With Super Bowl XLVI behind us the race to Super Bowl XLVII begins. The New York Giants are the only team happy right now but all teams have work to do. It's crazy but there really is no rest. Teams are looking at their own roster. Judging if improvements in weak areas can be made with what they already have. Teams have to decide which of their own free agents need to be signed. They have to decide whether to improve positions in free agency or the draft. How best to work their money within the constraints of the salary cap.
The next date on the calendar is the Scouting Combine in a couple of weeks. Free agency starts nearly a month after that. The NFL Draft comes up a month later. Between then and training camp it's scattered mini-camps. Actually, all that busy work is a blessing compared to the ridiculous lockout of a year ago.
The players have a little time off now. Then it's getting stronger, getting better, getting ready.
For everybody, next season has already started.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Super Bowl Stuff
Congratulations New York Giants!
Eli Manning is an elite quarterback.
Looks like Mario Manningham is this year's David Tyree. His catch on the sideline to help drive his team to the winning touchdown was fantastic. The throw was great too.
I didn't like the safety call to open the Super Bowl scoring. Intentional grounding on a pass that Tom Brady threw about 40 yards downfield is a difficult call to make. Difficult to make in a regular season game let alone the Super Bowl. Technically it's the correct call as Brady was getting rid of the ball to avoid a safety. Passes heaved downfield and out of bounds are basically the same. In fact, Eli Manning did just that later in the first half. Nothing is called on those throws but the purpose is the same as Brady's throw.
I hate it when teams allow a touchdown at the end of the game to get the ball back with some time left. I know it's good strategy but I absolutely hate the idea of giving a team anything. It's just not supposed to be done.
Maybe Tom Coughlin's job is safe for a little while.
Not to take anything away from the current Tom Brady. He's an outstanding quarterback. I just find it interesting that he won three Super Bowls in his first four years as a starting quarterback. He's zero for two as one of the best of all time. This is more about the Giants doing what they need to do than Brady not doing what it takes. It's just something that I find interesting.
The Patriots are doing terrific things with their tight ends but they could still use a receiver or two to go with Wes Welker.
I really enjoy seeing competitive, exciting, fun Super Bowls. You could probably count on one hand the decent championship games from the mid-70s through the 90s. We've had a bunch since the turn of the century.
Just a little more Hall of Fame stuff:
The Minnesota Vikings now have 11 players, coaches, and administrators in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
Bud Grant
Fran Tarkenton
Alan Page
Paul Krause
Ron Yary
Carl Eller
Jim Finks
Gary Zimmerman
Randall McDaniel
John Randle
Chris Doleman
That's a pretty nice total for a team that's been around since 1961 and has failed to win a Super Bowl. Cris Carter should make it 12, soon! Vikings fans complain regularly about a voter bias against the team. The Dallas Cowboys have been around a year longer and have 5 Super Bowl wins. They have 13 Hall of Famers.
With another year shunned, Cris Carter looks to the 2013 class. It'll be a tough one. Offensive linemen Jonathan Ogden and Larry Allen and defensive linemen Michael Strahan and Warren Sapp will be eligible.
I consider all four automatic. The voters are idiots so who knows? One thought occurred to me. The voters are ridiculously committed to agendas and quotas. Four grunts from the trenches might allow for a playmaker like Carter to finally enter. We can only hope.
Thanks for this year's memories NFL.
Eli Manning is an elite quarterback.
Looks like Mario Manningham is this year's David Tyree. His catch on the sideline to help drive his team to the winning touchdown was fantastic. The throw was great too.
I didn't like the safety call to open the Super Bowl scoring. Intentional grounding on a pass that Tom Brady threw about 40 yards downfield is a difficult call to make. Difficult to make in a regular season game let alone the Super Bowl. Technically it's the correct call as Brady was getting rid of the ball to avoid a safety. Passes heaved downfield and out of bounds are basically the same. In fact, Eli Manning did just that later in the first half. Nothing is called on those throws but the purpose is the same as Brady's throw.
I hate it when teams allow a touchdown at the end of the game to get the ball back with some time left. I know it's good strategy but I absolutely hate the idea of giving a team anything. It's just not supposed to be done.
Maybe Tom Coughlin's job is safe for a little while.
Not to take anything away from the current Tom Brady. He's an outstanding quarterback. I just find it interesting that he won three Super Bowls in his first four years as a starting quarterback. He's zero for two as one of the best of all time. This is more about the Giants doing what they need to do than Brady not doing what it takes. It's just something that I find interesting.
The Patriots are doing terrific things with their tight ends but they could still use a receiver or two to go with Wes Welker.
I really enjoy seeing competitive, exciting, fun Super Bowls. You could probably count on one hand the decent championship games from the mid-70s through the 90s. We've had a bunch since the turn of the century.
Just a little more Hall of Fame stuff:
The Minnesota Vikings now have 11 players, coaches, and administrators in the Pro Football Hall of Fame:
Bud Grant
Fran Tarkenton
Alan Page
Paul Krause
Ron Yary
Carl Eller
Jim Finks
Gary Zimmerman
Randall McDaniel
John Randle
Chris Doleman
That's a pretty nice total for a team that's been around since 1961 and has failed to win a Super Bowl. Cris Carter should make it 12, soon! Vikings fans complain regularly about a voter bias against the team. The Dallas Cowboys have been around a year longer and have 5 Super Bowl wins. They have 13 Hall of Famers.
With another year shunned, Cris Carter looks to the 2013 class. It'll be a tough one. Offensive linemen Jonathan Ogden and Larry Allen and defensive linemen Michael Strahan and Warren Sapp will be eligible.
I consider all four automatic. The voters are idiots so who knows? One thought occurred to me. The voters are ridiculously committed to agendas and quotas. Four grunts from the trenches might allow for a playmaker like Carter to finally enter. We can only hope.
Thanks for this year's memories NFL.
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Hall of Fame Crap and Some Super Bowl Bits
Strike five for Cris Carter. Hall of Fame voters can suck it. They need to watch some football. Learn some football. Actually they need to get out and let those that care about the game and its history take over.
Three out of the five years that Carter's been robbed a former Vikings player has made the final cut. I think that's been done to keep me from coming completely unhinged. Randall McDaniel, John Randle and now Chris Doleman. It does help.
My favorite Doleman moment was a series of plays against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1989. He ran over and around, just took apart Hall of Fame tackle Anthony Munoz. It was unbelievable. Congratulations Chris Doleman.
One last piece of advice to the voters. Saying that Cris Carter will some day get his day does not make it okay.
Its difficult but yesterday is really about those that made it.
Congratulations to Chris Doleman, Dermontti Dawson, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Cortez Kennedy and Jack Butler.
The NFL pulled out their version of the Oscars last night. Congratulations to those that won awards and to Jared Allen for deserving one.
MVP: Aaron Rodgers
Offensive Player of the Year: Drew Brees
Defensive Player of the Year: Terrell Suggs-Suggs was fantastic but this award goes to Jared Allen. Suggs should have won the part of a great defense(Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata)defensive player of the year. Allen had little to no help and offenses couldn't handle him this year. 22 sacks!
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Cam Newton
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Von Miller
Comeback Player of the Year: Matthew Stafford
Coach of the Year: Jim Harbaugh
Walter Payton Man of the Year: Matt Birk
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says that he's had about 50 concussions. That explains so much.
I sure wish that Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay would shut up. The media is annoying enough with the Peyton Manning drama. Irsay keeps fueling that fire.
So, there's a big game today.
Real brutal reality of life in football: The New England Patriots released receiver Tiquan Underwood the night before the Super Bowl. It wasn't anything that Underwood did. It was more about the position that he played. The bottom of the roster is often juggled based upon numbers. The Patriots must have felt the need for an extra lineman rather than a receiver.
I still can't believe that its been 35 years since the Vikings played in this game.
I think that the Patriots take this game. That means little since I've picked about two games right this entire post season. Never underestimate the importance of momentum based on emotion. The Patriots are driven to win this title for owner Robert Kraft. Its been a tough year with the passing of his wife, Myra. This is a very close franchise. Myra Kraft meant a lot to all of the players. Maybe my pick is based upon my hope that this happens. Most of the time I just hope for a Super Bowl game. I think that the Patriots and the Giants are set to provide that.
Three out of the five years that Carter's been robbed a former Vikings player has made the final cut. I think that's been done to keep me from coming completely unhinged. Randall McDaniel, John Randle and now Chris Doleman. It does help.
My favorite Doleman moment was a series of plays against the Cincinnati Bengals in 1989. He ran over and around, just took apart Hall of Fame tackle Anthony Munoz. It was unbelievable. Congratulations Chris Doleman.
One last piece of advice to the voters. Saying that Cris Carter will some day get his day does not make it okay.
Its difficult but yesterday is really about those that made it.
Congratulations to Chris Doleman, Dermontti Dawson, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf, Cortez Kennedy and Jack Butler.
The NFL pulled out their version of the Oscars last night. Congratulations to those that won awards and to Jared Allen for deserving one.
MVP: Aaron Rodgers
Offensive Player of the Year: Drew Brees
Defensive Player of the Year: Terrell Suggs-Suggs was fantastic but this award goes to Jared Allen. Suggs should have won the part of a great defense(Ed Reed, Ray Lewis, Haloti Ngata)defensive player of the year. Allen had little to no help and offenses couldn't handle him this year. 22 sacks!
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Cam Newton
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Von Miller
Comeback Player of the Year: Matthew Stafford
Coach of the Year: Jim Harbaugh
Walter Payton Man of the Year: Matt Birk
Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones says that he's had about 50 concussions. That explains so much.
I sure wish that Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay would shut up. The media is annoying enough with the Peyton Manning drama. Irsay keeps fueling that fire.
So, there's a big game today.
Real brutal reality of life in football: The New England Patriots released receiver Tiquan Underwood the night before the Super Bowl. It wasn't anything that Underwood did. It was more about the position that he played. The bottom of the roster is often juggled based upon numbers. The Patriots must have felt the need for an extra lineman rather than a receiver.
I still can't believe that its been 35 years since the Vikings played in this game.
I think that the Patriots take this game. That means little since I've picked about two games right this entire post season. Never underestimate the importance of momentum based on emotion. The Patriots are driven to win this title for owner Robert Kraft. Its been a tough year with the passing of his wife, Myra. This is a very close franchise. Myra Kraft meant a lot to all of the players. Maybe my pick is based upon my hope that this happens. Most of the time I just hope for a Super Bowl game. I think that the Patriots and the Giants are set to provide that.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Canton Lacking
"As long as Cris Carter is outside the Hall of Fame, Canton will be lacking"
-me
On a Monday night in 1995 I was sitting in Candlestick Park watching a late season game between the Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers. The game was a mismatch on paper. The 49ers were the defending champions. The Vikings struggled to make the playoffs each year. When they did make it they usually left the party early. To me, this game was a battle between Vikings receiver Cris Carter and 49ers receiver Jerry Rice. It was beautiful to watch. In my opinion, Carter and Rice are the best to have ever played the position. This game was close because of Cris Carter. The 49ers jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Carter pulled the Vikings back into the game. The 49ers led 27-20 at the half. The second half was a push and a 37-30 49ers win.
From a stastics point of view, Jerry Rice was out of control in this game. 14 receptions for 289 yards. He even had a ten yard run to close in on 300 total yards. Three receptions went for touchdowns. Rice's skill and dominance has never been in doubt. He's the best football player at the position to have ever played. One of the best at any position to have ever played. It's Cris Carter's impact on the Vikings and football that has been questioned. I just don't understand it. In this Monday Night game, Carter had 12 receptions for 88 yards. He scored two of the touchdowns in the second quarter that turned a blowout into a game. His impact on this game is one that had to be seen rather than counted up at the end. It felt like Carter had more like 150 yards. I was actually surprised when I saw that he had 88. Its not often that you see a receiver put a team on his back and carry it. Carter did it that night and he did it often in the '90s. He was a leader. No receiver ever got open and caught the ball better than Cris Carter. Those are the two most important requirements for a receiver. No one ever worked the sidelines and endlines better. All of these are skills that need to be seen rather than looked at on a stat sheet. An incredible eight yard reception on the sideline that moves the chains and stops the clock late in the game can be the difference between a win and a loss. Its simply an eight yard catch in the books. Statistically, it fades in comparision to those 60-yard touchdowns in a blowout.
Its not like Carter doesn't have the statistics to merit induction into the Hall of Fame. His 1,101 receptions for 13,989 yards and 130 touchdowns are among the best in history. Some of the idiots that vote on the Hall of Famers worry that today's passing game will make all these receiving statistics obsolete. That's ridiculous. That's like saying that Jim Brown doesn't deserve to be in Canton because Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders and Walter Payton zipped past him. Its also an indication that the voters rely too much on statistics to do their jobs. If they are the keepers of the Hall they have to actually do some work. They have to look beyond the statistics. They have to see how the players played the game. They have to see the impact they made on their team and on the game. You can't always find that in statistics.
Carter's impact on football has continued long after he retired. He helped receviers like Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald become better receivers, better football players. He showed many, all who hoped to become better, that the football doesn't stop at the end of the season. He showed them the importance of offseason workouts. Rice worked incredibly hard in the offseason but he did it by himself. Carter will impact generations of receivers as Fitzgerald continues to pay it forward by helping Sidney Rice, Eric Decker, Victor Cruz, Antonio Brown and whoever wants to get better. Few football players have ever worked to help others get better like Carter.
Of course, this is personal to me. Cris Carter was the best receiver that I ever saw play the game. Jerry Rice may have been a better football player but Carter was the better receiver. From getting open to catching the ball, no one ever did it better than Carter. He became eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2007. He's missed that final cut four times. That's four times too many. Each successive time has been a greater crime. Winning the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal for every football player. Absent that, the Hall of Fame is the greatest validation of a special career. Carter deserves that. He deserved it in 2007. He was a once in a lifetime receiver. Many have said that his absence is okay because he'll get in eventually. That's ridiculous. Each year he's not in is another spit on his career. Its time for the spitting to end. The Hall of Fame is lacking until Cris Carter is in it.
-me
On a Monday night in 1995 I was sitting in Candlestick Park watching a late season game between the Minnesota Vikings and the San Francisco 49ers. The game was a mismatch on paper. The 49ers were the defending champions. The Vikings struggled to make the playoffs each year. When they did make it they usually left the party early. To me, this game was a battle between Vikings receiver Cris Carter and 49ers receiver Jerry Rice. It was beautiful to watch. In my opinion, Carter and Rice are the best to have ever played the position. This game was close because of Cris Carter. The 49ers jumped out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter. Carter pulled the Vikings back into the game. The 49ers led 27-20 at the half. The second half was a push and a 37-30 49ers win.
From a stastics point of view, Jerry Rice was out of control in this game. 14 receptions for 289 yards. He even had a ten yard run to close in on 300 total yards. Three receptions went for touchdowns. Rice's skill and dominance has never been in doubt. He's the best football player at the position to have ever played. One of the best at any position to have ever played. It's Cris Carter's impact on the Vikings and football that has been questioned. I just don't understand it. In this Monday Night game, Carter had 12 receptions for 88 yards. He scored two of the touchdowns in the second quarter that turned a blowout into a game. His impact on this game is one that had to be seen rather than counted up at the end. It felt like Carter had more like 150 yards. I was actually surprised when I saw that he had 88. Its not often that you see a receiver put a team on his back and carry it. Carter did it that night and he did it often in the '90s. He was a leader. No receiver ever got open and caught the ball better than Cris Carter. Those are the two most important requirements for a receiver. No one ever worked the sidelines and endlines better. All of these are skills that need to be seen rather than looked at on a stat sheet. An incredible eight yard reception on the sideline that moves the chains and stops the clock late in the game can be the difference between a win and a loss. Its simply an eight yard catch in the books. Statistically, it fades in comparision to those 60-yard touchdowns in a blowout.
Its not like Carter doesn't have the statistics to merit induction into the Hall of Fame. His 1,101 receptions for 13,989 yards and 130 touchdowns are among the best in history. Some of the idiots that vote on the Hall of Famers worry that today's passing game will make all these receiving statistics obsolete. That's ridiculous. That's like saying that Jim Brown doesn't deserve to be in Canton because Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders and Walter Payton zipped past him. Its also an indication that the voters rely too much on statistics to do their jobs. If they are the keepers of the Hall they have to actually do some work. They have to look beyond the statistics. They have to see how the players played the game. They have to see the impact they made on their team and on the game. You can't always find that in statistics.
Carter's impact on football has continued long after he retired. He helped receviers like Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald become better receivers, better football players. He showed many, all who hoped to become better, that the football doesn't stop at the end of the season. He showed them the importance of offseason workouts. Rice worked incredibly hard in the offseason but he did it by himself. Carter will impact generations of receivers as Fitzgerald continues to pay it forward by helping Sidney Rice, Eric Decker, Victor Cruz, Antonio Brown and whoever wants to get better. Few football players have ever worked to help others get better like Carter.
Of course, this is personal to me. Cris Carter was the best receiver that I ever saw play the game. Jerry Rice may have been a better football player but Carter was the better receiver. From getting open to catching the ball, no one ever did it better than Carter. He became eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2007. He's missed that final cut four times. That's four times too many. Each successive time has been a greater crime. Winning the Super Bowl is the ultimate goal for every football player. Absent that, the Hall of Fame is the greatest validation of a special career. Carter deserves that. He deserved it in 2007. He was a once in a lifetime receiver. Many have said that his absence is okay because he'll get in eventually. That's ridiculous. Each year he's not in is another spit on his career. Its time for the spitting to end. The Hall of Fame is lacking until Cris Carter is in it.
Friday, February 3, 2012
First Super Bowl Party
Its disappointing that my first Super Bowl party turned out to be the last time that the Minnesota Vikings played in the Super Bowl. It wasn't supposed to be that way. Super Bowl XI was the Vikings third Super Bowl in four years. If not for a ridiculous pass interference not called by a clearly blind official in the 1975 playoffs, the Vikings would have been to four straight title games. They, at least, challenged for the Super Bowl every year. It was supposed to always be that way. Every eleven years they put another threat together but they haven't made it back to the big game since that January day in 1977.
I mostly watched games with my brother and father back then but I'd watched some with others, mostly Thanksgiving games with family, but I'd never gone to another home for the sole purpose of watching and celebrating a football game. The Minnesota Vikings and the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XI would be my first. There were only six of us but it was a party like no other. It was sure to be fun with a Vikings win. Fran Tarkenton said so! It started out great when Vikings linebacker Fred McNeil blocked a Ray Guy punt and recovered on the two-yard line. Two runs up the middle didn't get the first touchdown of the game but the second run gave the ball back to the Raiders on a fumble. Oakland still had about 99 yards to go to score and of course they went 99 yards to score. The Vikings never recovered from the sudden reversal of fortune and the Raiders never looked back. The rest of the game was Raiders receiver Fred Biletnikoff being brilliant and the Raiders offensive line being destructive. Biletnikoff was the MVP but it was Art Shell, Gene Upshaw and the rest of the line just burying the Vikings defense. Its amazing what a three hour football game can do to a kid, adults too.
Despite being hosted by a Raiders fan, the party and group environment was super. I haven't been to many Super Bowl parties since then. They can be distracting if you want to just watch the game. Too many people go more for the party than the game. With the games being more competitive in the past decade the distractions seem even greater. Maybe I'm just waiting for the Vikings to get back to where they belong. Maybe its just that no Super Bowl party now can measure up to that group and that game when I was 12.
I mostly watched games with my brother and father back then but I'd watched some with others, mostly Thanksgiving games with family, but I'd never gone to another home for the sole purpose of watching and celebrating a football game. The Minnesota Vikings and the Oakland Raiders in Super Bowl XI would be my first. There were only six of us but it was a party like no other. It was sure to be fun with a Vikings win. Fran Tarkenton said so! It started out great when Vikings linebacker Fred McNeil blocked a Ray Guy punt and recovered on the two-yard line. Two runs up the middle didn't get the first touchdown of the game but the second run gave the ball back to the Raiders on a fumble. Oakland still had about 99 yards to go to score and of course they went 99 yards to score. The Vikings never recovered from the sudden reversal of fortune and the Raiders never looked back. The rest of the game was Raiders receiver Fred Biletnikoff being brilliant and the Raiders offensive line being destructive. Biletnikoff was the MVP but it was Art Shell, Gene Upshaw and the rest of the line just burying the Vikings defense. Its amazing what a three hour football game can do to a kid, adults too.
Despite being hosted by a Raiders fan, the party and group environment was super. I haven't been to many Super Bowl parties since then. They can be distracting if you want to just watch the game. Too many people go more for the party than the game. With the games being more competitive in the past decade the distractions seem even greater. Maybe I'm just waiting for the Vikings to get back to where they belong. Maybe its just that no Super Bowl party now can measure up to that group and that game when I was 12.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Throwback Thursday: Should Be In
Seeing a list of players that have been overlooked by the Hall of Fame voters is reason alone for booting most, if not all, of the voters. They are clearly failing at honoring the players and the history of the game. Sometimes I think that the players themselves should have some say in the election process. They know far better than the writers which players were truly great. Maybe my pals with the Pro Football Researchers Association should have a say. This organization is far more concerned with getting football history right than filling quotas and agendas.
Here are some players that I think should be in Canton:
Cris Carter
Receiver
Vikings, Eagles, Dolphins
-as long as Carter is out, Canton is incomplete
Jerry Kramer
Guard
Packers
-5-time All-NFL, Kramer's absence is probably reasoned by voters as due to the large number of Packers from his era already in the Hall. The greatness of those Packers teams is the reason for the large number of Packers. Kramer was a huge part of that success.
Alex Karras
Defensive Tackle
Lions
-I've long felt that Karras' absence was due to his gambling suspension in 1963. If true, the voters are hypocrites as well as stupid. Paul Hornung was also suspended for gambling in '63 and his bust is in Canton. The Rooney and Mara families got their financial starts in gambling. Hearing Lions' opponents speak of Karras is the source of my feelings that players should have a say in the process. They rave about him. He was a nightmare for offenses. I compare Karras' play to that of Warren Sapp. Absolutely disruptive in the middle of the line. Sapp will likely be a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Mac Speedie
Receiver
Browns
-Only Chuck Long might have had a better football name. Speedie provided the bang to the fantastic Browns offenses of the '40s and early '50s. A tremendous deep threat. As with Kramer, voters may feel that too many Browns of that era are in the Hall. "They couldn't possibly have been that good." They were and Speedie should be in Canton.
Don Coryell
Coach
Cardinals, Chargers
-Coryell's offenses still impact the league nearly thirty years later. Ask any offensive coach now who influenced him, and Coryell and Bill Walsh will be mentioned.
Claude Humphrey
Defensive end
Falcons, Eagles
-There are players that some people just assume are in the Hall but they aren't. I've run across people that honestly believe that Humphrey is in. He isn't and he should be.
Glenn Presnell
Back
Portsmouth Spartans, Lions
-One of the most versatile backs of his time. He could do everything extremely well. Run, catch, defense, kick. He kicked a 54-yard field goal when the ball rarely traveled half that distance.
Charley Conerly
Quarterback
Giants
-Another player that many assume is already in the Hall. Led the Giants to the 1956 title. He was the heart behind the great Giants teams of the '50s.
Otis Taylor
Receiver
Chiefs
-I've checked the Hall of Fame website so many times to verify that Taylor isn't there. Its truly shocking. The Chiefs of the late '60s were awesome. The Vikings first Super Bowl loss was to Taylor's team. He gashed them. There are many Chiefs in Canton. Otis Taylor should be one of them.
Lavvie Dilweg
End
Milwaukee Badgers, Packers
-Considered the best all-around end of his time. Starred on the Packers three championship teams 1929-31.
Maxie Baughan
Linebacker
Eagles, Rams, Redskins
-A coach on the field. Could diagnose plays before they happened. 9 Pro Bowls.
Ken Kavanaugh
End
Bears
-If not for World War II and Don Hutson, Kavanaugh might be considered the greatest end of the first 30 years of the league.
Verne Lewellen
Halfback
New York Yankees, Packers
-One of the best backs of the '20s. In an era when punting was critical, Lewellen was one of the best. Packers won three titles during his career.
Mick Tingelhoff
Center
Vikings
-Tingelhoff seems to suffer from voter animosity towards players on teams that fail to win championships. It seems that players that never get to the championship game have a better shot than those that get to the game but lose. Tingelhoff was the starting center on four Super Bowl teams. He also started an incredible 240 consecutive games. Tingelhoff did in the NFL in the '60s what Raiders center Jim Otto did in the AFL. They had similar postseason honors and recognition. Otto's Raiders also failed in the Super Bowl. Jim Otto is in the Hall of Fame. He should be but Tingelhoff is deserving as well.
The list goes on.
Here are some players that I think should be in Canton:
Cris Carter
Receiver
Vikings, Eagles, Dolphins
-as long as Carter is out, Canton is incomplete
Jerry Kramer
Guard
Packers
-5-time All-NFL, Kramer's absence is probably reasoned by voters as due to the large number of Packers from his era already in the Hall. The greatness of those Packers teams is the reason for the large number of Packers. Kramer was a huge part of that success.
Alex Karras
Defensive Tackle
Lions
-I've long felt that Karras' absence was due to his gambling suspension in 1963. If true, the voters are hypocrites as well as stupid. Paul Hornung was also suspended for gambling in '63 and his bust is in Canton. The Rooney and Mara families got their financial starts in gambling. Hearing Lions' opponents speak of Karras is the source of my feelings that players should have a say in the process. They rave about him. He was a nightmare for offenses. I compare Karras' play to that of Warren Sapp. Absolutely disruptive in the middle of the line. Sapp will likely be a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Mac Speedie
Receiver
Browns
-Only Chuck Long might have had a better football name. Speedie provided the bang to the fantastic Browns offenses of the '40s and early '50s. A tremendous deep threat. As with Kramer, voters may feel that too many Browns of that era are in the Hall. "They couldn't possibly have been that good." They were and Speedie should be in Canton.
Don Coryell
Coach
Cardinals, Chargers
-Coryell's offenses still impact the league nearly thirty years later. Ask any offensive coach now who influenced him, and Coryell and Bill Walsh will be mentioned.
Claude Humphrey
Defensive end
Falcons, Eagles
-There are players that some people just assume are in the Hall but they aren't. I've run across people that honestly believe that Humphrey is in. He isn't and he should be.
Glenn Presnell
Back
Portsmouth Spartans, Lions
-One of the most versatile backs of his time. He could do everything extremely well. Run, catch, defense, kick. He kicked a 54-yard field goal when the ball rarely traveled half that distance.
Charley Conerly
Quarterback
Giants
-Another player that many assume is already in the Hall. Led the Giants to the 1956 title. He was the heart behind the great Giants teams of the '50s.
Otis Taylor
Receiver
Chiefs
-I've checked the Hall of Fame website so many times to verify that Taylor isn't there. Its truly shocking. The Chiefs of the late '60s were awesome. The Vikings first Super Bowl loss was to Taylor's team. He gashed them. There are many Chiefs in Canton. Otis Taylor should be one of them.
Lavvie Dilweg
End
Milwaukee Badgers, Packers
-Considered the best all-around end of his time. Starred on the Packers three championship teams 1929-31.
Maxie Baughan
Linebacker
Eagles, Rams, Redskins
-A coach on the field. Could diagnose plays before they happened. 9 Pro Bowls.
Ken Kavanaugh
End
Bears
-If not for World War II and Don Hutson, Kavanaugh might be considered the greatest end of the first 30 years of the league.
Verne Lewellen
Halfback
New York Yankees, Packers
-One of the best backs of the '20s. In an era when punting was critical, Lewellen was one of the best. Packers won three titles during his career.
Mick Tingelhoff
Center
Vikings
-Tingelhoff seems to suffer from voter animosity towards players on teams that fail to win championships. It seems that players that never get to the championship game have a better shot than those that get to the game but lose. Tingelhoff was the starting center on four Super Bowl teams. He also started an incredible 240 consecutive games. Tingelhoff did in the NFL in the '60s what Raiders center Jim Otto did in the AFL. They had similar postseason honors and recognition. Otto's Raiders also failed in the Super Bowl. Jim Otto is in the Hall of Fame. He should be but Tingelhoff is deserving as well.
The list goes on.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
LOI
Letter of Intent day. Today is the first day that high school football recruits can sign their name and commit to their chosen college. Some have already made verbal commitments. None of those truly matter until they sign today. Some wait longer. Terrelle Pryor didn't sign with Ohio State until weeks later. The pressure on these kids is immense. Family, friends, teammates(past and future), media, coaches and the notorious boosters all demand to know. All want a say. All have an opinion. Ultimately, this is the kid's decision, his life.
Only a couple weeks ago, Cal had a recruiting class unlike any they had ever seen. A national top-10 ranking with great potential for more. All that exploded when Washington bought Cal recruiter and defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi. 5-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy dropped Cal for UCLA. 5-star safety Shaq Thompson hints at following Lupoi to Washington. 5-star lineman Arik Armstead, thought to be leaning towards Cal, verbally committed to Oregon. We'll find out today how things shake out. Even if things fall as they seem, this looks to be a terrific Cal recruiting class. The play on the football field over the next 3-5 years is far more important than any ranking now.
San Ramon Valley quarterback has been the ideal recruit. He went to a Cal interview wearing team colors, riding a blue and gold bike. He's attended Cal football camps since jr. high. He's already enrolled at Cal and attending classes. There's little doubt where he's signing today. Kline had comments about the kids wavering and bolting after the Lupoi heist. Comments about committing to a school and a program rather than the whim of a position coach.
Today should be a day of celebration for the kids. They're committing to the next step in their life. For some it could be their last four years of football. For the very best it could be the last step before the NFL. For all its the end to the chaos of recruiting.
Only a couple weeks ago, Cal had a recruiting class unlike any they had ever seen. A national top-10 ranking with great potential for more. All that exploded when Washington bought Cal recruiter and defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi. 5-star defensive tackle Ellis McCarthy dropped Cal for UCLA. 5-star safety Shaq Thompson hints at following Lupoi to Washington. 5-star lineman Arik Armstead, thought to be leaning towards Cal, verbally committed to Oregon. We'll find out today how things shake out. Even if things fall as they seem, this looks to be a terrific Cal recruiting class. The play on the football field over the next 3-5 years is far more important than any ranking now.
San Ramon Valley quarterback has been the ideal recruit. He went to a Cal interview wearing team colors, riding a blue and gold bike. He's attended Cal football camps since jr. high. He's already enrolled at Cal and attending classes. There's little doubt where he's signing today. Kline had comments about the kids wavering and bolting after the Lupoi heist. Comments about committing to a school and a program rather than the whim of a position coach.
Today should be a day of celebration for the kids. They're committing to the next step in their life. For some it could be their last four years of football. For the very best it could be the last step before the NFL. For all its the end to the chaos of recruiting.
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