Friday, August 5, 2016

Top Hall of Fame Candidate for Each NFC Team

In an NFL.com column, NFL Media Analyst Elliot Harrison picked the top Hall of Fame candidate for each team. That's a terrific idea with the 2016 Hall of Fame inductions taking place this weekend. So, I'll do the same here. First up, the NFC teams.

Minnesota Vikings 
Harrison: Matt Blair, LB

That's an interesting choice. Most Vikings fans want to see defensive end Jim Marshall honored in Canton. I like Harrison's choice but I have another. 
Flea Flicker: Chuck Foreman, RB
From 1973-77 Foreman was the most complete back in the league. If not the best. The Vikings offense really started to click when he was a part of it.

Green Bay Packers
Harrison: LeRoy Butler

Guard Jerry Kramer has to make it one of these years. Doesn't he? I'll go in another direction.
Flea Flicker: Sterling Sharpe, WR
A neck injury ended Sharpe's career way too soon. He still played about seven seasons and was one of the best receivers in the league for those seasons. That Favre-Sharpe combo was just getting started.

Chicago Bears
Harrison: Steve McMichael, DT

The Hall of Fame can handle more players from the 1980s Bears defense. McMichael is a fine choice.
Flea Flicker: Steve McMichael, DT

Detroit Lions
Harrison: Buddy Parker, coach

Parker should get Hall of Fame consideration because he should already be in the Hall of Fame. 
Flea Flicker: Alex Karras, DT
Like Parker, Karras should already be in the Hall of Fame.

Dallas Cowboys
Harrison: Chuck Howley, LB

A fine choice. Here's another.
Flea Flicker: Cliff Harris, S

New York Giants
Harrison: George Young, general manager

With the contributor category, Young will be in soon. I'm going with a player that gets just about no Hall of Fame attention but was always one of my favorites.
Flea Flicker: Carl Banks, LB
On a Giants linebacker group that included Hall of Famers Lawrence Taylor and Harry Carson, Banks made a lot of plays. I think that history has kind of forgotten about Banks.

Philadelphia Eagles
Harrison: Brian Dawkins, S

Dawkins should get in not long after he's eligible. How about a player that should have been inducted decades ago?
Flea Flicker: Al Wistert, T
There aren't many 8x All-Pro, All-Decade players not in the Hall of Fame. Wistert is one of them.

Washington Redskins
Harrison: Jerry Smith, TE

No argument here. Smith was one of the best pass-catching tight ends at a time when most tight ends were just learning to catch passes.
Flea Flicker: Jerry Smith, TE

New Orleans Saints
Harrison: Pat Swilling, LB

Ditto.
Flea Flicker: Pat Swilling, LB

Carolina Panthers
Harrison: Sam Mills

The only problem I have with this pick is that Mills only played three seasons with the Panthers. He did coach there for several years. I'm going to cheat and go with a player that's still active. 
Flea Flicker: Steve Smith, WR

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Harrison: John Lynch, S

Agreed. 
Flea Flicker: John Lynch, S

Atlanta Falcons
Harrison: Mike Kenn, T

Absolutely. 
Flea Flicker: Mike Kenn, T

San Francisco 49ers
Harrison: Terrell Owens, WR

I have some issues with receivers that have difficulty catching passes. I'll go with one of the most versatile backs during his time in the league. 
Flea Flicker: Roger Craig, RB

Los Angeles Rams
Harrison: Isaac Bruce, WR

Bruce should make it eventually. I'll go with a defensive back that's been pretty much forgotten.
Flea Flicker: Eddie Meador, DB
Meador had 46 career interceptions. 3x 1st-Team All-Pro. 1960s All-Decade Team.

Seattle Seahawks
Harrison: Kenny Easley, S

Agreed. Like Sterling Sharpe, Easley's great career was cut short by injuries. 
Flea Flicker: Kenny Easley, S
Also like Sharpe, Easley only played seven seasons. 4x 1st-Team All-Pro, Defensive Player of the Year in 1984, 1980s All-Decade Team. Easley should be in the Hall of Fame. 

Arizona Cardinals
Harrison: Kurt Warner, QB

Warner is going to get in soon. I'll go with a player that's waited a long time.
Flea Flicker: Marshall Goldberg, Back
It's hard to believe now but the Cardinals were a powerhouse at the end of the 1940s. They won the NFL title in 1947 and lost in the championship game in 1948. Their dynamite backfield was a big reason for that success. Charlie Trippi is in the Hall of Fame from that backfield. Goldberg should join him.





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