Eli was always going to be voted into the Hall, based on emotional reasoning rather than objective rational logic. He was the quarterback on a team that (a) won two super bowls, (b) did so for a team from New York, (c) was the face of a team that won not only as a huge underdog, but against an undefeated team that was under the media/fan microscope all season, and (d) was the quarterback of one of the most iconic plays in NFL history.
Logically, he does not deserve to get in. Statistics are ever-changing, so where he ranks in cumulative all-time individual stats such as career passing yards or career passing touchdowns is irrelevant.
(As an example of why I say that, consider these rankings at the time that they retired. Vinny Testaverde ranked 6th in career passing yardage and career completions. Kerry Collins ranked 9th in career passing yards. Derek Carr has more passing yards than Joe Montana and Johnny Unitas, and Carr has more than 4,000 fewer yards than either Joe Flacco or Russell Wilson.)
To more accuratley judge a player, look at how they stacked up against their peers, those who played in identical timeframes.
- Eli had only three seasons ranked in the top-5 in passing yards - three times #4, and twice #5.
- Only four seasons ranked in the top-5 in touchdown passes - once #2, and three times #4.
- Led the NFL in interceptions three times, with six top-5 finishes and 11 seasons in the top-10. His career ranking is 12th most.
- Only once in the top-5 for yards per pass attempt, and just four seasons in the top-10 (#4, 8, 9, 10). His career ranking is #99.
- Only once in the top-10 for lowest pass interception percentage (7th in 2008). For his career he ranks #71.
- Never finished higher than #5 in passing touchdown percenatage (5th in 2010). For his career he ranks #78.
- A mere one season in the top-10 in passer rating: 7th best in 2011. His career rating of 84.1 ranks 65th best.
- Eli is literally an average quarterback: his record as a starting QB is 117-117.
Bottom line is that no, Eli does not deserve to get in.
But not only will he get in - he'll do so as a first ballot hall of famer.
