Football Least Deserving Hall of Famers: Round 2, Heat 7

**Rain Man** · 07-06-2019, 03:44 PM

78 players have made - or rather, not made - the initial cut. I'll present 7 heats in Round 2, and we'll cut that list down to the top 21.

As with Round 1, vote for the THREE least deserving guys clogging up the real estate of the Hall of Fame.

**Rain Man** · 07-06-2019, 03:57 PM

There are all sorts of overrated players in this heat. In looking at the list, I come to the following conclusions.

Waterfield, Zimmerman, Leemans, and Irvin don't astonish me, but they're good enough to get off the list immediately. Same with Fortmann even though his career was too short to be a shoo-in.

Tinglehoff couldn't handle Buck Buchanan and Curley Culp when it counted, but he's not at the bottom of the list.

Lynn Swann got in because of his media connections, but he was at least entertaining.

Munchak? Whatever. In other heats, he'd get my anti-vote, but he was at least decent.

I'd like to vote against Buoniconti, but he's not the weakest player on this list.

My three votes are therefore:

1. Jerome Bettis. 3.9 ypc. Media guy. Get him out of here.

2. Paul Hornung. Earlier discussions have convinced me that Jim Taylor was the workhorse and Hornung was the showhorse. He was never really dominant.

3. Elroy Hirsch. One-year wonder, though in fairness it was a really good one year.

**wazu** · 07-06-2019, 05:01 PM

Bettis is a completely indefensible member of the HOF.

ThaVirus · 07-06-2019, 05:22 PM

Lynn Swann was before my time so I headed over to Pro Football Reference to take a gander at his career stats. His best season was 61 catches for 880 yards and 11 TDs. He averaged 55 yards per game.

........... Why does anyone still talk about this guy?

**Rain Man** · 07-06-2019, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Lynn Swann was before my time so I headed over to Pro Football Reference to take a gander at his career stats. His best season was 61 catches for 880 yards and 11 TDs. He averaged 55 yards per game.

........... Why does anyone still talk about this guy?

(Shrug.)

He was a good receiver, probably one of the top receivers in the league during his era. But he didn't last that long, and I don't think he was better than Stallworth.

He was a media darling while he played, though. They couldn't get enough of him. Then he got involved in the media after retiring, and ... voila. The media voted him into the HoF.

If you compare his stats to Otis Taylor's there's no question that Otis was the superior player. Played longer, more production, and a far higher ypr.

ThaVirus · 07-06-2019, 05:30 PM

He's a fraud along with Bettis and Terrell Davis then.

oldman · 07-06-2019, 05:34 PM

Again, pretty-boy HB in the golden age of HBs, so Hourning, you gotta go.
Swan was pretty pedestrian through most of his career, but just happened to be on a team that was SB dominate in their period.
Buoniconti wasn't anything special. Mr. Lanier and Dick Butkus were better. Just happened to be on the Fins in the SB years.

**Easy 6** · 07-06-2019, 05:38 PM

Bettis is one of the most brutally effective and unique backs of all time

The numbers don’t tell the whole story, numbers don’t track the crucial and innumerable just gotta have it third and short or goal to go situations, numbers can’t define how he could single handedly make a defense look weak and scared to tackle late in games

Teammates fed on it

If Earl Campbell belongs, then so does Bettis

ThaVirus · 07-06-2019, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy 6

Bettis is one of the most brutally effective and unique backs of all time

The numbers don’t tell the whole story, numbers don’t track the crucial and innumerable just gotta have it third and short or goal to go situations, numbers can’t define how he could single handedly make a defense look weak and scared to tackle late in games

Teammates fed on it

If Earl Campbell belongs, then so does Bettis

13 seasons Jerome Bettis played. In only four of those seasons did he average greater than 4.0 YPC. Only two of those seasons did he reach double digit TDs.

13 seasons he played and had 1,400 receiving yards.. total.

He leveraged longevity and playing for a big market team into the Hall.

ThaVirus · 07-06-2019, 08:01 PM

Earl Campbell ran for nearly 2,000 yards in his 1980 season. I've seen highlights of him plowing through grown men where I'm not sure if the other guy survived.

Jerome Bettis was a fatass known for having nimble feet.

**Easy 6** · 07-06-2019, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

13 seasons Jerome Bettis played. In only four of those seasons did he average greater than 4.0 YPC. Only two of those seasons did he reach double digit TDs.

13 seasons he played and had 1,400 receiving yards.. total.

He leveraged longevity and playing for a big market team into the Hall.

13 seasons of team lifting dominance

7th best all time rushing yards

Retired 2006, HOF 2015

The End

**rockymtnchief** · 07-06-2019, 08:18 PM

Swann and Bettis...that's it.

**Rain Man** · 07-06-2019, 08:19 PM

Earl Campbell...one of the most fun backs to watch ever.

Bettis to me was a lot like Bam Morris in style. And they had a similar ypc. Bettis just played a lot longer and didn't go to prison.

I'll admit, though, that I was a big Bettis fan his first couple of years with the Rams when he wasn't just a bowling ball.

ThaVirus · 07-06-2019, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Easy 6

13 seasons of team lifting dominance

7th best all time rushing yards

Retired 2006, HOF 2015

The End

Patently false lol

**Easy 6** · 07-06-2019, 09:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThaVirus

Patently false lol

The Hall of Fame, and my memory, says you’re wrong

He was a crushing beast, Okoye with instincts

Vote your conscience, it changes nothing

View Poll Results: Vote for the THREE LEAST DESERVING HoFers on this list.
Elroy Hirsch	1	4.17%
Mick Tingelhoff	1	4.17%
Bob Waterfield	1	4.17%
Gary Zimmerman	4	16.67%
Michael Irvin	6	25.00%
Tuffy Leemans	1	4.17%
Lynn Swann	9	37.50%
Mike Munchak	1	4.17%
Paul Hornung	5	20.83%
Dan Fortmann	0	0%
Jerome Bettis	20	83.33%
Nick Buoniconti	6	25.00%
All of these players are deserving of the Hall of Fame	1	4.17%
I have no idea.	1	4.17%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 24. You may not vote on this poll

07-06-2019, 03:44 PM
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3298491 VARSITY	Least Deserving Hall of Famers: Round 2, Heat 7 78 players have made - or rather, not made - the initial cut. I'll present 7 heats in Round 2, and we'll cut that list down to the top 21. As with Round 1, vote for the THREE least deserving guys clogging up the real estate of the Hall of Fame.
Posts: 141,448

07-06-2019, 03:57 PM	#2
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3298491 VARSITY	There are all sorts of overrated players in this heat. In looking at the list, I come to the following conclusions. Waterfield, Zimmerman, Leemans, and Irvin don't astonish me, but they're good enough to get off the list immediately. Same with Fortmann even though his career was too short to be a shoo-in. Tinglehoff couldn't handle Buck Buchanan and Curley Culp when it counted, but he's not at the bottom of the list. Lynn Swann got in because of his media connections, but he was at least entertaining. Munchak? Whatever. In other heats, he'd get my anti-vote, but he was at least decent. I'd like to vote against Buoniconti, but he's not the weakest player on this list. My three votes are therefore: 1. Jerome Bettis. 3.9 ypc. Media guy. Get him out of here. 2. Paul Hornung. Earlier discussions have convinced me that Jim Taylor was the workhorse and Hornung was the showhorse. He was never really dominant. 3. Elroy Hirsch. One-year wonder, though in fairness it was a really good one year. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit. Last edited by Rain Man; 07-06-2019 at 05:36 PM..
Posts: 141,448

07-06-2019, 05:01 PM	#3
wazu ... Join Date: May 2002 Location: Kansas City, MO Casino cash: $2182295 VARSITY	Bettis is a completely indefensible member of the HOF.
Posts: 27,787	1 0

07-06-2019, 05:22 PM	#4
ThaVirus Settle this once and forever Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $2062369	Lynn Swann was before my time so I headed over to Pro Football Reference to take a gander at his career stats. His best season was 61 catches for 880 yards and 11 TDs. He averaged 55 yards per game. ........... Why does anyone still talk about this guy?
Posts: 44,279	1 0

07-06-2019, 05:30 PM	#6
ThaVirus Settle this once and forever Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $2062369	He's a fraud along with Bettis and Terrell Davis then.
Posts: 44,279	1 0

07-06-2019, 05:34 PM	#7
oldman Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: North by Northwest Casino cash: $5836784	Again, pretty-boy HB in the golden age of HBs, so Hourning, you gotta go. Swan was pretty pedestrian through most of his career, but just happened to be on a team that was SB dominate in their period. Buoniconti wasn't anything special. Mr. Lanier and Dick Butkus were better. Just happened to be on the Fins in the SB years.
Posts: 5,319

07-06-2019, 05:38 PM	#8
Easy 6 pie is never free Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: the drivers seat Casino cash: $3707775	Bettis is one of the most brutally effective and unique backs of all time The numbers don’t tell the whole story, numbers don’t track the crucial and innumerable just gotta have it third and short or goal to go situations, numbers can’t define how he could single handedly make a defense look weak and scared to tackle late in games Teammates fed on it If Earl Campbell belongs, then so does Bettis
Posts: 91,724

07-06-2019, 08:01 PM	#10
ThaVirus Settle this once and forever Join Date: Sep 2007 Casino cash: $2062369	Earl Campbell ran for nearly 2,000 yards in his 1980 season. I've seen highlights of him plowing through grown men where I'm not sure if the other guy survived. Jerome Bettis was a fatass known for having nimble feet. Last edited by ThaVirus; 07-06-2019 at 08:12 PM..
Posts: 44,279

07-06-2019, 08:18 PM	#12
rockymtnchief Supporter Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: The Crazys of Montana Casino cash: $10018968 VARSITY	Swann and Bettis...that's it. __________________
Posts: 5,740

07-06-2019, 08:19 PM	#13
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3298491 VARSITY	Earl Campbell...one of the most fun backs to watch ever. Bettis to me was a lot like Bam Morris in style. And they had a similar ypc. Bettis just played a lot longer and didn't go to prison. I'll admit, though, that I was a big Bettis fan his first couple of years with the Rams when he wasn't just a bowling ball. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,448