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For the first time since 2001, a full compliment
of six players was elected into the Pro Football
Hall of Fame. I'm 45 and was able to see and
remember each during his career. In my opinion,
four selections are solid (Reggie White, Warren
Moon, John Madden, Rayfield Wright), one leaves
me ambivalent (Harry Carson), and then there's
Troy Aikman.
Reggie White was the most dominant
defensive lineman of his era and retired with
most sacks (198) in NFL history at the time.
The "Minister of Defense" started
in the USFL but in his 15 year NFL career went
to 13 Pro Bowls. No Brainer.
Madden and Wright were senior-committee
selections and both have merit. Madden has the
highest winning percentage (.759) of ANY coach
with 100 wins and won a Super Bowl, probably
long overdue. Rayfield Wright was considered
the "linchpin" of the offensive line
for the great Cowboy teams of the 70's - no
problem there.
Warren Moon's NFL numbers are
staggering. His CFL/NFL numbers are mindboggling!
In 23 years of organized football, Warren Moon
threw for 72,184 yards and 457 touchdowns, 51.061
and 313 in the NFL. By comparison, Dan Marino
finished with 61,361 and 420. The hall didn't
hold Moon's vagabond final years and lack of
Super Bowl ring against him.
Harry Carson in my eyes was one
of the parts of the sum in that great "Wrecking
Crew" defense of the Giants Parcell's Giant
era. Lawrence Taylor deservedly got all the
pub but lets not forget that Brian Kelly and
Brad van Pelt were both excellent linebackers
and Jim Burt and Leonard Marshall vastly underrated
defensive linemen. Nitschke, Butkus, Lambert,
Carson ???
Troy Aikman's career stats: 61.5%,
32,942 yards, 165 TDs, 145 Ints, QB rating of
81.6
There have been six other quarterbacks
inducted into the Hall of Fame since 2000 (Montana,
Kelly, Elway. Marino, Young, and Moon), and
everyone's number other than Steve Young's dwarf
Troy Aikman's. So lets start with Steve Young.
Steve Young is another I would
consider good but not great yet compared to
Aikman, Young is first ballot. Despite spending
half his career in the USFL, Tampa bay, hurt,
or sitting behind Montana, Young still threw
for slight more yardage and 67 more touchdowns
than Aikman. Young could also hurt you with
his legs rushing for 4238 yards at 5.9 yards
per carry with an additional 33 touchdowns.
Of the seven, Aikman's completion
percentage is lower than all but Kelly (60.1%)
and Moon (NFL number 58.4%). Aikman's 165 touchdowns
pales in comparison to everyone else's 237+.
The others all threw for 40,000 plus yards and
only Moon (80.1) and Elway (79.9) had lower
quarterback ratings.
Call me old school but I think
the Hall of Fame should be reserved for the
truly greats of the game. I realize that HOF
criteria is not strictly numbers based and involves
many intangibles including leadership and winning
but Troy Aikman was clearly not great. This
is an argument generally reserved for baseball
but applicable here.
Let's look at some players that
are coming up soon, just retired or will retire
soon. Most I consider good but not great. Perhaps
the closest analogy to Aikman is Scotty Pippin,
decent numbers, 6 championships, Does he deserve
to get in ??? In my eyes - No/Maybe. Regardless
of situation, ANWHERE, Scotty Pippin was good
17/9 player that played excellent defense. He's
a slam dunk to go but if on fringe, the defense
would send him through.
Jerome Bettis. The Bus. He's
top 10 rushing all-time but if Steeler's hadn't
won, where's Jerome. Does he deserve to go?
A marginal yes, Will he get in? Maybe down the
line during a thin year. Could anybody in good
conscience mention his name in the same breath
as Earl Campbell. I don't think so.
Baseball is the most fun. In
an age of Roids and Juiced balls, how about
these guys, Juan Gonzalez (420+ HR's), Jeff
Bagwell (430+ HR's), Tom Glavine (260 wins),
Frank Thomas (420+ HR's). Cobb, Ruth, DiMaggio,
Aaron, Bagwell. Rolls right off your tongue
doesn't it. A lot of great players get dogged
about their careers for not winning a championship,
Ted Williams, Dan Marino, Maravich, Barkley,
and Karl Malone. Some get dogged for not winning
enough, Wilt Chamberlain. There are lots of
good players considered great because they won
and in this instance, Troy Aikman can step to
the head of the class.
Dennis Macklin is a documented member of The
Professional Handicappers League.
Read more of his articles and get his premium
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