad teams. The funny thing is if he was recognized as such at any of the interior positions he'd probably be in, but it seems like right tackles (especially back then) were viewed as where they are because they're not good enough to play left tackle. Boselli must have been the best to ever do it, because six years as a tackle is a really short career for a HOFer. I was fine with Terrell Davis getting in with basically only four years, but obviously RB careers are much shorter and he's probably the best playoff player in NFL history.
 

BigSoxFan

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Ware not in…..uh ok?
Yeah, what am I missing here?

9 time Pro Bowl
4 time All Pro
9th most sacks in NFL history
Lead league in sacks twice
Lead league in TFL 3 times

I'm sure he'll eventually get in so I'm happy that Seymour got in. Was getting nervous about him.
 
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Maximus

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Very happy for Big Sey but it should have happened sooner. Rodney should be next.
 

Ed Hillel

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Serious question - do any stats for a safety tell you anything? Games started maybe?
INT, Sacks, Forced Fumbles Rodney is near the top for his position. And, in terms of tackles, Rodney was a Strong Safety who spent a lot of time rushing the Line of Scrimmage. He was probably the second best all-around safety I've ever seen play (Ed Reed)*. Polamalu would get absolutely exposed consistently by elite QB play. Brady just toyed with him. Harrison was always around the ball, it was incredible. Yes, that one drive, I know....but even then he was always in position. LeRoy Butler was also awesome and one of the best to ever play the game.

*Bob Sanders was also incredible, but he killed himself throwing his dimunitive ass around before he could get to that level of consistency.
 

Rudy's Curve

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As perplexing as some of the player inductions were, I'm really surprised by Vermeil. A .524 winning percentage with 120 wins, one SB win and two appearances seems like a bit of a light resume for induction. I thought Coughlin was a borderline candidate but he's a shoo-in now. The minimum standard should be two Super Bowls or one with a long track record of excellence (Harbaugh, Tomlin, Reid, Payton) and Vermeil didn't have either.
 

Kliq

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As perplexing as some of the player inductions were, I'm really surprised by Vermeil. A .524 winning percentage with 120 wins, one SB win and two appearances seems like a bit of a light resume for induction. I thought Coughlin was a borderline candidate but he's a shoo-in now. The minimum standard should be two Super Bowls or one with a long track record of excellence (Harbaugh, Tomlin, Reid, Payton) and Vermeil didn't have either.
It's incredibly easy to make the HoF as a coach, which is different than as a player where it's really hard. Not counting guys who are still active, the only guys not in the HoF with SB rings are Switzer, Seifert, Shanahan, Holmgren, Billick, Coughlin and Gruden. Switzer and Seifert have the stigma of being guys who inherited juggernauts. Billick and Gruden didn't coach for long enough. Shanahan, Holmgren and Coughlin all have stronger resumes than Vermeil and feel destined to get in.
 

pedro1918

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It's incredibly easy to make the HoF as a coach, which is different than as a player where it's really hard. Not counting guys who are still active, the only guys not in the HoF with SB rings are Switzer, Seifert, Shanahan, Holmgren, Billick, Coughlin and Gruden. Switzer and Seifert have the stigma of being guys who inherited juggernauts. Billick and Gruden didn't coach for long enough. Shanahan, Holmgren and Coughlin all have stronger resumes than Vermeil and feel destined to get in.
You know who has it easier? Commissioners. Get ready for it.
 

Mystic Merlin

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Will Tedy get in do you think down the line? Also, Gino Cappelletti - the AFL's all-time leading scorer.
Tedy and Vrabel have no chance.

Now that Seymour is in, Rodney has the strongest resume of the remaining Pats mainstay defenders from the BB era, and should be in if Leroy Butler is in, but he didn’t win hearts and minds. If Rodney played in the 70s he waltzes in.

Wilfork has a much better case than Tedy and Vrabel, but nose tackles really don’t get in.
 

E5 Yaz

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Tedy and Vrabel have no chance.

Now that Seymour is in, Rodney has the strongest resume of the remaining Pats mainstay defenders from the BB era, and should be in if Leroy Butler is in, but he didn’t win hearts and minds. If Rodney played in the 70s he waltzes in.

Wilfork has a much better case than Tedy and Vrabel, but nose tackles really don’t get in.
Honestly, I think there are only two future locks ... AV and TB12.
 

snowmanny

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The distance between Seymour and Harrison is huge. 4x first team all-pro 3x second vs 2&1. Also Seymour was on the all-decade team for the 2000’s, which is voted on by the HOF voters...if you make that...unless it is as a fullback or on special teams...you are a virtual lock to get in eventually.

Revis will get in. Does that count?

I’d love Wilfork to get in. I think he’s criminally underrated
 

E5 Yaz

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Honestly, I think there are only two future locks ... AV and TB12.
Three, you schmuck ... GRONK

edit: I'd really like to see Slater recognized ... but I suspect that's a pipedream
 

jacklamabe65

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Tedy and Vrabel have no chance.

Now that Seymour is in, Rodney has the strongest resume of the remaining Pats mainstay defenders from the BB era, and should be in if Leroy Butler is in, but he didn’t win hearts and minds. If Rodney played in the 70s he waltzes in.

Wilfork has a much better case than Tedy and Vrabel, but nose tackles really don’t get in.
How about Gino? No AFL player scored more points! He was a solid wide receiver and an incredibly reliable placekicer.