Poll: Is Vince Wilfork worthy of the NFL Hall of Fame?

I know that Vince deserves and will make the Patriots Hall of Fame, but I'd like to mention the injustice of Raymond Clayborn not being in the Patriots HOF. Accomplishments: Patriots 1970s all decade team, Patriots 1980s all decade team, Patriots 35th anniversary team, led the NFL in kickoff returns as a rookie (3 touchdowns, 31 yards per return average), three Pro Bowls, two first team all NFL (Pro Football Weekly 1977 and 1986), one first team all NFL (Sporting News, 1983), holds record along with Ty Law for most interceptions by a defensive back -36. And he had a long career in New England, 13 seasons.

What the hell is wrong with you people?

Absolutely. Vince Wilfork was the best DL Belichick ever coached and the centerpiece of the defense for the winningest team of his era and won two rings ten years apart. He could play any position on the Defensive Line, demaanded double teams throughout his career, and was the best player at his position for most of his career. Taking on two players will wreak havoc on your stats but Wilfork took them on throughout his career to make everyone around him and the defenses better. He was as good a leader as you could find on numerous Championship teams. Total class act, dominant player, he belongs in Canton.

primetime said:

Ted Washington was a better player of the same type and compiled better stats (over twice as many career sacks, for instance), and Washington hasn't even been a finalist.

Click to expand...

Accurate. However, Mt Wash ended when VW started, which was more passing.

primetime said:

Vince has certainly been one of the top defensive tackles of his era, but there's been a number of good ones: you have Haloti Ngata, Pat Williams, Kevin Williams, Justin Smith, Darnell Dockett, and Richard Seymour.

Aside from Kevin Williams, who was a first team All-Pro 5 times, I'm not sure any of those guys will get in.

Click to expand...

I'd rank Sey ahead of VW. Ngata in his prime ahead of VW.

TeamFirst said:

I voted no.. Not dominate enough.

Pats hall yes.

Click to expand...

Vince Wilfork was so dominant that his dominance was taken for granted. It was just a given that he would be double teamed all game every week for years and years. It's a rare player who is actually so good that no one even thinks twice about it. I never remember going into any game thinking " oh damn, Vince is in for a long day today..... " it never even crossed my mind. I can't think of too many players that went through an entire career with their dominance just a fact of life. He was one of the few. That's what truly great is.

Ivan said:

Vince Wilfork was so dominant that his dominance was taken for granted. It was just a given that he would be double teamed all game every week for years and years. It's a rare player who is actually that good that no one even thinks twice about it. I never remember going into any game thinking " oh damn, Vince is in for a long day today..... " it never even crossed my mind. I can't think of too many players that went through an entire career with their dominance just a fact of life. He was one of the few. That's what truly great is.

Click to expand...

Unfortunately a player doesn't get in the HOF by being double teamed and the teams fans not worrying about the position on game days.

My opinion is VW is not dominate enough compared to those already in the HOF.

TeamFirst said:

Unfortunately a player doesn't get in the HOF by being double teamed and the teams fans not worrying about the position on game days.

My opinion is VW is not dominate enough compared to those already in the HOF.

Click to expand...

Your right, the truly great ones never draw double teams. The opposing coaches really aren't worried about them so they just let them go one on one. That's what makes them great.

robertweathers said:

Accurate. However, Mt Wash ended when VW started, which was more passing.

I'd rank Sey ahead of VW. Ngata in his prime ahead of VW.

Click to expand...

Yeah, and Washington still had many more sacks in a less passing-intensive era. I mean, Ted Washington is unquestionably the greatest nose tackle of all time and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Hell, I would have put him in first ballot. But, like Steve Tasker, being the best of all-time at a lunch-pail position won't get you in, while compilers at a glamorous position like Tim Brown or Jerome Bettis certainly will.

I think Ngata and Wilfork were probably of similar calibers; I think Pat Williams was probably the best nose tackle of the era.

Seymour played a different position, and I'd rank Kevin Williams ahead of him as a UT... Williams had the dominance and longevity. I just don't think Seymour was dominant for long enough to be Hall-worthy. On the other hand, Justin Smith was never as dominant as Seymour but played at a high level longer.

Among more recent guys, JJ Watt is probably the only interior lineman or 3-4 DE who will sniff the Hall. Kyle Williams, though relatively early in his career, is as or more dominant than many of these guys but won't get any mention as a Hall-worthy player. You can see Ndamukong Suh getting tread someday, but I think he's been overhyped as a player throughout much of his career.

primetime said:

Yeah, and Washington still had many more sacks in a less passing-intensive era. I mean, Ted Washington is unquestionably the greatest nose tackle of all time and deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. I think Ngata and Wilfork were probably of similar calibers; I think Pat Williams was probably the best nose tackle of the era.

Click to expand...

Agree.

primetime said:

Seymour played a different position, and I'd rank Kevin Williams ahead of him as a UT... Williams had the dominance and longevity. I just don't think Seymour was dominant for long enough to be Hall-worthy. On the other hand, Justin Smith was never as dominant as Seymour but played at a high level longer.

Click to expand...

Agree. Although Sey in 02-07 was dominant. IMO he started to slip in 07.

primetime said:

Among more recent guys, JJ Watt is probably the only interior lineman or 3-4 DE who will sniff the Hall. Kyle Williams, though relatively early in his career, is as or more dominant than many of these guys but won't get any mention as a Hall-worthy player. You can see Ndamukong Suh getting tread someday, but I think he's been overhyped as a player throughout much of his career.

Click to expand...

JJ Watt is on a path to HoF.

Kyle Williams is a force.

I'd have to say no......mostly because the only NT on the list of those inducted is Curley Culp who basically was responsible making the 3-4 work in its infancy, and even he was inducted as a senior member in 2013

robertweathers said:

JJ Watt is on a path to HoF.

Click to expand...

If he continues to play this way until he's 30, so 4 more years, can't see him being anything other than first ballot.

Kyle Williams really is a force, but I think he's overlooked by many because of his position and the team he plays for.

Some qusetionable Steelers in the Hall, simply because they were on winning teams, namely Swann and Stallworth. Maybe some Patriots get the same consideration at some point, maybe 20 years down the road with the Veteran's Committee. Biggest problem is that that vile disgusting rodent Borges is the NE representative. Bettis lowered the bar considerably.

Also, you can't use sacks as any sort of measuring stick when he was primarily a two gap nose tackle.

Ted Washington was an amazing beast of a NT, god I miss watching him play. Wilfork is great, but he isn't really even that close to big Teddy

This is just my conjecture from a stranger on the Internet, but it seems like HOF players have to have an interesting story and personality to get in. Sort of be brands within themselves. Bettis was kind of flashy and vocal by comparison and won a Superbowl in his hometown the day before he retired.

Wilfork was quiet and the fact that most of the time his job was to occupy 2-3 lineman and push the pocket just wasn't that visible from a television perspective.

HELL YEAH!!

hall of fame of awesome dudes!

PATS16N0 said:

The NFL Hall lets in mediocre trash like Bettis so I don't see why not.

Click to expand...

If Bettis would have played for someone like the Bills or Falcons he wouldn't be in right now. He gets in on account of Steelers bias. Had 4 great years every other year is meh. Double digits TDs only twice. In his 13 years all but 4 seasons he was under 4.0 ypc.

Maybe but I would bet he doesn't get in, he doesn't have the sack numbers the hall likes