This is a series based on the question posed above: players that are worthy of induction into the Hall of Fame but for some reason have not been.
Ray Guy—Punter for Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders 1973–1986
Some might say he is a punter and shouldn’t be in the Hall of Fame because punters are insignificant and don’t have a real impact on a game. I wouldn’t agree with that statement and I would argue that his career statistics prove that statement incorrect.
Let’s ponder a punter's importance for a moment. I take you back to Super Bowl XVIII—arguably his best performance—against the Washington Redskins. When the Raiders' offense faltered just outside the range of placekicker Chris Bahr, Guy, known for his power, showed a great deal of finesse by booting a 27-yard punt that pinned the Redskins on their own 12-yard line late in the first half.
On the very next play, Raiders’ linebacker Jack Squirek intercepted Washington QB Joe Theisman and ran it in for a touchdown that gave them a 21-3 halftime lead. The Raiders would eventually win 38-9.
He was the first pure punter drafted in the first round. Several experts scoffed at the selection and said that the Raiders made a mistake in selecting him in the first round. Listed below are just some of career accolades.
- Played in 207 consecutive games
- Punted 1,049 times for 44,493 yards, averaging 42.4 yards per punt, with a 33.8 net yards average
- Had 210 punts inside the 20-yard line (Not counting his first three seasons, when the NFL didn’t keep track of this stat), with just 128 touchbacks
- Led the NFL in punting three times
- Had a streak of 619 consecutive punts before having one blocked
- Has a record of 111 career punts in post season games
- Had five punts of over 60 yards during the 1981 season
- Never had a punt returned for a touchdown
Ray Guy was selected to seven AFC Pro Bowl teams and was the punter on the National Football Leagues 75th anniversary team in 1994. He was a nine time All-Pro selection and was a key member on three Super Bowl championship teams.
He was named to the NFL’s 1970’s All Decade Team. He has been inducted to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, the National High School Sports Hall of Fame, and the College Football Hall of Fame. In 1994 he was the first pure punter to be nominated for enshrinement.
He was an outstanding placekicker at Southern Mississippi University, once kicking a then-record 61-yard field goal in a snowstorm during a game in Utah. Upon completion of his senior season at Southern Mississippi, he was named the MVP of the annual college All-Star game. This was when a group of senior college All-Stars would play the Super Bowl champion.
In addition to his kicking prowess, he was a starter at safety for USM. As a senior he intercepted a USM record eight passes, and was named an All-American defensive back. He played quarterback in his early years and was the last string emergency quarterback for the Raiders.
Ironically he replaced kicker-quarterback George Blanda at that position. Early in Guy’s career he would occasionally kickoff for the Raiders when it was apparent that George Blanda no longer had the range to kickoff.
Ray Guy was a punter that used picture perfect technique and a tremendous leg whip to kick the ball high and keep it there so long that there was little chance of a return. It was his hang time and placement that made him dangerous on the field.
He was able to effectively pin the opponent deep in their own territory, and if the defense upheld their part of the bargain, the Raiders invariably won the exchange of punts and the field position battle. In the 1976 Pro Bowl, one of his punts hit the giant TV screen hanging from the rafters in the Louisiana Superdome.
Not only did Ray Guy punt high and far—“hang time” came into the NFL lexicon during his tenure. He once had an opponent take a ball he punted tested for helium!
“I was never much on hang-time until we got Ray, but then we started clocking how long his punt hung in the air. Sometimes he kept it up there for six seconds!” A quote from John Madden, Former Raider Head Coach.
He placed an astonishing 57 punts inside the 20-yard line during the 1984-85 season. The career statistics are phenomenal but even more impressive is that here is a guy whose only concern was helping his team win games.
“He’s the first punter you could look at and say, He won games.” A quote from Joe Horrigan, Pro Football Hall of Fame Historian.
The College Punter of the Year award is now called the Ray Guy Award.
He has proven his greatness for years, but taking you back to another stellar play, the Super Bowl XVIII. He helped the Raiders avoid a catastrophe early in the second quarter when he soared in the air, stretching out his 6’3” frame, making a one-handed catch of a high snap.
After he landed, the athletic Ray Guy kicked a 42-yard punt. He now runs a kicking academy and has several speaking engagements. He is the greatest punter in NFL history and it is shameful that he isn’t in the Hall of Fame.
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4 months ago
Beats me....punters, I guess aren't considered real football players.
Guy was an impact player - a weapon. How many players, regardless of position, can that be said about?
From my experience Hall of Fames in all genres are highly political. In order to get your candidate just considered you have to go through a rigorous campaign process - signatures, slideshows, dossiers, etc.
These campaigns are reserved for players whose eligibility has expired. Its usually done for veterans like Ray Guy.
You should look into this. See if anything is happening. If not, you can get the ball rolling. I'll help you if you need it..
from 4 months ago
Thanks for the compliments and the feedback, John. I agree a rigorous campaign is necessary.
3 months ago
I agree, Ray Guy was an impact player and should definitely be in the Hall of Fame.
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the feedback, Evan.
3 months ago
Great article Jeff! You know, we are running a vote at TFDSsports.com between Kenny Stabler and Ray Guy. The winner of that vote will get the full weight of our site in a campaign for the HOF. We're even thinking that if the vote is close enough, to campaign on behalf of both.
Ray Guy should've been in the HOF a long time ago. Even his pupils are leading the league in punting regularly. When kickers are brought up as HOF players, I think that it's unfortunate that the greatest punter of all time is without the bust he so truly deserves.
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the comments and compliments, Rob. I'm torn between the two because I feel both should be in the hall but I voted for Ray Guy on the site. I applaud the campaign and will support the site and whoever wins out in the poll.
3 months ago
There's no real reason not to have Guy in there. After all, pretty much any punter in today's game can attribute the position's usefulness, and singular quality, to Guy's ability. Before Guy came along, the punting duty was either done by a position player, in another area, like a Kicker, or just not given much consideration.
The biggest irk I have, with the Ray Guy issue, is that everyone likes to say, oh, he's not that important. Tell me this then, did Jerry Rice only drop 3 passes over his career? Guy only had 3 kicks blocked in his entire career. Unheard of. Plus, if you paired Guy with another hall of Famer, like Ted Hendricks, on special teams, it wasn't a pretty picture for the poor punt returner. Imagine waiting for that stupid ball....and watching The Mad Stork coming at you.....ack!
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the comments and the feedback, Raider Card.
3 months ago
Stabler was just arrested for DUII, his chances for the HOF just flew out the window...Ray Guy on the other hand should have been there years ago!
from 3 months ago
Don't bank on Stabler's drinking keeping him out, if they let a druggie like Irvin in. Ray Guy's been a finalist so many times, he's probably got a coffee mug in the room he waits in....doesn't help either, when guys like Dr Z keep bashing the Guy.
Someone should invite the naysayers out there, and let them try to get a punt off with an onrush of players coming right up the middle. And then have them try to kick it a good 50 yards, with a hangtime of 5 seconds.....so they can really see what he did.
from 3 months ago
Ken Stabler should be in the Hall of Fame. The DUI shouldn't hinder his chances/ especially since Ray Lewis will get in the Hall of Fame / and he murdered somebody. A very large percentage of NFL players get arrested every year since forever. I'm sure there are a lot of players in the Hall of Fame & on their way to the Hall of Fame that have been in trouble in the past or present. The bottom line is that Ken Stabler won't get in because he is a Raider. The NFL doesn't want to honor Raiders players. The NFL treats the Oakland Raiders like a Red-Headed Step Child.
3 months ago
2 reasons: He's a Punter... And he's a Raider. The NFL doesn't want to give any props to the Oakland Raiders or their players.
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the feedback, Raidersteve. I feel you that could be the reason.
from 3 months ago
Actually, the first one I think is the primary....I actually asked one of the voters, from seattle regarding the "Raider conspiracy", and he chuckled. Actually, the Raiders are well-represented in the Hall, as it is, there's a lot of guys who should be in, but with the present-day system in place, only so many jackets per year to hand out.
He did say, that the biggest problem for a punter, or kicker, for that matter, is the lack of playing time. A Wide reciever, for example, may play in every play, except for 4th down, unless they go for it. A punter, is strictly a 4th down, go-to guy.
Granted, a punter's postion is just that, the last task, is the pin the enemy deep, and make it harder for the other team to score.
Oh, and for the record, none of Ray's punts were returned for a TD.
In a way, I think it's going to be like Art Monk. Eventually, he'll get in, but i'd like Guy to be ALIVE, when it's his time.
3 months ago
Hey Jeff. I know that this article is about Ray Guy not being in the "Hall Of Fame". But I'm so excited to hear that Nnamdi Asomugha's long term deal is coming very very soon. I've been waiting to hear something about Nnamdi's deal & now he's gonna get it within the next few short weeks. Also to further comment on your article. Why aren't WR Cliff Branch or CB Lester Hayes in the Hall of Fame? That's bullshit. 2 of the best players in their era. it's a tragedy. And what about Coach Tom Flores & QB Jim Plunkett. They won 2 Super-Bowls. And last but not least/ How about WR Tim Brown? Brown is like 5th on the All-time Rec. Yards list. The NFL is hatin' on us!!!!
from 3 months ago
Thanks for the comments and feedback, Raidersteve! Where do I start, Nnamdi's deal is coming finally. There are only a few yellow jackets a year to go around that's not an excuse but a fact. Everyone mentioned is worthy of the honor in my opinion. I want to see Ray Guy & Tom Flores as the next two Raiders in the Hall of Fame. Funny you mention these guys, I watched Super Bowl 11 again on thursday night and the funniest thing was the announcer mentioning Charles Philyaw as the biggest player in the NFL at 6'6" 279 lbs. He would be a big Defensive End but far from the biggest in a league where if you're not above 300lbs. you wouldn't be able to play on the O-Line or DT.
3 months ago
So I take it that you have also heard the news about Nnamdi Asomugha's long term deal getting done within the next few weeks. I have multiple sources telling me this: "Nnamdi Asomugha is next in line for a contract & that the Raiders are bringing in a Salary Cap Specialist to get Nnamdi's deal done & to sort out our salary cap issues. I also hear that the reason that Derrick Burgess was so eager to get into mini-camp without any complaints was because he's also gonna get paid big bucks next year when the Raiders re-do his contract. And you know that Kirk Morrison won't make a fuss over his contract negotiations next season. He loves being a Raider/ grew up a Raiders fan & will probably take a low sum of money just to be a Raider. And Thomas Howard won't want to leave Morrison's side. They are the best of friends & have both said that they want to be team mates for years to come. if we can get all these guys locked up for a few more years & sign/draft a stud DT then our defense will be top notch for the next few years. We will have a defense that will make the Steelers"Steel Curtain" look like the "Shower Curtain". And also/ Jeff do you think that Warren Sapp will go into the Hall of Fame as a Raider? And you mentioned that an announcer said that Charles Philshaw as being the biggest in the NFL at 6'-6" 279lbs./ Well Jamarcus Russell is the same size at QB. It just shows us how much the NFL has changed over the years. And why in the hell did we bring back LB Grant Irons!!!! He sucks big time & didn't do shit the last time that he played for us. Especially after not playing the last 2 years/ Do they really think that he is even worth a shit now?
3 months ago
I really couldn't understand why Javon Walker would put himself in that position. I think that the guy just doesn't learn. Spraying champagne & acting like a crackhead on the first of the month. This is just stupid. I know that he got robbed & that makes him the victim but he was in the worst part of town in Las Vegas. I live in Atlantic City New Jersey & It's a smaller version of Las Vegas. All you see at night is Gambling/Drugs/Prostitution/Drinking/Rape/Murder & Cops chasing people down. I don't go down certain streets that I know that I don't belong. you'll get Robbed or Killed. Now our team is fucked. We were all banking on this guy to help us win games this year. Now we have nobody. Now it's like we lost Jerry Porter & got nothing in return. This just cost us our season. We suck again!!! We just can't catch a break us Raiders fans. I am so pissed off about this. I never wanted Javon Walker on my team in the first place. now everything that I said in the past was right. He proved me right when other Raiders fans told me that I was wrong about him. This guy has always been trouble & is bringing a poor attitude to our team.
from 3 months ago
This is F'd up for the squad. There's no doubt about that. We were not there, we don't know exactly what happened and can only speculate. We need to keep the comments to ourselves until we've all the facts. We all make mistakes. Hopefully he will learn from this mistake recover and move on. He is lucky to be alive.
All the comments above are premature at this point. Everyone is pissed and it does show a lack of common sense and poor judgement but it is too early for all the above. The last time I checked he is a human being and he is now dealing with some serious injuries a broken orbital bone & a concussion. So first things first would be his health, recovery from injury.
from 3 months ago
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/raiders/
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