Fixing the Hall of Fame, Part 1: Running Backs

[Rain Man]

Okay, there are currently 13 running backs in the Hall of Fame who were active in 1970 or later. If all positions were represented equally, with the same number of inductees, there should be 9 of these running backs in there.

The rules:

1. I'll post bios of the current enshrinees. Feel free to browse them.

2. If you would like to nominate any other players, feel free to do so, but you must make an argument for them.

3. After a reasonable time for discussion has passed, I'll add a poll to this post and we'll pick NINE Hall of Fame running backs.

The next several posts will detail the 13 currently in, in alphabetical order by last name.

[Rain Man]

I apologize for the formatting. The Hall of Fame website is user-unfriendly.

[Rain Man]

If anyone else wants to nominate a running back, now is your chance.

[Buck]

Sorry Rain Man, but this is ridiculous.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

I think the 10,000 yd mark is a good measurement for the HOF. So is 100 total TD's. It amazes me how Larry Csonka is in the HOF, same goes with Gale Sayers.

Its all relative and perspective to the era....At the time those guys played in, there werent like 13-14 guys a year with 1000 yard rushing seasons...


But yes, their stats look somewhat tame by todays era....this is why its going to be hard for alot of today modern WR's to make it in.

I wish they would create a special rule to boot OJ Simpson out...

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by BuckinKaeding

Sorry Rain Man, but this is ridiculous.

Don't look now, but this is your chance to propose Ponderous Pete Johnson for the Hall of Fame.

[Marlboro_Chief]

I realize it was a different era, but Leroy Kelly got in on essentially three great seasons.

[KCChiefsMan]

I know I'm in the minority here, but I think that Terrell Davis derserves it. I honestly don't think the Broncos would have won those 2 superbowls if it weren't for him.

[Simplex3]

Jim Brown, Walter Payton, and Barry Sanders. Nobody cares about the rest.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsMan

I know I'm in the minority here, but I think that Terrell Davis derserves it. I honestly don't think the Broncos would have won those 2 superbowls if it weren't for him.

The Packers probably wouldn't have won their most SB without Desmond Howard.

Should he go in also?

[CoMoChief]

Bo Jackson.

2 Words, Tecmo Bowl.

Thats what I would present to the HOF selection committee, I would just pop in the video game and play with the Raiders.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by KCChiefsMan

I know I'm in the minority here, but I think that Terrell Davis derserves it. I honestly don't think the Broncos would have won those 2 superbowls if it weren't for him.

He was a great back, no doubt.....but its all about longetivity with him..or lack of it...

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by milkman

The Packers probably wouldn't have won their most SB without Desmond Howard.

Should he go in also?

Desmond Howard didnt do much besides that SB game.

TD was a dominant RB, and was also one of a handfull of RB's to run for over 2000yds.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by CoMoChief

Desmond Howard didnt do much besides that SB game.

TD was a dominant RB, and was also one of a handfull of RB's to run for over 2000yds.

The point is that there are numerous examples of teams that couldn't have won a SB without certain players.

Some of them, like Davis, were very good players who did some great things while playing.

But they still didn't do enough to warrant HoF recognition.

[CoMoChief]

Originally Posted by milkman

The point is that there are numerous examples of teams that couldn't have won a SB without certain players.

Some of them, like Davis, were very good players who did some great things while playing.

But they still didn't do enough to warrant HoF recognition.

I think TD did enough personally to make the HoF. The only and ONLY thing keeping him from being a first ballot HoF'er is his lack of longevity in the league. But then again, Gale Sayers who is in the HoF, did less in the same amount of time and is in the HoF. Davis helped solidify one of the best offenses ever in this league. The HoF is just too inconsistent and alot of times focuses on certain teams that player has been apart of instead of personal achievements and how they effected the league they played in (Cmon Larry ****in Csonka?!?).

Terrell Davis Stats:
+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Rushing | Receiving |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Year TM | G | Att Yards Y/A TD | Rec Yards Y/R TD |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| 1995 den | 14 | 237 1117 4.7 7 | 49 367 7.5 1 |
| 1996 den | 16 | 345 1538 4.5 13 | 36 310 8.6 2 |
| 1997 den | 15 | 369 1750 4.7 15 | 42 287 6.8 0 |
| 1998 den | 16 | 392 2008 5.1 21 | 25 217 8.7 2 |
| 1999 den | 4 | 67 211 3.1 2 | 3 26 8.7 0 |
| 2000 den | 5 | 78 282 3.6 2 | 2 4 2.0 0 |
| 2001 den | 11 | 167 701 4.2 0 | 12 69 5.8 0 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| TOTAL | 81 | 1655 7607 4.6 60 | 169 1280 7.6 5 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+


Gale Sayers Stats:
+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Rushing | Receiving |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Year TM | G | Att Yards Y/A TD | Rec Yards Y/R TD |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| 1965 chi | 14 | 166 867 5.2 14 | 29 507 17.5 6 |
| 1966 chi | 14 | 229 1231 5.4 8 | 34 447 13.1 2 |
| 1967 chi | 13 | 186 880 4.7 7 | 16 126 7.9 1 |
| 1968 chi | 9 | 138 856 6.2 2 | 15 117 7.8 0 |
| 1969 chi | 14 | 236 1032 4.4 8 | 17 116 6.8 0 |
| 1970 chi | 2 | 23 52 2.3 0 | 1 -6 -6.0 0 |
| 1971 chi | 2 | 13 38 2.9 0 | 0 0 0.0 0 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| TOTAL | 68 | 991 4956 5.0 39 | 112 1307 11.7 9 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+

[Mile High Mania]

Sweet. It's great to see that the thread isn't 2 pages long yet and the Terrell Davis conversation has started!