Baltimore Ravens
Jamal Lewis, RB
Jamal Lewis was All-Pro once and played in one Pro Bowl. Those accolades came in 2003 when he rushed for 2066 yards. Seeing as he had three more seasons with over 1300 yards and six other seasons with more than 1000 yards it’s surprising that he didn’t receive more season honors. A decade of rushing consistency, if not excellence, did earn him 2nd-team All-Decade for the 2000s. For his career, Lewis rushed for 10,607 yards. If he hadn’t missed the 2001 season to injury, he might’ve passed 12,000 yards.
Pittsburgh Steelers
L.C. Greenwood, DE
The Hall of Fame voters should be able to find room for another member of the Steel Curtain.
Cincinnati Bengals
Ken Riley, CB
The Bengals have a few deserving Hall of Fame candidates that have been patiently waiting. Ken Riley, Lamar Parrish, and Ken Anderson. I’ll go with Riley. And his 65 interceptions.
Cleveland Browns
Jim Ray Smith, G
The number of Browns players already in the Hall and a couple years lost to military service are probably the reasons that Jim Ray Smith isn’t already honored in Canton. Those aren’t very good reasons.
New York Jets
Larry Grantham, LB
Larry Grantham is one of the AFL greats that’s slipped through the Hall of Fame cracks.
Buffalo Bills
Mike Stratton, LB
Tom Sestak, Mike Stratton, George Saimes, Butch Byrd, Jim Dunaway. The Buffalo Bills defense of the mid-1960s were dominant. I’ll go with Stratton as the one first deserving of Hall of Fame consideration.
New England Patriots
Richard Seymour, DL
I don’t think that Richard Seymour’s Hall of Fame wait will last much longer.
Miami Dolphins
Bob Kuechenberg, OL
Bob Kuechenberg, Jake Scott, or Dick Anderson? I could make a Hall of Fame case for either Miami Dolphins safety. I’ll go with the one player that played on all five of the Dolphins Super Bowl teams. Kuechenberg was one of the best guards of the 1970s.
Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts
Alan Ameche. FB
In an era of great fullbacks Alan Ameche may have trailed only Jim Brown. Ameche’s touchdown in the 1958 NFL Championship game may be the most replayed touchdown in league history.
Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans
Charlie Hennigan, WR
Charlie Hennigan had a couple seasons in the early 1960s that would fit well in today’s pass-happy NFL. 82 catches for 1746 yards and 12 TDs in 1961. 1961! 101 catches for 1546 yards and 8 TDs in 1964. 1964!
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tony Boselli, OT
This is an easy choice. Tony Boselli should already be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Houston Texans
Andre Johnson, WR
The Texans first great player should be their first Hall of Fame candidate. He’s still a year from even being eligible.
Oakland/Los Angeles/Las Vegas Raiders
Cliff Branch, WR
They finally got Tom Flores into Canton. Cliff Branch is next.
Denver Broncos
Randy Gradishar, LB
Randy Gradishar was one of the players that I was certain would be part of the Hall’s Centennial Class. He wasn’t so he’s an easy pick here.
Kansas City Chiefs
Jim Tyrer, OT
As a player, Jim Tyrer should already have a bust in Canton.
San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers
Earl Faison, DL
It’s a coin flip between Earl Faison and Ernie Ladd. Both were freakishly sized for their day and could probably play today. The early 1960s Chargers teams were known for their offense. With Faison and Ladd on the line, their defense was a force.
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