Vols in Hall of Fame?

#1
Volizona

Volizona

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#1
Another off-season topic. We know Adkins, Reggie and Peyton are in the NFL HOF. Are their other Vols you feel were on the borderline or should have been considered? I think Witten should be a strong candidate? I have heard that Stanley Morgan had a pretty solid career. Jamal rushed for 2000 yards. Al Wilson? Eric Berry? We have had a ton of players who have had a few all pro years, but not sure how many have a ‘full body of work”. Who do you think comes closest outside of the 3 already in?
 
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#4
#4
When Peyton and Reggie were inducted, they (UT AD brass) came up with specific requirements to get in. Had to do with UT and NFL success and, according to Reggie at one time, a certain amount of money donations.
 
#5
#5
#1fulmerite said:
When Peyton and Reggie were inducted, they (UT AD brass) came up with specific requirements to get in. Had to do with UT and NFL success and, according to Reggie at one time, a certain amount of money donations.
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Interesting—sounds like it wasn’t just about on-field success but also about playing the donation game.
 
#8
#8
I started this same topic a while back. Tennessee has a lot of guys who are close, but not quite HOF material due to lack of longevity and, in some cases, injury. Eric Berry was a lock before injuries and cancer derailed his career.

I think Lewis is the closest, and may get in, but it would be by an inch. The 2000 yard season helps, but lack of longevity hurts. Arian Foster would also be close, but likely not in. He did win an NFL rushing title or two.

I think Stanley Morgan should be in. At the time he retired, he was about fifth and all-time receiving yards. Yes, he has been pushed down the list since then because offenses have changed. If he hadn’t played for the Patriots when they were really bad, he would be in by now. But if he hadn’t been inducted by now, he likely never will be.

Anthony Miller is another who had a really good career, but not quite enough with bad Chargers teams (and QBs) to get in.

Jason Witten is a lock, of course.
 
#9
#9
#1fulmerite said:
When Peyton and Reggie were inducted, they (UT AD brass) came up with specific requirements to get in. Had to do with UT and NFL success and, according to Reggie at one time, a certain amount of money donations.
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The topic is NFL hall of fame. Not sure the UT AD brass have much to say in the process involved to be inducted there. Were you crossing the streams on two different halls of fame?
 
#11
#11
Witten will get in. Probably our only chance of another Hall of Famer as of now. Our next Hall of Famer likely has never played a game for UT at this point.

Berry would have made it if not for injuries and cancer. Wilson quite possibly could have made it if not for neck issues. Mike Stratton is an old school guy who has an argument, Stanley Morgan also has an argument. Jamal had the drug arrest and a fall off after the 2000 yard season that hurt him. Ultimately all those guys and a few others will be relegated to “Hall of Really Good” and/or “What if” status.
 
#12
#12
Volwonder1 said:
J. Mayo, Al Wilson, Big Jon Henderson even tho he played for a terrible Jags team, A. Haynesworth minus all the off field issues. Trey Smith surly will be. A Kamara surly will be.
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Kamara still doesn’t have HoF numbers and is on the downside, he isn’t getting in. Smith, maybe. If the Chiefs keep winning and he is dominant into his 30s, he has a shot.
 
#15
#15
LegionnaireOfTheMiserable said:
Witten will get in. Probably our only chance of another Hall of Famer as of now. Our next Hall of Famer likely has never played a game for UT at this point.

Berry would have made it if not for injuries and cancer. Wilson quite possibly could have made it if not for neck issues. Mike Stratton is an old school guy who has an argument, Stanley Morgan also has an argument. Jamal had the drug arrest and a fall off after the 2000 yard season that hurt him. Ultimately all those guys and a few others will be relegated to “Hall of Really Good” and/or “What if” status.
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Cordarrelle Patterson is a lock for the HOF
 
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#17
#17
Cordarrelle should get in. He holds the all time KO return TD record (and will likely end up Top 50 in career total yards, he's currently 58th).

Jamal Lewis sits 26th on the all-time rushing list (only 32 have broken 10K yards).

Kamara is tied for 54th all time in total TDs. Barring a catastrophic injury, he will end up Top 25 (would get to the 30s this year with the same number he averages over his career).
 
#18
#18
Patterson still has some work to do to be considered imo. I'm not saying he isn't great at what he does, but there are other returners that have more yards and tds and aren't in. Devin Hester was a one off. And Patterson only returns kicks.

www.pro-football-reference.com

NFL Kick & Punt Return Yards Career Leaders (since 1941) | Pro-Football-Reference.com

1. Brian Mitchell (19,013), 2. Allen Rossum (15,003), 3. Josh Cribbs (13,488), 4. Mel Gray (13,003), 5. Glyn Milburn (12,772),
www.pro-football-reference.com www.pro-football-reference.com

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#20
#20
YankeeVol said:
Cordarrelle should get in. He holds the all time KO return TD record (and will likely end up Top 50 in career total yards, he's currently 58th).

Jamal Lewis sits 26th on the all-time rushing list (only 32 have broken 10K yards).

Kamara is tied for 54th all time in total TDs. Barring a catastrophic injury, he will end up Top 25 (would get to the 30s this year with the same number he averages over his career).
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CP isn’t getting in. All he really has are KO return TDs. Hester is the only primary return specialist in the Hall. All the other primary returners are never sniffed it.

You also can’t say “if AK gets what he averages over the course of his career” as if it’s definitely likely to happen, because his career averages are heavily slanted toward his first 4 years. 27 TDs in his last 4 years compared to 58 in his first 4 years. I would be absolutely shocked if a running back who played in the 17 game season era and still never had a 1000 rushing yard season got inducted.

As for Jamal, if he were going to get in, it would have happened by now. Just didn’t do much after that 2k season and also spent half a season in prison, which hurts him even more.
 
#21
#21
LegionnaireOfTheMiserable said:
CP isn’t getting in. All he really has are KO return TDs. Hester is the only primary return specialist in the Hall. All the other primary returners are never sniffed it.

You also can’t say “if AK gets what he averages over the course of his career” as if it’s definitely likely to happen, because his career averages are heavily slanted toward his first 4 years. 27 TDs in his last 4 years compared to 58 in his first 4 years. I would be absolutely shocked if a running back who played in the 17 game season era and still never had a 1000 rushing yard season got inducted.

As for Jamal, if he were going to get in, it would have happened by now. Just didn’t do much after that 2k season and also spent half a season in prison, which hurts him even more.
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CP has a decent chance to pass Hester, who is 46th on the list, this year (all-purpose yards). He's also a 4x All-Pro (Hester was 3x).

AK with just his TD numbers from last year, would get in the Top 30 lol
 
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#22
#22
YankeeVol said:
CP has a decent chance to pass Hester, who is 46th on the list, this year (all-purpose yards). He's also a 4x All-Pro (Hester was 3x).

AK with just his TD numbers from last year, would get in the Top 30 lol
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Hester has the all time TD mark for both returns combined, played offense and defense, and was just generally talked about much more often and much more favorably than CP. I’m sorry, but none of the voters are going to put CP on Hester’s level. I love the guy, I’d love to see him in Canton, and I think he is one of the best I’ve ever seen with the ball in his hands, but the voters aren’t Vol fans.

Same with AK. I think he is a great player, I’d love to see him in the Hall, but if a guy like Ricky Watters isn’t in, AK isn’t going, barring a late career resurgence. I doubt you can find a guy since the NFL went to 16 games who made it to Canton as a RB with 0 1000 yard rushing seasons. He is probably viewed as only borderline a top 5 running back in his era behind Saquon, Henry, CMC, and Zeke Elliott. And that sort of thing will matter.
 
#23
#23
LegionnaireOfTheMiserable said:
Hester has the all time TD mark for both returns combined, played offense and defense, and was just generally talked about much more often and much more favorably than CP. I’m sorry, but none of the voters are going to put CP on Hester’s level. I love the guy, I’d love to see him in Canton, and I think he is one of the best I’ve ever seen with the ball in his hands, but the voters aren’t Vol fans.

Same with AK. I think he is a great player, I’d love to see him in the Hall, but if a guy like Ricky Watters isn’t in, AK isn’t going, barring a late career resurgence. I doubt you can find a guy since the NFL went to 16 games who made it to Canton as a RB with 0 1000 yard rushing seasons. He is probably viewed as only borderline a top 5 running back in his era behind Saquon, Henry, CMC, and Zeke Elliott. And that sort of thing will matter.
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You may be right.
However, CP has 48 total TD's compared to Hester's 37.
CP also has 14,112 all-purpose yards compared to 14,452 for Hester. CP can still improve and finish above.

Plus Patterson is a Superbowl champion, on the 2010 all-decade team, and plenty of contributions as a RB / WR to go along with his special teams credentials.
 
#24
#24
goldvol said:
You may be right.
However, CP has 48 total TD's compared to Hester's 37.
CP also has 14,112 all-purpose yards compared to 14,452 for Hester. CP can still improve and finish above.

Plus Patterson is a Superbowl champion, on the 2010 all-decade team, and plenty of contributions as a RB / WR to go along with his special teams credentials.
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Statistically/achievement wise, you can certainly make a compelling case for CP getting in if Hester is in. Just feels to me that Hester was talked about in a way Patterson hasn’t been, and I think that will make the difference. But I’d love to see you be correct. I really loved watching him play.
 
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