Pro Football Hall of Fame names 15 finalists for the Class of 2025

[BRH]

The sad thing about this era of HOF balloting is that most of the finalists played in the Drought era.  So it's like an echo of the drought for me ... we just didn't have the horses for a very long time and the only Bills from that era worthy of consideration for a good long stretch will be guys more identified with other teams, like TO, Shady, Gore, etc.

 

Still waiting on Tasker and Hull, anyway.

[thenorthremembers]

23 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

Is this saying that Antonio Gates didn’t get in as a first ballot HOFer? Is that possible? 

Absolute nonsense.    Just like the TO thing.  If you didn't go up the side for the writers you have to wait.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

15 minutes ago, chongli said:

 

These were the five enshrines (regular route) in 2024, which was Gates' first year of eligibility:

 

DWIGHT FREENEY

DEVIN HESTER

ANDRE JOHNSON

JULIUS PEPPERS

PATRICK WILLIS

 

Is Gates better than any of these five?

 

 

So who among the five enshrines would you have replaced Gates with in 2024?

 

DWIGHT FREENEY

DEVIN HESTER

ANDRE JOHNSON

JULIUS PEPPERS

PATRICK WILLIS

He's better than all of them.

I wouldn't have even elected Freeney or Willis.

[Wacka]

They put Josh on twice! And he is still playing!😁😁😁  😁

[T master]

Wasn't Woodson in some trouble and got fired from a sports network a while ago ? If that be the case he shouldn't be on the list . Should he ?

 

If O.J. had done what he did prior to the HOF voting he'd have never made it in . 

[Sierra Foothills]

1 hour ago, Dan Darragh said:

The last time I saw Jim Brown he was running from the cops.

 

Were they German cops?

 

1 hour ago, chongli said:

My mom was born in Taiwan, and it she wouldn't have known about Bruce Lee either, I suspect. And she definitely would not know the meaning of Machine Gun Kelly, as she did not watch sports (and didn't listen to Machine Gun Kelly, the rapper, either).

 

I don't know your situation, I know your my age (80's child) and are or were a powerlifter, but if you plan on (still?) having kids, I hope they learn to be bilingual. It's an invaluable financial skill in today's world. My mom emigrated at a time when people were ashamed to be immigrants from Asia, and hence, I never learned Mandarin (Taiwanese dialect).

 

FYI:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machine_Gun_Kelly

 

32 minutes ago, BRH said:

Really hate when the HOFs wait until someone has kicked before they decide to let them in.  Kenny Stabler comes to mind.  Dick Allen just now in baseball.  I know that can't be controlled, but sometimes it just feels spiteful.

 

Agree.

 

I felt that way about Buck O'Neill in MLB.

 

[BRH]

13 minutes ago, Sierra Foothills said:

 

 

Agree.

 

I felt that way about Buck O'Neill in MLB.

 

Marvin Miller, too; that was especially egregious and spiteful.  

[Mr. WEO]

Steve Smith has to go in before Holt.  

 

Eli should walk right in.

 

Jared Allen. 

1 hour ago, chongli said:

 

These were the five enshrines (regular route) in 2024, which was Gates' first year of eligibility:

 

DWIGHT FREENEY

DEVIN HESTER

ANDRE JOHNSON

JULIUS PEPPERS

PATRICK WILLIS

 

Is Gates better than any of these five?

 

 

So who among the five enshrines would you have replaced Gates with in 2024?

 

DWIGHT FREENEY

DEVIN HESTER

ANDRE JOHNSON

JULIUS PEPPERS

PATRICK WILLIS

 

Hester and willis for sure.

[US Egg]

Seems to me the finalists list selection is getting weaker, or maybe just more a case of a token honor.

[chongli]

1 hour ago, T master said:

Wasn't Woodson in some trouble and got fired from a sports network a while ago ? 

 

Not that I know of. You mean Michael Irvin or Willie McGinnest?

1 hour ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

He's better than all of them.

I wouldn't have even elected Freeney or Willis.

 

33 minutes ago, Mr. WEO said:

 

Hester and willis for sure.

 

Agreed with both of you, especially about Willis.

 

 

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

He's better than all of them.

I wouldn't have even elected Freeney or Willis.

 

I don't think he is better than Peppers in fairness. But yea I think was better than the other 4. 

 

Freeney is kind of my Jared Allen argument. Freeney played longer. Has fewer career sacks. Fewer double digit sack seasons. Never led the league in sacks. But he is in and Allen waits. Reason? Freeney played on a Colts team that was a contender and was on tv a ton, Jared Allen was dominant but on average Chiefs and Vikings teams so he waits. No doubt in my mind Allen was far the better player. And he didn't have the advantage of teeing off on QBs during blowouts that Freeney had either. 

 

Last year's was a poor class.

[T master]

9 minutes ago, chongli said:

 

Not that I know of. You mean Michael Irvin or Willie McGinnest?

 

 

Agreed with both of you, especially about Willis.

 

 

 

NOPE i just had a brain fart ! I thought when he left ESPN he was let go but my bad he left to pursue other business deals ...

[GerstAusGosheim]

2 hours ago, Ethan in Cleveland said:

Eli - not a HOF talent

Case Against Eli Manning as a Hall of Famer

 

1. Career Wins

117-117 record: A .500 win percentage.

Comparable to Jim Plunkett (also a 2x Super Bowl champion), who is not in the Hall of Fame.

For context:

Cam Newton: .528

Andy Dalton: .519

Jake Plummer: .507

 

2. Passing Stats

Completion percentage: 60.3% in the passing era.

5% lower than peers.

Tied for 59th all-time.

 

3. Individual Accolades

Pro Bowls: Only 4 in 16 seasons.

All-Pro selections: Zero.

NFC Offensive Player of the Week: Only 4 times.

 

4. Turnovers

Led the league in interceptions 3 times (2007, 2010, 2013).

9th most interceptions in NFL history.

 

5. Playoff Performance

Made the playoffs 6 times in 16 seasons.

Outside of his two Super Bowl runs, he:

Never won a playoff game.

Super Bowl years aside, playoff record is underwhelming.

 

6. Regular Season Performance

Winning seasons: Only 7 in 16 years.

 

Summary of Why He’s Getting In Despite the Evidence

- Longevity in the Passing Era:#10 all-time in:

Passing yards: 57,023

Passing touchdowns: 366

Passing completions: 4,895

However, Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers rank higher in these categories.

 

- Super Bowl Wins Over Tom Brady:

Defeating the Patriots, especially the 16-0 team in 2007, has elevated his legacy disproportionately.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

8 minutes ago, GerstAusGosheim said:

Case Against Eli Manning as a Hall of Famer

 

1. Career Wins

117-117 record: A .500 win percentage.

Comparable to Jim Plunkett (also a 2x Super Bowl champion), who is not in the Hall of Fame.

For context:

Cam Newton: .528

Andy Dalton: .519

Jake Plummer: .507

 

2. Passing Stats

Completion percentage: 60.3% in the passing era.

5% lower than peers.

Tied for 59th all-time.

 

3. Individual Accolades

Pro Bowls: Only 4 in 16 seasons.

All-Pro selections: Zero.

NFC Offensive Player of the Week: Only 4 times.

 

4. Turnovers

Led the league in interceptions 3 times (2007, 2010, 2013).

9th most interceptions in NFL history.

 

5. Playoff Performance

Made the playoffs 6 times in 16 seasons.

Outside of his two Super Bowl runs, he:

Never won a playoff game.

Super Bowl years aside, playoff record is underwhelming.

 

6. Regular Season Performance

Winning seasons: Only 7 in 16 years.

 

Summary of Why He’s Getting In Despite the Evidence

- Longevity in the Passing Era:#10 all-time in:

Passing yards: 57,023

Passing touchdowns: 366

Passing completions: 4,895

However, Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers rank higher in these categories.

 

- Super Bowl Wins Over Tom Brady:

Defeating the Patriots, especially the 16-0 team in 2007, has elevated his legacy disproportionately.

100% agree but he will 100% get in

[chongli]

16 minutes ago, GerstAusGosheim said:

Case Against Eli Manning as a Hall of Famer

 

1. Career Wins

117-117 record: A .500 win percentage.

Comparable to Jim Plunkett (also a 2x Super Bowl champion), who is not in the Hall of Fame.

For context:

Cam Newton: .528

Andy Dalton: .519

Jake Plummer: .507

 

2. Passing Stats

Completion percentage: 60.3% in the passing era.

5% lower than peers.

Tied for 59th all-time.

 

3. Individual Accolades

Pro Bowls: Only 4 in 16 seasons.

All-Pro selections: Zero.

NFC Offensive Player of the Week: Only 4 times.

 

4. Turnovers

Led the league in interceptions 3 times (2007, 2010, 2013).

9th most interceptions in NFL history.

 

5. Playoff Performance

Made the playoffs 6 times in 16 seasons.

Outside of his two Super Bowl runs, he:

Never won a playoff game.

Super Bowl years aside, playoff record is underwhelming.

 

6. Regular Season Performance

Winning seasons: Only 7 in 16 years.

 

Summary of Why He’s Getting In Despite the Evidence

- Longevity in the Passing Era:#10 all-time in:

Passing yards: 57,023

Passing touchdowns: 366

Passing completions: 4,895

However, Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers rank higher in these categories.

 

- Super Bowl Wins Over Tom Brady:

Defeating the Patriots, especially the 16-0 team in 2007, has elevated his legacy disproportionately.

 

Perfectly put and well researched. He has no business even being a finalist.

[prissythecat]

Eli will be a hard sell as a first ballot HOFer .