2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists

Parcells was loved by the New York media for years, I wonder if some of the guys in the room got tired of hearing how much of a genius Parcells was? Especially when Hoodie has done so much better outside of the shadow of the Tuna.

 

I don't care about his Miami stuff.

He's being evaluated as a coach. And his credentials as a coach are more than enough to get in. What he has done in Miami's front office is supposed to be a black mark against him as a coaching candidate?

They guy won two Super Bowls. He coached another team in one. He was one win away from coaching a third in the Super Bowl. He took four different franchises to the playoffs and all four stops he took over a crappy situation and made it a lot better than when he found it. From a coaching standpoint, I don't know what more you want.

 

As disappointed as Brown and Reed are, having Carter get in probably is a positive for both of them since it ends the log jam and now they only have to "compete" with each other.
Strahan is a no-brainer, but he wasn't good enough to go in on a first-ballot. Parcells was probably helped more by Belichick's success than he was "hurt" by Coughlin's success.
Surprised Ogden got in and Shields didn't, but figure Shields is a lock next year.

 

The problem for Reed and Brown is that Harrison jumps in next year and Isaac Bruce is looming.

 

And guess who votes for the All-Decade Team? Yeah - the HOF selection committee.

 

Ogden and Allen might be the most physically dominant at their positions ever. They were freaks of nature. Glad they both got their due. I, too, think Shields is very much worthy, but I wouldn't put him as Allen's equal (and it appears the voters agree).

 

And it pays off, seeing how the Hall of Fame voters pick them.

1960s — 38 players (no first or second team designated), 12 are not hall of famers. Kramer has been a finalist.
1970s — 22 first-teamers, 2 are not Hall of Famers (Drew Pearson and Cliff Harris). 23 second-teamers, 7 are not in. Stabler and Greenwood have been finalists.
1980s — 22 first-teamers, 2 are not Hall of Famers (Jimbo Covert and Kenny Easley). 24 second-teamers, 12 are not in. Roger Craig and Letser Hayes have been finalists.
1990s — 22 first-teamers, 4 are not Hall of famers (Junior Seau (not eligible), Kevin Greene, Steve Atwater, LeRoy Butler). 22 second teamers, 15 aren't in. Favre isn't eligible and Williams, Brown have been finalists.

 

Thanks for the info, Della. In my mind, Harris is borderline HoFamer but, man, the guy put out some awesome hits.

I was surprised Kramer hadn't made it as of 20 years ago. Now, I doubt he ever is selected.

 

Totally agree.

 

a few random thoughts:

--shields was a great, great player. but allen was an INCREDIBLE force, who also played at a pro bowl level at tackle. allen was clearly the superior player; perhaps the greatest guard of all time.

--next year's first timers are a relativly weak group -- brooks is the only one who may be a first timer -- which is good news for those edged out today (strahan, haley, shields, reed). imo, brooks is far more deserving than sapp was.

--i liked and respected dungy probably more than any other coach i ever dealt with, but he's not an hof'er.

 

Totally agree with all of this, except that Brooks isn't FAR more deserving than Sapp. Brooks was a tremendous player, but Sapp was the key to that defense. Both changed the way their positions are defined, but I am pretty surprised Sapp went in over Strahan today.

 

It makes me wonder if Carter was the receiver choice so that when Marvin Harrison comes into play next year they could put him in right away and not have there be an outcry about it.

Harrison and Brooks would be the only first-timers with a chance. I've seen Walter Jones eligible in 2014 and 2015, so I'm not sure what is right. He will end up having to wait.

The voters are going to totally swing back to defense this next year (8 of the last 13 and 6 of the most recent 9 are offensive guys). I can see it being DeBartolo will go in with Brooks, Haley or Strahan and Williams. The offensive pick will be either Bettis or a WR. Shields is going to get screwed by the recent influx of o-linemen.

Williams is as locky a lock as it can be in 2014. He's got no direct competition at his position and he's been the final 10 each time as a finalist. You don't get that far consecutively and don't make it.