WTF Hall of Fame Class
The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 was revealed last night during NFL Honors.
Julius Peppers
Andre Johnson
Dwight Freeney
Patrick Willis
Devin Hester
Randy Gradishar
Steve McMichael
It’s a puzzling Class. Disappointing too. No offense to the new Hall of Famers.
As a finalist for the fourth time, I figured that this was the year for Jared Allen. He survived the cut to ten the past two years. That’s usually the springboard to making it the following year. You know who didn’t make the cut to ten last year? Dwight Freeney. Somehow, Freeney, in his second year of eligibility, leapfrogged Allen over the past year. What changed? The voters have some explaining to do.
Some Jared Allen vs Dwight Freeney Stats:
Sacks:
Allen 136
Freeney 125.5
Tackles:
Allen 648
Freeney 350
Solo Tackles
Allen 503
Freeney 299
Tackles For Loss
Allen 171
Freeney 128
Interceptions
Allen 6 (1 returned for a TD)
Freeney 0
Safeties
Allen 4
Freeney 1
-Allen’s four career safeties is an NFL record
All-Pros
Allen 4
Freeney 3
Pro Bowls
Allen 5
Freeney 7
Allen had eight seasons of at least 11 sacks. Freeney had five.
Allen played 12 seasons. Freeney played 16 seasons.
The only thing that Freeney really had over Allen was an All-Decade selection. Freeney had the advantage of playing nearly the entirety of the 2000s while Allen’s career bridged the 2000s and 2010s.
Then there’s that Super Bowl title that Freeney’s Indianapolis Colts won in 2006. A team achievement. If the Super Bowl was a deciding factor in this Hall of Fame vote, perhaps Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne should’ve gotten the nod over Andre Johnson. Arguably, if not for Bountygate, Allen’s 2009 Vikings probably beat Freeney’s Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.
Anyway, Dwight Freeney leapfrogging Jared Allen for Canton is more annoying than aggravating. The biggest problem that I have with this Hall of Fame Class is the exclusion of Detroit Lions coach Buddy Parker. First of all, he should’ve been inducted decades ago. He led the Lions to NFL titles in 1952 and 1953. He put together the Lions team that won the NFL title in 1957. He was the only coach that routinely got the better of Paul Brown. Parker had a career record against Brown of 4-1. 2-1 in title games. This was during a run in which the Browns went to six consecutive Championship games, winning half of them. His record against perhaps the greatest coach in league history should’ve gotten Parker to Canton decades ago. The voters so rarely toss the nominees of the Senior/Coach/Contributor committees that it was truly shocking to see a slam-dunk nominee like Buddy Parker not make it over the final hurdle. Actually, it’s true insanity.
The voters also swatted aside Art Powell as a Senior nominee. It’s not quite as absurd as Parker not making it but it was surprising. Some voters have stated that they will not consider players and coaches that they didn’t see play or coach. That’s a concern when the Pro Football Hall of Fame honors the entirety of the league’s past.
Honor the greatest of the game
Preserve it’s history
Promote it’s values
Celebrate excellence together
That’s the mission statement of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The voters that have shut the door on much of the game’s past violate that mission statement. They also make a mockery of the process. Those voters shouldn’t be in the room.
I thought that I’d emptied all of my rage over the Hall of Fame voting process during Cris Carter’s six-year wait. Unfortunately, I feel it’s return. I do find some relief in Randy Gradishar and Patrick Willis finally getting to Canton. Gradishar should’ve been there long ago. He was one of the best two or three linebackers of his generation. I thought that Willis was worthy of first-year induction. He was the best of his generation and one of the best I ever watched. Voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a tough job and responsibility. The seven members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 are deserving. There’s no denying that. Jared Allen has next year. Buddy Parker doesn’t. Parker not making it is inexcusable.
Next year?
Next year, the following players will become eligible for the first time.
Luke Kuechly
Earl Thomas
Eli Manning
Marshawn Lynch
Terrell Suggs
In my opinion, Luke Kuechly is the player most deserving of first-year induction. He might even be more deserving of first-year induction than Peppers. It’s a fine two years for fans of the Carolina Panthers. Earl Thomas is close. There’ll be quite a debate over Eli Manning. My immediate thought is that he has a Kurt Warner-like wait. Although, Jim Plunkett won two Super Bowls as the quarterback of the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and he’s still waiting for a Hall call. My fear for Jared Allen is the player that beat him in the voting for 2011 Defensive Player of the Year, Terrell Suggs. After a five-year wait and three consecutive top-10 finishes, Allen has to go in ahead of Suggs. Right? Who the hell knows with these voters?
My immediate thought on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025
Luke Kuechly
Jared Allen
Antonio Gates
Darren Woodson
Willie Anderson
I’ve had Allen in the last three Classes. So, what do I know? I can ask the same of many of the people that actually have a voice in the process.
Julius Peppers
Andre Johnson
Dwight Freeney
Patrick Willis
Devin Hester
Randy Gradishar
Steve McMichael
It’s a puzzling Class. Disappointing too. No offense to the new Hall of Famers.
As a finalist for the fourth time, I figured that this was the year for Jared Allen. He survived the cut to ten the past two years. That’s usually the springboard to making it the following year. You know who didn’t make the cut to ten last year? Dwight Freeney. Somehow, Freeney, in his second year of eligibility, leapfrogged Allen over the past year. What changed? The voters have some explaining to do.
Some Jared Allen vs Dwight Freeney Stats:
Sacks:
Allen 136
Freeney 125.5
Tackles:
Allen 648
Freeney 350
Solo Tackles
Allen 503
Freeney 299
Tackles For Loss
Allen 171
Freeney 128
Interceptions
Allen 6 (1 returned for a TD)
Freeney 0
Safeties
Allen 4
Freeney 1
-Allen’s four career safeties is an NFL record
All-Pros
Allen 4
Freeney 3
Pro Bowls
Allen 5
Freeney 7
Allen had eight seasons of at least 11 sacks. Freeney had five.
Allen played 12 seasons. Freeney played 16 seasons.
The only thing that Freeney really had over Allen was an All-Decade selection. Freeney had the advantage of playing nearly the entirety of the 2000s while Allen’s career bridged the 2000s and 2010s.
Then there’s that Super Bowl title that Freeney’s Indianapolis Colts won in 2006. A team achievement. If the Super Bowl was a deciding factor in this Hall of Fame vote, perhaps Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne should’ve gotten the nod over Andre Johnson. Arguably, if not for Bountygate, Allen’s 2009 Vikings probably beat Freeney’s Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.
Anyway, Dwight Freeney leapfrogging Jared Allen for Canton is more annoying than aggravating. The biggest problem that I have with this Hall of Fame Class is the exclusion of Detroit Lions coach Buddy Parker. First of all, he should’ve been inducted decades ago. He led the Lions to NFL titles in 1952 and 1953. He put together the Lions team that won the NFL title in 1957. He was the only coach that routinely got the better of Paul Brown. Parker had a career record against Brown of 4-1. 2-1 in title games. This was during a run in which the Browns went to six consecutive Championship games, winning half of them. His record against perhaps the greatest coach in league history should’ve gotten Parker to Canton decades ago. The voters so rarely toss the nominees of the Senior/Coach/Contributor committees that it was truly shocking to see a slam-dunk nominee like Buddy Parker not make it over the final hurdle. Actually, it’s true insanity.
The voters also swatted aside Art Powell as a Senior nominee. It’s not quite as absurd as Parker not making it but it was surprising. Some voters have stated that they will not consider players and coaches that they didn’t see play or coach. That’s a concern when the Pro Football Hall of Fame honors the entirety of the league’s past.
Honor the greatest of the game
Preserve it’s history
Promote it’s values
Celebrate excellence together
That’s the mission statement of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The voters that have shut the door on much of the game’s past violate that mission statement. They also make a mockery of the process. Those voters shouldn’t be in the room.
I thought that I’d emptied all of my rage over the Hall of Fame voting process during Cris Carter’s six-year wait. Unfortunately, I feel it’s return. I do find some relief in Randy Gradishar and Patrick Willis finally getting to Canton. Gradishar should’ve been there long ago. He was one of the best two or three linebackers of his generation. I thought that Willis was worthy of first-year induction. He was the best of his generation and one of the best I ever watched. Voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a tough job and responsibility. The seven members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2024 are deserving. There’s no denying that. Jared Allen has next year. Buddy Parker doesn’t. Parker not making it is inexcusable.
Next year?
Next year, the following players will become eligible for the first time.
Luke Kuechly
Earl Thomas
Eli Manning
Marshawn Lynch
Terrell Suggs
In my opinion, Luke Kuechly is the player most deserving of first-year induction. He might even be more deserving of first-year induction than Peppers. It’s a fine two years for fans of the Carolina Panthers. Earl Thomas is close. There’ll be quite a debate over Eli Manning. My immediate thought is that he has a Kurt Warner-like wait. Although, Jim Plunkett won two Super Bowls as the quarterback of the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and he’s still waiting for a Hall call. My fear for Jared Allen is the player that beat him in the voting for 2011 Defensive Player of the Year, Terrell Suggs. After a five-year wait and three consecutive top-10 finishes, Allen has to go in ahead of Suggs. Right? Who the hell knows with these voters?
My immediate thought on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025
Luke Kuechly
Jared Allen
Antonio Gates
Darren Woodson
Willie Anderson
I’ve had Allen in the last three Classes. So, what do I know? I can ask the same of many of the people that actually have a voice in the process.
