Andre Tippett: Another Lineback Deserving of the HOF

[Amnorix]

I know that, with good cause, everyone on here is very supportive of DT for the HOF. I support that cause also.

But since he's also in the final 17, and is perhaps a bit of an underdog, I wanted to take a second to hype the Patriots own entry -- the much underappreciated Andre Tippett, who was an absolutely fantastic football player and also well deserving of the HOF.

An article in today's Reiss' Pieces (a blog of a Boston Globe reporter) says alot about him:


Tippett in focus

MIAMI -- Former Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett can count on at least one Hall of Fame vote, and it's an influental one.

"I think good players on bad teams are disciminated against in Pro Bowls, in all sorts of recognition, All-Pro teams, and I just think this is a case of a guy who was a great player on mostly bad teams and had very little help on defense," said Sports Illustrated's Peter King, a Hall of Famer voter and well respected voice among pro football writers.

"The reason why I like him so much as a candidate is that here is a guy who played strongside linebacker for the majority of his career, and the big sack guys, the big playmakers on defense, always have played weakside. Lawrence Taylor played weakside. Derrick Thomas played weakside. This guy not only didn't have help on the other side of the field to balance it out, but he also played over the tight end consistently in his career. He fought through that.

"When you average 10 sacks a year in any defense, it's an excellent career. When you average 10 sacks a year playing strongside linebacker on a bad defense with very little help, I think it's a Hall of Fame career. I just hope that some of the voters can get past the fact that the Patriots stunk during that era and see fit to put him in."

Hall of Fame voters are scheduled to meet Saturday to pick this year's inductees.



I'll now duck the incoming wrath...

[Amnorix]

I should also mention that Tippett was VERY stout against the run, and was in my mind nearly as good as Lawrence Taylor, who got a ton more hype because he played for great teams in New York.

[Mile High Mania]

Yeah, but did Bill make him play with concussions...

[Amnorix]

Last, but not least, a few relevant facts (from Wikipedia):


Tippett is a member of the NFL’s 1980s all-decade team. The five other linebackers on the team are already in the Hall of Fame (Lawrence Taylor, Mike Singletary, Harry Carson, Ted Hendricks and Jack Lambert.)

--Tippett was selected to five Pro Bowls in his career, earning the nod in five straight seasons from 1984-88.

--From 1984-85, Tippett recorded the highest two-season sack total by a linebacker in NFL history, totaling 35.0 sacks during the two seasons. His 18.5 sacks in 1984 are the third most by any linebacker in a single season, while his 16.5 sacks in 1985 are tied for the sixth most by any linebacker in NFL history. He achieved the feat despite playing primarily on the strong side, lining up opposite of a tight end, in an era where most successful pass-rushers lined up on the weak side.

--Tippett ranked seventh on the all-time sacks list at the time of his retirement following the 1993 season.

--Tippett ranked third among linebackers on the all-time sacks list at the time of his retirement following the 1993 season.

--Over his career, Tippett recorded 100 sacks in 151 games, an average of 0.662 sacks per game. The mark currently ranks fourth in NFL history among linebackers. I wonder if any of the 3 guys ahead of him played strongside? Doubt it.

--Tippett was named the NFL’s linebacker of the year by the NFL Players Association for three straight seasons from 1985-87. He was also named to the Associated Press All-NFL First Team on two occasions (1985, 1987).

--Tippett holds the Patriots’ franchise record with 100.0 career sacks. He also owns the top three single-season sack performances in Patriots history (18.5 in 1984, 16.5 in 1985 and 12.5 in 1987).

--Tippett recovered 17 opponents’ fumbles during his career, tying him for first on the Patriots’ all-time list (Steve Nelson). He also forced 14 fumbles in his career.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Tippett

[2112]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

I should also mention that Tippett was VERY stout against the run, and was in my mind nearly as good as Lawrence Taylor, who got a ton more hype because he played for great teams in New York.

Tippet was a great player,I think he should be a HOFer..he used to pile drive Ken O'brien all the time..but..NO WAY was he in LT's league as a player..thats bullshit about the NY hype..he won games for the Giants singlehandedly on defense when they sucked..Tippet had a huge supporting cast.

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Mile High Mania

Yeah, but did Bill make him play with concussions...

No, but he made LT play high as a kite...

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Vos

Tippet was a great player,I think he should be a HOFer..he used to pile drive Ken O'brien all the time..but..NO WAY was he in LT's league as a player..thats bullshit about the NY hype..he won games for the Giants singlehandedly on defense when they sucked..Tippet had a huge supporting cast.

Whose supporting cast was better then? Tippett's or LTs?

I liked some of those players, but none were close to HOF worthy.

Very few guys get mentioned in the same breath as LT, and I don't argue that Tippett was his equal. But he was a helluva lot closer than nearly anyone else I've seen.

[2112]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

Whose supporting cast was better then? Tippett's or LTs?

I liked some of those players, but none were close to HOF worthy.

Very few guys get mentioned in the same breath as LT, and I don't argue that Tippett was his equal. But he was a helluva lot closer than nearly anyone else I've seen.

The Giants had a lame offense from 81-86..the Patriots had a very good offense from 82-87..thats what I meant..LT won games on Defense..he was a freak that changed the game..I never saw Tippett run down sweep plays from behind..in fact..I still don't see anybody doing that.

[DTLB58]

I don't have a problem with Andre making the HOF, just not before DT.

Talk about Tippet not getting as much attention as LT cause LT was from NY. Try getting HOF votes for a guy (DT) from the midwest.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected linebacker Derrick Thomas as the fourth player overall in the 1989 National Football League Draft. A consensus All-America and Dick Butkus Award winner at Alabama, Thomas excelled as a pass rusher who set the school record for sacks.

His pass rushing specialty continued on the professional level as he amassed 10 sacks as a rookie for the Chiefs in 1989. He also added 75 tackles that season to earn Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. Following the season, Thomas was named to the first of nine straight Pro Bowls.

The 6'3", 243-pound linebacker showcased his talent in a big way during his second NFL season. He recorded a league-leading and team record 20 sacks that included an NFL record seven sacks in a game versus the Seattle Seahawks on November 11, 1990. He also recorded a team high six forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 63 tackles, five pass deflections and 35 quarterback pressures. His season-long performance earned him All-Pro recognition for the first time, an honor he would receive two other times during his career.

His extraordinary pass rushing skills continued throughout his 11-season career that was tragically cut short by his death following an automobile accident shortly after the 1999 NFL regular season.

No player amassed more sacks during the decade of 1990s than the 116.5 sacks by Thomas. He finished his career with 126.5 sacks which was the fourth highest total by a linebacker in NFL history. Thomas had 10 or more sacks in a season seven times and recorded multi-sack games 27 times during his 169-game career.

In addition to his career sack total, Thomas also forced 45 fumbles, had 19 fumble recoveries, scored four touchdowns on fumble returns and added three safeties. His lone interception, which he returned for 20 yards, came during his final season in 1999.

Thomas, a member of the NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1990s, was named first-team All-AFC seven times during an eight-year stretch from 1989 through 1996.

His contribution to the Chiefs franchise was nearly immeasurable. Prior to his arrival in Kansas City, the team had made just one playoff appearance since 1971. In the 11 years that Thomas anchored the defense, the Chiefs finished first or second in the AFC West ten times, made seven playoff appearances, and won three division titles.

[Chiefnj]

Does anyone have DT's playoff statistics?

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by Vos

The Giants had a lame offense from 81-86..the Patriots had a very good offense from 82-87..thats what I meant..LT won games on Defense..he was a freak that changed the game..I never saw Tippett run down sweep plays from behind..in fact..I still don't see anybody doing that.

err...your argument doesn't make any sense. The offense of the Giants versus the offense of the Patriots somehow translated into how good a specific DEFENSIVE player was?!?

err....doesn't the other defensive players matter a little more.

Or was the Ravens defense of 2000 only great because their defense sucked so bad?!

I agree LT was a freak. Great player. No argument on that.

[KCFalcon59]

Tippett was a hell of a player. I really enjoyed watching him play. I'd vote him into the hall.

[2112]

Originally Posted by Amnorix

err...your argument doesn't make any sense. The offense of the Giants versus the offense of the Patriots somehow translated into how good a specific DEFENSIVE player was?!?

err....doesn't the other defensive players matter a little more.

Or was the Ravens defense of 2000 only great because their defense sucked so bad?!

I agree LT was a freak. Great player. No argument on that.

err..if you're not scoring any points,and your offense sucks..and your team sucks..and LT is winning games all on his own....err..it makes sense..the Ravens had a much better team than the Giants of the early 80's..The Giants sucked from 81-83..LT's first 3 years..by 84 he was already a legend..

[Amnorix]

Originally Posted by DTLB58

Talk about Tippet not getting as much attention as LT cause LT was from NY. Try getting HOF votes for a guy (DT) from the midwest.

Patriots have fewer players in the HOF than KC, I'd bet.

Again, I don't argue that DT doesn't belong, but Tippett has gotten the shaft for longer than DT, and given that he played strong side, and was equally terrific against the run (I think this is generally a knock on DT, but i'm not sure to be honest), I'd like Tippett enshrined.

Preferably, of course, they go in together.

[htismaqe]

Tippett belongs in the Hall.