Happy Birthday Otis Taylor

[gblowfish]

My all time favorite Chief. 78 years old. I have a Taylor jersey. One of my kittens is named after him. He's been in terrible health for years. We MUST get him into the Pro Football HOF before its posthumous. Why can't we tell people that we love them while they're still here to get the love? Happy Birthday Otis Taylor, you were one the of the greats of your era. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_T...rican_football)

[KChiefs1]

https://youtu.be/XyKOuTwXKD0

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

My all time favorite Chief. 78 years old. I have a Taylor jersey. One of my kittens is named after him. He's been in terrible health for years. We MUST get him into the Pro Football HOF before its posthumous. Why can't we tell people that we love them while they're still here to get the love? Happy Birthday Otis Taylor, you were one the of the greats of your era. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Otis_T...rican_football)

I actually like the NFL's process and their yearly cap, but it's undeniable that it makes it difficult for guys to get in.

Here's the issue with Taylor - he had, what, 3 genuinely good seasons in his career? Maybe 4? And 2 legitimate standout season in those 4.

3 time pro bowler, 2 time AP. A very very good career in relation to his peers, for sure.

But is he even the best WR not presently in the hall? I mean we can ultimately set aside counting stats because they obviously don't compare over eras. But compare accolades and relative weight - does Taylor have a stronger case for inclusion than every other WR not presently in? Because that's the argument you have to make to get him in their with the way the NFL is set up.

Man - I just don't think he does. Especially not after he missed out on the Centennial Slate. The guy I keep coming back to is Harold Carmichael - I think Carmichael spent a lot of time right there on the edge and he finally got in w/ the Centennial Slate. I think that might've been Otis's shot because he'd be compared only to his contemporaries in that Senior category. But Carmichael got the nod instead. And really I think after Carmichael your argument comes down to Taylor or Cliff Branch, who also had a very similar career but I think his was just slightly better. Does Taylor have an obvious case over Drew Pearson? Ehh......again, that's a coin flip and there are some areas where Pearson looks stronger. Harold Jackson played around the same time and had an incredibly long, productive career. He has an argument to be included in that group.

And yeah, you can make the argument that if Bobby Mitchell belongs in (or Bob Hayes), so does Otis Taylor - but again, the NFL only lets so many people in each year and the moment you make that argument, the Branch, Pearson and Jackson backers will show up and argue that THEIR guy deserves it more. And they'd have some ammunition to work with.

And ultimately that's to say nothing of the more modern era guys he'd also have to fend off like Ellard, Holt, Wayne, Fryar, Smith, etc....

He didn't have the career of Maynard or Alworth or Belitnikoff and those were his direct contemporaries that made it in with fairly easy arguments. He's right there on the threshold with guys like Branch, Dale, Jefferson and Dowler. It's just a tight fit for him and I don't think it'll happen.

[ptlyon]

So did you name the kitten Otis or Taylor?

[gblowfish]

Originally Posted by ptlyon

So did you name the kitten Otis or Taylor?

Otis. And Mrs. B. named the other kitten "Tony" for her favorite Chief Tony Gonzalez.

[TEX]

#89 HOF

[flinchfree]

Shown before but belongs right here in this thread.

[Rain Man]

His 1966 season is one of the best in NFL history. It was the 10th highest YPC in a 50+ catch season in NFL history, and his season totals that year were the 27th highest receiving yards per game in the pre-1978 rules change era.