Nominees for New England Patriots 2015 Hall of Fame

jmt57 · Apr 2, 2015

The 22-person selection committee met today to debate who should be inducted as a member of the Pats Hall of Fame in August. There are ten nominees, including:

Raymond Clayborn
Leon Gray
Fred Marion
Chuck Fairbanks
Bill Parcells
Willie McGinest
Lawyer Milloy
Rodney Harrison
Mike Vrabel

The selection committee will narrow it down to three people, and then fans will vote through mid-May on the winner. Unlike the past few years (Drew Bledsoe, Troy Brown, Tedy Bruschi), this one is much harder to pick.

Just my opinion, but I wouldn't have a problem with anyone listed here - with the exception of Parcells.

Curious to see which three people the forum members here would most want to make it to the final vote.

1960Pats · Apr 2, 2015

Clayborn
McGinest
Vrabel

jmt57 · Apr 2, 2015

Mike Reiss with an entry on the selection process:
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/new-.../4779999/patriots-hall-of-fame-news-and-notes

This is the ninth straight year for the Hall of Fame committee. In 2007, the Patriots changed the procedure for the Hall of Fame, forming a 22-member panel that is broken down into different categories -- senior committee (10), Patriots beat writers (2), Patriots football network (3), New England broadcasters (2), at-large committee members (2) and Patriots alumni (3). That committee discusses all candidates, then has a vote that narrows the field to three finalists. One of the three finalists earns induction via a fan vote.

Fred Kirsch casts his vote for Mike Vrabel:
http://www.patriots.com/news/2015/04/02/why-i-think-mike-vrabel-should-go-patriots-hall-fame

My knee jerk pick was McGinest. He had longevity, popularity and yes, production. To be fair to the process, though, I decided to not stop there. I dug up the stats on each player’s Patriots career and did my best to put those numbers in context. To my mild surprise, the clear choice wound up being Vrabel. Durability, reliability, versatility and the type of playmaking production that directly contributed to the Patriots winning three Super Bowls. His numbers would have been even more impressive had he not had the versatility to move to inside linebacker when the need arose. Check out Vrabel’s stats for yourself and you’ll be reminded of the impact he had on the team. Oh, and don’t forget to check the column under TDs … he had eight.

Vrabel may not have been the most popular player during his tenure but I can’t think of an eligible player for the Hall who was a better football player during that time. Harrison and McGinest will get their day, I’m sure, but Vrabel should go first.

Paul Perillo votes for Parcells (boo), Gray and Vrabel:
http://www.patriots.com/news/2015/04/02/pauls-calls-handing-nominations-patriots-hall-fame

Parcells – Despite the ugly finish, his stature legitimized what was a joke of a franchise and in many ways was the foundation of what was to come.

Gray – I feel he was the best player nominated today. He was part of an offensive line with John Hannah that allowed the Patriots to rush for 3,150 yards. That’s a record, and it might never be broken.

Vrabel – Big plays on defense and offense highlighted the linebacker’s Patriots career. His hit on Kurt Warner in Super Bowl XXXVI led to Law’s pick-six, and his TD catch in Super Bowl XXXIX are just a couple.

1960Pats · Apr 2, 2015

The Parcells people bother me, they really do. Not just because of the fact that he's a class A jerk and he tried to screw us over at one of our shining moments, but also with the "he legitimized the franchise" bs. The Pats went to SBs before Tuna Crap arrived and won them after he left. The only good thing Parcells did was to chase Bill Belichick out of Joisey.

Concussion Protocol · Apr 2, 2015

I wonder if Rodney will ever make it in. 2 ridiculously awesome seasons followed by 3.5 years of injury/suspension marred campaigns. I'd be inclined to leave him out, and yet I've never seen anyone play the position better than he did in 03 & 04.

SHOWTIME15 · Apr 2, 2015

I understand the parcells hate, but he did lay the foundation for our dynasty. He drafted a lot of good players like, bruschi, law, milloy, mcginest, vinitieri, troy brown, ted johnson, bledsoe and curtis martin (whom he subsequently stole).

patfanken · Apr 2, 2015

1960Pats said:
The Parcells people bother me, they really do. Not just because of the fact that he's a class A jerk and he tried to screw us over at one of our shining moments, but also with the "he legitimized the franchise" bs. The Pats went to SBs before Tuna Crap arrived and won them after he left. The only good thing Parcells did was to chase Bill Belichick out of Joisey.

I can't agree with you more. When are the mediot pukes ever going to learn that REAL Pats fans know the "real" Bill Parcells. He was barely a .500 coach who's PR was always better than his capabilities.

There are so many reasons why he doesn't belong in the Pats HOF listing them all would be redundant. We all know what they are. Yet the media pukes keep nominating him ahead of so many more worthy participants. I wonder when they are going to get the message that they are insulting every decent Pats fan every time they do it.] and just simply STOP IT.

meatface · Apr 2, 2015

Milloy and Harrison are the big two for me.

Ring 6 · Apr 2, 2015

McGinest should be next.
Fairbanks? Really? I have as many playoff victories as him. I quit on the Patriots one fewer time.

Ring 6 · Apr 2, 2015

TommyBrady12 said:
I understand the parcells hate, but he did lay the foundation for our dynasty. He drafted a lot of good players like, bruschi, law, milloy, mcginest, vinitieri, troy brown, ted johnson, bledsoe and curtis martin (whom he subsequently stole).

He did NOT lay the foundation of the dynasty.
He quit because he wasn't allowed to pick the groceries.
He was gone 5 years before the dynasty started and after BB took over the worst roster in the NFL.

patfanken · Apr 2, 2015

TommyBrady12 said:
I understand the parcells hate, but he did lay the foundation for our dynasty. He drafted a lot of good players like, bruschi, law, milloy, mcginest, vinitieri, troy brown, ted johnson, bledsoe and curtis martin (whom he subsequently stole).

Crap, Crap, and media PR. Parcells can't ***** about not having final say on personnel yet take credit for every good draft pick he had during his stay.

I'll never say Bill Parcells was a bad HC. In fact he was quite good. However his myth far exceeded his reality, and perhaps his greatest skill was gathering around him the kind of assistants that made him look good, and were willing to let him take credit for his work. And his post Pats "success" just shows how marginal he was as a leader without the "minions" who helped win those 2 superbowls. When you think about it, Parcells was more than a good HC, he was one of the luckiest SOB's ever to be in the NFL.

flasox27 · Apr 2, 2015

AndyJohnson said:
He did NOT lay the foundation of the dynasty.
He quit because he wasn't allowed to pick the groceries.
He was gone 5 years before the dynasty started and after BB took over the worst roster in the NFL.

Don't blame the worst roster on Parcells. You can thank Bobbie Grier for the drafting debacle which included two extra first round choice that produce the talent less group that BB fixed.

Patjew · Apr 2, 2015

Rodney is my # 1 pick for... anything.

RayClay · Apr 2, 2015

Consistent excellence for thirteen seasons. Clayborn

Then McGinest
Harrison/Vrabel

Jimke · Apr 2, 2015

AndyJohnson said:
McGinest should be next.
Fairbanks? Really? I have as many playoff victories as him. I quit on the Patriots one fewer time.

If the Patriots had not been screwed by the officials, Fairbanks would have produced the first
Superbowl victory. They had routed the Raiders earlier in the year. How could Fairbanks co-exist
with Chuck Sullivan? GM Fairbanks re-signs his two star lineman, Hannah and Gray, and Chuck
steps in and negates the contracts. Hannah and Gray hold out and the Patriots get off to a bad
start and miss the playoffs. Having said this, he would not be one of my choices this year.
P.S. Glad to see Houston Antwine added by the veteran's committee. Good player.

Ice_Ice_Brady · Apr 2, 2015

#1- Harrison. Defensive MVP and leader for 3 AFC titles and two Championships. No brainer.

#2- McGinest. By a hair over Vrabel. Willie Mac is the NFL's all-time postseason sack leader.

#3- Parcells. Drafted many key players for the early dynasty, made the Patriots a top franchise, and coached team to AFC Title after being s laughingstock a few years before.

RayClay · Apr 2, 2015

Jimke said:
P.S. Glad to see Houston Antwine added by the veteran's committee. Good player.

Better late than never.

Actually, a great player. Already in the Pro football Hall of fame as one of two all time DTs in the American football league ahead of pro football Hall of Famer Buck Buchanan.

Wish he'd lived to see it, but justice is done, finally.

.

AzorianPats · Apr 2, 2015

Harrison, McGinest, Clayborn. If I'm picking one its Rodney.

Nothing against Vrabel, he was probably the most underrated player of that defense, but Rodney was the soul of that defense, and he was the glue that held that secondary together in 2004 when Law was lost for the season and we won a SB with second year players like Eugene Wilson and Asante starting, along with a rookie FA in Randell Gay. Not to mention, go look at his playoff stats.

Actually I take back what I said about Vrabel being the most underrated. Rodney was. I'm actually disgusted he's not in the Hall yet.

PatsWickedPissah · Apr 2, 2015

Raymond Clayborn
Leon Gray X
Chuck Fairbanks X
Bill Parcells XXX
Willie McGinest
Lawyer Milloy
Rodney Harrison
Mike Vrabel

Clayborn McGinest & Vrabes are my picks.
Left out my fav Rodney because he played too few seasons & playoffs. But when he played he was stellar.

X indicates a guy I do not support being in the Pats HOF.
Fairbanks & Parcells quit on us although working for Billy Sullivan Fairbanks was probably justified. It was the manner of departure. Exponential that for Parcels, the Benedict Arnold.

IcyPatriot · Apr 2, 2015

I voted Gray ... McGinest ... Harrison.

Gray over shadowed by Hannah but that man was a mauler and technically sound.

Nominees for New England Patriots 2015 Hall of Fame

Who should be inducted into the Pats Hall of Fame in 2015?

Raymond Clayborn

Leon Gray

Chuck Fairbanks

Bill Parcells

Willie McGinest

Lawyer Milloy

Rodney Harrison

Mike Vrabel

Fred Marion

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