Watching tonight's ceremony, by the way Congratulations to the Class of 2010: Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Dick LeBeau, Floyd Little, John Randle, Jerry Rice, and Emmitt Smith, I was wondering if Curtis Martin will make it next year. He will have a tough time when players like Chris Carter and Tim Brown can't make it during their first couple years. Charles Haley won 5 Super Bowls and did not make it. Marshall Faulk and Jerome Bettis will be going up against Martin next year. Martin of course, is better than both, but will they feel that way? Martin is 4th all time in rushing yards, 12th in rushing touchdowns and 19th in touchdowns overall. He is deserving, but alot of people left off today are too. Plus, he is a Jet, so I am starting to get worried for him. What do you guys think? Martin also: -was the oldest player to ever win a rushing title (Age 31 in 2004). -started his career with 10 straight 1,000 yard seasons. -Made 5 Pro Bowls -Was 1st team All-Pro twice.
i don't think he will just because he was a Jet. He will definitely make it just not on his first year although he certainly is more than worthy....also having not won a SB doesn't help (which unfortunately goes hand in hand with being a Jet)
Turk, it'll be because his draft class will be a tough one, plus the leftovers from previous HOF classes. It has nothing to do with being a Jet. In that case, let him go in as a Patriot.
Which has: Deion Sanders Marshall Faulk Jerome Bettis Chris Carter Tim Brown Charles Haley Andre Reed and probably others I am forgetting.
Agreed on the Bettis thing, don't agree on Faulk thing. Faulk was a tremendous player. He was a brilliant pass catcher out of the backfield and was a "home run hitter" as a runner. Faulk won a league MVP award and also has a Super Bowl win. Faulk averaged 108.83 scrimmage yards per game which is 9th all-time among backs with a minimum of 7,000 career scrimmage yards. Martin is 12th all-time at 103.75. Basically, I have Faulk slightly ahead of Martin on the all-time RB list. Both will be HOFers. I think Faulk is a no-brainer, or close to it, first ballot inductee. Martin might have to wait one extra year.
Faulk's dome field advantage and the offenses he played for make his stats not as impressive to me. His quarterbacks were Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner. He is great, but Martin is better.
I have them ranked pretty close and have no beefs with either player. Both were fun to watch and both handle themselves with class. Both played with two franchises and made it to the playoffs with both, both lost a Super Bowl. Just a lot of similiarities when you look at their careers. I really think Faulk's MVP and Super Bowl victory is going to be a huge deal for the voters.
Can't disagree with that. It could be the edge over Martin when it comes down to it. I think the voters will put Faulk over Martin. I am just saying that I feel Martin is the overall better player. Both were special though and I agree, both will be Hall of Famers. Faulk also works for NFL Network, which could help him out.
martin and sandersnly rb's to have 10 consecutive 1,000 yd seasons martin 4th all time rusher but some will argue he was a compiler wasn't flashy. i'd say he deserves it but probably falls short.
One key guy you forgot is Willie Roaf. He could be a 1st ballot inductee. I think he is worthy of that. If not 2011, then he'll be inducted in 2012. We also have to consider the senior nominees. They are total wild cards. There's no way to know which senior candidates will be in the mix next year.
I thought the way it worked was up to 5 guys make it and then up to 2 seniors can make it for a total of 7. So in reality, the seniors are not even Martin's competition.
There is just no good reason why Martin shouldnt be a first ballot inductee! the competition is tough, but the only other guy on that list who should be a first ballot guy is Marshall Faulk. Everyone else deserves the hall, just not next year. My guess for the hall next year is Faulk Martin Sanders Brown Haley of course I would prefer to see Klecko in before Haley, but i doubt it...
You are right. My mistake was in the conveying of my message. I was noting that there would be other candidates from the senior pool as an aside or addendum to the discussion. I thought 7 were getting in this year. I think 6 or 7 will get in next year, too. We obviously don't know the 2 senior candidates, but I betcha at least one will get inducted next year. I also think that because there is such a backlog of worthy candidates and some legendary players up for induction on the horizon, I think we'll see 6 or 7 players inducted every year for the next half decade at least. I think Martin's getting inducted in 2011 or 2012. I don't think he'll have to wait till 2013.
It's a coin-flip on the 1st year thing and I wouldn't be at all surprised if he went second or even possibly third year. Here's why: 1. He was never on a Super Bowl winner and that does count even though people will tell you it doesn't. 2. He went to the Pro Bowl half of the years that he played basically, so he was not among the top 3 backs in his conference in half the years he played. 3. He was a workhorse not a showhorse and doesn't have single game records to highlight his career. He wasn't a guy who was a danger to go 80 yards on any given carry and he wasn't somebody who'd go for 250 yards in a game either. What he was, was one of the most durable backs in NFL history and he let his teams ride him when everything else was shaky on a given day. That's definitely hall of fame material but I kind of doubt it is first ballot stuff. If the HoF voters are giving credit for being an ambassador for the NFL and a great role model he'll skate in on the first ballot, but if not he might wait a bit.
Guys that should be locks next year: Chris Carter Willie Roaf Shannon Sharpe Deion Sanders Marshall Faulk We will also get one or two senior candidates. Also, Bettis gets the nod over Martin. No way Martin makes it in first ballot.
