Preliminary Nominees for the HOF 2011

[Slingin Sammy 33]

Originally Posted by Leader In Sports

OK, I can tell we need to go to war - how about Nerf balls at 20 paces?

Yes, Bettis did not have a 1,000 yard season in his last for year, but that was after he played 9 seasons in the NFL.

In his first 3 years with the Rams, he had 3,091 yards which gives him a 3 year average of over 1,000 yards per year. Then he goes to Pittsburgh where he is a work horse for a marquee team and in the next 10 years he has 10,571 yards which means for his entire career, he averaged 1,051 yards per season for THIRTEEN YEARS AS A RUNNING BACK!!!! If memory serves (and I don't feel like looking it up) he is in the top 6 of all time rushers.

Bus has a solid argument for the HoF, I think it's almost impossible he's a first ballot. Look at the other RBs in this potential class: Marshall Faulk (1st Ballot lock IMO), Terrell Davis, Roger Craig, Eddie George, Gerald Riggs, Ottis Anderson, Herschel Walker.

Bus Pluses: 6 Pro Bowls, 2 All Pro, 5th in total Rushing Yards, 10th in Rushing TDs, 15K yds fm scrimmage, what you mention above, plus he's in the media and a good guy.

Bus Minuses: Yds per Att 3.9, SB stats 14 for 43 Yds 0 TD, fumble that almost cost the Steelers the 2005 SB berth, pedestrian last 4 years.

Terrell Davis: Avg 14TDs per year for his healthy years. 2 SB wins with good numbers, Yds per Att 4.6, 3 Pro Bowls, 3 All Pro.

Terrell Davis Minuses: Injury cut short his career.

Roger Craig Pluses: 4 Pro Bowls, 1 All-Pro, 3 SB wins with excellent numbers, Yds per Att 4.1, 13K yds fm scrimmage, one of first true run/receiving threats at RB.

Roger Craig Minuses: pedestrian last 4 years.

I put Craig in before Bus, TD was more dominant but his career was too short, there's a debate there. Bus goes in before the other RBs, but they're in the debate and that can hurt.

With 7 HoFers each year and assume Faulk, Deion Sanders (as much as I can't stand him), and possibly Willie Roaf are 1st ballot locks, Hanburger or another Senior goes in and that leaves three spots. Does Bus get in before: Roger Craig, JKC, Don Coryell, Richard Dent, Charles Haley, Lester Hayes, Shannon Sharpe, Tags?

He'll likely get in, just not right away.