Wes Welker, Hall of Famer ?

[Creative Username]

This is a discussion I had with my dad a couple of weeks ago.

First off, let me explain that neither I nor my father thinks that he will get in the hall if he leaves New England, because he likely won't produce as much.

As it stands, he has nearly 700 receptions and 8,000 receiving yards.
Subtract 100 receptions and 1100 receiving yards (estimates from his Miami years) that gives him 600 receptions and 6,900 receiving yards IN 5 YEARS.
So assuming we sign him to a 2-3 year deal, and he keeps up his production, he'll end up with around 800 catches and close to 10,000 yards receiving. If we win a SB in that time, I don't think it's debatable. You also have to look at the situation. He will have surpassed Rice's record of 100 catch seasons and I'm willing to bet he'll have another 120 catch season under his belt, surpassing Cris Carter for the most seasons with 120+ catches in a season with three.

As we all know, the slot machine is not stoppable by man coverage, or zone coverage. If you're having trouble believing this, then you haven't watched him play enough. I remember a play last year against Revis (a.k.a. the "best shutdown corner" in the league) and he gave up something like a 76 yard pass play whilst covering Welker.

I don't know how the voters decide who is worthy and who is not... But you look at a 5'9, 185 pound receiver with this much production. Maybe I'm biased but he's a lock for me. If not the HOF, then the Patriots HOF for sure. There's no way they could keep him out.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

do voters look at the numbers of pro bowls?

 

[Boomer B]

Another issue going against Welker is touchdowns. He has only has 34 which is well below what others that are looking to get in have. Moss and Owens are both over 150. Chris Carter at 130. Marvin Harrison at 128. Tim Brown at 102. Isaac Bruce at 91.

Voters may look at the touchdown stat and say not enough big plays.

 

[Creative Username]

Another issue going against Welker is touchdowns. He has only has 34 which is well below what others that are looking to get in have. Moss and Owens are both over 150. Chris Carter at 130. Marvin Harrison at 128. Tim Brown at 102. Isaac Bruce at 91.

Voters may look at the touchdown stat and say not enough big plays.

Then voters are idiots.

If it helps your team win, it's a big play. First downs help your team win. Therefore, first downs=big plays. How many has Welker had since he came here? I'm willing to bet at least 300.

 

[Boomer B]

Then voters are idiots.

If it helps your team win, it's a big play. First downs help your team win. Therefore, first downs=big plays. How many has Welker had since he came here? I'm willing to bet at least 300.

I'm a Welker fan, but touchdowns are a lot bigger then first downs.

Who do you think voters would be more impressed by?

Receiver 1
Average per season
80 catches
1300 yds (16.5 yds per catch)
10 touchdowns

Receiver 2
Average per season
100 catches
1050 yds (10.5 yds per catch)
5 touchdowns

My guess is they would value Receiver 1 more

 

[ivanvamp]

He's definitely well on his way to Canton. Only a complete moron would think otherwise.

That's a load of nonsense. There are some unbelievable receivers not in the HOF. Like Cris Carter, Tim Brown, Gary Clark, Harold Carmichael, Henry Ellard, Andre Reed, Drew Pearson, and Cliff Branch.

Before we say that Welker's stats blow those guys' out of the water, just remember that QBs back in the day used to consider 3,000 yards to be a really good year. Now the top QBs throw around 5,000 yards. So obviously the #s for receivers is going to be way up there.

I love Welker and hope he makes it, and I think he might, but to suggest that "only a complete moron" would think that he might not make it is ludicrous.

 

[Ring 6]

How can you make the HOF when the biggest plays of your career are losing on a 18-0 team and then dropping essentially the game winning pass in the next Superbowl? I'm sorry, but Welker isn't a HOFer. Brady and Vince deserve to be there, no one else on this team at this point.

So Wilfork splitting time as a rookie to get one ring is the difference?
Brady lost on that 18-0 team, and he threw that pass.
Jose can you see?

 

[supafly]

I think that Welker will long be considered as a very tough player, but he isn't anywhere near HOF status; at least not yet anyway.

3-4 more incredible seasons would make it a very different conversation.

 

[Nehalem]

Unfortunately, I think his knee injury may hurt his case

If he had 5 100+ catch season in a row (likely 6 after this one) that might be his best case.

Wes Welker is a great player, but unfortunately for him he wasted 3 seasons early in his career and there are a lot of great WRs now.

You also have to worry about if he stays with the Patriots people arguing that Brady just made him look good.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

As it stands, he has nearly 700 receptions and 8,000 receiving yards...

So assuming we sign him to a 2-3 year deal, and he keeps up his production, he'll end up with around 800 catches and close to 10,000 yards receiving.

Three more years after this one, at his NE averages, actually gets him up to over 950 catches and over 11,500 receiving yards for his career. Add 2 more years at 1/2 production, it's 1050 catches and 12,500 yards.

His all- purpose yards would exceed 20,000, which is unprecedented for WRs not named Jerry Rice.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Unfortunately, I think his knee injury may hurt his case

If he had 5 100+ catch season in a row (likely 6 after this one) that might be his best case.

Wes Welker is a great player, but unfortunately for him he wasted 3 seasons early in his career and there are a lot of great WRs now.

You also have to worry about if he stays with the Patriots people arguing that Brady just made him look good.

He may have wasted them as a receiver, but only one player in NFL history (Gale Sayers) had more all-purpose yards in his first three seasons in the league than Welker.

 

[coolguy]

Welker isn't close to being a a hall of famer.

If terrel owens, Tim brown, chris carter, Irving Fryar (remember him), Herman Moore, Andre Rison and jimmy smith don't get in.....WES WELKER HAS ABSOLUTELY NO SHOT TO GET IN!!

I dare any of my fellow patriot fans to say wes welker is a better receiver than tim brown......Not to mention his numbers will be dwarfed by this and the next generation of receivers.

I like wes, but he doesn't impact the game like a HOF receiver should.

If you want to make the case for him being the greatest slot receiver ever go right ahead., but hall of fame voters won't separate him from the others.

 

[Fencer]

Welker isn't close to being a a hall of famer.

If terrel owens, Tim brown, chris carter, Irving Fryar (remember him), Herman Moore, Andre Rison and jimmy smith don't get in.....WES WELKER HAS ABSOLUTELY NO SHOT TO GET IN!!

I dare any of my fellow patriot fans to say wes welker is a better receiver than tim brown......Not to mention his numbers will be dwarfed by this and the next generation of receivers.

I like wes, but he doesn't impact the game like a HOF reciever should.

Welker already has had more All-Pro selections than Brown or Carter, at 4. Rison had 5, however.

 

[Brady_to_Moss]

Welker isn't close to being a a hall of famer.

If terrel owens, Tim brown, chris carter, Irving Fryar (remember him), Herman Moore, Andre Rison and jimmy smith don't get in.....WES WELKER HAS ABSOLUTELY NO SHOT TO GET IN!!

 

[coolguy]

Welker already has had more All-Pro selections than Brown or Carter, at 4. Rison had 5, however.

That's because he's on the patriots. Do seriously think he would to the pro bowl if he wasn't a patriot?

Look at Drew Bledsoe amazing career stats, do you ever see him getting into the hall of fame?

 

[unoriginal]

Like Hines Ward, not everybody's ideal of a "wide receiver." But like Hines Ward, he defines an (underappreciated) type. Say slot receiver, you think of Wes Welker. Say blocking receiver, you think Hines Ward.

It will be interesting to see how the voters value prototype status, if Welker continues producing that is.

OT: personally don't see TO getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a pro football player. He could get in as a contributor due to his tireless media work.

 

[coolguy]

Like Hines Ward, not everybody's ideal of a "wide receiver." But like Hines Ward, he defines an (underappreciated) type. Say slot receiver, you think of Wes Welker. Say blocking receiver, you think Hines Ward.

It will be interesting to see how the voters value prototype status, if Welker continues producing that is.

OT: personally don't see TO getting into the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a pro football player. He could get in as a contributor due to his tireless media work.

And wes has never had the impact on a game like terrell owens.......His superbowl heroics alone should get him in.

 

[SwedishPat]

The biggest difference between Welker and Owens is that Welkers hasn't been a locker room disaster.

I don't know if Welker will be a hall of famer, but he is one of the most impressive players I have seen. I mean, the hits he takes and then just goes up again and continues. Like the hard hit in the Seattle game and three plays laters he takes the first down. He is a team guy and will do whatever he can to put the team in a position to win.

 

[resdubwhite]

like other posters say.

He doesn't have the TD's to get in.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Welker is revolutionizing the Slot Receiver position.


Another 2-3 solid years of production with the Patriots and I think he's a HOF.


A SuperBowl ring wouldn't hurt either.


He has a chance, but he's not a lock.