Seven Patriots among 2013 NFL Hall Of Fame Nominees

[PatsFanSince74]

I want to see Bledsoe get in

He has a good case to make. I've provided some data below that suggest his career numbers match up well against those who are already in Canton, but don't scream out "you have to pick me." He joined a team that had won a total of nine games in the prior three years, rode the Parcells wave for a few years and then suffered under three years of the Carroll error and had only one year under Belichick before giving way to Brady, so he will be forgiven for some of his shortfalls, especially in the W/L area.

If you think about the QB's who will be coming up for consideration in the next few years, Favre will be a slam dunk first rounder. I think that Drew has a stronger case to make statistically than Kurt Warner, who will base his case on multiple SB appearances and his ring. But, winning a championship has never been the deciding factor for the Hall voters. Bottom Line: I don't see how they could put Warner in and keep Bledsoe out.

If you look at the 17 SB Era HOF QB's (i.e., QB's who played at least one season since 1966), here are their average stats compared to Bledsoe's actuals:


Years in League: 15.3 (range, low to high, 11-19) DB: 14
Games Played: 190.2 (131-246) DB: 194
Win Percent: 0.597 (0.463-0.746) DB: 0.487
Completions: 2,861.6 (1,685-4,967) DB: 3,839
Attempts: 4,936.7 (2,958-8,358) DB: 6,717
Completion Percent: 0.577 (0.501-0.645) DB: 0.572
Yards: 36,683.8 (22,700-61,361) DB: 44,611
Yards per Attempt: 7.5 (7.0-8.0) DB: 6.6
Yards per Completion: 13.0 (11.4-14.7) DB: 11.6
Touchdowns: 245.9 (152-420) DB: 251
Interceptions: 191.5 (107-266) DB: 206
TD % Attempts: 5.1 (3.5-6.4) DB: 3.7
INT % Attempts: 4.0 (2.6-5.8) DB: 3.1
TD to INT Ratio: 1.32 (0.79-2.17) DB: 1.22
Pass Rating: 81.8 (65.5-96.8) DB: 77.1
Starting and Winning QB for:
0 League Championships: six (Fouts, Jurgensen, Kelly, Marino, Moon, Tarkenton) (DB)
1 League Championship: two (Namath, Young)
2 League Championships: three (Elway, B. Griese, Staubach)
3 League Championships: two (Aikman, Unitas)
4 League Championships: three (Bradshaw, Dawson*, Montana)
5 League Championships: one (Starr)
(*three from the AFL)

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Parcells never won a SB without Belichick

Not only that, he never won a Division or Conference Championship without BB as his DC or Assistant HC.

 

[Avenger]

He has a good case to make. I've provided some data below that suggest his career numbers match up well against those who are already in Canton, but don't scream out "you have to pick me." He joined a team that had won a total of nine games in the prior three years, rode the Parcells wave for a few years and then suffered under three years of the Carroll error and had only one year under Belichick before giving way to Brady, so he will be forgiven for some of his shortfalls, especially in the W/L area.

If you think about the QB's who will be coming up for consideration in the next few years, Favre will be a slam dunk first rounder. I think that Drew has a stronger case to make statistically than Kurt Warner, who will base his case on multiple SB appearances and his ring. But, winning a championship has never been the deciding factor for the Hall voters. Bottom Line: I don't see how they could put Warner in and keep Bledsoe out.

If you look at the 17 SB Era HOF QB's (i.e., QB's who played at least one season since 1966), here are their average stats compared to Bledsoe's actuals:


Years in League: 15.3 (range, low to high, 11-19) DB: 14
Games Played: 190.2 (131-246) DB: 194
Win Percent: 0.597 (0.463-0.746) DB: 0.487
Completions: 2,861.6 (1,685-4,967) DB: 3,839
Attempts: 4,936.7 (2,958-8,358) DB: 6,717
Completion Percent: 0.577 (0.501-0.645) DB: 0.572
Yards: 36,683.8 (22,700-61,361) DB: 44,611
Yards per Attempt: 7.5 (7.0-8.0) DB: 6.6
Yards per Completion: 13.0 (11.4-14.7) DB: 11.6
Touchdowns: 245.9 (152-420) DB: 251
Interceptions: 191.5 (107-266) DB: 206
TD % Attempts: 5.1 (3.5-6.4) DB: 3.7
INT % Attempts: 4.0 (2.6-5.8) DB: 3.1
TD to INT Ratio: 1.32 (0.79-2.17) DB: 1.22
Pass Rating: 81.8 (65.5-96.8) DB: 77.1
Starting and Winning QB for:
0 League Championships: six (Fouts, Jurgensen, Kelly, Marino, Moon, Tarkenton) (DB)
1 League Championship: two (Namath, Young)
2 League Championships: three (Elway, B. Griese, Staubach)
3 League Championships: two (Aikman, Unitas)
4 League Championships: three (Bradshaw, Dawson*, Montana)
5 League Championships: one (Starr)
(*three from the AFL)

Great job with the stats, plus I think you have to account for the AFCCG that he won when Brady went down that lead us to the Super Bowl

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Great job with the stats, plus I think you have to account for the AFCCG that he won when Brady went down that lead us to the Super Bowl

Only if you didn't actually watch the game.

I think Warner is borderline, but he has two all pros on his resume to Drew's none. He's also 9-4 as a playoff starter compared to Drew's 3-3. Warner had 3 game winning playoff drives. Warner fell apart midway through his career and it cost him statistically. But he led teams to a much better winning%, had a far superior TD/INT ratio and QBR. Plus led teams to 3 and won 1 as a starter. And he really rebounded at the tail end of his career. Something Drew couldn't manage to and in the process led what had been a perennial disappointment in AZ to a SB. Drew could do nothing reunited with parcell's on America's Team, and ended up getting publicly and unceremoniously benched to end his career.

It's not all about stats, least of all the empty ones. It's a combination of dominance at the position statistically and practically when compared to present day as well as historical peers. And beyond that it's a comparison of talent and proformance vs. deserving nominees at all positions.

I don't believe Drew remotely gets in while Warner likely eventually will getting a boost from his playoff record and his choice of second career.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Great job with the stats, plus I think you have to account for the AFCCG that he won when Brady went down that lead us to the Super Bowl

Kudos to Pats74 for the stats work.
However as I see it, I believe that the QB stats from the 1966 years through the 80s are substantively worse than those much better stats we see in the last 20 years of the NFL. It is this era of QB that Drew needs to overmatch and I feel that though he had decent stats, they're just above average to very good at best vs the excellent needed for HOF for his era.

For those of you who missed watching the AFCCG, against Pittsburgh, Drew finished the drive Brady had taken into Steeler territory for his only TD. He also threw a pass directly at a PITT LB hitting him in the chest in surprise that if caught would have cost us the game. Then there was his thoughtless flip the ball backwards over his head play that luckily no thanks to Drew failed to land near a defender.
That was FAR from a HOF performance.

 

[PatsDeb]

kind of funny that Parcells hasn't been inducted yet.

would not be surpised If Kraft is first ballot entrant.

Hasn't Parcells fallen out of eligibility a couple of times because he went back to work?

 

[Urgent]

On Bledsoe:

At QB on this ballot is Phil Simms, Ron Jaworski and Randall Cunningham, among others. Sorry Drew.

At WR, the list includes Cris Carter, Andre Reed, Mark Clayton. Morgan is in the conversation.

18 O-linemen on the list! Big names start with Jonathan Ogden, also Larry Allen.

 

[Deus Irae]

Only if you didn't actually watch the game.

I think Warner is borderline, but he has two all pros on his resume to Drew's none. He's also 9-4 as a playoff starter compared to Drew's 3-3. Warner had 3 game winning playoff drives. Warner fell apart midway through his career and it cost him statistically. But he led teams to a much better winning%, had a far superior TD/INT ratio and QBR. Plus led teams to 3 and won 1 as a starter. And he really rebounded at the tail end of his career. Something Drew couldn't manage to and in the process led what had been a perennial disappointment in AZ to a SB. Drew could do nothing reunited with parcell's on America's Team, and ended up getting publicly and unceremoniously benched to end his career.

It's not all about stats, least of all the empty ones. It's a combination of dominance at the position statistically and practically when compared to present day as well as historical peers. And beyond that it's a comparison of talent and proformance vs. deserving nominees at all positions.

I don't believe Drew remotely gets in while Warner likely eventually will getting a boost from his playoff record and his choice of second career.

Bledsoe is a borderline candidate. Warner is a borderline candidate. I could see both get in, and I could see both fail. I'd give Warner the better shot, because the SB win will give his candidacy extra weight.

 

[brdmaverick]

I actually find Parcells to be more deserving than Kraft.

My wish list however is actually for Bledsoe though I highly doubt it will actually happen.

 

[signbabybrady]

Bob Kraft.

1st ballot

No question

He has owned the team since 1994.....they had 5 consecutive losing season before the and have had only 2 since. As owner, he has sold out every home game. Look what he bought and look what he has now.

I would think owners and other non-players get in for their contributions to the NFL not neccessarily for owning a winning team. It certainly doesnt hurt but I would think his saving a franchise in a key market and building a city around it, his contributions to the tv deals through his tenure, his help in resolving the lockout, his families philanthrapy, and the countless other things he has done for the game would be much more important to his getting in.

I think Kraft deserves it and will get it but it could be a few years hopefully not that long.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Bledsoe isn't getting in ever. He went 0-2 with a team that his back up was able to take to a superbowl. He then did crap in Buffalo.

Kraft may evenutally get in but not until long after Rooney. Kraft hasn't really done anything to significantly help the league. He does deserve to the Patriots place HOF if he isn't already.

Parcells would be first ballot if he stayed retired after the Giants or retired after NE. But the Jets, Dallas and Miami hurt his chances.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Bledsoe is a borderline candidate. Warner is a borderline candidate. I could see both get in, and I could see both fail. I'd give Warner the better shot, because the SB win will give his candidacy extra weight.

That's pretty much exactly what I conclude from Bledsoe's stats...lots of big numbers but he never finished. Warner won three CCG's to go to three SB's and went all the way once, but the rest of his picture is uneven. You merge them into one player and you have a slam dunk HOF-er.

I also think that the longevity of P. Manning and Brady will come into play here. The sooner either or both retires, the sooner Bledsoe and Warner will be exposed as marginally qualified and recede into the distance.

 

[Deus Irae]

Bledsoe isn't getting in ever. He went 0-2 with a team that his back up was able to take to a superbowl. He then did crap in Buffalo.

Bledsoe went a 3 win team and led them to 8,6 and 9 win seasons, even behind the kind of O-line people insist he couldn't play behind, and he made another tip to the Pro Bowl. When he left the Bills, they fell back to a 5 win team, and the 9 win season with Bledsoe is the best year the Bills have had this century. Buffalo has only managed to reach .500 or better 3 times this century, and Bledsoe was the QB for two of those seasons.

Saying he did crap in Buffalo is ignorant.

 

[Avenger]

Bledsoe won two AFC championship games, the '96 and '01 seasons.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Bledsoe went a 3 win team and led them to 8,6 and 9 win seasons, even behind the kind of O-line people insist he couldn't play behind, and he made another tip to the Pro Bowl. When he left the Bills, they fell back to a 5 win team, and the 9 win season with Bledsoe is the best year the Bills have had this century. Buffalo has only managed to reach .500 or better 3 times this century, and Bledsoe was the QB for two of those seasons.

Saying he did crap in Buffalo is ignorant.

Great start at the Bills, followed by a Fitzpatrick like tailing off.
What hurt Drew in this HOF quest is his bad performance at Dallas getting benched, deservedly so for Romo. Remember that Red Zone pick final play?

Drew as others point out has to compete with others of his era and falls short vs Kurt Warner for one.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Bledsoe went a 3 win team and led them to 8,6 and 9 win seasons, even behind the kind of O-line people insist he couldn't play behind, and he made another tip to the Pro Bowl. When he left the Bills, they fell back to a 5 win team, and the 9 win season with Bledsoe is the best year the Bills have had this century. Buffalo has only managed to reach .500 or better 3 times this century, and Bledsoe was the QB for two of those seasons.

Saying he did crap in Buffalo is ignorant.

It is the "HALL OF FAME" not the "Hall of Good."

Some one who lost his job to a 6th round pick, then to J.P. Loseman and then to a UDFA, isn't HOF worthy.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I actually find Parcells to be more deserving than Kraft.

My wish list however is actually for Bledsoe though I highly doubt it will actually happen.

That's because you're trying to look at them as if in the same category. They aren't. Parcell's is being judged based on his work in NY (which Coughlin has recently matched and he didn't have BB on his staff) and subsequently for 3 additional franchises where he did little beyond turn them around only to mess up their cap or FO to the point they sank right back down into the abyss. It's actually not that difficult for a HC to turn around a really bad franchise short term. It's the ones who can sustain a turnaround who are exhibit greatness. Even here the turnaround didn't take effect until Belichick came in for one year before Tuna bailed for the swamp and left Kraft in a brewing cap mess with a hodge podge of entitled players poised to tank until Belichick was brought back in to clean up that mess.

Kraft not only saved a moribund franchise in a major market twice he created a new business model for the league and became one of the most influential owners in the new milenium both brokering TV deals that are the envy of all pro sports and acting as a moderate and consiliator amongst everyone from players to his 31 partners, some of whom lack the business savvy or the temperement to do much more than whine or bang their fist on tables.

Kraft will get in for sure. It will likely just take another 3-5 years for it to happen because there is some politics and protocol and historical pecking order issues involved in all these enshrinements.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Bledsoe won two AFC championship games, the '96 and '01 seasons.

Credit for wins and losses goes to the starting QB. And it's not like Drew brought them back in 2001, they were ahead when he entered the game. The MVP in that game was Troy Brown.

And in 1996 when the team went to the superbowl, it was almost in spite of Drew who threw 3 TD's and 7 INTS, completed about 56% of his passes and compiling a QBR ratings average of 55.7%.

Warner btw was also a two time league MVP which carries a lot of weight with the voters. As well as MVP of SB XXXIV. He'll get in eventually.

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Bledsoe went a 3 win team and led them to 8,6 and 9 win seasons, even behind the kind of O-line people insist he couldn't play behind, and he made another tip to the Pro Bowl. When he left the Bills, they fell back to a 5 win team, and the 9 win season with Bledsoe is the best year the Bills have had this century. Buffalo has only managed to reach .500 or better 3 times this century, and Bledsoe was the QB for two of those seasons.

Saying he did crap in Buffalo is ignorant.

So he marched them to solid mediocrity?

 

[Armchair Quarterback]

Credit for wins and losses goes to the starting QB. And it's not like Drew brought them back in 2001, they were ahead when he entered the game. The MVP in that game was Troy Brown.

And in 1996 when the team went to the superbowl, it was almost in spite of Drew who threw 3 TD's and 7 INTS, completed about 56% of his passes and compiling a QBR ratings average of 55.7%.

Warner btw was also a two time league MVP which carries a lot of weight with the voters. As well as MVP of SB XXXIV. He'll get in eventually.

Exactly, Brady was 12-18 115 yards, Bledsoe was 10-21 102 yards, scored from Pitts 40 when Brady got hurt. He led them on a 40 yard scoring drive. The mysticism of Bledsoe coming in to save the day is highly overblown. Special teams outscored the offense that day. As far as 96, you're right, Bledsoe was a liability for most of the playoffs, saved by the defense.

Only the delusional would use his playoff appearances to try and pump up his already far fetched chance at the hall. He had a decent career, in no way is it a HOF career.