For the first time since 2001, a full compliment of
six players was elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I'm 45 and
was able to see and remember each during his career. In my opinion,
four selections are solid (Reggie White, Warren Moon, John Madden,
Rayfield Wright), one leaves me ambivalent (Harry Carson), and then
there's Troy Aikman.
Reggie White was the most dominant defensive
lineman of his era and retired with most sacks (198) in NFL history at
the time. The "Minister of Defense" started in the USFL but in his 15
year NFL career went to 13 Pro Bowls. No Brainer.
Madden and
Wright were senior-committee selections and both have merit. Madden has
the highest winning percentage (.759) of ANY coach with 100 wins and
won a Super Bowl, probably long overdue. Rayfield Wright was considered
the "linchpin" of the offensive line for the great Cowboy teams of the
70's - no problem there.
Warren Moon's NFL numbers are
staggering. His CFL/NFL numbers are mindboggling! In 23 years of
organized football, Warren Moon threw for 72,184 yards and 457
touchdowns, 51.061 and 313 in the NFL. By comparison, Dan Marino
finished with 61,361 and 420. The hall didn't hold Moon's vagabond
final years and lack of Super Bowl ring against him.
Harry Carson
in my eyes was one of the parts of the sum in that great "Wrecking
Crew" defense of the Giants Parcell's Giant era. Lawrence Taylor
deservedly got all the pub but lets not forget that Brian Kelly and
Brad van Pelt were both excellent linebackers and Jim Burt and Leonard
Marshall vastly underrated defensive linemen. Nitschke, Butkus,
Lambert, Carson ???
Troy Aikman's career stats: 61.5%, 32,942 yards, 165 TDs, 145 Ints, QB rating of 81.6
There
have been six other quarterbacks inducted into the Hall of Fame since
2000 (Montana, Kelly, Elway. Marino, Young, and Moon), and everyone's
number other than Steve Young's dwarf Troy Aikman's. So lets start with
Steve Young.
Steve Young is another I would consider good but not
great yet compared to Aikman, Young is first ballot. Despite spending
half his career in the USFL, Tampa bay, hurt, or sitting behind
Montana, Young still threw for slight more yardage and 67 more
touchdowns than Aikman. Young could also hurt you with his legs rushing
for 4238 yards at 5.9 yards per carry with an additional 33 touchdowns.
Of
the seven, Aikman's completion percentage is lower than all but Kelly
(60.1%) and Moon (NFL number 58.4%). Aikman's 165 touchdowns pales in
comparison to everyone else's 237+. The others all threw for 40,000
plus yards and only Moon (80.1) and Elway (79.9) had lower quarterback
ratings.
Call me old school but I think the Hall of Fame should
be reserved for the truly greats of the game. I realize that HOF
criteria is not strictly numbers based and involves many intangibles
including leadership and winning but Troy Aikman was clearly not great.
This is an argument generally reserved for baseball but applicable here.
Let's
look at some players that are coming up soon, just retired or will
retire soon. Most I consider good but not great. Perhaps the closest
analogy to Aikman is Scotty Pippin, decent numbers, 6 championships,
Does he deserve to get in ??? In my eyes - No/Maybe. Regardless of
situation, ANWHERE, Scotty Pippin was good 17/9 player that played
excellent defense. He's a slam dunk to go but if on fringe, the defense
would send him through.
Jerome Bettis. The Bus. He's top 10
rushing all-time but if Steeler's hadn't won, where's Jerome. Does he
deserve to go? A marginal yes, Will he get in? Maybe down the line
during a thin year. Could anybody in good conscience mention his name
in the same breath as Earl Campbell. I don't think so.
Baseball
is the most fun. In an age of Roids and Juiced balls, how about these
guys, Juan Gonzalez (420+ HR's), Jeff Bagwell (430+ HR's), Tom Glavine
(260 wins), Frank Thomas (420+ HR's). Cobb, Ruth, DiMaggio, Aaron,
Bagwell. Rolls right off your tongue doesn't it
A lot of great
players get dogged about their careers for not winning a championship,
Ted Williams, Dan Marino, Maravich, Barkley, and Karl Malone. Some get
dogged for not winning enough, Wilt Chamberlain. There are lots of good
players considered great because they won and in this instance, Troy
Aikman can step to the head of the class.
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