25 Semi-finalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame (class of 2025) announced

[Mark Vader]

On 11/20/2024 at 6:19 AM, chongli said:

 

25 modern-era semifinalists for the Class of 2025: 

 

[bold = first-year eligible]

 

QB Eli Manning
LB Luke Kuechly
WR Steve Smith Sr.
S Earl Thomas
K Adam Vinatieri
DE Jared Allen
LB Terrell Suggs
TE Antonio Gates
G/T Marshal Yanda
LB James Harrison
DT Vince Wilfork
T Willie Anderson
WR Torry Holt
WR Anquan Boldin (former Buffalo Bills player 2017 off-season)
WR Reggie Wayne
G Jahri Evans
S Rodney Harrison
CB Eric Allen
DE Robert Mathis
RB Fred Taylor
WR Hines Ward
RB Ricky Watters
T Richmond Webb
G Steve Wisniewski
S Darren Woodson

 

 

Those are my cuts.

[JP51]

29 minutes ago, JerseyBills said:

Yanda?

I am gonna plead here... I just do not know that much about him... I would love to make a call but honestly, I dont have value to add with respect to him. I do know lots of others think he is awesome. Now why I dont remember him and I remember all the others vividly I have no idea... 

[chongli]

2 hours ago, Mark Vader said:

Those are my cuts.

 

You can have more players, as there are 15 finalists chosen, to be cut to 10 then 5 (or less), plus the three senior finalists and one coach/contributor finalist.

[Don Otreply]

On 11/20/2024 at 9:35 AM, Sweats said:

I don't like any of that list.........sorry, not sorry.

Yup, I guess it’s now the hall of above average…, 

[Mark Vader]

On 11/20/2024 at 12:59 PM, chongli said:

 

There are 31 senior player nominees left after the second round of voting. and Tasker isn't even one:

 

https://www.profootballhof.com/news/2024/10/31-seniors-remain-in-consideration-for-hall’s-class-of-2025-after-second-reduction-vote/

 

QUARTERBACKS (3): Ken Anderson, Charlie Conerly, Jim Plunkett.

RUNNING BACKS (5): Ottis Anderson, Roger Craig, Chuck Foreman, Cecil Isbell, Paul “Tank” Younger.

WIDE RECEIVERS (5): Billy "White Shoes” Johnson, Stanley Morgan, Art Powell, Sterling Sharpe, Otis Taylor.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (7): Ox Emerson, Joe Jacoby, Mike Kenn, Bob Kuechenberg, George Kunz, Jim Tyrer, Al Wistert.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (2): Jim Marshall, Harvey Martin.

LINEBACKERS (5): Carl Banks, Maxie Baughan, Larry Grantham, Clay Matthews Jr., Tommy Nobis.

DEFENSIVE BACKS (4): Lester Hayes, Albert Lewis, Eddie Meador, Everson Walls

 

The list will be trimmed down to nine senior semi-finalists this week.

How is Henry Ellard omitted from the WR category? That is a crime.

[chongli]

26 minutes ago, Mark Vader said:

How is Henry Ellard omitted from the WR category? That is a crime.

 

He is a senior now, but he didn't make that list of semi-finalists either. He was a great player.

 

 

Edited Thursday at 10:49 PM by chongli

[Mark Vader]

15 minutes ago, chongli said:

 

He is a senior now, but he didn't make that list of semi-finalists either. He was a great player.

 

 

People have forgotten that he was a very dangerous receiver. His problem is that he played on some terrible Rams teams.

 

Despite that, whenever the Rams played the 49'ers, both he and Jerry Rice put on a show.

[chongli]

Bob Kraft was passed over for the Pro Football HOF according to ESPN's Don Van Natta, Jr.. He was expected to be a shoe-in this year, now that contributors have been separated from coaches in the selection process. Instead, the committee chose Ralph Hay of the Canton Bulldogs.

 

 

 

From the article:

 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/42529180/sources-hof-committee-passes-patriots-robert-kraft-again

 

"Instead, the nine-member committee, which each year advances one name for consideration by all 50 Hall voters, chose Ralph Hay, a co-founder of the National Football League and the owner of the Canton Bulldogs from 1918 to 1922, five sources with knowledge of the decision told ESPN this week.

 

The contributor committee's decision was made Nov. 12 and is expected to be announced by the Hall of Fame next month. Hay, along with one coaching candidate and three candidates from an earlier NFL era whose names still have not been revealed, will be considered by the full selection committee for the Hall in January 2025."

Edited Friday at 04:04 PM by chongli

[LABILLBACKER]

On 11/21/2024 at 6:37 AM, oldmanfan said:

The Hall should be about players who were the best at what they did.  Tasker is arguably the best special teams player ever.  How this is not recognized is mystifying.

I agree but apparently the only special teams players that matter to the NFL are punters & kickers.

[PetermansRedemption]

On 11/21/2024 at 8:29 AM, co_springs_billsfan said:

Seems like a lot of "very good" but not "hall of fame" worthy names... But my opinion doesn't matter so I'll move on with my life 

That’s the hall of fame now. “Hall of above average to good” 

[Kelly to Allen]

Fred Taylor is one of the most talented rbs I've ever seen. His size and breakaway speed combo was transcendent. But he also had excellent moves in space and was extremely dynamic. Incredible speed and was still awesome even at age 31 as a RB is insane. 

 

He has a few runs in 07 at age 31 where he blows by everyone. 

 

One of my all time favorite rbs at Florida and the NFL. I really really wanted to draft him in 98 and didn't like the rob Johnson trade 

 

[Mr. WEO]

There's no way Vinatieri should get in before Eli.  He had 2 huge kicks in SBs as game winners.  Couple of playoff wins too---over 24 years...

 

 

[PromoTheRobot]

On 11/20/2024 at 6:21 PM, Mikie2times said:

Seeing Eli 

 

 

Yeah, sorry. I don't see him as HoF-caliber at all. Hall of pretty good, maybe.

[Matt_In_NH]

no one really jumps off the page for me....but I dont have data to compare either....this looks like a lot of really good players.

3 hours ago, chongli said:

Bob Kraft was passed over for the Pro Football HOF according to ESPN's Don Van Natta, Jr..

Come on give the guy a hand