SITE MENU
Registered Members experience this forum ad and noise-free.
CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.If longevity and consistency gets you there you're right. But his numbers make it a tough argument for those of us who think a HoFer should be in the top 5 or so at his position for at least a portion of his career.and he deserves it as much as this "unbiased" crowd would want to believe he doesn't.
No...Troy Brown should go before Hines Ward.
Good Topic.
He played on such a run heavy team his entire career that his numbers aren't going to be top five numbers. However, because he's no doubt one of, if not, the most complete wide receiver in the game, and he's a Superbowl MVP. He's not the biggest or strongest, he's not the fastest or quickest, he doesn't have the best hands in the league either. He's just solid and consistant week after week, and he's unquestionably the best blocking wide receiver the NFL has ever seen.
Bottom line? If you're a superbowl MVP and you had a good career you're getting in... I'll go as far as to say he might be a first ballot entry when the time comes, depending on who else is eligible of course.
If nothing else, I guess this means that you aren't in the "Brady and Belichick don't belong in the Hall of Fame!111!!!" crowd.
As for Ward, my opinion is not yet. Let's see him put together 4 or 5 more excellent seasons in an offense that, while not pass-centric, certainly passes far more than it used to. I wouldn't rule him out, at this point, especially since everyone in the media loves him, but if his career ended today he would probably fall a bit short thanks to the HOF logjam that's forming at WR. Remember, Michael Irvin had a bit of difficulty getting in, and, after Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, and Tim Brown all get in, there's going to be a glut of guys like Moss, Harrison, Owens, Holt, Bruce, Ward, etc. Do they all get in?
I think Hines gets in - not first ballot, but he'll be there. Not only were the Steelers mainly a running team through much (all?) of his career, consider who was QB for most of those seasons. Kordell Stewart, Mike Tomczak and Tommy Maddox - to me it's amazing how good his numbers are when you consider his surrounding cast and the team's offensive philosophy.