Go back as far as you want..There are of course certain HOFers that are still playing, but who did you have the strongest conviction on when they were drafted that he or they were going to be HOFers and actually made it to Canton?
For those who watched Jerry Rice in College, did you believe coming out he was destined for the HOF?
All you Mississippi Valley State fans, please make yourself known:). I dont recall ever having seen him play in college. He was certainly a shark in a pond full of guppies.
For those who watched Jerry Rice in College, did you believe coming out he was destined for the HOF?
All you Mississippi Valley State fans, please make yourself known:). I dont recall ever having seen him play in college. He was certainly a shark in a pond full of guppies.
Easy to scout? Perhaps. Easy to predict NFL success? Not so much. Here are the RBs selected in the top 5 between Tomlinson (2001) and Barkley (2018):
Cadillac Williams
Cedric Benson
Ronnie Brown
Darren McFadden
Trent Richardson
Ezekiel Elliott
Leonard Fournette
Elliott is terrific, but I’ll be surprised if his overall body of work rises to HoF level. The rest? Yuck.
BB'56. In 1964, I attended a Kansas/Syracuse game at Archbold Stadium Â
Easy to scout? Perhaps. Easy to predict NFL success? Not so much. Here are the RBs selected in the top 5 between Tomlinson (2001) and Barkley (2018):
Cadillac Williams
Cedric Benson
Ronnie Brown
Darren McFadden
Trent Richardson
Ezekiel Elliott
Leonard Fournette
Elliott is terrific, but I’ll be surprised if his overall body of work rises to HoF level. The rest? Yuck.
I never projected any of them as HoFer, none of them exhibited the otherworldly skillet of Barkley. They are mortals that have a good chance to bust. I wouldn't be surprised if Barkley is better than all of them in every measurable (Fournette is bigger?)
I was definitely right predicting HOF status for Jim Brown. Â
I was definitely wrong predicting HOF status for
Joe Don Looney!
Lol..He was a sicko, that’s for sure. A very apt name..Oddly, I never saw Brown play at Syracuse. I had no idea that he would turn out to be the greatest offensive player ever, imo
It's funny, I can't remember ever thinking about a draft pick: Â
"Oh, he's going to be a Hall of Famer." But I'm always saying about the draft that there are 5-7 HOFers, on average, in every rookie class — the GM's job is to get those guys. Find a bunch of HOFers in a short space of time and you can build a dynasty.
Elway was maybe the closest. Maybe Peyton too. Those guys were just so hyped coming out of college.
It's much easier to think that way about the NBA. Kareem, Magic, Bird, Hakeem, Jordan, Ewing, LeBron... lots of guys look like they're on their way to the HOF before they step on an NBA court for their first game. Usually everybody can see it and those guys go instantly at the top of the draft. But not always.
For those who watched Jerry Rice in College, did you believe coming out he was destined for the HOF?
Even if anyone did, I doubt they could feel great that Rice’s success conveying to the NFL level.
I saw Moss a few times at Marshall. He was nasty. But he was very well known because he was headed to Notre Dame before getting jailed for fighting. And then he was off to Florida State, where he got kicked off by Bowden for smoking weed. So the talent was very high level...
Zeke is going to the HOF if he stays healthy....keeps up Â
For those who watched Jerry Rice in College, did you believe coming out he was destined for the HOF?
Remember that Rice wasn't a top pick. 16th overall. Questions about his speed, lower level of competition, blah blah blah. But at the same time, I remember paying attention to that draft (may have even watched it on TV, if that was a thing then) and thinking that Rice to the 49ers was the rich getting richer. He was known to have huge upside.
He was a funny case. People knew he could be very good, but wasn't a considered a sure thing, and I don't remember anybody projecting him as a HOFer, never mind the GOAT at his position.
Easy to scout? Perhaps. Easy to predict NFL success? Not so much. Here are the RBs selected in the top 5 between Tomlinson (2001) and Barkley (2018):
Cadillac Williams
Cedric Benson
Ronnie Brown
Darren McFadden
Trent Richardson
Ezekiel Elliott
Leonard Fournette
Elliott is terrific, but I’ll be surprised if his overall body of work rises to HoF level. The rest? Yuck.
I never projected any of them as HoFer, none of them exhibited the otherworldly skillet of Barkley. They are mortals that have a good chance to bust. I wouldn't be surprised if Barkley is better than all of them in every measurable (Fournette is bigger?)
my top 3 were Randy Moss, Orlando Pace and Troy Aikman Â
I am sure he had a better read on Fournette than Tom Coughlin, on McFadden than Al Davis, on Bush than Mickey Loomis, on Brown than Randy Mueller, on Benson than Jerry Angelo, and on Williams than Bruce Allen. What have those guys ever done?
Remember that Rice wasn't a top pick. 16th overall. Questions about his speed, lower level of competition, blah blah blah. But at the same time, I remember paying attention to that draft (may have even watched it on TV, if that was a thing then) and thinking that Rice to the 49ers was the rich getting richer. He was known to have huge upside.
He was a funny case. People knew he could be very good, but wasn't a considered a sure thing, and I don't remember anybody projecting him as a HOFer, never mind the GOAT at his position.
Rice struggled in his first year, too. He had a deserving reputation for big drops.
Didn’t Rice beat us in the waning moments of the 4th Â
But one guy I loved to watch and thought he was going to be better than he was (I know that’s not the question in this thread) was Archie Griffin. I guess maybe he was just a little to small for that era of the NFL, but he was awesome in college.
But the question my friend, is whether or not, for example, you thought Wilson was a good bet for the HOF coming out of college
I loved Wilson not long after the training camp reports started coming in from his first summer in Seattle. Liked him out of college, loved him once the glowing reports started to flow. I’ve owned him ever since in the BBI keeper FF league. HOF is always a bit of a leap but I was convinced early on that Wilson would be a legit player in this league.
And we “almost” had him, or so many of us thought
I realize he's not in yet but he's a lock. I'd throw Peyton Manning in there as well.
BB, you should have called Giant Central.
Barry Sanders
Prime
Rod Woodson
Ronnie Lott
Cortez Kennedy
Warren Sapp
Julius Peppers
Troy Polamalu
Andrew Luck
Randy Moss
Russel Wilson. He will too, if he keeps this up.
Marshall Faulk (so did everyone else)
Eli Manning.
Peter Warrick — lol
Russel Wilson. He will too, if he keeps this up.
Marshall Faulk (so did everyone else)
Eli Manning.
Peter Warrick — lol
But the question my friend, is whether or not, for example, you thought Wilson was a good bet for the HOF coming out of college
All you Mississippi Valley State fans, please make yourself known:). I dont recall ever having seen him play in college. He was certainly a shark in a pond full of guppies.
Ronnie Lott
Quote:
For those who watched Jerry Rice in College, did you believe coming out he was destined for the HOF?
All you Mississippi Valley State fans, please make yourself known:). I dont recall ever having seen him play in college. He was certainly a shark in a pond full of guppies.
Were his games ever televised?
Cadillac Williams
Cedric Benson
Ronnie Brown
Darren McFadden
Trent Richardson
Ezekiel Elliott
Leonard Fournette
Elliott is terrific, but I’ll be surprised if his overall body of work rises to HoF level. The rest? Yuck.
Oh that’s funny. That is one game I did not see..
Quote:
RB is the easiest position to scout.
Easy to scout? Perhaps. Easy to predict NFL success? Not so much. Here are the RBs selected in the top 5 between Tomlinson (2001) and Barkley (2018):
Cadillac Williams
Cedric Benson
Ronnie Brown
Darren McFadden
Trent Richardson
Ezekiel Elliott
Leonard Fournette
Elliott is terrific, but I’ll be surprised if his overall body of work rises to HoF level. The rest? Yuck.
I never projected any of them as HoFer, none of them exhibited the otherworldly skillet of Barkley. They are mortals that have a good chance to bust. I wouldn't be surprised if Barkley is better than all of them in every measurable (Fournette is bigger?)
Joe Don Looney!
Joe Don Looney!
Lol..He was a sicko, that’s for sure. A very apt name..Oddly, I never saw Brown play at Syracuse. I had no idea that he would turn out to be the greatest offensive player ever, imo
Elway was maybe the closest. Maybe Peyton too. Those guys were just so hyped coming out of college.
It's much easier to think that way about the NBA. Kareem, Magic, Bird, Hakeem, Jordan, Ewing, LeBron... lots of guys look like they're on their way to the HOF before they step on an NBA court for their first game. Usually everybody can see it and those guys go instantly at the top of the draft. But not always.
Even if anyone did, I doubt they could feel great that Rice’s success conveying to the NFL level.
I saw Moss a few times at Marshall. He was nasty. But he was very well known because he was headed to Notre Dame before getting jailed for fighting. And then he was off to Florida State, where he got kicked off by Bowden for smoking weed. So the talent was very high level...
He was a funny case. People knew he could be very good, but wasn't a considered a sure thing, and I don't remember anybody projecting him as a HOFer, never mind the GOAT at his position.
Quote:
Coach Red Beaulieu said:
Quote:
RB is the easiest position to scout.
Easy to scout? Perhaps. Easy to predict NFL success? Not so much. Here are the RBs selected in the top 5 between Tomlinson (2001) and Barkley (2018):
Cadillac Williams
Cedric Benson
Ronnie Brown
Darren McFadden
Trent Richardson
Ezekiel Elliott
Leonard Fournette
Elliott is terrific, but I’ll be surprised if his overall body of work rises to HoF level. The rest? Yuck.
I never projected any of them as HoFer, none of them exhibited the otherworldly skillet of Barkley. They are mortals that have a good chance to bust. I wouldn't be surprised if Barkley is better than all of them in every measurable (Fournette is bigger?)
Remember that Rice wasn't a top pick. 16th overall. Questions about his speed, lower level of competition, blah blah blah. But at the same time, I remember paying attention to that draft (may have even watched it on TV, if that was a thing then) and thinking that Rice to the 49ers was the rich getting richer. He was known to have huge upside.
He was a funny case. People knew he could be very good, but wasn't a considered a sure thing, and I don't remember anybody projecting him as a HOFer, never mind the GOAT at his position.
Rice struggled in his first year, too. He had a deserving reputation for big drops.
Ok, thanks. I mostly recall the last minute killer play. Was that Collins who was beat? Or?
The late Sean Taylor was also a guaranteed stud who likely would have been HOF with a full career.
The late Sean Taylor was also a guaranteed stud who likely would have been HOF with a full career.
Reese had a hubristic disdain for trading picks, except to trade up for Webb of course. I think he even stated so?
Man that was a big dropoff from Revis to Ross.
Quote:
He will be one day.
Russel Wilson. He will too, if he keeps this up.
Marshall Faulk (so did everyone else)
Eli Manning.
Peter Warrick — lol
But the question my friend, is whether or not, for example, you thought Wilson was a good bet for the HOF coming out of college
I loved Wilson not long after the training camp reports started coming in from his first summer in Seattle. Liked him out of college, loved him once the glowing reports started to flow. I’ve owned him ever since in the BBI keeper FF league. HOF is always a bit of a leap but I was convinced early on that Wilson would be a legit player in this league.
Yep, good memory. I was there that day.
To be fair, I recall Rice dropping a sure TD earlier in the game too