Doc Brown

That's always bothered me too because once you're enshrined it really doesn't matter if it was first ballot or not because you're a HOFer. A law student who graduates bottom of his class and barely passes the bar is still a lawyer. We do say first ballot HOFer but I don't see that on any of their busts in Canton. It was interesting listening to Carucci talk (who couldn't get into specifics) about how when they were debating Eli they felt he wasn't deserving of getting in his first year of eligibility so they've created basically two tiers of levels of greatness. First ballot means you're the best of the best and you just hear the name and there's no argument. The one caveat to that is the voters are required to name three modern era players each year. Anything after that means you're still very good to great but a tier below the first ballot guys. I'd love to hear their rationale for why they didn't consider Kuechly a first ballot HOFer and my guess is he didn't have a long enough career. So I think if Eli gets in it'll be a year when you really have a weak cast of first time eligibles.

Why?

Ravens fans and Bills fans have been defending their QB from all the critics since they were drafted because they were such polarizing prospects. They're also such great leaders that teammates and fans will go to war for them (theoretically speaking). Any slight or perceived injustice will lead fans to aggressively defend their guy.

He received death threats because he denied Lamar the unanimous MVP last year. Nothing but respect for Schatz.

So he won MVP, most overrated player, biggest trash talker, and sportsmanship award in the same season. He's never boring. I'll give him that.

How did Luke Kuechly not get in? Played eight years, 5 first team all pros (two 2nd teams), 7 pro bowls, offensive rookie of the year, and one defensive player of the year. Also, I don't like to root against a player but Eli getting in as a 1st ballot HOFer would've sullied the honor a little bit imo.

Vegas always know.

That definitely hurt his case. Lamar is a great QB but I always found it odd that whenever they lost the criticism was they abandoned their run game. Pry too small a sample size. It sucks that race is even brought up.

If I was a neutral party it would not be an easy choice. I pry would've split the baby (Lamar 1st team all pro, Josh MVP) like some voters did.

He predicted the Bears to make the Super Bowl so let's not give him too much credit.

Pretty much everyone did except wait for it.....Nick Wright.

I know this is an Allen thread but Brees never winning it is criminal.

He ironically voted for Lamar. Stat nerd at least stays consistent.

Yeah. We should pry keep him. Third round comp picks are overrated.

Does "Go Bills" at the end count?

He's probably the most smug NFL commentator out there. He's like the Aaron Rodgers of the NFL media.

Matt Ryan maybe?

He won with 27 votes to Lamar's 23 votes. Apparently, that's all the points you need to beat Lamar.

That was my instinct as well. How do you screw that up though? Lol.

No. Deleted.

Thanks for doing your job.

When did you stop reading the rest of the thread?

I think Josh cares. He's human. I would care. That former MVP label will follow you the rest of your life. It would be a shocker if Lamar didn't win it but I'd be ecstatic for Josh if he did.

Not as an offensive coordinator though. Mack Jones only good year was with him as a rookie. Same goes for Matt Cassel in that 11-5 season after Brady suffered that injury in the first game in 2008. We'll see what he can do with Drake Maye but I wish they hired someone else. I think he's going to fall in that bucket of bad head coach but decent coordinator. I think long term this will be the best competition in our division.

Maybe the Swifties will get their first Wide Right gut punch and become true NFL fans.