Will JO be inducted into the Hall of Fame Tomorrow?

**Ravenboy2003** · 02-01-2013, 12:42 PM

I think JO gets in tomorrow. In my opinion the sports writers will give a higher percentage of votes to JO over Sapp. Strahan is still extremely popular and is pretty much automatic.

I honestly think Haley might get in before Sapp.

**jonboy79** · 02-01-2013, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by somedumbguy

Chris Carter was one of the best WR's of his era and Chad Johnson did not have a better career than him by a long shot. Carter had like 300 more receptions, 2,800 more yards and over 60 TD's more than Ocho. I have no problem if you don't want to make him a "first ballot" guy but he deserves to be in the Hall eventually.

I take back Ocho...

ANd I didn't say he shouldn't get in, jsut that there is no way he should get in before Larry Allen, JO, Strahan or Sapp. I swear if Larry Allen isn't a first Ballot guy I will NEVER VISIT THE HOF EVER. I'm kind of selfishly hoping Reed retires this year so I can plan on a trip in 5 years when the two best Raven's defenders go in the same year.

**jonboy79** · 02-01-2013, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by Ravenboy2003

I think JO gets in tomorrow. In my opinion the sports writers will give a higher percentage of votes to JO over Sapp. Strahan is still extremely popular and is pretty much automatic.

I honestly think Haley might get in before Sapp.

I do agree that Sapp is the weakest of a very strong 4 first timers.

**NCRAVEN** · 02-01-2013, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by Ravenboy2003

I think JO gets in tomorrow. In my opinion the sports writers will give a higher percentage of votes to JO over Sapp. Strahan is still extremely popular and is pretty much automatic.

I honestly think Haley might get in before Sapp.

Haley may, but I don't think he should Sapp was a force!!!

**Navy Raven** · 02-01-2013, 12:52 PM

JO should get in tomorrow.

**MarkS** · 02-01-2013, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by Boulderraven

Art Model is in, no doubt. Bet the Ranch on it. JO also makes it.

Art's not getting in this year.

I've said for 17 years, Art would one day be in the HOF - his accompishments are too great to keep him out forever. But his "punishment" for moving the team would be that he wouldn't live to see that day come.

I still believe it happens, but maybe not for another 5 years or so. Look, if you took every HOF voter, held their feet to the fire and forced them to tell the truth, I think you'd easily find 75% who would say yes, he deserves to be voted in. But that doesn't mean they WANT to. And given the top-heavy slate of candidates this year, it's just way too easy for them to avoid the controversy altogether, and vote instead for other guys they also feel are deserving. If a worthy candidate's going to get left out, it might as well be the one with a "stain" on their record, right?

Read what John Clayton had to say about the situation recently: In the same article in which he praises Art Modell as "mostly a model owner", he also stated this:

"A majority of people in the HOF room -- including me -- never felt comfortable enough to vote him in. Canton is too close to Cleveland. It just didn't feel right."

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/83...wner-many-ways

Really John?! So if the HOF was in, say, New York, rather than Ohio, you'd vote for him? I personally think that's a cowardly position to take. But if that's what Art is up against - not just the Tony Grossi's, but also voters like John Clayton, whom I believe understands intellectually that he deserves to be in, but is basically looking for an excuse not to vote for him - then he's still got a long climb ahead to make it in.

I hope I'm completely wrong.

**Captain Silver** · 02-01-2013, 03:09 PM

Parcells should be #1 in the entire class. I was never a fan of ANY of his teams, but he was a hell of a coach and talent evaluator.

**The Excellector** · 02-01-2013, 03:24 PM

The list of five that GOTA came up with, of who 'should' get in, I agree with.

**jonboy79** · 02-01-2013, 03:43 PM

Originally Posted by The Excellector

The list of five that GOTA came up with, of who 'should' get in, I agree with.

3 olinemen might be tough, that's part of why I have Sapp over Shields.

**rjslomo** · 02-01-2013, 09:50 PM

It's hard to tell but I think JO is a no brainer. I also think Parcells is the most likely of the non-players. That leaves three spots. Many people say that Larry Allen is the best O lineman of all time. He makes three. The three wide receivers are all worthy but one gets in at best. I think it is Carter. Finally, I think it is a toss-up between Haley & Strahan. I'm guessing Haley. Overall, I think Sapp, Strahan, Shields, Greene, Reed, Brown, and Modell (plus maybe Debartalo) are all worthy. One interesting point is that I hear Marvin Harrison is eligible next year? That messes up the WR eligibles.

Ryan

**ActualSpamBot** · 02-01-2013, 10:25 PM

If JO isn't a first ballot HOFer then I don't know who is. A decade long career as the universally acknowledged best left tackle in his conference and top two in the league (with a strong case for best league wide as well) should make this an easy EASY decision.

**Ravenous1** · 02-02-2013, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by ActualSpamBot

If JO isn't a first ballot HOFer then I don't know who is. A decade long career as the universally acknowledged best left tackle in his conference and top two in the league (with a strong case for best league wide as well) should make this an easy EASY decision.

If JO is not a first ballot HOFer than the voters just do not appreciate the value of OL play. That said I think he gets in with no prob

**RavenScallywag** · 02-02-2013, 08:16 AM

Originally Posted by Ravenous1

If JO is not a first ballot HOFer than the voters just do not appreciate the value of OL play.

Not true...they only have 5 selections, and there are 3 very deserving OL in Ogden, Shields, and Allen. Not likely they put all 3 in, and all 3 are guys who should be in the Hall at some point.

**GOTA** · 02-02-2013, 08:19 AM

In the past decade the only offensive lineman to go in the HOF on the 1st ballot was Bruce Matthews. JO made 11 Pro Bowls and 4 All Pro teams. Matthews was a 14 time Pro Bowler and 7 time All Pro.

From what I've heard Pro Bowls and All Pros mean more to offensive lineman because the voters just don't have too many stats they can look at. They really need to have seen these guys play week in and week out and unless they cover that team it doesn't happen. It's going to come down to reputation, awards and how well JO is pushed by the local voters.

**LukeDaniel** · 02-02-2013, 08:29 AM

The fact that Tim Brown isn't in yet is a bit ridiculous. Does anyone here even consider his HOF qualifications borderline?

Excluding Rich Gannon for 2-3 years, the guy had a bunch of noodle-armed bozos throwing him the football and he still is 5th all-time in catches, 5th in receiving yards, 7th in receiving TDs. That makes him a slam dunk right there. Even if it wasn't enough, he is also 5th in punt return yards and all-purpose yards. He was a magnificent receiver and one of the best punt returners in NFL history.

Yet, Richard Dent and Russ Grimm get in ahead of him? Cmon man

**RavenScallywag** · 02-02-2013, 08:37 AM

Was it him who also doubled as a CB?

Maybe I'm thinking of TROY Brown?

**LukeDaniel** · 02-02-2013, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

Was it him who also doubled as a CB?

Maybe I'm thinking of TROY Brown?

Yep, that's him. Now, if Troy Brown gets into Canton before Tim Brown, I'm boycotting it for life. Of course, he did "win" 3 Super Bowls...

**Ravenous1** · 02-02-2013, 09:04 AM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

Not true...they only have 5 selections, and there are 3 very deserving OL in Ogden, Shields, and Allen. Not likely they put all 3 in, and all 3 are guys who should be in the Hall at some point.

That's a fair point. I guess I am just biased. I do not see 5 other guys more deserving than JO up for election. In a perfect world the 5 most deserving get in regardless of position. Its hard to make a case JO would not be one of those 5 IMO. That said I totally get what your saying, reality dictates they will be unlikely to elect all 3

**RavenScallywag** · 02-02-2013, 09:16 AM

I want JO to get in this year, but someone made a fair point...the people who have votes don't care about 1st year, 2nd year, etc. They are just looking for the "top 5" guys that make sense to go in.

If I had to write down a guess...

Strahan, JO, Bettis, Shields, Parcells

**Ravenous1** · 02-02-2013, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by RavenScallywag

I want JO to get in this year, but someone made a fair point...the people who have votes don't care about 1st year, 2nd year, etc. They are just looking for the "top 5" guys that make sense to go in.

If I had to write down a guess...

Strahan, JO, Bettis, Shields, Parcells

When I was looking at those names you have going in with JO for some reason I found myself wondering who Ray would end up going in with. First thought was if Ed Reed changed his mind and retired if the Ravens won he would go 1st ballot with Ray. The thought then occurred to me that perhaps Ed would want to play one more year to NOT go in at the same time as Ray. I really do not mean this in a negative way. Just thinking that through his whole career Ed has shared the spotlight with or some might argue kinda had to stand in the shadow of one of the greatest ever to play. I could not blame Ed if he would prefer to go in a year later. Not saying that he would play simply for that reason but wondering if it could be a factor?