Six named to Pro Football HOF

Douglas Lee Feb 4, 2012 8:28 PM

Former Jets, Pats RB Martin headlines Hall's Class of 2012
www.nfl.com

Running back Curtis Martin and four linemen were elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, along with one senior committee choice.

Martin is the fourth-leading rusher in NFL history. He is joined by Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Willie Roaf, Dermontti Dawson, and senior selection Jack Butler.

Jerome Bettis, Cris Carter and Bill Parcells were among the finalists who didn’t make it.

Doug is IAOFM’s resident newsman and spelling czar. Follow him on Twitter @IAOFM

*COUGH!* RandyGradishar *COUGH!*
Posted by Nick (ncm42) on 2012-02-05 12:32:28 That's where the subjective nature of stuff comes into play. We are taught from a young age that what matters most is who performs in the most important moments. Martin (and other RBs) sure put up great numbers over the span of a career. TD put up great numbers for a too-brief career, but then he obliterated rushing records for playoff careers. To me the playoff numbers should carry a fair amount of weight, too....
Posted by Nick (ncm42) on 2012-02-05 12:30:10 I can see both sides, and I think you need a little of both to get in the hall, especially at RB. there are tons of RBs who had a dominant season here and there that aren't hall-worthy IMO. take for example Jamaal Lewis or Shawn Alexander. Both of them had a couple of dominant seasons, but I wouldn't put either in the hall. On the other hand you've got a guy like Martin or, just for example, Jerome Bettis. Both were very good players for a long time, but neither was really dominant in the way that a guy like Ladanian Tomlinson or Thurmon Thomas has been. I'd say those are the only two RB's that need to be in the Hall at this point. (again, just in my opinion).
Posted by Hercules_Rockefeller on 2012-02-05 11:57:44

Martin was a decent RB. He never measured up to TD until TD got hurt, then he played a long time.

If Martin deserves the Hall, TD does for sure. It wasn't that long ago, you telling me you guys who "had him in front of TD" don't remember those days? C'mon. This guy NEVER outshone TD, he just played longer on the east coast. Amazing how much that weighs. I get that you guys could predict who would get voted in, but don't get having Martin better RB than TD. That's just ridiculous.

Posted by pubkeeper on 2012-02-05 09:58:01 Nice thoughts Bob. I agree on all your WR points and am especially not sold on Bettis. I think that TD & Bettis are on the margin of being HOF inductees (I had them ranked in the late teens) and choosing between them really comes down to whether you appreciate longevity or a short period of brilliance.

Next year, I'm hoping to see incumbents Cris Carter, Tim Brown, Aeneas Williams, Will Shields get considered, but with Larry Allen, Jonathan Ogden, Warren Sapp, & Michael Strahan coming in as first time guys, it's going to be tough once again for those guys.

I am having a hard time determining my top 5, but I imagine that one or both of Sapp/Strahan will make it in.

Posted by JT Kimbell on 2012-02-05 01:46:52 I had Martin, Roaf, Cris Carter, Will Shields and Bill Parcells as my five choices. I'm OK with most of the selections, but just didn't think Dawson, Doleman or Kennedy should have gone in this go-around, based on the overall group of finalists.

Carter's inability to make it frustrates me the most because it means this WR logjam continues for some time, as you have holdouts for Andre Reed (who I am not sold on) and people backing Tim Brown (who I think belongs). Soon, we'll get Marvin Harrison and Isaac Bruce on the ballot and watch as they start splitting votes with the other WRs.

I suspect Jerome Bettis gets in next year -- whether I would vote for him depends on the ballot overall, but I can say I would definitely be backing Carter, and likely Shields and Parcells.
Posted by Bob on 2012-02-05 00:36:35 So, I hope this table formatting comes through, but check out my comparison of Martin and the other 4 RB candidates. Dude had 5 1300+ yard seasons and was a very solid contributor for 11 seasons, being great for several of them. Now, I think Richard Dent, Andre Reed, and Charles Haley fit your "Mostly good, right place" description better.

Attempt at pasting Excel table below, it looks good before I hit "post".

EDIT: Nevermind, that exploded! Here's Martin's PFR page: http://www.pro-football-refere...
Posted by JT Kimbell on 2012-02-04 22:48:54 I get the frustration with TD, but man, these guys were good. Every year I take all 100+ candidates and narrow them down to the final 5, doing research along the way. It's a tough process and I learn a lot.

Kennedy was a dominant player for years, Doleman was great at rushing the passer, and Roaf and Dawson were possibly the best of their decades at their position.

I had everyone but Martin in my top 5 (had Cris Carter instead) and Martin was the best RB I found. TD was around 17th or so on my list and behind Atwater. Loved TD, but he is borderline.
Posted by JT Kimbell on 2012-02-04 22:44:33 The Hall of Mostly Good Players Who Played in the Right Place. Martin is an outstanding example of why they ought to officially call it that.
Posted by drewthorn on 2012-02-04 22:25:02 Can't believe some of these names get in, and TD not. It's the Hall of "Fame," not the hall of highest cumulative stats. TD owned two Super Bowl seasons. Not many can say that. Not Cortez Kennedy, that's for sure.
Posted by oorange_blood on 2012-02-04 21:48:51 Great job by the voters! You won't usually hear that, but I love it. When I took the 100+ candidates and narrowed them down to 5, the only difference I had was Cris Carter instead of Martin.
Posted by JT Kimbell on 2012-02-04 20:58:08

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