How can the Hall of Fame put the #6 overall rusher of all time in, but leave the #4 rusher of all time out? That would be insanity.
That's why he should be in the Hall of Fame. There was never a more reliable workhorse than Curtis Martin.
In addition to the rushing totals (again Martin gained more rushing yards in one and a half fewer seasons worth of games, albeit with slightly more carries), Martin's scrimmage yardage per game number is vastly superior to Bettis's number.
Martin should go in this year. I'd be very surprised if he didn't. I think Aeneas Williams gets in on his first ballot as does Eddie DeBartolo Jr. Parcells might get in as well, although his propensity to cut and run on teams, along with the farce of retiring four times might cause some to skip him over again. While respected, I don't think he's well liked by a lot of people.
Parcells might not even be retired. I think the retire/unretire bit hurts his chances some. He clearly belongs in the Hall of Fame but I would not be surprised to see it take awhile.
I believe this is the second year of eligibility for Williams. All these finalists have been deemed HOF-worthy. I can understand arguments for all of them- even Bettis. But if Bettis gets in, he'll be like a Ron Santo or Billy Williams or Don Sutton of the Baseball HOF- solid career of compiling stats but rarely truly great.
He played for the best franchise in NFL history at their signature position and they promoted him aggressively while he played. "Get on the Bus" was a Steeler tagline for nearly as long as he was with the franchise. You put Curtis Martin on the Steelers and Jerome Bettis on the Jets and it would be no contest but I can't help thinking that where the two men played and how they were promoted is an awfully big difference.
It's a fucking disgrace if Curtis Martin doesn't get voted in second ballot. I can understand not voting him in ballot 1, he doesn't have a ring and "lacked" explosiveness. Pretty much every other aspect of the game he excelled at. He should be in ballot 2 or there is something wrong with that panel.
It would be a crime if he doesn't get in this year. I will most likely be in Canton if it happens. Curtis "My Favorite" Martin.
Earlier you wrote "first ballot." "Ballot" is synonymous with "year of eligibility." He retired after the 2004 season I think. That would make 2010 the first year he was eligible. So if Williams makes it this year it will be his third year of eligibility. He would be known as a 3rd ballot inductee.
The what-if game is hard to play. What we know is that Bettis sucked for two of his three seasons with the Rams and Martin only had one sucky season (his final one in 2005). Bettis-Martin to me isn't a debate until we bring in the silly team aspect that you presented here. Not saying you support that, of course. It is an issue for some of the electors for sure. If Bettis gets in before Martin, then to hell with caring about the PFHOF selections anymore.
I am super excited for Curtis today. Hopefully it happens. He was a Patriot. Could help him out a bit.
Interesting that both he and Parcells are on the list...I can't see both making it today. Getting late, I thought the announcement would have been made by now.
What are talking about? I am a Jets fan. I say that meaning media love the Pats, they are in the SB, could give him an edge instead of just being a Jet, which apparently is a franchise most of the media and writers hate.
