Vince Wilfork: Hall of Famer?

[Thirdbasekid24]

Yes and if you don't agree well... http://cdn0.sbnation.com/imported_assets/1221463/wilforkdestroy_medium.gif

 

[ausbacker]

unfortunately he probably wont because his contributions to the defense are far greater than his numbers suggest. hes not a sack guy or a ridiculous tackle number guy...hes a lane-clogger, a run-stopper, and a double-team-drawer that allows everyone else on the dline more freedom to do what they need to.

but like said...his numbers arent ridiculous...so he probably wont be...which is a shame.

Offensive Linemen are in Canton. If their careers can be evaluated for their actions, then that criteria should be applied to Wilfork.

 

[Jangles]

Offensive Linemen are in Canton. If their careers can be evaluated for their actions, then that criteria should be applied to Wilfork.

Should be

but the world isn't a fair place

 

[Patriot Missile]

Not yet and certainly not a first ballot. Lets see what he does with the rest of his career. That bar is so high right now, especially when you look at stats like Charles Haley who is still waiting to get in. Shoot, John Randle couldn't even get in on his first try and he was in the 100 sack club as a DT.

I say he has got a shot if he stays healthy,maybe wins a championship or 2 and decides he wants to play longer than he should. I don't think his stats will ever truly stand up to some of those guys that are in there now and the voters would have too know his disruptive worth. Problem is without stats so many great players get lost because the voters live in the now and forget the past.

When you really sit down and see the list of players that are in and some of the great ones that aren't that you think should be, you can really see why it is such an honor to be selected.

 

[Joker]

Hall Of Fame????????..are you kidding??? Nose tackles are NOT supposed to be making bone crunching, game changing destructive hits, they should NEVER cause fumbles by destroying opposing ball carriers and they most definitely should not be making hits like that one Vince put on Fred Jackson...and then he has the gall to celebrate it as jackson crumpled to the field dazed battered,bruised and beaten...I think we should all get together in the "Spikes is too slow and has to go!!!" and add in Vince.....get him out of here ASAP...Hall of Famer...jeeez..

 

[PatsBoy12]

Wilfork should go down as one of the dominant defensive linemen of this era. I worry a little bit about his hall candidacy, just because his particular brand of greatness is easy for people who don't actually watch him to overlook, but I do think that he'll ultimately make it. Maybe not first ballot, but at some point.

I was going to type something very similar to this, but you've done a wonderful job, so I'll just quote it.lol

 

[Patriot Missile]

I was going to type something very similar to this, but you've done a wonderful job, so I'll just quote it.lol

You could copy and paste Seymour in there too. Stats just wont tell the true story.

 

[jeman022004]

Did anyone else notice during the Bills game when they tried to take advantage of him on the sideline? They attempted a no-huddle run attack to keep him on the sidelines during a series in the 2nd half. I would have done the same thing if I was the opposing coach, but you know a player is good when the opposing team will change their game plan to take advantage of him being off the field...

The fumble recovery he had right before half time was huge! That could have been the dagger...

 

[jcdavey]

easily.....

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

After BB shows Wilfey's versatility playing him at strong safety a few series, he'll be a lock

 

[RhodyPatriot]

What a monster game by Vince. Watching him plant that Bills player was epic.
Love it when the fat guys seek and destroy in the open field.
HOF tends to be a numbers game. How Vince measures up will depend a great deal on how long he plays.

 

[VJCPatriot]

there's pretty stiff competition at DLine in this generation of players. Seymour, KWilliams and Ngata probably will go in ahead of Vince. After that he's in a group with Hampton, Pat Williams, Jay Ratliff, maybe one or two others. I think he can get in but he's borderline in my mind.

LOL what? Wilfork has 3 rings and is still beasting. His career is far from over and he definitely belongs in the 1st tier conversation rather than with the Jay Ratliffs of the world. Wilfork is arguably the best Nose of the past two decades. Ngata is a beast as well but Wilfork has been doing it for longer and has been the backbone of championship clubs in the process.

 

[BradyFTW!]

LOL what? Wilfork has 3 rings and is still beasting. His career is far from over and he definitely belongs in the 1st tier conversation rather than with the Jay Ratliffs of the world. Wilfork is arguably the best Nose of the past two decades. Ngata is a beast as well but Wilfork has been doing it for longer and has been the backbone of championship clubs in the process.

Wilfork has one ring. He was a rookie in 2004.

 

[JJDChE]

I think we overestimate how highly Wilfork is viewed by the NFL community at large. I honestly don't think he's considered HoF material outside of New England. For the non-stat type positions, a lot of it is how you are viewed. I think Ngata has a MUCH higher national profile than Wilfork, even is they are pretty similar talent-wise.

 

[UK_Pat37]

He's not a first ballot HoF player...not yet. He doesn't rack up ridiculous enough numbers. However, he's been good enough so far to potentially be considered down the line...he could do more to help himself.

Homer nation on this thread!

I think he'll struggle.

 

[TyronePoole]

I think it hinges on how much the defense as a whole improves before he retires. The first question with defensive HOF candidates always seems to be "how good were the defenses he was on?" He's really only played for 1-2 elite defensive seasons, and a couple below average ones. Not saying this is at all a fair standard, it just seems to be reality.

 

[Steve102]

Some serious love being shown the big man here on this thread, but I agree, we are looking at it through Patriot-homer-colored glasses.

Here's the list of D-linemen in the Hall.

Doug Atkins (DE) 1953-1969
Elvin Bethea (DE) 1968-1983
Junious (Buck) Buchanan (DT) 1963-1975
Willie Davis (DE) 1958-1969
Fred Dean (DE) 1975-1985
Richard Dent 1983-1997
Chris Doleman (DE, LB) 1985-1999
Art Donovan (DT) 1950-1961
Carl Eller (DE) 1964-1979
Len Ford (DE) 1948-1958
Joe Greene (DT) 1969-1981
Dan Hampton (DT-DE) 1979-1990
David (Deacon) Jones (DE) 1961-1974
Henry Jordan (DT) 1957-1969
Cortez Kennedy (DT) 1990-2000
Bob Lilly (DT) 1961-1974
Howie Long (DE) 1981-1993
Gino Marchetti (DE) 1952-1964, 1966
Leo Nomellini (DT) 1950-1963
Merlin Olsen (DT) 1962-1976
Alan Page (DT) 1967-1981
John Randle 1990-2003
Andy Robustelli (DE) 1951-1964
Lee Roy Selmon (DE) 1976-1984
Bruce Smith 1985-2003
Ernie Stautner (DT) 1950-1963
Arnie Weinmeister (DT) 1948-1953
Randy White (DT) 1975-1988
Reggie White (DT-DE) 1985-1998, 2000
Bill Willis (MG) 1946-1953
Jack Youngblood (DE) 1971-1984

Who would you compare him too? that's not rhetorical, I don't really know. I went over to profootballreference.com and checked him versus other guys. Guys like Buck Buchanan or Gino Marchetti have twice or better the amount of pro bowls. I think he could be, but he needs probably closer to 10 pro-bowl bids, not 4-6.

and FYI, I love me some Big Vince.

 

[TyronePoole]

He reminds me of a young Bill Willis. Ah, those were the days.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

If Ted Washington doesn't get in on his first attempt this year,Wilfork probably isn't going to be a first timer either.

 

[BradyFTW!]

I think we overestimate how highly Wilfork is viewed by the NFL community at large. I honestly don't think he's considered HoF material outside of New England. For the non-stat type positions, a lot of it is how you are viewed. I think Ngata has a MUCH higher national profile than Wilfork, even is they are pretty similar talent-wise.

I think part of it will come down to evaluating the 2001-(end of the run, whenever that may be) Patriots teams and determining how many HoF reps those teams will have. Brady's a no-brainer, and a couple of other guys will make it, but only partly for their contributions in New England (Moss, Harrison, Seau, maybe Dillon, maybe Waters). The bottom line is that, given how successful the Pats have been for a solid decade, some of the guys who contributed here primarily will have to make it. The most likely candidates are among the following:

Wilfork, Welker, Mayo, Bruschi, Law, Seymour, Mankins

When it's all said and done, I'd bet that 1-2 of those guys make it to the Hall, and if I had to guess who it will be, I'd probably bet on Wilfork and Welker.