Oakland Raiders: Who Delivered Touchdowns Compared To Gale Sayers

If numbers don't make a difference, then why does the NFL compile so many statistics?

Numbers do make a difference.

Other variables also weigh in to help measure the performance of outstanding Oakland Raiders and others, like Gale Sayers.

Here is another comparison to give the fans an idea of the rich history of the Oakland Raiders; it also gives something for this generation of Oakland Raiders to chase toward, when they say they are "chasing excellence."

Some players have short careers. When I surveyed a class and ask them how long is the typical NFL career, a guy held up four fingers. I told him I read that the average is about three and a half years.

Look at this data. Let's make another "outrageous comparison" to stimulate a more detailed discussion:

Touchdowns		Rush/Rec/Punt		First five years and more
Warren Wells		Gale Sayers
0		x		1964
military		22		1965
military		12		1966
6		9		1967
11		2		1968	same era
14		8		1969	same era
11		0		1970	same era

In we put things in the context of the era and the times, Gale Sayers and Warren Wells could have had careers of the exact same length, but for one factor that existed in the Sixties.

Warren Wells was pulled out of his professional football career and entered the United States Army in 1965 through 1966. There was a mandatory draft during those days.

Now, if the Hall of Fame recognizes the NFL players who have served in the military (and they do have such a display), then it makes sense that they could count the years of military service that interrupted those players football career.

Just as government agencies honor the military service of their employees, why doesn't the Hall of Fame consider doing the same?

These days, NFL players don't have to worry about being "yanked" out of their professional football careers. There is no mandatory draft in 2011.

The numbers do tell a story.

When Wells and Sayers were contemporaries, Wells outperformed Sayers from 1968 to 1970, if we cite the number of touchdowns each man delivered.

Take a good look at performance on the NFL playing field. Review the criteria for placement in the Hall of Fame. It's highly probable that more Oakland Raiders ought to be considered for the Hall of Fame.

There are probably plenty more reasons to review historical data and to inspire well-informed discussions.

Go Raiders!