I just don't see Bruce as a HOF'er. For all those who argue the "stat compiler" route to getting in, Bruce should be your barometer. 16 year career, 15K yards, 91 TD's but never led the league in any receiving category in a single year.
I just don't see Bruce as a HOF'er. For all those who argue the "stat compiler" route to getting in, Bruce should be your barometer. 16 year career, 15K yards, 91 TD's but never led the league in any receiving category in a single year.
Strike that last sentence, as he led the league in receiving yards in 1996, but that's it.
I just don't see Bruce as a HOF'er. For all those who argue the "stat compiler" route to getting in, Bruce should be your barometer. 16 year career, 15K yards, 91 TD's but never led the league in any receiving category in a single year.
I just don't see Bailey as a lock like others. He might make it in this year, but I think Faneca, Mawae, and Hutchinson all have more deserving cases.
I can see that argument, but in the mid 2000's, Bailey was the best all around corners in the league. He had a few first team all pro's first and shit ton of pro bowls (which at that time was still considered an honor, not like today's shit show of an event).
Bruce was never an All-Pro and was a major benefactor of the greatest show on turf.
I really enjoyed seeing Amani Toomer beating Champ Bailey
I get the case with Bailey. He will get in, no doubt, at some point. I just think his reputation, name recognition, and media attention exceeded his caliber of play on the field. He was a very good corner for a long time, but I never thought he was in the elite category, like, best at his position in the NFL. Three-time All-Pro, and twelve Pro Bowls. It's just with the Pro Bowls, those are popularity contests. The All-Pros I do give a lot more creedence to. And he did have 18 INTs between '05-'06 which is remarkable.
But Mawae has 3 All-Pros also, while playing for a bad team, Faneca has 6 All-Pros, and Hutchinson 5 All-Pros. And those guys were, IMO, the best at their position in the NFL for a long time. Whereas, how much better, if any, was Bailey better than say, Ronde Barber or Charles Woodson or Asante Samuel or Antonio Cromartie or Marcus Trufant? And he definitely wasn't better than Darrell Revis, who played in his era.
I can see that argument, but in the mid 2000's, Bailey was the best all around corners in the league. He had a few first team all pro's first and shit ton of pro bowls (which at that time was still considered an honor, not like today's shit show of an event).
Bruce was never an All-Pro and was a major benefactor of the greatest show on turf.
Back then the Pro Bowl was still just a popularity contest.
2. Reed
3. Gonzalez
4. Faneca
5. Mawae
6. Coryell
He looked like he was a varsity athlete playing at the JV level when he was on the field. Instincts, toughness, his return ability.
The man was incredible.
He looked like he was a varsity athlete playing at the JV level when he was on the field. Instincts, toughness, his return ability.
The man was incredible.
Tony Gonzalez
Champ Bailey
Alan Faneca
Kevin Mawae
Isaac Bruce
Steve Hutchinson
Richard Seymour
Ty Law
Edgerrin James
Tony Boselli
Steve Atwater
John Lynch
Don Coryell
Tom Flores
Some great interior OLineman there. I think Hutchinson was actually the best of the 3 at his peak, but didn't have the longevity of Mawae and Faneca.
Strike that last sentence, as he led the league in receiving yards in 1996, but that's it.
I just don't see Bailey as a lock like others. He might make it in this year, but I think Faneca, Mawae, and Hutchinson all have more deserving cases.
Bruce was never an All-Pro and was a major benefactor of the greatest show on turf.
But Mawae has 3 All-Pros also, while playing for a bad team, Faneca has 6 All-Pros, and Hutchinson 5 All-Pros. And those guys were, IMO, the best at their position in the NFL for a long time. Whereas, how much better, if any, was Bailey better than say, Ronde Barber or Charles Woodson or Asante Samuel or Antonio Cromartie or Marcus Trufant? And he definitely wasn't better than Darrell Revis, who played in his era.
Bruce was never an All-Pro and was a major benefactor of the greatest show on turf.
Back then the Pro Bowl was still just a popularity contest.
I don't get the Isaac Bruce calls at all. No all-Pros. He wasn't even the best WR on his team.
This... I guess I'm in the minority but I think Champ Baily was way over-rated.
Champ vs Brady - ( New Window )
Such a travesty that Young is overlooked