PATRIOTS NEWS Gronk elected to Pats Hall of Fame

[Gumby]

Russ Francis was absolutely elite for his era when TE's were more an extension of the O-line than downfield receivers IMO. He blocked downfield with violence and authority. To see Gray fire forward and cut off half the D, Hannah pull to clear the second level and fold it back while Francis destroyed leakers or continued downfield to blow up hapless d-backs ahead of the runner was to to witness a thing of pure football beauty. Gives me a warm glow just remembering it all these years later.

Thinking for body of work with the Pats 4 is a tough call, with the murderer excluded for obvious reasosns. Watson vs Henry, I'd give the nod to Watson as the superior blocker but I couldn't argue with someone saying Henry has the better hands between them.

Watson gets the nod from me based on ONE SINGLE PLAY!!!

You all know which one I am talking about….



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The touchback in Denver that was never called while I was just left standing in living room screaming at the TV. Such 120% effort and unrecognized speed shown on that one play. DEFINITELY #4.

What if the Ben Watson play was called correctly?

Ben Watson chased down Champ Bailey, but was ultimately screwed by the refs.

www.patspulpit.com

 

[rkarp1]

I am not throwing shade at Russ
I loved him as a player
He could have been elite
He should have been elite
Making elite plays some of the time, imo is not "elite"

We can blame Grogan. We can say Russ's head was not into it (he retired after a few seasons).
I honestly thought he was a better player after leaving NE.

I still have him at #3 as the Pats all time TE. That said, if Henry had played his entire career here, or AHern did not self destruct, Russ might be #5 for me

 

[maust]

Watson gets the nod from me based on ONE SINGLE PLAY!!!

You all know which one I am talking about….

I didn't have to scroll down to know the play you were talking about

 

[maust]

We can say Russ's head was not into it (he retired after a few seasons).

He retired because of disillusionment with the Sullivans. He wasn't willing to play for them anymore and had the financial wherewithal to allow him to walk. Hard to blame anyone close to Darryl Stingley for being disgusted with those frauds. That stand actually makes many of us (of a certain age) hold him in higher regard