NFL Predictions 2011: 25 Superstars Who Are Hall of Fame Bound
Time to make some NFL predictions for 2011! We all know the names of the biggest stars in the NFL: Brady, Manning, Lewis, Polamalu, Peterson.
How many of the NFL's biggest stars will make the leap from great player to the greatest players in the history of the league? Who among the NFL's biggest stars will be getting one of those bronze busts in Canton, and wearing one of those hideous jackets?
We're showing you the 25 likeliest suspects to make the trip to Canton when their careers are over. Most of these players still have a year or three left on their careers, at least, and aren't retiring this offseason (hence why a certain Vikings quarterback didn't make the cut).
Larry Fitzgerald, WR Arizona Cardinals
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There are few wideouts in NFL history as supremely talented as Fitzgerald. In his first seven seasons in the NFL, Fitz has posted 8,204 yards and 65 touchdowns. He's had to contend with another talented wideout, former Cardinal Anquan Boldin, for catches, and battled injuries in 2006, but he's always amongst the league leaders in yards and touchdowns each season.
For proof of his greatness, look no further than his yard totals this season. Despite putting up with Derek "Pickmaster" Anderson and Max Hall for much of the year, Fitz posted 1,137 yards and six touchdowns. A spot in Canton isn't assured, but Larry's well on his way to getting there.
Charles Woodson, CB Green Bay Packers
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Woodson has seemed destined for a trip to Canton since his Heisman days at Michigan. The talented cornerback has won the defensive player of the year award once, and has been a three-time, first-team All-Pro corner. His stats don't show his dominance (47 picks in his career, including nine last season), because for several years, teams stopped throwing at him.
Woodson is one of the best corners in the NFL right now, despite his advanced age. If he can finish his career with the same level of skill he showed last season, the corner's a shoe-in for Canton.
Andre Johnson, WR Houston Texans
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This physical freak is capable of doing almost anything on the football field, and in his seven NFL seasons, Johnson has done it all.
His 9,164 receiving yards rank him in the top 50 all-time, and his 50 touchdowns put him in the top 100.
However, Johnson is also only 29 years old, and is in the midst of his prime. We'll know a lot more about his chances in a season or two, but Andre is definitely fully capable of blasting his way into Canton.
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Chris Johnson, RB Tennessee Titans
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A player who may be very young to have the Canton discussion, but given his level of production, Chris Johnson already merits it. In three seasons, Johnson has posted rushing totals of 1,228 yards, 2,006 yards, and 1,364 yards. He's already scored 34 touchdowns on the ground, and is one of the NFL's most feared backs.
If that's not enough for you, consider his 1,008 receiving yards in his career as well, putting him over 5,600 yards for his career.
If Johnson keeps up this pace, he'll finish as one of the most prolific backs in NFL history and will have himself one of those lovely bronze busts.
Adam Vinatieri, K Indianapolis Colts
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Surprised to see a kicker on this list? Don't be.
Vinatieri might be one of the NFL's most clutch kickers of all time. He's directly responsible for a pair of Super Bowl wins during his tenure in New England, and has hit 23 game-winning field goals in his career.
He's set a record for points scored in a postseason, with 49 in 2006, and has hit 82.7 percent of his field goals for his career.
He's the most clutch scorer in NFL history, and when he retires, you can bet he'll be in Canton.
Aaron Rodgers, QB Green Bay Packers
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Rodgers has only been a starter in the NFL for three seasons, but in those three years, he's turned into one of the league's best quarterbacks.
He's thrown for 12,723 yards and 87 touchdowns in those three seasons, and has looked like one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL since taking over for a certain No. 4.
If Rodgers keeps this up, his spot in Canton is all but assured.
Dwight Freeney, DE Indianapolis Colts
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Freeney is one of the smallest defensive ends in the NFL right now, but he's also one of the league's most feared at the position.
Freeney's totalled 94 sacks in his career, fourth-best in the NFL, and at the fairly young age of 30, there's plenty of time for him to shoot up the career sack chart.
If he can get 40-50 more sacks in his career (and given his average of more than 10 sacks per season, it's a real possibility), Freeney will find himself in Canton one day.
Donovan McNabb, QB Washington Redskins
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Donovan McNabb a Hall of Fame quarterback? If the stats are any indication, you'd better believe it.
McNabb ranks in the top 20 quarterbacks in passing yards, and is 23rd in touchdown passes. His rushing skills have atrophied, but at the start of his career, he was one of the best scramblers in NFL history.
The most convincing part of McNabb's resume is the fact that he's posted impressive stats despite playing with various wide receiving corps that could best be described as terrible.
He might not be the most clutch passer, but as one of the league's most prolific, he deserves a spot in Canton.
Adrian Peterson, RB Minnesota Vikings
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Peterson might be the most talented running back in the NFL right now, and in his four-year career, he's certainly been one of the most prolific.
In those four years, he's racked up 5,782 yards and 52 touchdowns, including 1,760 yards in 2008. He's as skilled a rusher as you'll find in football, and barring a catastrophic injury, he'll blast his way into the Hall of Fame one day.
Darrelle Revis, CB New York Jets
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Aside from having one of the coolest nicknames in football history, Darrelle Revis is the most dominant corner in football.
Sure, his stats weren't very good in 2010-11, but that's because teams literally stopped throwing at him. He shut down some of the NFL's best wideouts, and as long as he can avoid the kind of injury troubles he had this season, Darrelle's skill as a cover corner is sure to land him a mustard blazer.
Dallas Clark, TE Indianapolis Colts
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Clark has been one of the most skilled, reliable pass catchers in the NFL over the last three seasons. It took him a few years to get going, but once he did, he showed how unstoppable he could be.
He topped 1,100 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 2009-10, and would have done it again this season, had he not gotten hurt six games into the 2010-11 season.
If Clark dodges the injury bug, he has the skills to be one of the best receiving tight ends in history.
Drew Brees, QB New Orleans Saints
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Brees was a bit of a late bloomer, but the former Purdue Boilemaker has more than made up for it over the last seven seasons. He's thrown for 4,200 or more yards in each of the last five years, including a 5,069-yard season in 2008-09.
He led the Saints to a Super Bowl, and is among the league's most adept at spreading the ball around amongst his receivers.
With stats that rank in the top 20 all-time already, there is no reason to keep Drew Brees out of the Hall of Fame.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB Pittsburgh Steelers
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Big Ben is Canton-worthy?! How?
Simple. If Roethlisberger takes home another Super Bowl ring (and given the Steelers' position in the AFC right now, that's a very real possibility), that will give him three.
If Ben gets that third ring, it all but assures his place in Canton, even if his stats aren't worthy of the jacket.
Jason Taylor, DE New York Jets
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Taylor might be another surprise on this list, but the fact is, the stats don't lie. His 132.5 sacks in his career make him the eighth-most prolific pass rusher in history, and any time your key stats fall into the top 10 of all time in a category, you're a shoe-in for the Hall.
Look for Jason to get in once his career draws to a close.
Troy Polamalu, S Pittsburgh Steelers
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Polamalu's impact on the football field can't be felt just through his stats, although they are fairly impressive.
Instead, his powers are illustrated by his high-flying antics, thunderous hits, and the team's struggles without him on the field.
He is the heart and soul of the Steelers' high-pressure defense, and when those locks pop out of his helmet for the last time, you can bet that he'll be Canton bound.
Brian Urlacher, LB Chicago Bears
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Urlacher is the latest super linebacker in a long list of them in Chicago. He's the perfect middle linebacker for the Cover 2 system the Bears run, but he'd be great in any system. With almost 1,000 career solo tackles, 41.5 sacks and 18 picks, Urlacher's stats are fantastic, and he's the soul of the Bears' terrifying defense.
If he's not in Canton when he retires, something is seriously wrong.
Fred Taylor, RB New England Patriots
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Fred Taylor has quietly become one of the most prolific rushers in NFL history. His skill was undeniable, but early in his career, Taylor just couldn't stay healthy.
Once he figured out how to stay off the disabled list, Taylor proved to be one of the most dynamic backs in NFL history. He totalled almost 15,000 yards from scrimmage, and his 74 touchdowns rank in the top 100 of all time.
He posted seven 1,000-yard rushing seasons, and for that level of consistency throughout his career, Taylor merits a Hall of Fame spot.
Antonio Gates, TE San Diego Chargers
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Is there a more skilled tight end in NFL history than Antonio Gates? A former college basketball player, Gates has used his superior athleticism to become one of the most prolific receiving tight ends in league history.
Gates' career through seven seasons is most closely compared to Hall of Famers Kellen Winslow, Mike Ditka, Dave Casper and and John Mackey.
He's posted two 1,000-yard seasons, and was on pace for his most prolific season ever before foot injuries derailed his 2010 campaign.
Most importantly, Gates redefined the tight end position, and spawned a generation of athletic tight ends.
Randy Moss, WR Tennessee Titans
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Randy Moss might be one of the most tempestuous wideouts in NFL history. He's also one of the most talented.
His receiving yards rank second among active NFL players, and fifth in league history. He ranks fifth in total touchdowns in his career, and second in receiving touchdowns.
Like him or hate him, Moss is without a doubt a Hall of Famer.
Terrell Owens, WR Cincinnati Bengals
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If Moss is a Canton lock, then Owens, the only wideout to better Randy's stats, is even more of one.
Owens is second only to Jerry Rice in career receiving yards and touchdowns. He has been the most dominant receiver in the NFL over the last 10 years.
If that's not a Hall of Fame lock, I don't know what is.
Ed Reed, S Baltimore Ravens
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Reed might be the most dominant pass defender the NFL has ever seen. He's a force of nature, capable of picking off passes every time he takes the field. His 54 interceptions rank second among active NFL players, and 19th overall, and, for proof of his dominance, consider that he picked off eight passes in just 10 games this season.
If he could stay healthy for a full season, he would be the most dominant defender the NFL has seen in quite a while.
Ray Lewis, LB Baltimore Ravens
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Lewis was, during the peak of his powers, the most dominant force in the NFL. Career totals of 38.5 sacks, 30 interceptions and 1,452 solo tackles only tell part of the story of Lewis' impact.
His over-the-top emotion and leadership have helped him inspire teammates to match his energy and production, and the linebacker has become the face of the Baltimore Ravens.
In short, his dominance, coupled with his leadership, make Lewis as much of a lock for Canton as anyone.
Tony Gonzalez, TE Atlanta Falcons
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Tony Gonzalez redefined the tight end position forever. His production levels were unmatched in NFL history, and his skills inspired guys like Dallas Clark and Antonio Gates.
The difference? Gonzo's been doing it for 14 years. That kind of unprecedented longevity and production make him a lock for a bronze bust.
Peyton Manning, QB Indianapolis Colts
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Talk about one of the least shocking developments in history. Manning is going to be the most productive quarterback in NFL history when all is said and done, and now that he has a Super Bowl ring, Manning's resume is as good as gold.
Tom Brady, QB New England Patriots
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Sure, his hair looks like White Goodman's, but Tom Brady is already a lock for the Hall, thanks to a trio of Super Bowl rings and one of the greatest statistical profiles in NFL history.
We don't need to go over Brady's Hall of Fame credentials, or justify his place in Canton. Much like Manning, expect Tom to go into the Hall on his first try.
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