2015 Prof Football Hall of Fame Semifinalists

[Rain Man]

First-time nominees are in bold, and Chiefs-related nominees are in red.

Two "contributor" nominees still need to be named. Also, Mick Tinglehoff is the sole senior nominee. The last time we saw him, the Chiefs defensive tackles were destroying him in the Super Bowl, but he was still pretty good.

My takes on the list will be posted in the thread. And boy, do I have opinions.

Quarterbacks: (4) – Randall Cunningham, Rich Gannon, Phil Simms, Kurt Warner

Wide Receivers: (9) – *Tim Brown (also KR), Isaac Bruce, Gary Clark, Henry Ellard (also PR), *Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, Sterling Sharpe, Jimmy Smith, Rod Smith

Tight End: (1) – Mark Bavaro

Running Backs: (14) – Shaun Alexander, Ottis Anderson, Tiki Barber, *Jerome Bettis, Roger Craig, Stephen Davis, Terrell Davis, Eddie George, Priest Holmes, Edgerrin James, Daryl Johnston, Jamal Lewis, Herschel Walker (also KR), Ricky Watters

Offensive Linemen: (23) – Willie Anderson (T), Tony Boselli (T), Jeff Bostic (C), Lomas Brown (T), Jim Covert (T), Bill Fralic (G/T), Jay Hilgenberg (C), Chris Hinton (G/T), Kent Hull (C), Joe Jacoby (T), Jon Jansen (T), Mike Kenn (T), Jim Lachey (T), Kevin Mawae (C/G), Mark May (G/T/C),Tom Nalen (C), Nate Newton (G), Orlando Pace (T), Chris Samuels (T), Mark Schlereth (G), *Will Shields (G), Tra Thomas (T), Steve Wisniewski (G)

Defensive Linemen: (12) – Al “Bubba” Baker (DE), Jerome Brown (DT), Carl Hairston (DE/DT), *Charles Haley (also LB), Jevon Kearse (DE), Dexter Manley (DE), Charles Mann (DE), Steve McMichael (DT/NT), Fred Smerlas (NT), Greg Townsend (DE), Ted Washington (DT/NT), Bryant Young (DE)

Linebackers: (13) – Cornelius Bennett, Tedy Bruschi, *Kevin Greene (also DE), Ken Harvey, Clay Matthews, Willie McGinest (also DE), Karl Mecklenburg, Matt Millen, Sam Mills, Junior Seau, Chris Spielman, Darryl Talley, Zach Thomas

Defensive Backs: (16) – Eric Allen (CB), Steve Atwater (S), Joey Browner (S), LeRoy Butler (S), Thomas Everett (S), Rodney Harrison (S), Ty Law (CB), Albert Lewis (CB), *John Lynch (S), Terry McDaniel (CB), Tim McDonald (S), Frank Minnifield (CB), Shawn Springs (CB), Troy Vincent (CB/S), Everson Walls (CB), Darren Woodson (S)

Kickers/Punters: (5) – *Morten Andersen (K), Gary Anderson (K), Jason Elam (K), Sean Landeta (P), Nick Lowery (K)

Special Teams/Position Players: (2) – Brian Mitchell (RB/PR/KR), Steve Tasker (also WR)

Coaches: (14) –Don Coryell, Bill Cowher, *Tony Dungy, Tom Flores, Mike Holmgren, Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Richie Petitbon, Dan Reeves, Lou Saban, Marty Schottenheimer, Clark Shaughnessy, Dick Vermeil

[ViperVisor]

Ricky Watters

Despite the short career, Watters rushed for over 10,000 yards and added another 4,000 as a receiver, with 91 touchdowns. Here's the list of players in the 10,000/4,000/90 Club: Walter Payton, LaDainian Tomlinson, Marshall Faulk, Marcus Allen, Thurman Thomas, Ricky Watters. That's three of the greatest RBs in history, two more Hall of Famers, and Watters.

[Kaepernick]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

How come Priest Holmes isnt red?

I think of Priest as a Chief, not a Raven. But he was on the 2000 Ravens super bowl team and was drafted by the Ravens.

I don't see Priest getting into the Hall of fame. He is barely in the top 50 for rushing yards, and out of the top 100 for all purpose yards.

The only place he shines is 15th in career rushing TDs, and I don't think that is enough for an RB to rank the Hall of Fame today.

[Kaepernick]

It is a travesty that Charles Haley is not in the Hall of Fame and may never be.

He is the only player in NFL history with 5 super bowl rings, and it is not as if he skated. He was invaluable in each of those 5 super bowls. In fact, the balance of power in the NFC shifted from the 49ers to the Cowboys with that trade. Charles Haley was the missing link necessary for the 1990s Dallas Dynasty.

That he is not in the Hall of Fame is nothing but politics. From a performance standpoint, there is absolutely no doubt he should have been a first ballot HoFer.

[Ebolapox]

Originally Posted by Kaepernick

I think of Priest as a Chief, not a Raven. But he was on the 2000 Ravens super bowl team and was drafted by the Ravens.

I don't see Priest getting into the Hall of fame. He is barely in the top 50 for rushing yards, and out of the top 100 for all purpose yards.

The only place he shines is 15th in career rushing TDs, and I don't think that is enough for an RB to rank the Hall of Fame today.

Wrong. Udfa

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

It doesn't hurt. they can be relatively certain that he will not get into a fight with his wife.

Did Junior Seau do something awful to you or a family member?
If that were the case, I would understand you're consistent disdain for him.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

Did Junior Seau do something awful to you or a family member?
If that were the case, I would understand you're consistent disdain for him.

He annoyed me by getting all jiggy and fist-pumpy when he would make a meaningless stop five yards downfield on second and three. I don't hate him, but your word 'disdain' is pretty accurate. He was the equivalent of that guy at the concert behind you who sings along loudly with the songs and then does that screeching whistle.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

He annoyed me by getting all jiggy and fist-pumpy when he would make a meaningless stop five yards downfield on second and three. I don't hate him, but your word 'disdain' is pretty accurate. He was the equivalent of that guy at the concert behind you who sings along loudly with the songs and then does that screeching whistle.

Ah, I see. Your annoyance mixed with a hatred towards AFC West rivals led you to pick Karl Mecklenburg over Seau out of spite. That must have been painful.

[TimBone]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

He annoyed me by getting all jiggy and fist-pumpy when he would make a meaningless stop five yards downfield on second and three. I don't hate him, but your word 'disdain' is pretty accurate. He was the equivalent of that guy at the concert behind you who sings along loudly with the songs and then does that screeching whistle.

Hahahahaha....that's the perfect explanation. it's what I remember from him as well.

[Why Not?]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

It doesn't hurt. they can be relatively certain that he will not get into a fight with his wife.

This is a good point

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

Ah, I see. Your annoyance mixed with a hatred towards AFC West rivals led you to pick Karl Mecklenburg over Seau out of spite. That must have been painful.

I hated Karl Mecklenburg. Hated him. But if I have to be completely honest, I hated him because he was a really, really good player. Same with Rod Smith. Neither of them really did anything that annoyed me, so 20 years later I have no choice but reluctantly acknowledge that they were good players.

Seau was a fine player, but I think his reputation was bigger than his performance, in part because he was a camera hound. No offense.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I hated Karl Mecklenburg. Hated him. But if I have to be completely honest, I hated him because he was a really, really good player. Same with Rod Smith. Neither of them really did anything that annoyed me, so 20 years later I have no choice but reluctantly acknowledge that they were good players.

Seau was a fine player, but I think his reputation was bigger than his performance, in part because he was a camera hound. No offense.

No offense taken. I can see where Seau's antics could rub people the wrong way. It's hard to convince those that didn't follow the team that he was an "impact" player who was always around the ball, however, I'd be interested to hear any argument to support Karl Mecklenberg being in the Hall at all, let alone, over Seau.

BTW - The HOF's a joke. Kevin Greene should've been elected in his first year of eligibility yet he sits and waits. Charles Haley still waits? Pffft...
Year after year the selection process becomes more political and thus more malevolent.
There is no justice in the NFL. Only pain.

[Buck]

Sam Mills and Junior Seau could be the dead LB HOF class.

But on a serious note I don't get why being a camera hound should devalue a players HOF credentials In your guys minds. Seau was a beast and one of the best MLB of all time.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Gadzooks

No offense taken. I can see where Seau's antics could rub people the wrong way. It's hard to convince those that didn't follow the team that he was an "impact" player who was always around the ball, however, I'd be interested to hear any argument to support Karl Mecklenberg being in the Hall at all, let alone, over Seau.

BTW - The HOF's a joke. Kevin Greene should've been elected in his first year of eligibility yet he sits and waits. Charles Haley still waits? Pffft...
Year after year the selection process becomes more political and thus more malevolent.
There is no justice in the NFL. Only pain.

It's possible that the Chiefs were simply a worse team during the Mecklenburg years, but it seems like Mecklenburg was more disruptive to the Chiefs than Seau was. It seemed like he was often blowing plays up.

I agree about the Hall of Fame losing credibility in recent years. It completely bugs me how skewed the recent selections have been toward certain positions, and how media presence seems to impact a person's likelihood of getting in.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Buck

Sam Mills and Junior Seau could be the dead LB HOF class.

But on a serious note I don't get why being a camera hound should devalue a players HOF credentials In your guys minds. Seau was a beast and one of the best MLB of all time.

Sam Mills is dead? Man, I'd forgotten about that.

I think that being a camera hound helps a player's chances, because they just end up on camera more. If Deion Sanders didn't high-step, he'd still be in the Hall of Fame, but it might not have been so automatic. But the cameras spent more time on him, so the voters remember him more.

[Gadzooks]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

it seems like Mecklenburg was more disruptive to the Chiefs than Seau was. It seemed like he was often blowing plays up.

This does not seem to be a valid argument for Mecklenberg over Seau but data doesn't seem to be a factor in the HOF selections.

BTW - Leslie O'Neal is tied for sacks with Lawrence Taylor with 132 1⁄2 yet he's not even under consideration, (Karl "****in'" Mecklenberg is though...)