Pro Football Hall of Fame : The Best Players Not Yet Inducted at Each Position

Several years ago, I began a mission to get Washington Redskins legend Chris Hanburger inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thanks to the letters and quotes from his NFL brethren, "The Hangman" was finally inducted this season.

Shortly after I began my cause, I created a series called "Crazy Canton Cuts". It was to not only pay respect to the greatest football players not yet inducted, but to remind the reader of the true greatness these players posses.

I have profiled a lot of great players over the years. Enough to put together a team that could take the field and certainly defeat any type of football team that ever existed or could ever be created.

Here are the best players, position by position, in my Crazy Canton Cuts series. You will clearly see each man belongs in Canton, and that most are better players than the more modern players being inducted today.

The problem is, most of the players you will read about are stuck in the seniors pool these days. The Hall of Fame Seniors Committee is allowed to nominate just two players yearly, creating a huge logjam amongst candidates.

It is clear the Hall of Fame should at least double nominations in the seniors pool. This becomes even clearer when you see men not in the seniors pool get inducted with a lot less accolades or accomplishments than many players stranded in the seniors pool. Then there are the factors of how the game has changed over the years, and how earning a Pro Bowl nod has drastically changed.

Please enjoy the "CCC All-Time Team".

Quarterback : Jack Kemp

Jack Kemp
6'1" 201
Quarterback
Buffalo Bills
1957-1969
11 Seasons
122 Games Played
7 Pro Bowls
1965 AFL MVP
AFL All-Time Leader In Passing Yards
AFL All-Time Leader In Attempts / Completions
5 AFL Title Games In 7 Seasons

Jack French Kemp was drafted in the 17th round of the 1957 draft by the Detroit Lions. He had went to Occidental College previously, a small private liberal arts school. Occidental has produced six NFL players and Kemp is the most successful.

Kemp is also probably the most famous alumnus of Occidental, though Terry Gilliam of Monty Python should be considered. Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, attended the school for two years before transferring.

Kemp's college roommate was Jim E. Mora, who would later become a head coach for several professional football teams. Kemp was an All-Conference player who was the nation’s No. 3 small college passer as a senior. He even set a school record throwing the javelin with the track team.

Not only did Kemp's wife attend Occidental, but two of his children and his younger brother did as well. Occidental is unveiling a statue of Jack Kemp on April 29, 2011 to celebrate all of his accomplishments.

Detroit cut Kemp during training camp, but the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him to backup Hall of Famer Len Dawson and the legendary Earl Morrall. Though Morrall made the Pro Bowl that year, Kemp got in on four games and completed eight balls for 88 yards.

Pittsburgh acquired Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne the next year, so they released Kemp. He signed on with the San Francisco 49ers, spending a few weeks on their taxi squad before being cut.

The New York Giants signed him to their taxi squad, where he remained all season as the Giants made it to the title game and lost in "The Greatest Game Ever Played". It was the first post-season game that had an overtime period, where the Baltimore Colts prevailed.

The Giants then used their 1959 first-round draft pick on quarterback Lee Grosscup, the innovator of the shovel pass. Kemp was released and found no NFL teams interested. He joined the Calgary Stampeders on the Canadian Football League, but was cut after one game.

Having being cut by a CFL and four NFL teams did not discourage Kemp. Though his family was trying to coax him to quit playing football and get on with his life, Kemp saw an alternative.

The American Football League was to begin play in 1960. Since Kemp did have NFL experience, the Los Angeles Chargers signed him as a free agent. Bob Clatterbuck, who had last played in 1957 after four years with the Giants, was Kemp's primary competition in camp.

Kemp won the starting job and his leadership skills quickly catapulted him to being a team captain. He was named First Team All-Pro that year, but the AFL did not yet have their All-Star game. The Chargers reached the title game, but lost.

He was named to the very first AFL All-Star squad in 1961 after helping the Chargers, now playing in San Diego, win their first ten games. They reached the title game and again lost to the Houston Oilers for the second straight year.

The 1962 season was one of his most difficult. He severely hurt his shoulder in 1961 when he was serving in the military and had to go to Germany when the Berlin Wall was erected. He went through most of that year taking up to ten pain killer shots each game.

He broke two fingers on his throwing hand in the second game of the year. The Chargers had drafted John Hadl that year, but planned for him to spend his rookie year on the bench. With Kemp out, the Chargers won just four games.

Hall of Fame head coach Sid Gillman made the mistake of trying to hide Kemp on the taxi squad, as he recovered, by waiving him. Three teams immediately tried to claim him and he was awarded to the Buffalo Bills.

He recovered from his injuries well enough to play the last four games of that 1962 season. Though he played just six games that year, he was named an All-Star. It showed the respect Kemp had from his peers.

Buffalo named Kemp a captain as well. This move paid off when star running back Cookie Gilchrist was frustrated one game by the lack of touches and refused to go back on the field. Head coach Lou Saban was about to release Gilchrist, but Kemp convinced Saban to keep a very important member of the team.

Though he made the All-Star team again in 1963, Buffalo had another young quarterback to push Kemp in camp. Daryle Lamonica was drafted in the 24th round, but impressed the Bills coaches enough to start two games that year.

The Bills had the best defense in the AFL in 1964. With the combination of the multi-talented Gilchrist, the swarming defense, and Kemp's leadership, Buffalo won the AFL Championship Game that year by defeating the defending champion Chargers 20-7.

Buffalo went back to the title game in 1965 and beat the Chargers again for the title. It is still the last time the Bills franchise has won a championship. Not only was Kemp named an All-Star, he was named First Team All-Pro.

Not only was he named the MVP of the 1965 title game, but he also shared the AFL MVP Award with ex-Chargers teammate Paul Lowe.

Buffalo reached the championship game again in 1966. They faced the Kansas City Chiefs for the right to oppose the Green Bay Packers in what would later be called the first Super Bowl game ever. Kansas City won, yet Kemp was named an All-Star again.

Buffalo then traded Lamonica to the Oakland Raiders for quarterback Tom Flores, who was coming off a Pro Bowl season himself. Flores, who later led the Raiders to two Super Bowl victories as a head coach, lasted just over two years as a reserve for Buffalo.

Kemp struggled in the 1967 season, and he was not named an All-Star for the first time in his career. He looked to rebound the next year, but teammate Ron McDole fell on his knee in practice and Kemp had to miss the season before it started.

The Bills drafted 1968 Heisman Trophy winner O.J. Simpson, a future member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, in 1969. Kemp returned and was named an All-Star for the last time, making him one of the few players to have played in the first and last All-Star games.

He also successfully lobbied to have all AFL teams wear a patch that year to honor a league that had tremendous impact on professional football. Kemp had already shown intense support of his peers by co-founding the AFL Players Association and served as president five times.

Though just 34-years old and holding a four-year no-cut contract, Kemp decided to try politics in 1970. He was elected to Congress, where he stayed until 1989. He then ran the Housing and Urban Development Department until 1993 and ran for Vice-President in 1996.

After getting out of politics, Kemp worked with children as the vice president of NFL Charities and was involved with youth football. His son Jeff was an NFL quarterback for 11 seasons, and his son Jim played quarterback in the CFL for nine years.

He is the only person to start at quarterback the entire 10 years the AFL existed. Besides leading his teams to five championship games, Kemp was an All Star every year but two. He is also one of just 20 men to have played all 10 years of the AFL's existence.

Though Kemp was not named to the AFL All-Time Team, where Hall of Famers Dawson and Joe Namath were, he holds many league records. He has the most passing attempts and completions, as well as passing yards, in AFL history for a career and in championship games.

He and Frank Tripucka became the AFL's first 3,000-yard passers in AFL history in the last week of the 1960 season. Tripucka won the title of most yards passing by 20 yards.

Critics of Kemp point out how he took a lot of sacks and had 69 more career interceptions than touchdown passes. He was once sacked 11 times in game, which is an AFL record and is tied with 12 others as the second most ever in professional football history.

The truth is that Kemp liked to throw the ball deep down the field for significant gains. His career average of 14.8 yards per completion is still the 11th best ever. He is still ranked in the top-100 in many quarterbacking categories as well.

Not only was Kemp a winner, but he was also a role model for young players. Lamonica went on to be a five-time Pro Bowler who was named AFL MVP twice and won three championships. He also has the second best winning percentage ever by a quarterback.

Hadl went on to be a six-time Pro Bowler who won a championship and was the 1973 NFC Player of the Year. Kemp also mentored a young James Harris, the first black quarterback to begin the season as a starter and second ever to start any game as a quarterback.

Harris, who coincidentally replaced Hadl in 1974, went to his only Pro Bowl in 1974 and was named the Pro Bowl MVP. Much like his political career, Kemp sought equality while playing.

When in Louisiana in 1965, Kemp was with Gilchrist and Ernie Warlick to play in the AFL All-Star Game to be held in New Orleans. When they tried to catch a cab to the hotel, the cabbie told Kemp only he could ride and Gilchrist and Warlick would have to take a "colored cab".

Kemp refused to ride in the cab, saying if it wasn't good enough for his teammate then it wasn't good enough for him. Gilchrist led a players petition to boycott playing the game in New Orleans, which was joined by Kemp. The game was moved to Houston in what was one of the first civil rights stands in professional football history.

When you look at Kemp's career, it is much like his entire life. The man was a winner with an unquenchable thirst to be his best. Not only did he lead by his play, his toughness was legendary.

Besides playing with the bad shoulder in 1961 and broken fingers in 1962, Kemp was given a waiver by the military because of knee problems. Hall of Fame offensive tackle, and Chargers teammate, Ron Mix noted that "it sounds weird, but he could play football and not be fit to serve in the Army".

His is a story of never giving up on his dream, even after five teams cut ties with him and his own family doubted his dreams. A dream that can be called an "All-American Dream", Kemp lived it for 11 years while losing three in between for various reasons.

There are quite a number of people in Canton because they won titles. While Kemp's passing numbers might not blow away the modern fan, the rules of the era must be considered. Despite an era where defenses could actually play defense, Kemp often got the ball deep down the field.

Though Hall of Famer Jim Kelly now owns most of team records for Buffalo Bills quarterbacks, Kemp went to two more Pro Bowls and was named First Team All-Pro one more time than Kelly. His five title games is tied with legends like Hall of Famer Sid Luckman, while Kelly played in four.

He had just three years where his teams had losing records and he won 28 more contests than he lost. Kemp was also a good running quarterback, having scored 40 times. He was second in rushing touchdowns during the Bills 1965 title season.

Not only did he give back to the game both as a player and retiree, Kemp was a rare man who truly believed in dignity after football. He often reminded people of the AFL's impact, something the Canton voters seem to have ignored much too often.

As I often say in the AFL legends I profile, the building in Canton clearly says Pro Football Hall of Fame. Some voters have tried to turn it into the NFL Hall of Fame by spurning the deserving candidacies of several gridiron greats who wore uniforms for other leagues like the AFL and AAFC.

When you look at his body of work, Jack Kemp belongs in Canton. Not only did he win too much to be ignored, but his contributions to the game can no longer go on being slighted. Wake up the Canton voters in your area and let them know that Kemp's long overdue respect is still waiting.

Kemp is the only quarterback profiled in "Crazy Canton Cuts" so far, but Ken Anderson, of the Cincinnati Bengals, and Ken Stabler, of the Oakland Raiders, will be one day because they are worthy.

Running Back : Larry Brown

Larry Brown
5'11" 195 
Halfback
Washington Redskins
1969-1976
8 Seasons
102 Games Played
5 Pro Bowls
1972 NFL MVP

Brown was drafted in the eighth round of the 1969 draft by the Washington Redskins. What happened next is a well known story by football historians.

Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi, in his first season with the Redskins and dying of cancer, noticed the rookie was not getting off the snap quickly. Instead, Brown seemed to reacting after the ball was hiked.

Lombardi ordered Brown to undergo a hearing test, where it was found he was partially deaf in his left ear. A hearing device was installed in Brown's helmet, allowing the rookie to fire out on the snap count with the rest of the team.

It also allowed him to have a Pro Bowl season as a rookie, running for 888 yards and catching 34 passes. He finished behind Dallas Cowboys halfback Calvin Hill, a future teammate of Brown's, for Rookie of the Year honors. Hill gained 54 more rushing yards but had 14 less receptions.

Lombardi died before the start of the 1970 season, so Bill Austin took over. Brown ran for 1,125 and caught 37 passes. Yet Washington finished 6-8 and Austin was replaced by Hall of Famer George Allen.

Brown's first year under Allen saw him dinged up and missing one game. Even though he caught a career low 16 balls, Brown still churned out 948 yards on the ground.

Washington would make the playoffs for the first time since 1945. It set the stage for the finest year of his career in 1972.

Not only did Brown win the NFL MVP Award, he won the Bert Bell Award, the NFL Offensive Player of the Year Award, and the UPI NFC Player of the Year Award.

He was honored with his second First Team All-Pro nod and fourth straight Pro Bowl. It would be the last time in his career he would achieve either honor.

Setting career high totals of 285 carries for 1,216 yards and eight scores, averaging a career best 101.3 rushing yards per game. Brown grabbed 32 passes and scored four times while averaging a very impressive 14.8 yards per catch.

He took one pass a career long 89 yards for a score. Brown also piled up a career high 1,689 yards from scrimmage. His performance that year led the Redskins to an 11-3 division winning record. It was the first division title in 27 years for the franchise.

After churning out 101 rushing yards in the Redskins first postseason win since 1943, he gained 88 yards in Washington's 26-3 NFC Championship victory over the Dallas Cowboys.

Reaching the franchise's first NFL title game since 1945, Washington lost to the perfect Miami Dolphins 14-7 in Super Bowl V. Brown led the team with 72 rushing yards and five receptions, but the "No Name Defense" prevailed against the "Over The Hill Gang" in a defensive struggle.

Though he failed to reach the Pro Bowl in 1973, Brown was still very effective and led the Redskins to the playoffs again. He scored a career best 14 times by catching a career high 40 passes and running for 860 yards.

Averaging 12.6 yards per catch, he scored a career best six times off of receptions while matching his career high total of eight rushing touchdowns. Then injuries began to derail his career.

He missed three games in 1974, but still helped Washington reach the playoffs again by averaging 10.5 yards on 37 receptions and leading the team in rushing for a sixth straight season.

Though he caught 42 passes the next two seasons, his injuries inhibited his carries to just 117 carries. He retired at the end of the 1976 season.

Larry Brown was more than a fierce runner. He was an exceptional blocker as well. He was the Redskins all-time rushing leader in virtually every category until Hall of Famer John Riggins passed him.

His 238 catches and 20 touchdown receptions are the most ever by a Redskins running back. His 10.4 yards per catch average is also impressive.

No running backs have been profiled in "Crazy Canton Cuts" yet, but Larry Brown heads my list of most overlooked running backs deserving of induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Running Back : Cookie Gilchrist

Cookie Gilchrist
6'1" 201
Fullback
Buffalo Bills
1962-1967
6 Seasons
65 Games Played
4 Pro Bowls
1962 AFL MVP

Gilchrist was signed by the Cleveland Browns at 18-years old in 1953 after completing his junior year in high school. When the NFL deemed the contract illegal, Cleveland owner Paul Brown reneged on his promise to Gilchrist, so the youngster left the teams training camp. 

He headed to Canada and began playing rugby, where he was the MVP of his team in each year he played. Gilchrist then joined the Canadian Football League and soon became a legend. He was an All-Star in five of his six seasons with the CFL as both a running back and linebacker. 

The Buffalo Bills, of the American Football League, attempted to woo Heisman Trophy winner Ernie Davis in 1962, but Davis chose to play with the Cleveland Browns of the NFL.

Buffalo then signed Gilchrist, a move that benefited them immediately. Gilchrist became the first 1,000-yard rusher in AFL history, leading the league with 1,096 yards at an impressive 5.1 yards per carry average.

He also set an AFL record with 13 rushing touchdowns that went unbroken the entire time the league existed. Besides leading the AFL with a 78.3 yards per game average, he caught 24 balls for two scores and handle the place kicking duties. He made eight field goals and 14 extra points.

The 128 points he scored that season was a team record until O.J. Simpson surpassed it in 1975. Gilchrist was named First Team All-Pro, AFL All-Star, and AFL MVP. 

The next three seasons saw Gilchrist lead the AFL in rushing attempts and be named an AFL All-Star each year. He led the league in rushing yards and rushing yards per game once. He also led the AFL in rushing touchdowns three times, while being named First Team All-Pro two more times. 

After helping lead the Bills to a championship in 1964, he was waived after a contract dispute and claimed by the Denver Broncos in 1965. There he enjoyed his last All-Star season with the Broncos. Joining the expansion Miami Dolphins in 1966, Gilchrist got injured and missed six games. He tried to play for Denver the following season, appearing in one game, before retiring. 

In a stretch of 10 straight seasons, Gilchrist was named an All-Star each time in both the CFL and AFL, let alone the two previous seasons he was a MVP in his rugby league. He is the only person to have accomplished this.

What makes his success even more impressive was the era he played in. 

Bigotry was prevalent during this time. So much that Gilchrist refused induction into the CFL Hall of Fame, citing the bigotry he encountered in the CFL as the reason. He led a boycott of the AFL All-Star Game being played in the Louisiana Superdome.

The AFL relented, moving the game to Houston. Gilchrist also had a long running disagreement with Bills owner Ralph Wilson that was not reconciled until a week before Gilchrist died of cancer in 2010.

Gilchrist wanted a pay raise in 1964 after Buffalo won their first championship. "I wanted a percentage of the hot dog sales, the popcorn, the parking and the ticket sales," Gilchrist recalled once. "Lou Saban, the Bills head coach, said that would make me part owner of the team. I was a marked man after that." 

Bills legend Booker Edgerson said it best. "He was very outspoken," said the former cornerback, now on the Bills Wall of Fame. "He understood the economics and the monetary value of a player. He expressed himself, and that got him in trouble a lot."

He was already in trouble with the team in 1964, having refused to go back into a game where Buffalo was throwing ball nearly every down. He reportedly said "They're not giving me the ball, so why the hell should I play?" 

The coaches were ready to cut him, but quarterback Jack Kemp coerced them to keep Gilchrist. This move paid off, helping the Bills win their first title. He ran for 122 yards in the championship game. 

He ran for 31 touchdowns over three seasons, which still ranks third behind Hall of Famers O.J. Simpson and Thurman Thomas as the most ever in Bills history.

He still has the team record for five rushing scores in one game, where he also had 243 yards. Simpson broke that record in 1973 with 250 . Gilchrist averaged 4.5 yards per carry in his Bills career, which is second best behind Simpson. 

He is one of the few men to have played modern professional football without having attended college. Van Miller, the "Voice of the Bills", says Gilchrist was the most explosive player Buffalo ever had. 

When he was the team's kicker, he was also their wedge buster. His first kickoff as a Bill saw him bury the returner inside the 15-yard line. He lobbied to play linebacker on defense, in order to double his salary, but Wilson and Saban shot that idea down. 

Buffalo has yet to put him on their Wall of Fame. A big reason was his dispute with Wilson, who is known to hold a grudge. Wilson has kept Saban off the Wall of Fame over their own dispute. When offered, Gilchrist wanted to be paid an appearance fee.

By the time he dropped his demands, he passed away. Expect his inclusion soon, now that he and Wilson reportedly reconciled. He is also the starting fullback on the AFL All-Time Team. On a franchise that has a deep and rich history of running backs, Gilchrist is the best fullback to have ever played for the Bills. 

Even though the building in Canton says Pro Football Hall of Fame, it is unlikely the "Cookie Monster" will ever get inducted. Never mind the fact he was an All-Star 10 straight years in professional football, critics will point to his lack of years played in the AFL. 

Most observers already know the AFL gets very little respect in Canton, mainly because their success forced a merger after years of the NFL calling the AFL a "Mickey Mouse outfit with inferior players". The Canadian Football League gets even less respect, with only four men inducted into Canton with CFL ties. 

But the impact of Gilchrist goes far beyond his actual achievements on the gridiron. His work for Civil Rights were more important, helping open eyes and avenues. His refusal of his induction into the CFL Hall of Fame was a selfless act that helped the league grow up even more. 

It has been over 46 years now since Gilchrist was running over opponents, knocking them unconscious, while giving everything he had. There are fewer people around who actually saw him play, but one only needs to watch any game of football today to see the impact he had. 

For those clamoring for Roger Craig, of the San Francisco 49ers, Terrell Davis, of the Denver Broncos, or others need to realize all of these players are similar in where they were fantastic a few years and average in others.

Gilchrist gets the nod here because of the obstacles he had to encounter and defeat, many that had more to with society at the time rather than just football. Then his CFL days were considered, which is also pro football, which made him the choice here. 

 

Wide Receiver : Cris Carter

Cris Carter
6'3" 202
Wide Receiver
Minnesota Vikings
16 Seasons
234 Games Played
1,101 Receptions
130 Touchdowns
8 Pro Bowls
1990s All-Decade Team

Cristopher D. Carter was drafted in the fourth round of the Supplemental Draft in 1987 by the Philadelphia Eagles. He had to go into the supplemental draft because he lost his senior year of eligibility at Ohio State University after signing a contract with an agent.

While in college, Carter was the Buckeyes' big-play receiver. Though he lost a year of college, he had the most receptions in Ohio State history when he left. Not only is he a member of the Buckeyes All-Century Team, but Carter is inducted into the Ohio State Varsity "O" Hall of Fame.

The 1987 season is best known for being shortened by a players strike. Carter was rarely used, catching two touchdowns off five receptions, though he did return 12 kicks. He would only return one kick the rest of his career.

Kenny Jackson, the Eagles first-round draft pick in 1984, was not working out as a starter opposite Pro Bowler Mike Quick. Carter was inserted into the starting lineup and grabbed 17 touchdowns off 84 receptions over two seasons.

The Eagles were known for their swarming defense and athletic quarterback during this period. Their head coach, Buddy Ryan, was a defensive expert, but the Eagles offense could not score in the playoffs and were bounced out in their first game in both years Carter started.

Ryan suddenly cut Carter after the 1989 season—the reason was that all Carter did for the Eagles was "catch touchdown passes". The truth was that Carter was abusing drugs and the wide receiver credits his being cut as the wake up call that saved his life.

Minnesota claimed him off the waiver wire right away. He spent his first year in Minnesota backing up Anthony Carter (no relation) and Hassan Jones. Though the Vikings started three receivers seven times in 1991, he supplanted Jones as the starter and would hold that spot the remainder of his Vikings career.

One of Carter's strengths was his conditioning and durability. Though he missed four games because if injury in 1992, he played every other game possible for Minnesota. Except for his rookie and final seasons, those would be the only four games that he missed.

His 1993 season was the first of eight straight Pro Bowl years. He became one of the very best receivers in the NFL over this time. Carter caught a career best 122 pass in both 1994 and 1995, becoming the only player in NFL history to have that many receptions twice. He led the NFL in receptions in 1994, and his career best 17 touchdown receptions in 1995 led the league as well.

The Vikings had a revolving door at quarterback during Carter's time there. Seven different men were the primary starter in his 12 seasons with the team. Despite all the lunacy and confusion, Carter was a beacon of steady leadership and consistent production.

Carter had 86 or more receptions in seven of his eight Pro Bowl years. He had 90 or more catches five times. He also grabbed those touchdowns Ryan mentioned. Other than the 17 scores in 1995, he led the NFL with 13 touchdown catches two times. He was in double-digit figures in touchdown receptions in five of his Pro Bowl years.

What made his production even more special, other than the ever changing quarterback, is the fact he had to share receptions with future Hall of Fame wide receiver Randy Moss, Pro Bowl wide receivers Jake Reed and Anthony Carter, and Pro Bowl tight end Steve Jordan.

Besides his eight consecutive Pro Bowls, he was named First Team All-Pro only twice. He holds the Vikings record for Pro Bowls by a wide receiver, and only Moss has been named First Team All-Pro more. Just two Vikings, Hall of Famers Alan Page and Randall McDaniel, have represented Minnesota more at the Pro Bowl than Carter.

Though he caught 73 balls for six scores in 2001, the Vikings let the 36-year old receiver go. He joined the Miami Dolphins the next year, but appeared in just five games and retired. Carter holds the Vikings records for receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches for a career. He also holds the single-season Vikings record for receptions and is tied with Moss with touchdown receptions.

Carter has been a finalist for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame three times so far. He ranks third in NFL history with 1,101 career receptions, fourth in career receiving touchdowns with 130, and eighth in career receiving yards and total career touchdowns.

He was blessed with long arms and a lot of strength, making it very hard to cover him in a five-yard chuck. The two modern receivers he is jockeying with for induction into Canton are Tim Brown and Andre Reed.

Brown had seven less receptions, but 1,035 more receiving yards. He went to one more Pro Bowl, but was never named First Team All-Pro and had 26 less touchdowns. What might get him in ahead of Carter is the fact that he was an incredible return specialist.

Reed got most of his receptions off the arm of Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly. He has less Pro Bowls, receptions, receiving yards, and touchdown catches than both Brown and Carter. Yet he played in four Super Bowls, where Brown appeared in one and Carter never did.

Then there are the old school fans who point to the obvious fact that none of these three receivers ever dealt with the ten-yard chuck rule, which makes it much harder to excel as a receiver, as opposed to the offensive-friendly rules the trio participated in. Rules that greatly inflated statistics, perhaps making a player look better than an older player because the modern numbers dwarf the statistics from the ten-yard chuck era.

Men like Mac Speedie, Lionel Taylor, Harold Carmichael, Drew Pearson, Gino Cappelletti, Sonny Randle, Cliff Branch, Harold Jackson, Pete Retzlaff, and LaVern Dilweg are just a few great receivers on par with Carter, Brown, and Reed still awaiting their inductions. Men who dealt with a much rougher game, let alone the ten-yard chuck.

Carter has a feel-good story attached to his career, one that has now extended to where he provides analysis on television. With career on the ropes because of drugs, he rebounded and became a leader. Most recall him serving as a mentor to Moss.

He won the Bart Starr Man of the Year Award in 1994, the Bryan "Whizzer" White NFL Man of the Year Awards in 1998, and the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 1999.

Besides the 17 NFL records he either owns or shares, he is a member of the NFL's 1990s All-Decade Team. He is one of the 50 Greatest Minnesota Vikings as well as being a member of their 40th Anniversary Team.

The Vikings have retired his jersey and inducted him into their Honor Roll. His induction into Canton is inevitable, the only question left is the year it will happen. The Vikings have had a huge amount of great receivers to play for them, but Cris Carter may be the best ever.

Wide Receiver : Mac Speedie

Mac Speedie 
6'3" 203 
Wide Receiver 
Cleveland Browns
1946 - 1952 
7 Seasons 
86 Games Played
5 Pro Bowls 
346 Receptions, 5,602 Yards, 33 Touchdowns

Mac Curtis Speedie was drafted by the Detroit Lions in the 15th round of the 1942 draft. He was the 154th player picked overall. He went to high school in Utah, and tied a National High School record in the 120-meter high hurdles of 14.7 seconds.

Speedie then went to the University of Utah, where he was an Honorable Mention All American in football. He also was a record-setting hurdler in college, and led Utah to the NCAA Track and Field Championship game in 1942. Speedie is a member of the Utah Football Centennial Team, the Crimson Club Hall of Fame, and Utah Sports Hall of Fame. 

He had to serve in the Army because of World War II. While playing football on base he was recruited by Hall of Fame coach Paul Brown to play for his expansion Cleveland Browns in the fledgling All American Football Conference.

Speedie joined the Browns in 1946 at 26-years old after the Browns offered him twice as much money as Detroit. The plan was to play him at defensive end, but the Browns quickly moved Mac to split end. His impact was immediate.

Though he only started 10 of 14 games in his rookie year, Speedie scored a career high seven touchdowns on 24 receptions. He also averaged a career high 23.5 yards per catch.

Speedie started nine of 14 games in 1947, but managed to snare a career high 67 balls. He scored six times and gained a career high 1,146 yards. He scored one touchdown on a 99-yard jaunt.

He was named to his first All Pro team that year, and would continue to be given that accolade every year of his career, except one. Speedie snagged 58 passes for 816 yards in 1948, and followed that up the next year with 62 receptions for 1,028 yards.

He also matched his career high of seven touchdowns. It would be the last season that he would start a game again in his career. Cleveland won the AAFC Championship every year that Speedie was with the Browns and lost only four games total.

The AAFC folded after 1949, and the Browns joined the NFL. They won the 1950 NFL Championship, as Speedie caught 42 passes. 

He managed to catch 34 balls the next year before suffering a knee injury in week 10, causing Speedie to miss the rest of the season. The Browns got back to the NFL Championship game, but lost.

In 1952, Speedie returned to catch 62 passes for 911 yards and five touchdowns. He suffered a knee injury in the season finale, which would be his last season in the NFL. Cleveland would go on to lose in the championship game. Speedie was named to his final All-Pro team that year. He also was named the teams MVP.


Speedie's next move took Browns fans by surprise, when he bolted for the Canadian Football League. There are several theories surrounding this move.

One is his personality clash with Hall Of Fame Coach Paul Brown. Brown was known as a strict disciplinarian, while Speedie was known as a free spirit. Before the 1952 season had begun, Speedie showed up at the Browns training camp with a skunk he had named "Paul".

Another theory was that when Speedie asked for a raise, he was rebuffed, so he took the more lucrative CFL offer. Also, there was a story that Speedie, now 33-years old, thought that he would be phased further out of the offense.

Speedie joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and was All-CFL in 1953 and 1954. In 1955, he broke his leg and retired at the end of the year.

He didn't stay away from the game long. He was lured by an ex-Browns teammate, Lou Rymkus, to join him in coaching the expansion Houston Oilers in the newly formed American Football Conference in 1960. Houston would go on to win the first AFL Championship. Rymkus was fired shortly into the 1961 season, so Speedie resigned as well.

The Denver Broncos then hired Speedie as their receivers coach in 1963. He held that position until the 1964 season, when he was promoted to head coach four weeks into the season. 

He held the position until he resigned two games into the 1966 season, accepting a position with the team as a scout until 1981. His coaching record was 6-19-1.

It took the Browns until 1999 to put him on their Honor Roll—evidence of the influence Paul Brown had to hold players' reputations hostage. This move was made by then Browns owner Al Lerner.

Problem was, Speedie had died in 1993. Still, kudos to the late Mr. Lerner for doing something Art Modell had not done. Some say Modell had promised Paul Brown to not honor Speedie.

The lasting disdain Brown had for Speedie was on display in 1977. Brown and Speedie met for the first time in 25 years at a college all-star game. When Speedie tried to approach Brown, he was given the cold shoulder and was referred to as, "the one who went to Canada."

Whatever Paul Brown's problem was, it should not have effected the voters from seeing the reality. Speedie helped the Browns reach the championship game in each season he played, and the Browns won five.

He was an All-Pro every season that he played in the AAFC, NFL, and CFL except three seasons in 10 years. He averaged over 16 yards a reception for his career, which is very impressive in any era.

Remember, this is the PRO FOOTBALL Hall Of Fame I am talking about. The AAFC and CFL both fall under this category. Speedie has made it into the final selection process several times, but has fallen short so far.

He spent the last years of his life lamenting how Paul Brown had been preventing his induction. I wouldn't be surprised if Paul's son, Mike Brown, is carrying on this spite filled campaign. If the voters would just let this vindictive hatred lay with Paul Brown in his grave, where it belongs, they would then allow the facts of Speedie's gridiron career take its rightful forefront in this debate.

One also must remember that Speedie lost four years of his career due to WW2. It is sad that he has passed on, and cannot be part of this long overdue induction if it takes place finally. There is no question that Mac Speedie belongs in Canton.

Harold Jackson, of the Los Angeles Rams, Lionel Taylor, of the Denver Broncos, and Harold Carmichael, of the Philadelphia Eagles, are wide receivers profiled by "Crazy Canton Cuts" because they are all deserving of induction into Canton.

Tight End : Jerry Smith

Jerry Smith
6'3" 208
Tight End
Washington Redskins
1965-1977
13 Seasons
421 Receptions
5,496 Yards Receiving
60 Touchdowns
2 Pro Bowls


Gerald "Jerry" Smith was a ninth round draft choice of the Redskins in the 1965 NFL Draft. He was the 118th player picked overall. The American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs also drafted him in the 18th round, 141st overall in the AFL draft that year.

Smith went to Arizona State for college. He didn't play varsity football until his junior year. He came into his own in his senior year, when he snagged 42 catches for 618 yards and five touchdowns. He is a member of the ASU All-Time Roster, as is Redskin Hall of Fame WR Charley Taylor. 

Smith wasn't used much in his rookie year. He caught 19 passes for two touchdowns that year. Charley Taylor, then a halfback, was the primary weapon. Taylor was an All-Pro from '64 - '67 and was in the NFL Top 10 in rushing scores and receptions until an injury forced him to wide receiver.

Taylor, now in the Hall of Fame, is among the league’s all time top-50 in receptions, receiving yards, yards from scrimmage, and rushing and receiving touchdowns. Smith was a back up wide receiver initially, but with two Hall of Famers in Taylor and Bobby Mitchell as the primary targets of the newly acquired Hall of Fame quarterback Sonny Jurgensen, head coach and Hall of Famer Otto Graham decided to move Smith to tight end.

Smith was used much like you may have seen Sterling Sharpe or Antonio Gates used. This was a trend setting move that allowed Smith to explode onto the NFL scene.

In his second season, Smith caught 54 balls for 686 yards and six touchdowns. Smith had his best season as a pro the next year.

He caught 67 passes for 849 yards and 12 touchdowns. Smith then caught 142 passes the next three years to go with 24 scores. Smith was hurt early in 1971 and only managed 16 catches with one score. He was never quite the same again. In the Redskins Super Bowl year of 1972, Smith did catch seven touchdowns on only 21 receptions.

The following year he did not get into the end zone on 19 catches. Finally showing signs of health in 1974, Smith caught 44 passes for 554 yards with three touchdowns from quarterback Billy Kilmer. The next year Smith caught 31 balls for 391 yards and three scores.

Injuries besieged Smiths final two years, and with newly acquired Jean Fugett now starting, Smith managed eight catches for two scores. Smith retired with a then-NFL record 60 touchdown catches for tight ends. He finished second All-time behind Mike Ditka for receptions and yards receiving by a tight end at the time.

To this day, he ranks tops in Washington Redskin history for tight ends in catches, yards receiving and touchdowns. He is also tied with three others with 12 TD's caught in a season, and tied with 10 others with three touchdowns in one game (something he did twice).

His team record 67 catches (in 14 games) for a tight end in a single season was surpassed by Chris Cooley (in 16 games) in 2005. Smith still ranks third in Redskin history in touchdown catches and fourth in receptions.

While Smiths statistics may pale in today's modern game, one must remember that the NFL "chuck" rule was 10 yards in his playing days. It was a much rougher game as well back then. Clotheslines were frequent, as were players diving at each others knees.

If Smith had the luxury of only a five-yard chuck rule like today, the statistics surely would have increased. Smith may never be inducted into Canton. He died at the age of 43 in 1986 of AIDS.

He never had told anyone that he was a homosexual, but was outed by former teammate and lover, running back David Kopay (the first NFL player to announce his homosexuality) shortly after Smiths death. Kopay has asserted that the NFL's homophobia was so prevalent in those days that once he had announced he was gay, several coaching offers were rescinded.

Not that much has changed nowadays, as Jeremy Shockeys comments on the Howard Stern show once revealed, but there is a hope that the NFL Senior Committee can look past the man's lifestyle and the politics involved.

Smith retired with superior stats comparatively to Hall of Fame tight ends such as John Mackey. He retired only six catches short of Ditka's then-NFL record for tight end receptions as well.

Jerry Smith may be a controversial subject to some. Even after everything that can be said for, or against him, his statistics tell a steadfast story.

Smith was lauded by Sports Illustrated as a top pass catching tight end during his era. His legend on the gridiron still shines bright today, 34 years after his retirement.

Maybe some will say he is on the fringe for induction, or that I'm being biased due to the Redskins being my favorite team as well.

Maybe these things are true. Still, in my eyes, Jerry Smith belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Tackle : Al Wistert

Al Wistert
6'1" 214
Tackle
Philadelphia Eagles
1943 - 1951
9 Seasons
95 Games Played
8 Time All Pro




Albert Alexander Wistert was drafted in the fifth round by the Philadelphia/ Pittsburgh Steagles in 1943, the 32nd player chosen overall. The Steagles were a team that was comprised of Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers into one team because of World War II.

Al had played college football at the University of Michigan. He was a legendary two-way player there. He had two brothers, Alvin and Francis, also play for the Wolverines. They all played the same position and wore the same number 11 jersey.

Francis was the first, Albert was the second, then Alvin was last. Their number 11 jersey has been retired by Michigan University, and is one of only seven to have achieved that honor.

Al Wistert played on Wolverine teams that lost only five games in his three years there. He was an All-American and was named the MVP of the team in 1942.

One famous moment in Michigan University football history came against Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. Going in the locker room trailing at halftime, the Notre Dame fans told Michigan to go home because it was over.

Wistert would have none of that and inspired his team mates with a pep talk that had the Wolverines fired up. Michigan rattled off 21 straight unanswered points in the third quarter and dominated Notre Dame to a 32 - 20 victory.

After playing in the 1943 East West Shrine Game, Wistert was team captain of the College All-Stars who played against the NFL World Champion Washington Redskins. Wistert's team stomped the Redskins, led by Hall Of Fame Quarterback Sammy Baugh, 27 - 7.

Al Wistert is a member of the Michigan University Hall Of Honor, and a member of the College Football Hall Of Fame, as are both of his brothers. 

Wistert went to his first Steagles practice knowing no one. He saw Hall Of Fame Defensive End Bill Hewitt sitting on some rocks smoking a cigarette. He approached Hewitt to introduce himself to the fellow Wolverine Alumni who had played alongside his brother Francis in college.

Hewitt had just come out of a three year retirement to play for $4,000. It was the most Hewitt had ever made in the NFL. Wistert had just signed with the Steagles for $4,500. Wistert extended his hand and introduced himself, but Hewitt did not say a word or offer his hand.

Wistert then decided to run laps around the field by himself. Pretty soon, the entire Steagles team was following him and running around the field. The Steagles disbanded the following season, and the Steelers and Eagles went back to being separate teams.

Wistert stayed in Philadelphia and would make his first All-Pro Team that year in 1944, garnering this achievement for every year of the rest of his NFL career. In 1946, he was named team captain, an honor he served until 1950.

The Eagles went to their first championship game in 1947, but lost to the Chicago Cardinals 28 - 21. The 1948 season saw the Eagles win their very first championship in a blizzard in a rematch against the Chicago Cardinals 7 - 0. The Eagles then went back to the NFL Championship the next year and beat the Los Angeles Rams 14 - 0 in heavy rain.

The Eagles are the only team in NFL history to win back to back championships and not allow their opponents to score.

Wistert announced he would retire after the 1951 season. The Eagles held an AL WISTERT DAY in the fourth-from-last home game that year. The team gave him a brand new car, and many other gifts. One gift was a hand crafted dining room table that Wistert still uses this day to eat his meals off of.

The Eagles then retired his #70 jersey in 1952, the first Eagle to ever have had this done. Al Wistert is a member of the NFL 1940's All Decade Team.

I find it utterly amazing that Al Wistert has yet to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame! This man truly embodies what Canton is supposed to represent.

Not only was he an eight time All-Pro in his nine seasons, but he was a very important member of an Eagles team that dominated the NFL in the late 1940's.

He introduced the NFL to the stand up style of blocking you all see today, instead of the rolling type of blocks that were employed then, which allowed Wistert to use his speed and agility to keep on blocking more defenders downfield and making him better than his competition.

Wistert was a true leader on and off the field. He captained a powerhouse squad full of Hall Of Fame players like Steve Van Buren, Pete Pihos, Alex Wojciechowicz, and Chuck Bednarik. His coach was Hall Of Famer Earle "Greasy" Neale.

He also gave back to the community by coaching a high school team in New Jersey over 50 miles away, even though he did not own a car. Neale liked and respected Wistert so much that he would lend his personal car daily to Wistert so Al could go teach kids how to play football.

This says a lot, because Neale was a noted task master. One game, Wistert came to the sideline to tell the coach he thought he had just broken his leg. Neale replied, " Well, get back in there until you are sure that it is."

Wistert never missed a game in his career. He started every game of his career except the first five of his rookie season. He would soon supplant veteran Ted Doyle after the fifth game.

The only other time he missed a start was in 1950 season opener against the Cleveland Browns. Wistert had a severely sprained ankle and could hardly walk, but he ended up playing most of the game anyways.

A 60-minute man, he never left the field at any time. Whether it was opening up holes for runners on offense or closing them on defense, Wistert was an amazing athlete durable, strong, and cerebral. 

He was one of the smallest offensive tackles in the NFL at that time, weighing 214 pounds, but he was a master technician who would out-think, outwit, out-gut, and dominate his opponents on both sides of the ball for every minute of every game.

Wistert said, "I never gave then the same thing twice. I always confounded them with a new plan of attack." His teammates dubbed him "Ox", because he was incredibly strong and dependable.

The game was much different then. A rougher and more violent game with less rules and padding for self preservation. They played games in all sorts of poor weather, unlike the climate controlled stadiums so many players enjoy today.

They would spend days travelling to cities by train, instead of a few hours on an airplane like today. Just to get a taste of these times, the Eagles took a train from Philadelphia to Los Angeles after beating the Giants. Despite only having a few days in L.A., they shut out the Rams in monsoon like conditions for the title.

To say these men were tough is an understatement. They did this for the love of the game, not for the money. Many great football players eschewed the NFL in those days because they could earn more money outside of sports, and in other sports.

Francis Wistert was given $100 by Cardinals owner Charles Bidwell just to sign a contract, even though he had no intention of ever playing in the NFL. Francis chose to pitch for the Cincinnati Reds in Major League Baseball instead of playing football.

Albert Wistert decided to play professional football and was great at it. After he retired, he became successful in the life insurance business and made million-dollar deals.

But he chose to play football first, and he is one of the path-pavers who made the NFL the multi-billion dollar empire what it is today.

The fact the Eagles retired his number first, and only one year after his retirement, shows how special a football player he was. Wistert is also a member of the Philadelphia Sports Hall Of Fame and Eagles Honor Roll.

As the years go on, the more we tend to forget great gridiron stars like Wistert. The veterans committee for the Pro Football Hall Of Fame MUST be blamed for not doing the jobs they were given to do.

It is plainly evident to see, with all of the accolades, that a grave injustice has been perpetrated in regards to Al. It was not lost on his fellow players.

After he retired, over 23 players and other NFL peers have written to the Hall Of Fame asking that Wistert be put into Canton. Greats ranging from Chuck Bednarik to even former Eagles owner Norm Braman.

Why the voters have chosen to ignore such a rich, diverse cast of NFL Alumni requests is bewildering. There is NO QUESTION that Albert Wistert belongs in Canton.

YOU can help by signing his petition for induction.

Tackle : Jim Tyrer

Jim Tyrer
6'6" 280
Offensive Tackle
Kansas City Chiefs
1961-1974
14 Seasons
194 Games Played
9 Pro Bowls
6 First-Team All-Pro
AFL All-Time Team



James Efflo Tyrer was drafted in the third round of the 1961 American Football League draft by the Dallas Texans, the first draft the league ever held. He was the 22nd player chosen overall. He was also drafted in the 14th round of the NFL draft by the Chicago Bears.

He had been a two-time All-American at Ohio State University and was the co-captain of teams that played in two Rose Bowl games. He was also named a College All -Star as a senior. He was a quick learner who earned a starting job by his sophomore season on teams that featured future NFL legends like Dick Schafrath, Jim Houston, Dick LeBeau, and Bob Vogel, as well as several other players who later played pro football. Tyrer is a member of the school's "O" Hall of Fame.

Tyrer was named the starting left tackle immediately by the Texans, now in their second year of existence under the leadership of future Hall of Fame head coach Hank Stram. The Texans would go on to win the AFL Championship in 1962, as Tyrer was named to his first of nine straight Pro Bowl honors.

Hall of Fame owner Lamar Hunt, a founder of the AFL, was unhappy with attendance despite winning the title. Though he wanted to keep the team in Dallas, he decided to move the Kansas City and rename them the Chiefs because he was tired of sharing the same stadium, the Cotton Bowl, with the Dallas Cowboys of the NFL and suffering from low attendance figures.

Tyrer was unaffected by the transition, as he received the first of six straight First-Team All-Pro nods in 1965, establishing him as the top left tackle in all of professional football.

The Chiefs would win the 1966 AFL title, but it was also the first season the AFL and NFL decided to hold a championship game between the two leagues. Kansas City faced the Green Bay Packers of the NFL but lost the game 35-10.

In 1967, Hunt was watching his children play with a toy called a Super Ball. He then had the idea of calling the AFL and NFL title game the Super Bowl. The Chiefs would reach this game in 1969, the last one played between AFL and NFL teams before the two leagues merged. It was also the season where Tyrer was named the AFL Offensive Lineman of the Year. Kansas City would win Super Bowl IV, dismantling the Minnesota Vikings 23-7. It has, so far, been the last Super Bowl in which the Chiefs have appeared.

Tyrer missed two games in 1973 for the first time in his career. His string of 180 straight games played is the third-longest streak in club history, and he started in each one of them. Kansas City thought the 34-year old was nearing the end of his career because he had finished his second season where he failed to make the Pro Bowl. They traded him to the Washington Redskins.

He played in every game for the Redskins in 1974, though he mainly served as a back up to Ray Schoenke. He did, however, start in one game. Washington won their division, but were bounced from the playoffs in the first round by the Los Angeles Rams. Tyrer decided to retire at the end of the year.

Despite being the best left tackle in AFL history, he has yet to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Though he was a finalist once in 1981, no player in the history of professional football has more accolades than Tyrer and has failed to be inducted.

One reason may be because he died in 1980. Suffering from depression, Tyrer committed suicide after killing his wife. Though depression was not much of a subject to speak about in that era, it seems as though the Hall of Fame voters have kept him out of Canton due to their lack of knowledge of this subject.

In recent years, professional football has almost begrudgingly acknowledged depression and the fact that it can occur after severe head trauma over a long period of time. "Post Concussion Syndrome" is the commonly used term and these effects have been brought to light by gridiron legends who have suffered from it following their football careers.

Hall of Famers like John Mackey and Mike Webster are two who have suffered from this type of trauma. A game thought to be so violent that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell was recently seen on television contemplating banning the three-point stance from the game in an attempt to reduce head injuries.

Tyrer played in an era where offensive linemen were instructed to use their heads as weapons. They were told to bury their heads into the chests of defenders first. This was also an era where offensive linemen were not allowed to use their hands like they do in the current game. They had to put their arms in the shape of a chicken wing, as they relied on quick feet and strong shoulders to take control of their opponents.

Opposing defensive ends were allowed to use their fists back then, and the head slap move was perhaps the most used method to beat blockers. While unable to defend themselves, offensive linemen lead with their heads as they had been taught. Defenders would attempt to counteract this by dodging blockers, then slapping them upside their heads to get the blocker off balance. In doing so, they were given a clearer path to those who possessed the football.

Though Tyer regularly faced the opposing teams' best pass rushers, he was unflappable and consistent. Men like Hall of Famer Elvin Bethea, Rich "Tombstone" Jackson, Larry Eisenhauer, and Ben Davidson were just a few of the stellar defensive ends he faced each week for several seasons.

Davidson is the man who Tyrer admitted was the toughest opponent he faced. The respect was mutual. Davidson called Tyrer a "mountain of a man," though Davidson stood 6'8" and weighed 275 lbs., himself.

"He was easily the best blocker I ever faced," Davidson recalls. "He had power and finesse. He could have made an excellent guard, too. We were friends off the field, as Tyrer was all about good sportsmanship. We used to go to the AFL All-Star games together on a bus. We would joke if either he or my teammate, Hall of Famer Jim Otto, had the biggest head in football. I often would say at banquets that Tyrer basically wore a big red trash can as a helmet when he played."

Davidson believes that Tyrer has long deserved his induction into Canton, as does Bethea. Bethea was inducted himself in 2003. "Tyrer was the pioneer of big offensive tackles. He was the best blocker I ever faced. I used to try to run as fast as I could upfield to get around him, but it rarely worked. It pissed me off that I couldn't defeat him, as I could with other left tackles regularly."

Bethea also admits he feared facing Tyrer. "He was THE preeminent left tackle in all of football. All other blockers I faced in the NFL were mediocre compared to him. He would just swamp me each game to where I would be lucky to beat him even once in a game," he said.

Paul Zimmerman, a Hall of Fame voter and writer for Sports Illustrated, has long said Rich "Tombstone" Jackson was the greatest pass rusher in pro football history has long lobbied for his induction into Canton. Jackson, though he would like to be inducted himself, also has a tremendous amount of respect for Tyrer.

"It is a travesty that Jim Tyrer has yet to be inducted into Canton," he said. "He was one of the first big offensive linemen with quick feet to play pro football. Besides having good feet, he was crafty and smart. You had to be prepared facing him, as the Chiefs win-loss record was proof of how excellent their players were. Tyrer was the top offensive lineman I ever faced, and that included the AFL and NFL."

Larry Eisenhauer, whose four Pro Bowls are tied with Bob Dee and Richard Seymour as the most in Patriots franchise history, also echoes Davidson, Bethea, and Jackson in thinking that Tyrer should have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame long ago.

"He was the best I ever faced," Eisenhauer recalls. "He was equally excellent run blocking and pass blocking. He was a very strong man, and I never looked forward to facing him. I really cannot believe he has not been inducted into Canton yet. He was the best left tackle in AFL history."

Tom Keating was a two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle who played on two AFL Championship teams. "Jim Tyrer was one of the most dominant tackles in all football," he said. "When I was with the Raiders, Ben and I rarely ran stunts against Ed Budde and Tyrer. If I went first in the stunt, Jim would close down and I was faced with 6'6" and closer to 300 lbs. I was 6'2" and weighed 247 lbs. If Ben went first(took an inside rush), I had to loop way outside and by the time I got outside, Lenny Dawson was throwing the ball. Ben and I had much better luck one-on-one with Ed and Jim."

"Jim was a excellent drive blocker and was good at hooking the defensive players," said Keating. “He deserves induction into Canton.

If Tyrer has the respect of his peers, many who are amongst the finest to ever play, then it adds to further confusion as to why he has yet been given his long awaited induction.

One theory is a lingering disrespect to the American Football League itself. NFL players were told back then that the AFL was an inferior brand of football, full of players who lacked the skills to play in the NFL.

Homer Jones, a Pro Bowl wide receiver of the New York Giants, is known as the man who invented spiking the football after a touchdown and holds the record for most yards per catch for a career. "We were told the AFL was a Mickey Mouse organization yearly to keep us from wanting to play there, even for more money. When we finally faced those guys, we realized that they were as good as us. Maybe even better in some areas," he said.

Jackson recalls that his Denver Broncos played the first preseason contests between the two leagues. "We played against both the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings," he said. "We weren't always the best team in the AFL, never winning more than seven games in a season in the entire time we spent in the AFL. We were told we had no chance against the NFL, but we won both games."

The AFL has just 30 players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame who once played in their league. Several joined the league just before the merger, having played the majority of their careers under the NFL umbrella. Only one, Billy Shaw, was inducted despite having played his entire career in only the AFL. At his ceremony, he was forced to wear a jacket that had the NFL logo emblazoned on it.

"There may be a lingering AFL disrespect when it comes to voters," said Ed Budde, an offensive guard also on the AFL's All-Time First Team and teammate of Tyrer for eleven years. He played alongside Tyrer and went to seven Pro Bowls himself. "Jim played at a top level with great skill for a long time. His body of work is proof of his excellence, and he should be inducted into Canton," he said. Many football fans and his peers believe Budde should also be inducted, but he has somehow not yet been given this honor.

For some reason, Canton has become the NFL Hall of Fame, instead of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Though several players spent time in other leagues, the Hall of Fame seems to make sure these contributors' biographies concentrate mostly on their NFL exploits. The Cleveland Browns, who dominated the All-American Football Conference, never get their true respect as a dynasty because they came from another league initially.

There is a long list of AFL players awaiting induction into Canton to this day, as inferior modern players go in ahead of them. One theory for this is that the NFL still is upset at being forced to merge with the AFL, because the upstart league was taking viewers and money away from them. Voters living in the wallets of the NFL have chosen to ignore gridiron excellence for fear of losing their positions. Positions they no longer sit in with the pure intentions they once held.

Though many feel the way Tyrer's life ended was the reason for his exclusion from the Hall of Fame thus far, it also points out another hypocrisy of Canton. When Michael Irvin was inducted in 2007, it was met by a huge backlash from NFL fans who couldn't understand his induction ahead of Art Monk and others, because of his notorious lifestyle as opposed to the squeaky clean lifestyle of others.

The official reason given for Irvin's induction is that garnering the honor is based on a player's body of work on the field, not off of it. If this truly is the case, then it shows the flaw in logic for omitting Tyrer thus far.

"It is time to wipe the slate clean and induct him," says Davidson. "Life goes on. These types of events happen daily. We are turning him into a Pete Rose by excluding him, though everyone knows he should be in."

Depression was an issue people in Tyrer's era dealt with internally -- it was not as acceptable to seek help for it as it is today. He battled it as his business ventures failed and he struggled to keep his four children enrolled in private schools.

"We didn't make a lot of money," Davidson remembers, "so we worked extra jobs to make ends meet. I worked with several teammates as valets at a race track. We would park the customers' cars, then sprint back as a way to keep in shape. I remember one time I was riding a bus to an AFL All-Star game with Jim. I was telling him of my post-career plans of being a landlord. He proceeded to tell me of all of these plans he had. He kind of made me feel inadequate, my owning apartment buildings. I also thought perhaps he was too spread out in his interests and might be too aggressive."

As his financial situation suffered, his depression worsened to the point it led to his death.
Though none of his family members saw it coming, most acknowledged that he was depressed at the time.

"I felt my dad's mental state at the end of his life must have been impaired and that very well could have been as a result of the trauma his brain experienced during his football career", says Brad Tyer, the oldest son of Jim and Martha.

One thing all of his children have done is forgive him for that fateful day. They still love their father and hope to see Canton finally give him his long overdue earned respect. "Dad belongs there, but I am unsure if the voters will ever put him in," says Brad.

Pete Duranko was a defensive end for seven seasons with the Denver Broncos. Not only was he a friend, having had dinner with Tyrer and their wives, but he faced him several times on the field. "He was the best offensive tackle ever, and one of the best to ever have played football," Duranko says enthusiastically. "He didn't get his full recognition because he was on those excellent Chiefs teams, but he was load to deal with."

Duranko has spent his post-football career working with players who suffer from depression and also deals with his own health issues and depression. "It creeps up on you. People, especially the voters, do not understand mental illness. Jim was a strong man who did his best to hide his disease. He didn't want people to know he was depressed and preferred to try to deal with it himself. When we were in the game, if you didn't play, you'd go highway. Meaning you got released. This made you play through all sorts of injuries, especially concussions."

Duranko is yet another of a long line of players who feel Tyrer deserves induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A list that includes Hall of Famer Willie Lanier and Fred Arbanas. Arbanas, a six-time Pro Bowler and member of the AFL All-Time Team and Chiefs Hall of Fame, was Tyrer's roommate for ten years and perhaps his best friend on the team.

While many of those close to Jim Tyrer feel head injuries suffered while playing football contributed to his depression, there are some who are unsure. Al Lundstrom is Tyrer's brother-in-law and played football with him at Ohio State University. "Jim was smart, hard to move, was fast on his feet, and was also very big. Many players were unable to use the head slap on him because of his height. Though he was depressed about his financial situation, I am not convinced his depression was brought on by post-concussion syndrome," he said.

Even if he did not suffer from a head injury after his career, his accolades speak loudly for a long overdue respect that should be attained now. The voters really have no excuse nor reason not to bestow it. If it is AFL disrespect, the building clearly has a sign that says PRO FOOTBALL Hall of Fame, NOT the NFL Hall of Fame. The American Football League certainly played pro football, as their two Super Bowl wins in four meetings with the NFL prove.

No player in the history of professional football, who is able to be voted into Canton, has attained more accolades than Jim Tyrer and has failed to be inducted by the voters yet. He was named All-AFL in each of the eight seasons he played in the league

Canton is full of players with much less accomplishment and respect. Many defensive ends who faced him state he was the best offensive tackle ever in AFL history. Even better than Hall of Famer Ron Mix or eight-time Pro Bowler Winston Hill, who also awaits his induction.

If the excuse of the voters is that they have not forgiven him for how his life ended 30 years ago, they fail to realize it has been three decades and it is time to forgive. Especially having hurriedly inducted a questionable character like Michael Irvin.

If an induction into Canton truly is about what a player does on the gridiron alone, their exclusion of Tyrer becomes more ludicrous and has to bring into question what reasons the voters have used to prevent his induction.

Tyrer, himself, once described what playing offensive tackle was like. “You have to have a certain personality to be an offensive lineman. You have to be orderly, disciplined. You have to take the shots like a hockey goalie. It's a passive violence. You build up anxiety. But when you finally get a clear shot at a guy, you say, 'Take this for all of those.' ”

Not only did his opponents "Take it for all of those," but he gave it better than anyone who ever played his position in the entire history of the American Football League. He had no peer at his position. Quite simply, he was the best to ever suit up at offensive tackle for the Chiefs or the AFL. Jim Tyrer is a member of the Chiefs Ring of Honor and Hall of Fame.

As time passes, not only do we tend to forget the life of Jim Tyrer and how it ended, but we also tend to forget all of his excellence attained in the game of football. The voters of Canton can be held guilty of this, especially the Seniors Committee. A committee whose sole job is not to forget greats.

All you have to do is look at the career of Jim Tyrer to see how great he was, because it is in plain black and white print. There are few who ever played his position in the history of pro football to succeed on his level.

Of the 11 men who were voted into Canton so far as offensive tackles, nine have fewer accolades than Tyrer. Only Lou "The Toe" Groza has appeared in as many Pro Bowls, though he was named to two less First-Team All-Pro Teams. Anthony Munoz is the only offensive tackle in Canton who has more combined Pro Bowls and First-Team All-Pro honors than Tyrer.

"A travesty," as Rich Jackson states, might be too light a word for Tyrer's exclusion from Canton. Utterly disgusting, distasteful, and disrespectful may be more apt. If his own family can forgive him and move on, it is time the voters do so as well. There is no player right now in the entire history of professional football more deserving of induction into their Hall of Fame than Jim Tyrer.

George Kunz, of the Atlanta Falcons, Grady Alderman, of the Minnesota Vikings, and Winston Hill, of the New York Jets, also are worthy of induction.

Guard : Walt Sweeney

Walt Sweeney
6'4" 256
Guard
San Diego Chargers
1963 - 1975
13 Seasons
181 Games Played
9 Pro Bowls


Walter Francis Sweeney was a first round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers in the 1963 American Football League draft. He was the second player picked overall. The Cleveland Browns also drafted him in the eighth round, the 107th player picked overall, in the NFL.

Sweeney attended Syracuse University. Playing mostly guard, he was a key member of the Orangeman's offensive line. He blocked for 1961 Heisman Trophy Winner Ernie Davis for two years. He also helped Syracuse win the 1961 Liberty Bowl Game.

Recognized as one of the top players in the country, he played in the North-South Game, Coaches All-Star Game, Senior Bowl, and Coaches All-America Game. Sweeney is a member of the Syracuse All-Century Team. 

He did see action in his rookie year, mostly as a reserve. He got his hands on one kickoff and returned it 18 yards. The Chargers would end up winning the 1963 AFL Championship.

Sweeney was fully entrenched as the starting Right Guard in 1964, and finish that season being named to his first AFL All-Star Team. Sweeney would earn this distinction every year until the AFL merged with the NFL after the 1969 season.

He would then earn a Pro Bowl berth the next two seasons up to the conclusion of the 1971 season. His blocking opened up holes for such legendary Chargers running backs like Keith Lincoln, Jacque MacKinnon, Paul Lowe, Dickie Post, Mike Garrett, and Don Woods.

He also protected great quarterbacks like John Hadl, and Hall of Famers Johnny Unitas and Dan Fouts. He mostly played guard, but was versatile and smart enough to play anywhere along the offensive line when injuries would knock out the other starters.

After the 1973 season, he was traded to the Washington Redskins. He started the next two seasons for the Redskins before retiring after the 1975 season. Sweeney is a member of the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame.

Walt Sweeney is definitely on of the greatest offensive linemen to ever have played pro football. He is a member of the AFL's All Time Team. He has been an immense success from college to the pros.

He was part of an exciting Chargers offense that was one of the best units to ever have played the game. He was a sound technician who was very athletic. He was equally adept at pass blocking or pulling in front of some of the best rushers to have ever suited up in pads.

His exclusion from Canton can only be attributed to his AFL ties. Sweeney went to the name number of Pro Bowls as his team mate, Hall of Fame left tackle Ron Mix, but still waits to be called.

Hall of Fame Center Jim Ringo is the only Syracuse alumni to have played in more Pro Bowls than Sweeney. He is tied with Hall of Fame Running Back Jim Brown as having the second most. I find it amazing to see that this man has not had his long overdue induction into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame yet.

This is obviously another case of being snubbed because of the NFL's hatred and envy of the AFL. As time marches on, many of the newer voters will be those with little knowledge of the AFL. Walt's case may get more faint as these events transpire.

I suggest to all real football fans to wake up the Canton voters in their represented areas. Walt Sweeney most certainly deserves induction.

Guard : Ed Budde

Ed Budde
6'5" 265
Guard
Kansas City Chiefs
1963 - 1976
14 Seasons
177 Games Played
7 Pro Bowls




Edward Leon Budde was the first round draft pick of the American Football League's Dallas Texans in 1963. He was the ninth player picked overall. Budde was also a first round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFL. He was the fourth player picked overall.

Budde went to college at Michigan State, where he was a member of the Spartans' famed "B" boys. Five Spartan offensive linemen were drafted by the NFL in 1963.

Dave Herman played 10 years with the New York Jets. Herman was a two-time AFL All-Star and member of their only Super Bowl team. Dave Behrman was the 11th pick overall in the NFL draft by the Chicago Bears, but elected to go to the Buffalo Bills. He was a member of their 1965 AFL Championship team, and was named an AFL All-Star that year.

The Texans became the Kansas City Chiefs before the 1963 season began. Buddes impact was immediate. He was named to the AFL All-Star team in his rookie year.

Budde went on to have the second longest tenure in Chiefs franchise history, behind Chiefs Hall of Fame punter Jerrel Wilson. Budde was fast and explosive. He would pancake most of his opponents with regular proficiency. He had the quickness to get to the next level to clear even a wider path for his teammates.

He was also technically sound and rarely let his opponent sack the Chiefs quarterback. Budde went to seven Pro Bowls in his first nine seasons. He was hurt in 1975 and only played one game.

After returning the next year to play 11 games, Budde retired after the 1976 season. He is a member of the Chiefs Hall of Fame.

He played in six AFL All-Star games. He was named to the Sporting News AFL All-League team in 1969. Budde was the first offensive lineman to be selected by the Associated Press as an Offensive Player of the Week.

Budde is considered to be one of the greatest guards to have ever have played in the AFL by many. He helped lead the Chiefs to two American Football League titles and a victory in Super Bowl IV.

He was named to the AFL’s All-Time team by the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His son, Brad Budde, also played guard with the Chiefs for six seasons.

Ed Budde may be the greatest offensive lineman to have ever played for the Chiefs. That is quite a statement when you recall the long list of NFL greats who have been Chiefs.

He was very athletic and strong. He did not miss a game his first nine seasons, and missed just three games in his first 12 years. He was the anchor of a great Chiefs offensive line that featured such greats as perenial All-Pro center Jack Rudnay, perennial All-Pro offensive tackle Jim Tyrer, tackle Dave Hill, guard George Daney and perenial All-Pro tight end Fred Arbanas.

All, except Daney, are members of the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame. Tyrer and Arbanas are also members of the AFL All-Time Team team.

Perhaps, due to all of the great Chiefs players during Budde's era, Canton has overlooked his place in history. If you look at all of his accomplishments on the gridiron, it should be a fairly easy decision to induct Budde into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Dennis Harrah, of the Los Angeles Rams, Ed White, of the Minnesota Vikings, and Bob Talamini, of the Houston Oilers, are other guards deserving of induction into Canton.

Center : Mick Tingelhoff

Mick Tingelhoff
6' 2" 237 lbs
Center
Minnesota Vikings
1962 - 1978
17 Seasons
240 Games Played (Consecutive)
6 Pro Bowls




Henry Michael Tingelhoff was an undrafted rookie signed by the Vikings before the 1962 season. He earned three letters during his collegiate football career at Nebraska University, but did not start until his senior year in 1961.

Tingelhoff was a co-caption on that team, which had its biggest offensive output in over five seasons for the Cornhuskers. Tingelhoff participated in the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and in the All-American Bowl after the season was over. Mick Tingelhoff is a member of the Nebraska Football Hall of Fame.

He earned the starting job at center in the second preseason game of his rookie year. It was a role he would not relinquish until he retired after 1978.

He made his first All-Pro team in 1964, and would attain that honor every year until 1969. The 1969 season was the year the Vikings were crowned NFL Champions, and went on to play the AFL Champion Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl IV and lose.

Tingelhoff was named to the 1,000-Yard Club in 1969, honoring the NFL’s top blocker. In 1970, he was named to the First Team All-NFL by both the Pro Football Writers and Pro Football Weekly. He was named First Team All-Conference by the Associated Press and Pro Football Weekly, as well as Second Team All-NFL by Newspaper Enterprise Association and Second Team All-Conference by the UPI.

The Vikings went back to the Super Bowl in 1973, before losing to the Miami Dolphins. The Vikings returned to the Super Bowl the following season, but lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Minnesota continued to be an NFL powerhouse throughout the decade and returned to Super Bowl XI in 1976 before losing to the Oakland Raiders.

Tingelhoff retired after the 1978 season having started every game the Vikings played his entire career. His 240 consecutive starts were then the second most in NFL history, thirty starts behind his Vikings team mate Jim Marshall.

The only player in Nebraska University history to enjoy a longer NFL career was Tingelhoff's Husker teammate, Ron McDole, who spent 18 years in the league from 1961 to 1978. Tingelhoff has been inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor and has had his #53 jersey retired by the franchise. 

His omission from Canton is one of the most confusing of all gridiron legends. The numbers are obvious. Tingelhoff was one of the most dominant centers of his era, and defined the true definition of an iron horse.

You can easily note his consecutive starts streak, the fact he was a Pro Bowler six straight seasons, and was part of the most dominant team in the NFC during the 1970's.

The Vikings were a well balanced offense that scored points off the ground and via the air. Tingelhoff snapped the ball to great quarterbacks like Hall Of Famer Fran Tarkenton and Joe Kapp. He also helped pave the way for Vikings great Chuck Foreman, and others, to gain huge chunks of yardage on the ground.

Much of the yardage Tarkenton acquired through the air, to set a then NFL record in passing yards and passing touchdowns, was helped along by Tingelhoff's protection. He was a sound technical blocker who used his intelligence, grit, and determination to get the job done better than most centers who ever played the game.

The fact that the voters have passed on him over these years truly shows many hardly pay attention to the battles in the trenches. There is absolutely no question that Mick Tingelhoff belongs in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

Great centers like Jeff Van Note, of the Atlanta Falcons, and Len Hauss, of the Washington Redskins, are also very worthy of induction into Canton.

Defensive Tackle : Curley Culp

Curley Culp
6'2" 265
Defensive Tackle
Houston Oilers
1968 - 1981
14 Seasons
179 Games Played
13 Fumbles Recovered
1 Touchdown
6 Pro Bowls


Curley Culp was drafted in the second round by the Denver Broncos in 1968. He was the 31st player picked overall. Culp attended college at Arizona State University, where he was at first an offensive lineman before moving over to the defensive side of the line.

By his senior year, Culp was named First-Team All-American by both Time Magazine and the Sporting News in football. Culp was also the NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion in 1967. Culp was also named to the 1968 U.S. Olympic wrestling team.

Culp is a Charter Inductee of the ASU Sports Hall of Fame, which was created in 1975, and was named the Greatest Athlete in the History of Arizona during the state's centennial celebration in 2006.

He was was traded to Kansas City after the 1968 draft for a fourth round pick in 1969 draft. That pick turned out to be offensive guard Mike Schnitker from Colorado who played with the Broncos from 1969-1974.

Culp found his way into nine games during his rookie year but broke out in his second year in the AFL. He was named to his first Pro Bowl team and helped the Chiefs get to Super Bowl IV.

It was in that game the 3-4 defense was born. Hall of Fame Head Coach Hank Stram decided to put Culp right over Minnesota Vikings center Mick Tingelhoff. Culp's immense strength and quickness overwhelmed Tingelhoff to the point where Culp began to command double, sometimes triple teams.

This freed Hall of Famers like Buck Buchanan, Willie Lanier, Bobby Bell, and Pro-Bowl strong safety Johnny Robinson to make plays as the Chiefs shut down the Vikings and won 23-7.

Culp would go on to play the 1971 Pro Bowl. He was twice honored as the Associated Press Defensive Player of the Week during his tenure in Kansas City and led the 1973 Chiefs in sacks with nine.

He would play in Kansas City until the beginning of 1974. Culp had signed on to play in the World Football League for 1975, so he was traded four games into the season to the Houston Oilers in one of the most lopsided trades in NFL history.

The Oilers acquired Kansas City's 1975 first-round selection, which turned out to be linebacker Robert Brazile, along with Culp for defensive end John Matuszak. Culp was the ingredient Houston needed to excel in the Oilers 3-4 defense.

He was named to the 1975 Pro Bowl and was chosen to be the NFL Defensive Player of the Year by the Newspaper Enterprise Association. Culp also received the George S. Halas Trophy after accumulating 11.5 sacks, an unheard of statistic for a nose tackle.

Teamed with Hall of Fame defensive end Elvin Bethea and great linebackers like Brazile, Ted Washington Sr., and Gregg Bingham, Culp helped lead some excellent Oilers teams that went to a AFC Championship game.

In 1975, Culp recovered a career high three fumbles and took one 38 yards for the only touchdown of his NFL career. In 1977, he snared the only interception of his career and rumbled 25 yards.

Culp was named to Pro Bowls from 1975 to 1978 while in Houston. In 1979, Culp was named Second-Team All-Conference by both the UPI and Associated Press. By 1980, he was battling injuries and started just five of 10 games in Houston.

The Oilers released him and he was claimed by the Deroit Lions. He finished that year in Detroit, starting in two threes. Culp tried to play in 1981, but ended up playing just two games before retiring.

Culp was named by the Sporting News to the All-Century teams of both the Kansas City and Houston/Tennessee franchises. He was voted by a panel of former NFL players and coaches to Pro Football Weekly's All-Time 3-4 defensive team.

He wasted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame. The Tennessee Titans are said to be working on creating their own team Hall of Fame and Culp will certainly be inducted into it one day as well.

Trying to summarize Culp's career may be best said by his comrades. Chiefs Hall of Fame Center Jack Rudnay said, "Every center in the league should have to go against Curley in order to know what it’s like to go against the very best.”

Hall of Fame Center Jim Otto claimed, "Curley Culp was perhaps the strongest man I ever lined up against."

Culp was once reported to have broken the helmets of three teammates during a scrimmage at Arizona State University. He had tremendous leverage to go with his massive strength and superior quickness.

There was a time some thought he benefited from lining next to Buchanan, but he showed in Houston that he was an unstoppable force still. Often facing multiple blockers each snap of the ball, Culp used his wrestling knowledge to sift through the opponents on his way to the ball.

I find it amazing Culp hasn't been inducted. He was the key person to popularize the 3-4 with his intelligence and abilities.

Oilers Head Coach Bum Phillips said, "Curley made the 3-4 defense work. He made me look smart."

Well, the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters certainly look anything but smart. You see politics involved too much in the Canton voting process. I've been told by certain voters that they are disgusted with this process themselves.

It is as if some voters don't want too many players from one team. Look how long it took for Chief Emmitt Thomas to get inducted, and how Chiefs legend Johnny Robinson somehow hasn't been yet.

Culp did excel with two teams, so whatever the voters' hold up is unacceptable. Curley Culp should have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame by now!

Defensive Tackle : Roger Brown

Roger Brown 
Detroit Lions
6'5" 300
Defensive Tackle
1960 - 1969
10 Seasons
138 Games Played
3 Safeties
6 Pro Bowls


Roger Lee Brown was drafted in the fourth round of the 1960 NFL draft by the Detroit Lions, the 42nd player chosen overall. The Lions had obtained that draft pick in 1958 when they dealt Hall of Fame quarterback Bobby Layne to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

He attended college at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, then known as Maryland State College. The school was so full of talent in an enrollment class of less than 300 students, that other teams in the CIAA (now known as the MEAC Conference) refused to play them in football and tried to get the school kicked out of the conference due to their dominance on the gridiron.

He played with future pro players like Sherman Plunkett, Johnny Sample, Ray Hayes, and Bob Taylor while there.The team was coached by Vernon "Skip" McCain, who is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

The school stopped fielding a football team in 1979, despite placing 25 men in professional football. Five made the Pro Bowl and one, Art Shell, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In Super Bowl III, there were four alumni members from the school on the field.

Brown is the only player in school history who is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, and he is also a member of the schools Hall of Fame and the Hampton Roads African American Sports Hall of Fame, the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, the Maryland Sports Hall of Fame, and the Rockland County Sports Hall of Fame in New York

When he arrived in Detroit, he earned a starting job immediately on a defensive unit that featured Hall of Famers Dick "Night Train " Lane, Joe Schmidt, Yale Lary, and Dick Lebeau, as well as Pro Bowl players like Alex Karras, Bill Glass, Darris McCord, and Wayne Walker.

The unit of Brown, Karras, McCord, and Glass was so good, that sportswriter Bruno Kerns of the Pontiac Press dubbed them "The Fearsome Foursome". It was the first defensive line ever to be given a nickname, and the Los Angeles Rams would later adopt that moniker for their defensive line. They were backed by a secondary dubbed "The Four L's", which consisted of Lane, Lary, LeBeau, and Gary Lowe.

This defense was ranked in the top five in the NFL up until the 1965 season, even after the departures of Lane, Schmidt, Glass, and Lary. One of the biggest reasons this happened was the big Brown collapsing the middle of the pocket on every snap. But he was much more than a run stopping extraordinaire.

He intercepted a pass in both 1961 and 1963, gaining 30 yards overall. He was also a tremendous pass rusher who frequently posted double digit sack seasons. In the first of his six consecutive Pro Bowl seasons in 1962, he sacked Hall of Fame quarterbacks Bart Starr and Johnny Unitas for safeties. His two safeties in one season is still tied as a NFL record.

The game where he sacked Starr for a safety was ranked the second greatest game in Lions history by Detroit media. It happened on Thanksgiving Day, where he had six sacks by himself that game, as the team had 11 total in the 26-14 Lions win

The Lions used to play the Packers every year on Thanksgiving, but Hall of Fame coach Vince Lombardi refused to play again on that day. The NFL then began scheduling other teams to oppose the Lions for future Thanksgiving Day games. Perhaps the vision of Brown tossing around Fuzzy Thurston all game had Lombardi beg out of further repeats?

He was named the Outstanding Defensive Lineman in the league that 1962 season, where he had 19 sacks that were documented by a Lions coach who recorded sacks and tackles that year as a means as an incentive for the players. He was also named to the first of his two consecutive First Team All-Pro honors.

In 1965, Brown recorded the third safety of his career by sacking Starr once again in the end zone to secure a 12-7 victory late in the fourth quarter. He finished the year with 16.5 sacks. His three career safeties is tied with 17 other players as the second most ever in NFL history. His tackling the same player twice for a safety is a record.

In Brown's playing days, the NFL had two divisions called the West and East. It broke up into four divisions in 1967. "I always thought the Western Division was the toughest in football at the time," Brown remembers "We had the Colts, Packers, Bears, Vikings, Lions, Rams, and 49ers then. All really tough teams."

During this time, the Lions put together very good teams. The problem was that the Green Bay Packers were in their division and were a little better. Only the division winners would play the conference championship. The teams in second place in each division participated in the "Bert Bell Benefit Bowl" from 1960 -1969. Proceeds of the game the Bert Bell Retirement Plan, and it was used to determine who finished in third place. The Lions won the first three games also known as the "Playoff Bowl"

In 1967 he was traded to the Los Angeles Rams just before that start of the season for a first, second and third round draft pick. Those picks turned out to be Hall of Fame tight end Charlie Sanders, Earl McCulloch, the 1968 NFL Rookie of the Year, and Jim Yarbrough.

The Rams had just lost starter Rosey Grier to a career ending torn Achilles heel injury, and needed a replacement. Hall of Fame head coach George Allen then orchestrated the trade to get Brown to join the fabled "Fearsome Foursome" defensive line in Los Angeles.

The trade couldn't have worked better for the Rams. Brown was one of ten Rams to make the Pro Bowl that year, as they finished the season 11-1-2 to win the Coastal Division. The defense was ranked first in the NFL in points allowed for the first time in franchise history. They gave up just 14 points per game, were first in interceptions and average yards allowed per rushing attempt. Their Takeaway/Giveaway Differential of plus-16 also led the league.

Brown was teamed up with Merlin Olsen, Deacon Jones, and Lamar Lundy along the defensive line. All were Pro Bowl players in their careers with Olsen and Jones also later being inducted into Canton. The back seven was filled with perennial Pro Bowl players like Maxie Baughn, Jack Pardee, Myron Pottios, Irv Cross, and Eddie Meador.

Though the Rams had the top rated offense that year, their job seemed simple. According to Pro Bowl running back Les Josephson, "Our job was to stay on the field long enough to make sure our defense got rest so we could win."

On a stellar defense that Brown himself says "Was maybe the best team I played on in my career", the Rams dominated their opponents all year before losing in the playoffs to the Green Bay Packers. He was named to his sixth and final Pro Bowl that year.

Around this time, he was having major success as a restaurateur. He had opened a business in Chicago a few years before that was doing very well. He had gotten into cooking while in high school, and had a knack for it. These abilities helped him keep his weight up in becoming the first man who weighed over 300 lbs in NFL history.

After a good 1968 season that saw the Rams finish 10-3-1 and out of the playoffs, his 1969 season was hampered by a broken hand. First year pro Coy Bacon stepped in and performed with excellence. Seeing this, Brown decided to retire to concentrate on his restaurants.

"Coy was a tremendous player", recalls Brown, "I was making more money in my restaurants than I was as a player. I knew I could play another three or four years at a high level, but I decided to walk away while still in good health and concentrate on my off the field ventures. Writers then said I left because of injury, but that wasn't true. I never told Merlin or Deacon why I left then, but the truth is that it was a sound business move at the time".

His last game was in the "Playoff Bowl", which the Rams had also won in 1967. The Rams won 31-0 over the Dallas Cowboys. No other player played in, nor won, more "Playoff Bowls" than Brown did and he is the only player to play in the first and last game of this event.

Because of the era he played in, sacks and tackles were not recorded statistics. His teammates all figure that Brown easily averaged double digits in sacks most of his career. Though he was the biggest man in the NFL at the time, he was extremely nimble and lightening fast off the snap of the ball.

To understand his abilities, listen to the words of Ed Flanagan. Flanagan was a four time Pro Bowl center with the Detroit Lions and San Diego Chargers who played both with and against Brown. He is now a coach for the Fairbanks Grizzlies in the Indoor Football League, and is a member of the Lions 75 Year Anniversary Team.

"He was a bear", recalls Flanagan, "He made a lot of offenses, especially offensive linemen, happy when he retired. He was really smart, tough, and worked hard. He could read what you were going to do before you did it. He had everything. He had size, quickness, and speed, and he ran a 4.8 40-yard dash. He was the consummate All-Pro. I easily put him on the level of Hall of Famers Bob Lilly and Merlin Olsen. Roger should be in Canton himself."

"I remember joining the Lions as a rookie in 1965. He ran over me and through me all day in practice", he continued. "I called my dad and told him I didn't think I was going to make the team because Roger Brown was destroying me in practice every day. His head slap could knock a head off because he was so strong."

He also recalls the bond the Lions shared off the field. "Roger had a restaurant in Chicago that made excellent chicken. Quite a few of us would eat there frequently. I knew he could play several more years at Pro Bowl level when he retired, but can understand if the outside business ventures were more successful because we did not get paid much then. I was working in a brewery for Vic Wertz, who is remembered for being the All-Star first baseman who hit that baseball that Willie Mays made the famous over the shoulder catch on in the 1954 World Series."

At 6'5" 300 he was the model of what the NFL envisioned their future defensive linemen to be. Huge, strong, athletic, hard working, and smart. Of the defensive linemen already enshrined into Canton, he went to more Pro Bowls than Henry Jordan, Art Donovan, Dan Hampton, Fred Dean, Len Ford, Arnie Weinmeister, Willie Davis, and Bill Willis.

For such a big man with a target on his back bigger than most, he was remarkably durable. He did not miss a game in his career, and even played in all games in his last season even though he was injured.

His three recorded safeties was a team record at the time, that was equaled by Bruce Maher in 1967 and passed by Doug English in 1983 by one. Brown is a member of the starting unit on the Lions 75 Year Anniversary Team.

When you look at the current defensive tackles inducted into Canton, it is hard to say any are unworthy. It has been a neglected position by voters historically, with just 12 men enshrined as purely defensive tackles.

It is time to right some wrongs by inducting Brown. Recent inductee John Randle got in due to his ability to get the quarterback, but he wasn't nearly the run stopping force Brown was. Yet Brown as equally a gifted pass rusher. The fact the league did not record sacks in his era cannot back this claim, but it is said he had easily over 100 sacks in his career.

Some skeptics might point to the fact that neither the Lions nor Rams won a championship in his era, but that demonstrates a lack of real football knowledge. Many men reside in Canton today based purely on their teams success over their own individual abilities. Championships are won by a whole roster, not one individual.

Canton is supposed to house the best individual players. If the Pro Football Hall of Fame were to stay on their inaugural mission and just do that, then Roger Brown would already be a member.

Defensive End : Claude Humphrey

Claude Humphrey 
6'4" 252 
Defensive End 
Atlanta Falcons
1968 - 1981
13 Seasons
171 Games Played 
126.5 Sacks 
2 Safeties 
6 Pro Bowls  
1968 NFL Rookie of the Year




Claude B. Humphrey was selected in the first round of the 1968 NFL Draft with the 3rd overall choice by the Falcons. He went to college at Tennessee State University.

There Humphrey was initially an offensive tackle, but was switched to defensive end in his freshman year, where he became a three-time All-American. His collegiate stats are unavailable because the school states they are, "in the process of cataloging and annotating records from past seasons now." 

Humphrey is in the Tennessee State University Hall of Fame, the Georgia Hall of Fame, the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame, the Tennessee Hall of Fame, and his high school's Hall of Fame. Humphrey's college and high school both retired his jersey.

He started right away for Atlanta and was named the NFL's Defensive Rookie Of The Year in 1968.

In 1976, Humphrey unofficially recorded a career high 15 quarterback sacks because sacks were not recognized by the NFL at that time. In addition Humphrey was named to the Pro Bowl six times between 1970-'74 and in 1977.

Humphrey was long recognized as one of the best defensive ends in his era, but had played on some mediocre Falcons squads. The 1971 season was their first with a winning record. He retired from the Falcons with 12 games left on the 1978 schedule, saying he felt unappreciated.

He once lamented, "In 1969, the Vikings came to town and I scored the winning touchdown (on a fumble return), sacked the quarterback twice, and didn't even get a game ball. They gave the punter a game ball".

Humphrey is still the Falcons all-time sacks leader with 94.5. He would then be traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for two fourth round draft picks. He chose the Eagles because Marion Campbell, who had been his head coach in Atlanta from 1974 to 1976, was the defensive coordinator of Philadelphia.

Humphrey said, "I just wanted to reunite with Marion and see if he couldn't help boost my career at that time." It worked, because Humphrey finished second in sacks and led the team with 31 quarterback hurries in 1979.

In 1980 Humphrey enjoyed a stellar season as a designated pass rusher, recording a team high 14.5 sacks, helping the Eagles become NFC Champions and earn a ticket to their first Super Bowl in the franchises history.

Humphrey was a member of an excellent defense that had such NFL greats as Bill Bergey, Carl "Big Daddy" Hairston, Herm Edwards, and more. Humphrey finished out his career with the Eagles from 1979-'81.

Claude Humphrey was a consistent, and constant force. He had to deal with at least a double team on every snap of the ball. The opponents game plan, during his Atlanta years, was to try to contain him specifically.

Humphrey still managed to average almost 10 quarterback sacks a year in his Falcons career, despite having only played four games in 1978. Many fans during that era missed out on his exploits due to the Falcons overall woes. The lack of publicity led to him receiving respect from mostly his own peers.

This fact is certainly prevalent in the Atlanta Falcons own front offices. For some reason, Humphrey has not yet been inducted into the Falcons Ring of Honor.

Atlanta showed me how much they care about their own team history recently. I had called to get some information on a few Falcons greats from the 60's and 70's. Atlanta has LOST most of their files and records after they moved offices. Shameful!

Claude Humphrey has been a finalist for induction into Canton thrice, but there is no excuse for the hold up. He should have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame many years ago.

Defensive End : Jim Marshall

Jim Marshall 
6'4" 248 
Defensive End 
Minnesota Vikings
1960 - 1979 
20 Seasons 
282 Consecutive Games Played 
127 Sacks 
29 Fumbles Recovered 
2 Pro Bowls



Jim Marshall was a fourth round draft choice of the Cleveland Browns in 1960. He was the 44th player picked overall. He had played the year before in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders after leaving Ohio State University upon the completion of his junior year.

Marshall's college teams won two National Championships and one Rose Bowl. In 1958 against Purdue, he scored on a 25-yard interception return and another touchdown on a 22-yard blocked punt return. He also kicked both extra points, as the Buckeyes tied the Boilermakers 14-14.

He earned All American honors at OSU and is a member of the OSU Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame. A two-sport star, he also set the school discus and shot put records as a member of the track and field team in 1958.

His CFL exploits are sketchy at best, due to the lack of records available from that era. He was listed as a defensive tackle. The following year he submitted his name into the NFL Draft. When Marshall came to the Browns, he started right away at right defensive end.

He started the first three games, but had a falling out with legendary head coach Paul Brown. He soon lost his starting job, but continued to play the rest of the season.

In the off season, Brown had plans to move Marshall to offensive tackle, but Marshall contracted encephalitis, and lost a great deal of weight.

This fact, coupled with the problems Marshall and Paul Brown were having, did not bode well for Marshall's future in Cleveland. Both teams have different versions on how Marshall became a member of the expansion Vikings.

The Vikings state that Marshall was traded with Jim Prestel, Paul Dickson, Jamie Caleb, Dick Grecni, Billy Gault, while Cleveland received a second round choice and an 11th round choice. These picks turned out to be Chuck Hinton and a player who never played in the NFL.

The Browns state that "Jim Marshall was released by the Browns on Sep. 11, 1961. His rights were picked up by the Minnesota Vikings soon after, and the Browns, in a 'gentleman’s agreement', which is how Paul Brown carried out many deals, received cash and 'future considerations'".

Regardless, Marshall was then a Viking until 1979. Marshall was with the team through the good and bad times. He led the team in sacks their first six years in the NFL. He may best be remembered for his 66-yard "wrong way" run, the longest safety and shortest play in NFL history.

Billy Kilmer, then a running back with the San Francisco 49ers, had fumbled the ball. Marshall scooped it up and bolted for the wrong end zone.

The Vikings won the game, as Marshall came up with a key sack in the 4th quarter. The "wrong way run" is truly a NFL classic moment to this day.

But Marshall also achieved many more great feats on the field. Many fans know he played in a then league-record 282 consecutive games for the Cleveland Browns and Minnesota Vikings. 302 counting his playoff appearances.

Punter Jeff Feagles just passed this number, but the NFL still recognized Marshall's consecutive starts streak. Marshall also owns the NFL record of 282 consecutive games played by a defensive end. Marshall also recovered 29 fumbles, an NFL record.

He is listed as the Vikings franchises second leading sack totals leader, behind Hall of Famer Carl Eller, with 127. Marshall was the Vikings team captain for 17 seasons.

In all, discounting CFL games, Marshall played in 409 games (pre-season, season, post season and pro-bowls), had over 1050 tackles, and over 133 sacks. His teams won 11 divisional championships. He played in four Super Bowls.

Twice he kept his streak intact by walking out of hospitals where he was recuperating from pneumonia and ulcers. On another occasion, he played after accidentally shooting himself in the side while cleaning his shotgun.

In the final home game of his illustrious career, Marshall sacked Buffalo's Joe Ferguson twice. Marshall even played offensive tackle during the Vikings final series. Minnesota won 10-3.

Marshall was carried off the field by his teammates and was awarded the game ball, the first one ever given to a Viking player by Hall of Fame head coach Bud Grant.

Many fans may best remember Marshall in his days of the Purple People Eaters. Teamed with Alan Page and Carl Eller, Gary Larsen, then Doug Sutherland, Marshall helped lead one of the greatest front fours in NFL history. Paige and Eller are in the NFL Hall of Fame. The Vikings may not have won the Super Bowl, but their teams were annually amongst the most feared and respected during the era.

Jim Marshall was one of a kind. We have seen Darrell Green and Jackie Slater play as long since, but neither matched Marshall's consecutive games streak. Marshall played in 270 games in 19 seasons with the Vikings and never missed a game.

These are probably records that will stand for a very, very long time. Marshall was versatile enough to play on either side of the ball, and anywhere along the defensive line. His toughness is legendary.

Many in the Twin Cities remember how Marshall and 16 others on snowmobiles got caught in a blizzard in Wyoming. Many of the party broke up in small groups as the snowmobiles conked out one by one. A bank president from Minnesota died.

Marshall was with five other people (Dickson was one of the five) as they tried to walk through snow that was 10-15 feet deep. They made a snowcave to rest for the night by burning everything they had, including Marshall's money, checkbook, and other papers.

They made it another 24 hours as they froze in their camp before help arrived. Marshall called the experience " “the toughest thing I’ve ever encountered in my life.”

When you look at Marshall's stats, he is Canton worthy. When you factor in his legendary streak, it should be concrete proof that he is undeniably a Hall of Fame player. Maybe the voters won't let him him because of Eller and Paige? This same thought comes to mind for Steeler great L.C. Greenwood.

That should not be a deterrent. Paige and Eller finished their careers elsewhere, but certainly are worthy. Marshall? He was as consistent as they come. He should have been in the NFL Hall of Fame years ago.

There are several defensive ends also worthy of induction, such as Coy Bacon of the Los Angeles Rams.

Outside Linebacker : Maxie Baughan

Maxie Baughan
6'1" 227
Linebacker
Philadelphia Eagles
1960 - 1970, 1974
12 Seasons
147 Games Played
18 Interceptions
9 Pro Bowls





Maxie Calloway Baughan was a second round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1960, the 20th player chosen overall. Maxie went to college at Georgia Tech, where he is a legend. He started, and played, both ways at linebacker and center for the Rambling Wreck.

Baughan set a school record that still stands today, when he had 124 tackles during his senior year. He was named the Southeastern Conference Player Of The Year that season, as well as All-American.

He was then named the MVP of the Gator Bowl, when he led his team to victory. Baughan is in the Georgia Tech, Georgia Sports, Alabama, Gator Bowl Hall Of Fame's, as well as the College Football Hall Of Fame.

After playing in both the Hula Bowl and College All-Star game, Baughan joined the Eagles and was inserted into outside linebacker on the right side of the defense.

He played alongside future Canton inductees like Chuck Bednarik, Norm Van Brocklin, Sonny Jurgensen, and Tommy McDonald, as well as Eagles' Legends like Pete Retzlaff, Bobby Walston, Tom Brookshier, Timmy Brown, Don Burroughs, and future Eagles' head coaches Marion Campbell and Ed Khayat that year.

The Eagles would go on to win the 1960 NFL Championship, the last title the franchise has seen since.

He would be named to the Pro Bowl that year, after picking off three passes and returning them for 50 yards. He went back to the Pro Bowl the next year after intercepting a ball and returning it 22 yards. The Eagles had a strong season, going 10 - 4, but were unable to repeat as champions.

The team started to get rid of their players, in hopes of rebuilding. Philadelphia won five games over the next two years, while Baughan went back to the Pro Bowl in 1963.

The teams roster turnover continued, as did the coaching staff, in 1964. Maxie went back to the Pro Bowl in each of the next two seasons, including helping to make another memorable Philadelphia moment in 1965.

In the second to last game that year, the Eagles trounced the Pittsburgh Steelers 47 - 13. What is most notable about that game is that the Eagles intercepted the ball an NFL record nine times that day. Baughan got his hands on one of those balls, and rumbled 33 yards for the only touchdown of his career.

Baughan was 27-years old, and had been to the Pro Bowl in five of his six years. Yet Baughan felt that the Eagles wanted to keep cleaning house, and he was part of the guys they wanted out. He asked to be traded close to home, or to New York.

Little did he realize that Hall Of Famer George Allen was beginning his first year as a head coach of the Los Angeles Rams. Allen had just left the Chicago Bears position as defensive coordinator, which caught the ire of NFL founding father, and Bears owner, George Halas. Halas sued Allen for breach of contract and won, but let Allen leave anyways.

Allen had his eye on Baughan, and traded three players to the Eagles for his services. The Eagles would also trade All-Pro cornerback Irv Cross to the Rams in a separate deal.

Baughan and Allen formed an immediate bond. The two would spend hours dissecting opponents game plans and films. Baughan is on record having said he learned more about football from Allen than anyone he had ever met in his life.

The trade paid off handsomely for the Rams, as Baughan would go to the Pro Bowl in each of his first four years with the team. He set a career high of four interceptions in 1967, and matched that total the next season.

In 1970, Baughan was injured. He was only able to play in 10 games, and did not start in two of the games. They were the first two games that Maxie did not start in his entire career. He then retired.

About this same time, Allen had taken over as head coach of the Washington Redskins. He wanted certain players on his team, and many were still employed by the Rams.

Allen then engineered a trade that sent All-Pro linebacker Marlin McKeever (a one time teammate of Baughan's in Los Angeles), a first, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh round, and two third round draft picks to the Rams in exchange for the rights to Baughan, Jack Pardee, Myron Pottios, Jeff Jordan, John Wilbur, Diron Talbert, and a fifth-round choice. This was the beginnings of the famous "Over The Hill Gang" in Washington.

His time with Allen had inspired him to go into coaching, so Baughan returned to Georgia Tech to be an assistant coach and defensive coordinator instead of playing. Allen, however, persuaded Maxie to return to the NFL in 1974.

He made Baughan a player-coach, and the veteran got in on two games that year. He then retired permanently as a player, but his coaching career was just beginning to blossom.

He served as a defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Colts and Detroit Lions between 1975 to 1982. He then took over as head coach at Cornell University, a storied program that has seen such legends like Pop Warner and George Siefert coach the team.

Baughan led the Big Red to an Ivy League Championship, their first in 17 seasons. After Cornell, he coached with the Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Baltimore Ravens before retiring from the game for good.

Baughan was as solid and consistent a player as they come. He only missed five games in his first ten years in the league, and started every game he was able to play in during that time. He was equally adept at playing the strong side linebacker as he was on the weak side.

He played on the right side his whole career, and was a tackling machine. Statistics for tackles were not kept in those days, so his true impact escapes the younger fans, and voters, of these days.

It is simply disrespectful that the voters in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame have not put Baughan into Canton yet. He went to nine Pro Bowls in his first ten years in the league, which is utterly amazing.

You MUST realize that players EARNED their Pro Bowl bids back then, much more than they do today. It wasn't a popularity contest then, where fans would vote you in based on shenanigans perpetrated on and off the field, like it is these days.

Players and coaches did the voting, and they would only vote-in the best of the best. Baughan's amazing run of Pro Bowls certainly shows he was one of the best ever in any era of NFL history.

I have long stated, if you have followed this series, that the selection process in Canton is flawed. It is also too political. The induction classes are way too small, and there are too many superior players not yet in.

Seeing inferior players like Andre Tippett and Derrick Thomas inducted makes a real football fan even more sickened by this process. Tippett and Thomas are deserving, but they were pass rushers only. Tippett was a Pro Bowler only FIVE times in his 12 seasons, and Thomas intercepted just one pass in his entire career.

Seeing better, and more complete, linebackers like Baughan, Tommy Nobis, Robert Brazile, and others not inducted shows the Pro Football Hall Of Fame is a fraudulent sham. The best are NOT in that building in Canton.

The fact that he is not in the Hall only proves my point. Baughan, and many of his peers, are not the type to politic or kiss rumps for votes. Baughan himself is content with all the other Halls he has been inducted into, but he has no idea as to why he isn't in Canton.

He isn't alone in that thought. It is quite clear that Maxie Baughan should have been inducted into the Professional Football Hall Of Fame decades ago.

Middle Linebacker : Tommy Nobis

Tommy Nobis
6'2" 240
Linebacker
Atlanta Falcons
1966 - 1976
11 Seasons
133 Games Played
5 Pro Bowls
1966 NFL Rookie of the Year



Thomas Henry Nobis Jr. was the first draft pick ever by the expansion Atlanta Falcons in the 1966 NFL draft. He was also the first player chosen overall. Nobis is a legend in Texas.

He was an All-State football player, while growing up in San Antonio. He then attended college at the University of Texas at Austin. There, he started at linebacker and offensive guard.

Nobis was the only sophomore starter on the Longhorns' 1963 National Championship team. He averaged nearly 20 tackles per game at Texas, and was a two-way player on teams that were ranked first in college football at some point during each of his three years.

He was also named to the All-Southwest Conference team in his three years as a Longhorn. He still holds the Longhorns record for most interceptions in a season by a linebacker, and currently ranks third in Texas history for career interceptions by a Linebacker.

Nobis' profile made national headlines while playing the 1964 Orange Bowl versus Alabama. Late in the game, with Texas leading by four points, Alabama had the ball on the Longhorns one-yard line.

On fourth down, future Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Namath tried to score and was greeted by Nobis inches short. Nobis graced the covers of Life, Sports Illustrated and Time magazines.

A two-time All-American, Nobis won several awards in his senior year. While winning the Knute Rockne, Outland, and Maxwell Awards, he finished seventh in the Heisman voting.

Nobis was selected to the Football News All-Time All-America team, Sports Illustrated's All-Century Team, and the Walter Camp Football Foundation All-Century Team. He is also a member of the Texas and Georgia State High School Halls of Fame, Thomas Jefferson High School Alumni Hall of Fame, the San Antonio Hall of Fame, the Longhorn Hall of Honor and the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame.

Nobis started right away for the Falcons, and was very busy on a new team that struggled to a 3-11 record. He set a Falcons record, that still stands today, when he amassed 294 tackles. It may be an NFL record, but that stat is unofficial and kept by individual teams.

He was named to his first All-Pro team, and was the 1966 NFL Rookie of the Year.

Nobis intercepted the first three passes of his career the next season, and returned one for a touchdown. He was also selected to his second Pro Bowl team.

In 1968, he was named to his third Pro Bowl team, as the struggling Falcons went through a coaching change by hiring Hall of Famer Norm Van Brocklin after the third week of the season. Nobis was injured in the fifth game of the following year, and missed the rest of the season.

He came back in 1970 and was named to the Pro Bowl team. He then was injured in the fourth game of the following season, and missed the rest of the year. Nobis would only miss two games for the rest of his career.

He made his last Pro Bowl team in 1972, and also scored the last touchdown of his career. The 1973 would be the best record the Falcons had during Nobis' career. They went 9-5. Atlanta won 50 games in his eleven seasons.

His number 60 is the first number retired by the team, and he is a member of the Falcons' Ring of Honor, Georgia Sports Hall of Fame, and the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame. He has also been named the NFL Man of the Year (Dodge and Vitalis), and Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. award, due to his work with the Special Olympics as a member of the Falcons front office, and in his own foundation.

Nobis is on the NFL's All-Decade 1960s team, which is quite an accomplishment if you consider he didn't even play half of the decade.

It is TRULY astounding that 'Mr. Falcon' still has yet to be inducted into Canton. Sure, he played on many lousy Falcons teams, but he was outstanding.

The team got little publicity during his time, but the voters CANNOT use this as an excuse. These voters are supposed to represent the whole NFL, not just the media driven franchises.

They are supposed to be experts, or at least this is what their positions as voters implies. The exclusion of Nobis for all of these years belies that thought.

Tommy Nobis epitomizes what a Hall of Fame football player is supposed to symbolize. Both on and off the field. It is truly disgraceful, and disrespectful, that Nobis is not in Canton.

There are many other middle linebackers deserving of induction. Lee Roy Jordan, of the Dallas Cowboys, and Randy Gradishar, of the Denver Broncos, head the list of snubbed candidates.

Outside Linebacker : Robert Brazile

Robert Brazile 
6'4" 244
Linebacker
Houston Oilers
1975 - 1984
10 Seasons
147 Games Played 
7 Pro Bowls
1975 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year 
 

Robert Lorenzo Brazile, Jr. was a first round pick by the Houston Oilers in 1975. He was the sixth player picked overall. Picked just before him was his college teammate Walter Payton.

Brazile was rated as the premier collegiate linebacker in 1974 while playing at Jackson State. He started his collegiate football career as a tight end, but switched to linebacker during his sophomore year. Brazile was called "Mr. Versatile", a moniker he earned because of his ability to excel at either the inside or outside linebacker slot.

He helped lead Jackson State to two Southwestern Athletic Conference championships in 1972 and 1973. Brazile is a member of the Jackson State Sports Hall of Fame, the SWAC Hall of Fame, and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

Brazile was part of a deal former Oilers coach Sid Gillman had made at the end of 1973. The Oilers acquired Kansas City's 1975 first round selection, along with nose tackle Curley Culp, for defensive end John Matuszak.

New head coach/general manager Bum Phillips switched Houston's base defense from the from a 4-3 to a 3-4. Brazile is credited by many to be most important in making the 3-4 popular by his ability to rush the quarterback from his outside linebacker position.

Brazile was the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 1975. He was named to the Pro Bowl in each of his first seven seasons. Brazile was a key member of Oilers teams that went to back-to-back AFC Championship games in 1978 and 1979.

In 1984, Brazile's wife died in a car wreck. He retired immediately from the NFL. Brazile was chosen on the 1970's NFL All-Decade Team. He is the only linebacker from that team not in Canton.

Many may remember his moniker in the NFL. Brazile was nicknamed "Dr. Doom" by his team mates after being tossed out of a game in his rookie year for hitting Washington Redskin quarterback Billy Kilmer in the head. Some may recall the time he bulldogged Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett by the facemask.

Brazile was a vicious hitter. He was equally excellent in pass coverage and run support as he was rushing the passer. He didn't always play on good teams, so he wasn't given the nationwide notice, during that era, that he deserved.

Since the NFL did not record sacks as a statistic until 1982, his impact on the game may not be fully realized by newer fans. Those who saw Brazile play knew he was always one of the better defensive players in the NFL in his era year in and year out. Robert Brazile deserves to be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. Ask his peers.

There are other outside linebackers worthy of induction. Matt Blair, of the Minnesota Vikings, Chuck Howley, of the Dallas Cowboys, and Isiah Robertson, of the Los Angeles Rams, head the list of snubbed candidates at this position.

Safety : Johnny Robinson

Johnny Robinson
6'1" 205
Strong Safety/ Running Back
Kansas City Chiefs
1960-1971
12 Seasons
164 Games Played
57 Interceptions
77 Receptions
1,886 Total Yards
18 Total Touchdowns
7 Pro Bowls
6 First Team All-Pro Selections


Johnny Nolan Robinson was a first round pick of the Detroit Lions in 1960. He was the third player picked overall. He opted to go to the fledgling American Football League, where he was a territorial pick of the Dallas Texans.

He went to college at LSU, where he was a running back. He earned first-team All-SEC honors in 1958 and second-team All-SEC honors in 1959. He was a member of the 1958 team that won the national championship..

In his three years of playing, Robinson rushed for 893 yards at a 4.65 yards per carry average. He also caught 36 passes in his collegiate career, and scored 14 touchdowns. He is a member of the LSU Hall of Fame, and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame.

Under Hall of Fame coach Hank Stram, Robinson started his pro football career as a halfback. He rushed for 458 yards in his rookie year at an average of 4.7 yards per carry. He also caught 41 passes for 611 yards, accruing an impressive 14.9 yards per catch average.

Robinson also returned 14 punts for 207 yards at an outstanding 14.8 returns average. Robinson also returned three kickoffs for 54 yards. He scored four touchdowns rushing, four touchdowns receiving, and returned one punt for a score. He threw the only pass of his pro career that year too, but it was intercepted.

In 1961, Robinson rushed the ball less. He had 52 carries for 200 yards and scored twice via the run. He did catch 35 passes for 601 yards, which is an exceptional yards per catch average of 17.2. He caught five touchdowns that year as well. He only returned two punts that year, and would only be asked to return four more his entire career.

In 1962, Robinson was moved to strong safety on defense by Stram. It turned out to be a great move for the Texans. Though he did catch the last pass of his career on offense for 16 yards, he also picked off four passes. The Texans moved to Kansas City after that season and were renamed the Chiefs.

Robinson had three interceptions in 1963, then two interceptions the following year, in 1964. In 1965, Robinson picked off five passes and returned them for 99 yards. The 1966 season was one of his best years.

He set a career high in interceptions with 10, and returned them for 136 yards, while scoring the only defensive touchdown of his career via an interception. He helped lead the Chiefs to the first Super Bowl ever against the Green Bay Packers.

Robinson followed that with five interceptions in 1967. In 1968, he picked off six passes. In 1969, Robinson set a career high with 158 yards off of eight interceptions. The Chiefs would go on to beat the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV.

He would intercept a pass and recover a fumble that game while playing with broken ribs, which helped prevent the Vikings from scoring more than seven points.

Robinson then had a great year in 1970, when the AFL merged with the NFL. He tied his career high with 10 interceptions. He also had 155 interception return yards. He took a fumble 46 yards for the last touchdown of his professional career. In 1971, Robinson had four interceptions.

His last game came on Christmas Day, when the Chiefs and Miami Dolphins played the the longest game in NFL history. It was also the Chiefs' last game in Municipal Stadium. Robinson retired during the offseason.

Johnny Robinson holds the Chiefs franchise record for a safety with 57 interceptions in his career. He ranks second overall in Chiefs history for interceptions behind Hall of Fame cornerback Emmitt Thomas.

He is still ranked 11th All-Time in NFL history in career interceptions, tied with four other players. His 43 interceptions in the AFL ranks third All Time in the league's history. He led his team in interceptions five times in his career.

He is a member of the All-Time All-AFL Team and one of only twenty players who were in the AFL for its entire ten-year existence.

Robinson was a six-time All-American Football League selection and is credited by many to have redefined the role of the strong safety in professional football. His career was more than spectacular. He was the consummate team player who did whatever it took to help his team win, whether it was on offense, defense, or special teams.

His stats do not lie, and his impact on the game is immeasurable. Maybe the voters have yet to induct him due to the inductions of Buck Buchanan, Willie Lanier, and Bobby Bell. It certainly took the voters way too long to induct Thomas. Much as they are taking much too long in Robinson's case.

Many fans today don't know much about the AFL. Some may think I am referring to Arena Football.

It is up to the Hall of Fame Seniors Committee to call this to mind while they still can, and while the players are still alive. The Seniors Committee must be woken up and nudged.

Safety : Cliff Harris

Cliff Harris
6' 188
Free Safety
Dallas Cowboys
1970 - 1979
10 Seasons
141 Games
29 Interceptions
18 Fumbles Recovered
1 Touchdown
6 Pro Bowls



Clifford Allen Harris was not chosen in the 1970 NFL Draft. He went to Ouachita Baptist College, where he played all positions of the defensive secondary during his collegiate career.

Harris was a two-time All-AIC selection. He was part of the Ouachita 1966 AIC Championship team. He is a member of the NAIA Hall of Fame and a member of the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

Harris started immediately at free safety in his rookie year. He intercepted two passes, returning one for 60 yards. Harris also recovered three fumbles.

Although military obligations caused him to miss the second half the season, he returned in time for the Cowboys' Super Bowl VI win. Harris also returned punts and kickoffs for the Cowboys from his second season until his fifth season.

His best season returning kickoffs was in second year. Harris returned 29 kicks for 823 yards at an excellent 28.3 average. All of these stats are his career highs. He took one kick 77 yards for the longest return of his career. He also averaged a career best 7.6 yards per punt return on 17 punts, picked off two passes that year and recovered three fumbles as well.

He ended up with 63 kick returns at a very impressive 25.7 average for his career. He also returned 66 punts in his career. Harris was steady. He intercepted two or more passes every year of his entire career.

His career high was five in 1977, when the Cowboys won Super Bowl XII. In 1975, he took an interception 27 yards for the only touchdown of his NFL career. Harris was named to his first Pro Bowl in 1974, and would be named to the Pro Bowl each year for the rest of his career.

Harris earned the nickname "Captain Crash" during his career. He was a starter his entire NFL career, and was fearless versus the run. Harris was a notoriously hard hitter who would make opposing wide receivers get alligator arms when coming across the middle.

He was on five Dallas Super Bowl teams during his career. Harris wore the pads of place kickers in order to keep his speed and quickness up throughout his career, making his hitting prowess even more impressive.

Harris announced his retirement following the 1979 to concentrate on his business ventures, where he runs a company with former Cowboys strong safety Charlie Waters. They also wrote a memoirs about their time together with the Cowboys.

Sports Illustrated named him to their Dream Team at free safety. Harris was named to the Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor in 2004.

Cliff Harris changed the way the free safety position was played. His run support is legendary in Texas, and his intelligence was a big part of his game.

Harris teamed with his best friend, Waters, to form one of the better safety duos in the NFL throughout the 1970's. Waters made three Pro Bowls from 1976 to 1978.

Harris was noted for always being around the ball. He got the ball back for the Cowboys 47 times in his 10 year career. He has been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I don't know what the voters are waiting for.

He should have been in already. With his being so close in 2004, there is little doubt in my mind that Cliff Harris will one day be in Canton. Hopefully sooner than later.

There are a lot of safeties who deserve induction. Men Like Ed Meador, of the Los Angeles Rams, Bobby Dillon, of the Green Bay Packers, Jim Norton, of the Houston Oilers, Deron Cherry, of the Kansas City Chiefs, Ken Easley, of the Seattle Seahawks, and Jack Tatum, of the Oakland Raiders, head the list of snubbed safeties.

Cornerback : Lemar Parrish

Lemar Parrish
5'11" 181
Cornerback
Cincinnati Bengals
1970 - 1982
13 Seasons
166 Games Played
47 Interceptions
13 Fumble Recoveries
13 Touchdowns
8 Pro Bowls


Lemar Parrish was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 1970 NFL Draft. He was the 163rd player picked overall that year. Parrish went to college at Lincoln University of Missouri.

He was a running back in college. In 1969, Parrish set the schools record for for longest punt return, when he returned a punt 95 yards for a touchdown against Southwest Missouri State. He also set school records for most punt return yards in a game and highest average per punt return in that game.

That year, Parrish averaged 16.8 yards per punt return. That, and his career average of 15.5 yards per carry, are still school records. He made the NCAA All-American Team in 1969.

Parrish is the most famous athletic figure in the schools history since the 1950's, when tennis great Althea Gibson taught there and Canadian Football League Hall of Fame running back Leo Lewis attended the school.

Parrish has returned to his alma mater, and is the head coach of the school's football team. He is in the Lincoln University Hall of Fame.

In his 1970 rookie season, Parrish was incredible. Parrish had five interceptions and scored a touchdown on both a punt return and kickoff return.

He averaged 30.1 yards per kick return and recovered a fumble. He also scored on a blocked field goal return. He followed that up next season with seven interceptions. He took one interception 65 yards for a touchdown, and one fumble for a touchdown.

In 1972, Parrish picked off five passes and took two for touchdowns. He also returned a punt for a touchdown. In 1973, he has two interceptions and returned a fumble for a touchdown.

During the 1974 season, Parrish set a still standing Bengals record with an NFL-leading 18.8 yards per punt return average. He also scored two touchdowns on punt returns. One went for 90 yards and is presently the second longest in Bengals history. He also recovered a fumble and took it 47 yards for a touchdown.

In 1977, Parrish had 3 interceptions and took one in for the last touchdown of his career. After the 1977 season, Parrish was traded to the Redskins after a contract dispute. He was traded along with defensive end Coy Bacon for the Redskins’ first-round pick in the 1979 draft.

That first-round pick ended up being the 12th overall selection, which Cincinnati used to pick running back Charles Alexander out of Louisiana State. Parrish was not asked to return kicks on the Redskins.

Parrish made a immediate impact on the Redskins defense his first year with four interceptions. The next year, he had nine interceptions and followed that up with seven interceptions in 1980.

Parrish left the Redskins after 1981, and joined the Buffalo Bills in 1982. He retired after that year.

Lemar Parrish is the Bengals all-time leader in touchdowns scored by "return or recovery" with 13. This is still tied for third All Time in NFL history with two others.

Parrish’s two interceptions returned for touchdowns is still tied for the most in a game, with many others in NFL history. He was also the only player in franchise history ever to score 2 "return or recovery" touchdowns in a single game, which he did three separate times.

When he retired, his three fumble returns for touchdowns tied an NFL record. He still fourth All Time in Bengals history for interceptions in a career, and second in touchdowns scored by interception.

His four punt returns for touchdowns ranks first in Cincinnati Bengals history. He also is first in career average for kickoff returns with 24.7, and touchdowns in a season on kickoff returns.

Parrish is also first in Bengals history for interceptions made in one game, and  touchdowns returned via interceptions in a season and a single game. He ranks second in Bengals history with 130 punt returns.

He also ranks second in Bengals history for punt return yardage in a season and career. He is third in franchise history in interception return yardage in a career. His 95 yard kick off return currently is the sixth longest in Bengals history.

Parrish did not win the 1970 Rookie of the Year Award, probably because the Bengals had players win the award the two previous seasons. Even though he had a superior season than 49ers cornerback Bruce Taylor, who was given the award.

When he left the Bengals, Parrish was the Bengals all-time leader in punt return yards in a career and season. He is a member of the Cincinnati Bengals 40th Anniversary Team.

He epitomized the definition of "play maker" in his career. He was a shutdown cornerback who teams tried to avoid. He would make the opponents cringe when he was asked to return kicks or punts.

Parrish teamed with Ken Riley to form, perhaps, the best cornerback duo in the NFL during the 1970's. Parrish was noted for his ability to stop the run, which is something he had to supply often due to the Bengals porous front seven.

Safety Tommy Casanova was a beneficiary of this tandem, and made three Pro Bowls from 1972 to 1977. Casanova retired after Parrish left the Bengals. Teams could not beat the Bengals by passing the ball,but they would win by running the ball up the middle.

The Bengals often challenged the great Steelers teams of the 1970's, but would come up short. The pass defense was rarely the reason.

While with the Redskins, Parrish also made fellow cornerback Joe Lavender a better player. Lavender made the Pro Bowl twice in his career, the same years that Parrish did.

Parrish was a complete player. He could do it all. His penchant for taking the ball to the end zone was prodigious. He made his teams better, his teammates better, and now is teaching his students to be better.

I find it amazing to see Lemar Parrish yet to be inducted into Canton. Roger Wehrli went in a few years ago finally, so hopefully the voters are going to right long standing wrongs. It would be fitting to see Parrish and Riley inducted together.

Cornerback : Pat Fischer

PAT FISCHER
5'9" 170
Cornerback
1961 - 1977
17 Seasons
213 Games
56 Interceptions
941 Yards
4 Touchdowns
3 Pro Bowls


Patrick Fischer was a 17th round draft choice of the Saint Louis Cardinals in 1961. He was the 232nd player picked overall. Fischer, a Omaha native, went to the University of Nebraska - Lincoln for college.

Fischer was a three-time letterman for Nebraska. Fischer was a halfback and cornerback, but he also spent time as a quarterback during his senior season. His 17 seasons of NFL service rank him second amongst the longest-serving NFL veterans in Cornhusker history, one less than his Huskers and Redskins teammates Ron McDole.

In 1958, Fischer tied for Nebraska's team lead in touchdowns scored. He also led the Huskers in receiving that year and led Nebraska with 537 all-purpose yards. 

In 1960, Fischer ranked second nationally by averaging 21.2 yards per punt return. He finished the year with a team-leading 953 all-purpose yards. Fischer led the Huskers in total offense and in scoring in 1960. He was the fourth Fischer brother to play for Nebraska, joining Cletus, Ken and Rex.

Fischer returned a few punts and kickoffs in his Cardinal career, as well as catching one pass for 22 yards in his rookie year. He made two Pro Bowls in 1964 and '65 for Saint Louis.

He signed with Washington as a free agent in 1968. He then made the 1969 Pro Bowl team. Fischer was the teams shutdown cornerback on the 1972 Super Bowl team.

NFL Films listed Fischer as the Redskins All-Time Neutralizer in the 1980's. Fischer is still all over the Cardinals record books. He has the fifth most interceptions with 29, fifth in interception return yardage with 529, third in interceptions returned for touchdowns with three.

He is third in consecutive games with an interception by accumulating five, ninth for the longest interception return for a touchdown when he took it 69 yards in 1967. In 1964 he returned two interceptions for touchdowns, which ranks second in Cardinal history.

Fischer ranks third for most interceptions in a season for the Cardinals, when he snared 10 in 1964. Fischer also ranks seveth all-time in Redskin history with 27 interceptions, and fourth all time in interception return yardage with 412.

When he retired, Fischer had played in a then NFL record for games played by a cornerback with 213.

Fischer may appear small to those who never saw him play, but those who did know better. His battles with Philadelphia Eagles 6'8" wide receiver Harold Carmichael were legendary. Fisher was also often matched up against Dallas Cowboys wide receiver "Bullet" Bob Hayes, the fastest man in the world at one time.

Fischer was a rough "bump and run" style defender full of tricks. One common move he would use was, if an opponent had to catch a pass over his head, Fischer would punch him in the gut or jaw.

He made many plays versus the pass, but also excelled in run support. Teams would often work away from Fischer and Ken Houston, when passing, due to their propensity of returning interceptions for touchdowns. Pat Fischer played in an era where defenders had to work harder.

The ten-yard chuck rule was not changed to five yards until the 1978 season. Wide receivers also had to work harder to get open in that era. The rushing attack was the primary weapon, and run support from defensive backs was a must in that era.

More modern cornerbacks, like Deion Sanders, may have been relegated to only punt return duty back then, possibly nickel back. Fischer also excelled on special teams, which was a must for Hall of Fame head coach George Allen and special teams coach Marv Levy, another Hall of Famer.

Fischer had an excellent career. Is it worthy of Canton? After seeing how long it took a superstars like Emmitt Thomas and Dick LeBeau to get in, and how former great cornerbacks like Louis Wright, Ken Riley, and Lester Hayes are not in yet, it may take longer than it should.

Still, after looking at how his numbers compare with those cornerbacks that are inducted, there is no doubt in my mind that Pat Fischer should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Cornerback has been pretty much overlooked by Canton through the years. Jack Butler, of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bobby Boyd, of the Baltimore Colts, Ken Riley, of the Cinconnati Bengals, and Louis Wright, of the Denver Broncos, deserve induction.

Kicker : Gino Cappelletti

Gino Cappelletti
6' 190
Wide Receiver/ Kicker
Boston Patriots
1960 - 1970
11 Seasons
153 Games Played
292 Receptions
42 Touchdowns
1,130 Points Scored
5 Pro Bowls
1964 AFL Player of the Year


Gino Raymond Michael Cappelletti went the long route to the Patriots as a free agent in 1960. He was a stand out player at the University of Minnesota. He played quarterback, kicked some, as well as playing defense.

He was the Gopher Iron Man of 1953, averaging 50 minutes played per game, and is a member of the 2001 M Club Hall of Fame.

After college, Cappelletti went to Canada and played rugby in the Ontario Rugby Football Union until 1956. He was then drafted, and served, in the U.S. Army until 1958.

Cappelletti then joined the Canadian Football League and played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders. After being cut by the Roughriders, he rejoined the rugby league until 1960.

The Boston Patriots and American Football League were born in 1960, and Cappelletti made the team as a 26-year old rookie. The Patriots made good use of Cappelletti's versatility.

He played cornerback and placekicker mainly in his rookie season. He intercepted four passes for 68 yards, and scored 54 points kicking. He intercepted three passes in one game off of future NFL coach Tom Flores.

Coaching great Lou Saban then moved him to wide receiver the next season. Cappelletti responded with his first Pro Bowl season. He caught 45 receptions for 768 yards and eight touchdowns. He also threw the only pass of his career, which went for a 27-yard touchdown.

He led the AFL with 32 field goal attempts and 17 conversions, while making 48 of 50 extra points. He scored a total of 147 points that year.

In 1962, Cappelletti scored 98 points kicking, and snagged 34 balls for five scores. His next season saw him snare 34 passes for two touchdowns, while accruing 101 points kicking. He led the AFL with the AFL with 38 field goal attempts and 22 makes, and made his second Pro Bowl squad.

He led the AFL with 39 field goal attempts and 25 makes in 1964, while scoring 116 points kicking. Gino also had a career best 49 receptions and 865 yards, while finding the end zone seven times. His 155 total points was his career best, and Cappelletti earned his third Pro Bowl team nod.

Cappelletti's 155 points were, at the time, the second most in pro football history, surpassing his 1961 total. He was named the 1964 AFL Player of the Year.

In 1965, Gino scored a career high nine touchdowns on 37 catches. His 18.7 yards per catch average was also a career best. He also led the AFL in field goal percentage, and made the Pro Bowl team again.

Cappelletti made his last All Pro team in 1966. He caught 43 passes for six scores, while taking one pass for a career best 63 yards. The 1967 season was Cappelletti's last year to be used a lot as a receiver. He caught 35 passes for three scores.

He caught 13 balls the next season for last two touchdowns of his career. Cappelletti did catch 1 pass for 21 yards in 1969, but was mainly used as a kicker. Cappelletti was 36 years old in 1970, as the Patriots joined the NFL.

Used only as a kicker that year, he scored the last 40 points of his career. He retired after that season with 292 receptions for 4,489 yards and 42 touchdowns.

He is still third in Patriots history for career receptions and yards. His 1,130 points were a Patriots record until Adam Vinatieri surpassed it in 2005. His jersey was retired by the Patriots, and he is a member of the Patriots 1960's All-Decade Team, and the Patriots Hall of Fame.

Gino Cappelletti is a symbol of determination, perseverance, and versatility. He is the only player to have averaged 7.5 points a game over an 11-year career. He once averaged 9.6 points a game over a six-year period, which no other player has ever done either.

His 1961 and 1964 seasons still rank in the top 10 for the most points scored in a season. The fact that he accomplished these feats in 14 game seasons make it even more impressive. Cappelletti led the AFL in scoring five times, which is tied for the most times ever that a player has led a league in scoring.

He led the AFL in scoring four consecutive seasons, which is the second best streak in pro football history. Cappelletti is the only player in the history of professional football history to to run for a two-point conversion, throw a pass for a two-point conversion, catch a pass, intercept a pass, return a punt and a kickoff in the same season.

He is tied with Hall of Famer Lance Alworth for the most career points scored in AFL All Star Games, and is one of only two AFL Kickers to kick at least four field goals in a game for three consecutive games.

He is the second player in AFL history to have picked off three passes in a game, and set the AFL record by scoring 28 points in a game. He has attempted the most field goals in Patriots history, and is is amongst the AFL's all-time top ten receivers in yards and in receptions.

He accomplished this during a ten-year span where the Patriots played on four "home" fields throughout the New England area, making his accomplishments even more amazing.

Nicknamed "The Duke" by his teammates, Cappelletti often teamed up with Patriots legendary quarterback Babe Parilli. This connection was dubbed the "Grand Opera."

Cappelletti is one of only three players to have played in every one of their franchise's games while a member of the AFL, and one of only 20 to have played in every game in AFL history. The fact that he has not yet been inducted into Canton reeks of NFL envy.

As I have stated in past profilings of AFL greats, there is an obvious exclusion of AFL players by the NFL. I keep screaming that this is the PRO Football Hall Of Fame, NOT JUST the NFL Hall Of Fame!

Gino Cappelletti should have been inducted into Canton years ago! It is up to us fans to remind the voters that the AFL counts, was important, and should never be forgotten. No matter how hard they seem to try.

Punter : Ray Guy

Ray Guy
6'3" 195
Punter
Oakland Raiders
1973 - 1986
14 Seasons 
207 Games Played
1,049 Punts 
44,493 Yards 
42.4 Yards Per Punt 
7 Pro Bowls


William Ray Guy was a first round draft pick of the Oakland Raiders in the 1973 draft. He was the 23rd player picked overall. Ray attended college at the University of Southern Mississippi. There, he set school records in placekicking, punting and as a defensive back.

He finished with a career punting average of 44.7 yards a kick, which is the highest average in NCAA history for punters with 200-249 attempts in their careers. Guy was the NCAA punting champion in 1972 with a 46.2 average. He averaged 45.3 and 42.9 in his other seasons.

Guy's eight interception in one season is still a Golden Eagles record. Guy is second all-time in school history with 18 career interceptions. His 268 interception return yardage is currently the third most in school history.

Guy also set a then-NCAA record when he kicked a 61-yard field goal, and he still ranks fourth in school history in the most field goals made in a career. In 1972, he was a member of The Sporting News, Football Writers Association, Walter Camp, Gridiron, Football News, Playboy and Associated Press All-America teams as a safety and punter.

Guy was named Most Valuable Player of the 1972 College All-Star Game, in which college all-stars played the current Super Bowl champion. 

He was also outstanding in baseball. He struck out 266 players in 220.2 innings, and threw 14 complete games in 31 total games in his career. He was drafted by Major League Baseball for three straight years.

Guy is the first Golden Eagle to ever play in the NFL. He is also the first player to have his jersey retired in school history. Guy is not only a member of Southern Mississippi's All-Century Team, but he is also a member of the schools Hall of Fame, the Mississippi and Georgia Sports Halls of Fame, and the National High School Sports Hall of Fame.

He is also the first punter to ever be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame and is considered the greatest punter to have ever played college football. He has a trophy named after him. The Ray Guy Award is given annually to the best collegiate punter in the nation.

Guy is the first punter to ever be drafted in the first round by the NFL. His impact was immediate. He was named to the Pro Bowl as a rookie, when he averaged 45.3 yards per punt.

Guy would be named the Pro Bowl Punter every year up until 1978. At the 1976 Pro Bowl, Guy became the first punter to hit the Louisiana Superdome video screen.

In 1979, he was named to the UPI All-Conference Second Team, and the Newspaper Enterprise Association All-NFL Second Team. He was named to his final Pro Bowl in 1980 after averaging 43.6 yards per punt. He also booted a career long punt of 77 yards that year.

For some unknown reason, he was not named to the 1981 Pro Bowl, despite punting a career high 96 times and having a 43.7 average. He was named to the UPI All-Conference Second Team.

He booted the ball over 70 yards in four of his seasons, and kicked five over 60 yards in one season alone. His shortest season long was 57, in the strike shortened 1982 season. That season also was the only season of his career when he did not average over 40 yards per punt, finishing with a 39.1 average.

Guy ended the last three years of his career averaging 90 punts per season, when he retired after the 1986 season. He did more than just punt for the Raiders. He threw three career passes, completing two for 54 yards. His first career pass was intercepted.

He also rushed for 43 yards on 11 attempts. In 1976, Guy was asked to kick an extra point, but missed. Guy only had three punts blocked in his entire career, and never had a punt returned for a touchdown. He led the NFL in punting three times and also kicked off for aging kicker George Blanda, a Hall of Famer.

Ray Guy was an integral part of the Raiders. He also was on three Super Bowl winning teams in Oakland during his career. The highlight of his Super Bowls came in 1983. His punt in Super Bowl XVIII pinned Washington inside their 12-yard line, which led to a Raiders touchdown via a turnover the next play.

He was named the punter on the National Football League's 75th Anniversary Team, the Super Bowl Silver Anniversary Team and as a member of the NFL 1970's All-Century team. He was also inducted into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

If you saw Guy play, you must be scratching your head right now as to why he isn't yet in Canton. His punts were legendary. Other teams would test the balls that he punted for helium, due to the heights his punts attained.

I had thought, after seeing kicker Jan Stenerud inducted in 1991, that the voters were FINALLY recognizing the importance of special teams. In 1994, Guy was the first punter to be nominated, but he still has not been elected.

I find myself often questioning the football knowledge of the voters. Some claim to be "purists", saying that specialist do not belong because they only get on the field for a few plays each game. Still, isn't Cantons reason for existence based upon what players do once on the field?

There is NO DOUBT that Guy helped the Raiders win many games. Even if you disregard his statistics, you cannot look past his impact on football at all levels. Wake up the voter in the media that represents your area. Ray Guy deserves his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame right now!

Return Specialist : Billy "White Shoes" Johnson

Billy Johnson
5'9" 170
Wide Receiver
Houston Oilers
1974 - 1988 
14 Seasons
143 Games Played 
337 Receptions 
4,211 Yards Receiving
10,785 Total Yards 
33 Touchdowns Total 
3 Pro Bowls
1975  NFL Pro Bowl MVP 
1983 NFL Comeback Player of the Year


William Arthur Johnson was a 15th round draft pick by the Houston Oilers in 1974. He was the 365th player picked overall despite the initial objections of Hall of Fame coach Sid Gillman, who didn't want a "midget" on his team.

He had played at Widener College in Pennsylvania, where he was a stand out. He is also a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

He and his college teammate, Joe Fields, a long time New York Jets offensive lineman, both retired in 1988 and are the last players from Widener to have played in the NFL. Johnson was so good that he ended up averaging over 250 all-purpose yards per game at Widener.

He made the team as a return man and stood out immediately. He was given the moniker "White Shoes" in high school when he wore the white cleats, as opposed to most wearing black cleats.

In his first four seasons, he returned five punts for touchdowns, as well as two kickoffs for scores. In 1975 he tied an NFL record with four kick returns for touchdowns in a season.

He would celebrate his touchdowns with the "Funky Chicken" dance. This dance, coupled by his shoes, made him a fan favorite across the league. He was used as a third-down slot receiver in mostly multiple receiver sets.

He caught 116 balls with seven touchdowns his first three years. He was mostly used as a possession-type receive,r due to the teams offensive scheme, but he also ran the ball for a touchdown.

Johnson caught 20 balls his fourth year for three touchdowns at a 20-yards per catch average. He also took a reverse 61 yards for a touchdown, the last rushing touchdown of his career.

In 1978, he blew out his knee during the fifth game. He only managed two games the following season due to its lingering effects. In 1980, he returned to be used only as a third wide receiver. He caught 31 balls for two touchdowns.

Disenchanted with his role, "White Shoes" bolted for the Canadian Football League to play for the Montreal Allouetttes. That year in Montreal, Billy caught 65 passes for 1,060 yards and five touchdowns.

Johnson returned to the NFL in 1982 by signing with the Atlanta Falcons. He played nine games that year and only caught two passes. He was able to return 24 punts at an impressive clip of 11.4 return average.

"White Shoes" was used as the Falcons full time punt returner in 1983. He also started at wide receiver. He caught a team and career high 64 passes while scoring five touchdowns total. One touchdown was via a punt return.

He won the Pro Bowl MVP that year when he took a punt 90-yards for a touchdown, as well as accumulating 159 total return yards. Both are still Pro Bowl records.

He got off to a good start in 1984 by catching 24 balls for three touchdowns, as well as a touchdown on a punt return. He was injured the sixth game of the year and did not return until 1985.

Johnson was used very sparingly as a punt returner in 1985, instead focusing on his wide receiver duties. He caught 62 passes for a career high 830 yards to go with five touchdowns.

He was hurt the following year and caught only six passes and took eight punt returns in four games. He came back to play 12 games the following year and returned 21 punts and caught eight passes.

Johnson left the Falcons, but tried to play for the Washington Redskins in 1988. He played only one game and fielded four punts, returning three of them for 26 yards. He then retired.

Billy "White Shoes" Johnson was named to both the NFL's 1980's All-Decade Team, and to the 75th Anniversary All-Time Team.

He set seven team records in Houston and four in Atlanta and held the NFL record for punt return yardage when he retired. He is still ranked third all-time in NFL history for punt return yardage and still holds the Oilers / Titans franchise record for punt return yardage.

Johnson may be known to many fans as an innovators of the touchdown dance. He is credited as being one of the first, but certainly he can stake his claim to having been the best ever.

Celebrations with more choreography may have been employed since then, but it is much like the students trying to emulate the master. He was not just a crowd pleaser with his dance.

He was a premier return specialist who took eight kicks to the end zone in his career. He also worked hard to become a threat at wide receiver. Others, like Terence Mathis, Troy Brown, and Derrick Mason, have followed similar steps in their careers.

Johnson was a very special player who battled through injuries and came back to produce. One must remember that knee injuries in those days ended, or slowed down, most careers. The surgical procedures used then are a far cry from today's advances in medicine.

It took even more determination to return, and a lot longer of a rehab session. "White Shoes" may not make every ones list of guys who should be inducted into Canton, but he is on the All-Time NFL Team as the only return specialist.

This fact, coupled with his stats and the fun he brought to the game, make it a no-brainer that he should be inducted into Canton.

Coach : Don Coryell

Don Coryell
Head Coach
Saint Louis Cardinals
San Diego Chargers
1973 - 1986
14 Seasons
111 Wins
First Coach With 100 Wins In Pro And College Football
Only Coach To Lead NFL In Passing 6 Straight Years
5 Division Titles




Donald David Coryell played college football at the University of Washington from 1949 to 1951 as a defensive back. He then went into coaching and became a head coach at Whittier College in 1957, succeeding George Allen, who became a NFL Hall Of Fame coach.

He spent three years as the head coach of the Poets. While there, he led the team to win the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title in each of his three seasons. He had a record of 21 - 5 - 1 and is a member of the school's Hall Of Fame.

Coryell left Whittier after the 1959 season and was not a head coach in 1960. He then became the head coach of San Diego State in 1961, where his teams would make a significant impact on the college football universe.

Coryell stayed with San Diego State for 12 seasons until 1972. In his 125 games there, the Aztecs won 104 of them. Attendance jumped from 8,000 spectators per game to over 41,000 per game during his tenure.

Three of his teams finished their seasons undefeated, and seven of them won both the California Collegiate Athletic Conference and later the Pacific Coast Athletic Association title.

His offensive genius also garnered nationwide attention while at San Diego State. His 1969 team led the NCAA in total offense (532.2 yards per game), passing (374.2 yards per game), and scoring (46.4 points per game) in their undefeated season.

He also showed his innate ability to develop players, especially on offense. He had 54 players go to the NFL from his teams, including five players drafted in the first round. Nine of his players were First Team All-Americans. In 1967, he had eight players drafted, and five went in the first two rounds.

The list of players he coached with the Aztecs included Haven Moses, Dennis Shaw, Brian Sipe, Willie Buchanon, Isaac Curtis, Don Horn, Fred Dryer, Joe Lavender, Don Shy, Claudie Minor, Tom Reynolds, Gary Garrison, Ralph Wenzel, Henry Allison, and noted actor Carl Weathers known best as Apollo Creed in the movie "Rocky". Dryer also became an actor after his NFL career, starring in the television series "Hunter".

Shaw led the NCAA in total offense in 1969, and would go on to become the first quarterback to win the NFL Offensive Rookie Of The Year Award in 1970. Only three other quarterbacks have won that award since.

Buchanon won the 1972 NFL Defensive Rookie Of The Year Award and is a member of the Green Bay Packers Hall Of Fame and their All-Time Team.

Sipe led the NCAA in passing in 1971, while Reynolds led the NCAA in receiving. Sipe's successor was Jesse Freitas, who was also recruited by Coryell. Freitas would lead the NCAA in passing in 1973. Sipe would later be named the MVP of the NFL in 1980.

The Coryell coaching tree from his Aztec era is very impressive as well.

Joe Gibbs was a player on Coryell's team at first and won the team's Most Inspirational Player Award in 1963. Gibbs later became a graduate assistant, then assistant coach at San Diego State.

He also was an assistant under Coryell with both the Cardinals and Chargers before becoming head coach of the Washington Redskins. Gibbs is a member of the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

Another Pro Football Hall Of Fame coach who coached under Coryell at San Diego State was John Madden. Madden would join the Oakland Raiders in 1967, and then become the youngest head coach of the league the next season at 32 years old.

After a very successful stint with the Raiders, Madden became a popular NFL analyst on television and video game mogul.

Joe Gibbs' coaching career was almost cut short by Madden.

Gibbs was working under Madden, who was the defensive coordinator for Coryell. There was an annual spring football game approaching, and Coryell had Gibbs coach the team that would face Madden's team in the game.

Madden approached Gibbs and asked him what plays would be run so Madden could prepare his team. Gibbs refused to disclose the plays, so Madden asked Coryell to mediate the situation.

Coryell told both Gibbs and Madden to treat it as real game, without the disclosure of plays to either side.

Gibbs team won that game. As the final gun sounded, both young coaches met at mid-field to shake hands. Madden fired Gibbs right there on the spot instead. Seeing a distraught Gibbs, Coryell then brought him over to the offensive side of the coaching staff.

The rest truly is history.

Jim Hanifan, Ernie Zampese, and Rod Dowhower also coached under Coryell at San Diego State.

Zampese was a noted offensive genius who was the offensive coordinator on the 1995 World Champion Dallas Cowboys team, and is a mentor to current San Diego Chargers head coach Norv Turner and former head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Martz.

Dowhower went on to succeed Pro Football Hall Of Fame coach Bill Walsh as head coach at Stanford University in 1979. He later became the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts from 1985 to 1986.

He was successful as an offensive coordinator with several teams in the NFL, including two consecutive NFC Championship appearances with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2000 and 2001.

Hanifan was a head coach with both the Saint Louis Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons. He was also a top assistant coach for many years, and won the NFL's Assistant Coach of the Year Award in 1977.

He was one of the best offensive line coaches to ever roam a sideline, and helped develop countless All-Pro's. He helped coach the Washington Redskins to a World Championship in 1992, and later the Saint Louis Rams to a win in Super Bowl XXXIV in 1999.

Coryell's teams went to three bowl games in his tenure with San Diego State. His 104 victories and .840 winning percentage are the best in school history, and he is a member of the College Football Hall Of Fame, the San Diego Hall Of Champions, the University of Washington Husky Hall Of Fame, and San Diego State Aztec's Hall Of Fame.

The Saint Louis Cardinals were coming off a horrid year in 1972 that saw them score just 22 touchdowns, have 68 rushing first downs, and 2,038 passing yards. They were the third worst scoring team in the NFL.

A change was needed, so they hired Coryell to be their head coach for the 1973 season.

Coryell matched the previous seasons record of 4-9-1 that year, but improved the team's scoring to eleventh overall in the league. It became evident that the Cardinals were improved under Coryell's leadership, and that was highlighted even more the following year.

The Cardinals finished the 1974 season with a record of 10-4, which was good enough to capture the NFC East crown. It was the team's first divisional title since 1948.

Though the Cardinals lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Vikings, they sent five players to the Pro Bowl. Four of those players came from the offense.

The Cardinal improved on that the next year and went 11-3. They won the NFC East again, and are the one of only two Cardinals teams to win two consecutive division titles.

The 1947 and 1948 Chicago Cardinals team is the other, and the 1947 team is the franchise's lone squad that earned a NFL Championship win.

The 1925 team was handed the championship by the league, due to a controversy with the Pottsville Maroons, but did not publicly claim to be that season's champion until 1933.

Nine Cardinals went to the Pro Bowl in that 1975 season, the most in franchise history. Seven of them were offensive players. The team lost in the first round of the playoffs again, this time to the Los Angeles Rams.

Coryell's 1976 team sent seven players, five on offense, to the Pro Bowl. The team finished 10-4, which was good enough for second place in the NFC East, but not enough to reach the playoffs.

The Cardinals stumbled to 7-7, yet still sent seven players to the Pro Bowl. Six of the players played on the offense. It was not deemed good enough by the Cardinals ownership, so they fired Coryell.

Don Coryell's 42 wins are the most by any coach in the Cardinals franchise's history, and his five years as head coach with the team is the second most ever.

The San Diego Chargers started their 1978 season with one win in four games under head coach Tommy Protho. Not happy with these results, the Chargers then fired Protho and replaced him with Coryell.

The team went 8-4 under him the rest of the way, including winning seven of their last eight games.

This was when "Air Coryell" was born as a common term, though Coryell's years in Saint Louis also featured high-powered offenses running under much of the same schemes used in San Diego.

The team improved to lead the NFL with a 12-4 record the next year, the most wins in Coryell's career, as seven Chargers went to the Pro Bowl. Five of them were offensive players.

They would would win the AFC West, their first divisional title since 1965, but ultimately lose in the first round to the Houston Oilers.

The Chargers would win the AFC West four straight years, the only time in franchise history that has been accomplished.

The 1980 Chargers went 11-5, but lost in the AFC Championship Game to the eventual champion Oakland Raiders by seven points. This team sent eight players to the Pro Bowl, including five on offense. It was also the first team in NFL history to have three receivers gain over 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.

The Chargers went 10-6 the next year, and also led the league in scoring. Five players went to the Pro Bowl, four of which played offense.

They then played perhaps the greatest playoff game in NFL history against the Miami Dolphins in the first round.

The game ended up being a 41-38 overtime victory for San Diego, but it was much more than just that. It was named "The Epic In Miami", which was played in very humid weather reaching 29.4° Celsius.

Both teams smashed into each other all game, trading scores. Both teams combined to gain 1,036 yards that day, including 856 passing yards and 804 net passing yards. All are NFL records for a playoff game, as are the 79 total points.

There were seven turnovers, a special teams touchdown, and five different receivers gained over 100 yards on receptions that day.

Hall Of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow was the hero for the Chargers on that day.

Despite being stricken with dehydration, cramps, a pinched nerve in his shoulder, and needing stitches for a cut to his bottom lip, Winslow blocked a game-winning field goal attempt at the end of regulation. He also caught a NFL Playoffs record 13 balls that day.

The Chargers then stumbled into Cincinnati to play the Bengals. On a day where freezing weather easily was below -57° Celsius, thanks to winds of 27 miles per hour, it was dubbed the "Freezer Bowl". The Bengals, led by 1981 NFL MVP Ken Anderson, won handily 27-7.

The 1982 season is known as the strike shortened year of the NFL. San Diego finished second in their division with a 6-3 record. Six players, including five on offense, went to the Pro Bowl. The Dolphins got revenge on the Chargers by beating them in the second round of the playoffs.

That year saw Hall Of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts and wide receiver Wes Chandler set NFL records that still stand today.

Fouts averaged 320 yards passing per game, and Chandler averaged 129 receiving yards per game.

The Chargers also paid back the Bengals for their loss the year before by gaining a team record 661 yards in their 50-34 victory over Cincinnati in week seven.

The next three years saw an aging Chargers team win 21 games. Though the team was still extremely explosive on offense, the defense would let them down.

A big part of that factor was an ownership that refused to pay their players well, which led to the departure of many key players. Hall Of Fame defensive end Fred Dean noted that his brother, a truck driver, was making much more cash than he was.

After the Chargers began the 1986 season at 1-7, Coryell was fired and replaced by protege Al Saunders. Saunders would be replaced in 1991 by Coryell disciple Dan Henning.

Coryell's 69 wins are the second most in Chargers history behind Hall Of Fame coach Sid Gillman, and his nine seasons with the team are also the second most behind Gillman.

Don Coryell then retired from coaching, at the age of 62 years old, with 111 wins in 195 games overall. He is the first Coach with 100 wins in both professional and college football.

To try and sum up this man's career or impact on football is nearly impossible. Virtually every offense today on all levels is a variation of his system.

Bill Walsh and Coryell also have several ties in football. Walsh used to rely on Isaac Curtis, a player Coryell coached in college, while Walsh was an assistant coach with the Bengals.

He also coached under Protho for one year with the Chargers, the man Coryell would replace as head coach.

While Walsh is credited with the "West Coast Offense", he started out as a student of Hall Of Fame coaches Sid Gillman, Al Davis, and Paul Brown's downfield passing philosophies.

It was Coryell who really started this offense, and refined it as each year passed during his coaching career.

Coryell turned around every team he coached from college to the pros immediately. Though most remember his days in San Diego, his time in Saint Louis also must be hailed.

He took a perennial loser, and made them a serious contender in an NFC East that was mostly dominated by the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Redskins throughout the 1970's. He made quarterback Jim Hart a much better player and surrounded Hart with many weapons.

Wide receivers Mel Gray and Pat Tilley were wide receivers who excelled along with Hall Of Fame tight end Jackie Smith in Coryell's system. Gray holds a franchise record for having at least one catch in 121 consecutive games, and is tenth in franchise history with 351 receptions.

He is fourth in Cardinals history with 45 touchdown receptions, fifth in receiving yards, and averaged an outstanding 18.9 yards per reception.

Smith is still second in career receiving yards with the team, fifth in receptions and touchdowns, and averaged an excellent 16.5 yards per catch. Tilley was a fourth-round find by Coryell in 1976, and ended up sixth in career receptions with the Cardinals, and third in receiving yards.

One other thing Coryell brought to the NFL was the use of the multi-purpose running back. Terry Metcalf was his first of many backs who did everything well.

Metcalf led the NFL in total yards with 2,462 yards, which is still the best in team history. Metcalf is currently ranked fourth in total yards in Cardinals history.

Coryell also resurrected the career of fullback Jim Otis. Otis joined the Cardinals in Coryell's first season after spending his first three years as a back up with the New Orleans Saints and Kansas City Chiefs.

Coryell turned Otis into a Pro Bowl player in 1975, after gaining a career best 1,076 rushing yards.

Factor in such other weapons like Ike Harris, J.V. Cain, Wayne Morris, Steve Jones, Donny Anderson, Ahmad Rashad, and Earl Thomas, and one can see all the fantastic players Coryell used to make Saint Louis a winner.

He also worked with Hanifan in making the Cardinals perhaps the best offensive line in the league during Coryell's tenure. The line consisted of Hall Of Fame tackle Dan Dierdorf and Pro Bowl players like Tom Banks, Conrad Dobler, Ernie McMillan, and Bob Young most of the time.

They gave up just 55 sacks from 1974 to 1977, including only eight in 1975. This was the fewest allowed in NFL history, until it was surpassed by the Miami Dolphins in 1988 by one.

Though the Cardinals were an explosive offense, their defense let them down. This would be a theme throughout most of Coryell's coaching career in the NFL.

In his 14 seasons as a coach, his offenses led the NFL in net yards gained per passing attempt five times. They finished in the top five of the NFL six more times.

His teams led the NFL in passing yards seven times, and none of his teams finished lower than seventh. They led the NFL in passing touchdowns three times, and finished in the top ten nine other times.

His teams led the league in passing attempts two times, finished second five times, and was in the top ten another five times.

But Coryell also ran a balanced attack where the run was important. Twice his teams led the NFL in rushing touchdowns, and they finished in the top ten eight more times.

His teams finished in the top five in yards per carry three times, twice in the top ten in rushing attempts and yards.

His teams led the NFL in total offense yards five times, and in the top ten another six times. Twice his teams led the NFL in yardage differential, which is the number of yards they out gained their opponents that year.

His teams finished in the top ten an additional five times. Coryell's teams led the league in points differential once, and finished in the top ten another six times.

Yet his defenses often finished in the middle-to-lower end in all categories each year. His 1979 was the best defense he ever had statistically. That defense led the NFL in defensive touchdowns and allowing the fewest rushing attempts.

They also finished in the top ten in interceptions, net yards gained per pass attempt, passing yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, total yards allowed, and touchdowns allowed. In 1980, the Chargers led the NFL with 60 sacks.

Many Hall Of Fame players and Pro Bowlers were coached by Coryell in the NFL. The list of players inducted into Canton includes Dan Fouts, Kellen Winslow, Charlie Joiner, Dan Dierdorf, Jackie Smith, Fred Dean, and Roger Wehrli.

When Coryell hit San Diego, the spotlight on his genius was shining. He took wide receiver John Jefferson in the first round in 1978 and had him become the first player in NFL history to gain over 1,000 receiving yards in each of his first three seasons.

He transformed Dan Fouts into a spectacular quarterback, and saw Fouts become the second player in pro football history, and the first in NFL history, to have over 4,000 yards passing in a season. Fouts then would go on to pass for even more yards the next two seasons.

Besides his Chargers teams becoming the first to have three 1,000 yard receivers, their 1981 team had a 1,000 yard rusher in Chuck Muncie and two 1,000 yard receivers in Winslow and Joiner. Wes Chandler finished 43 yards short from joining them in the thousand yards club that year,which would have given them three receivers and a running back with 1,000 yards in one season. This is an accomplishment never duplicated in league history.

After his success with Metcalf, Coryell found other versatile backs to use in San Diego. Men like Muncie, James Brooks, Earnest Jackson, Gary Anderson, Mike Thomas, Lydell Mitchell, Don Woods, Clarence Williams, and the diminutive Lionel James all excelled in his offense.

Brooks led the NFL in all purpose yards in his first two years with San Diego, and James did it once.

James also had 1,027 yards receiving, which set an NFL record for yards receiving by a running back then, on 81 receptions in 1985. His 2,535 all purpose yards that year was an NFL record for fifteen seasons.

While Coryell's critics wrongly point to his lack of championship wins, the stinginess of the owners he was employed by was a huge reason why his teams never went past a conference championship game.

In San Diego, they lost Jefferson and Dean because on contract disputes. Dean left the Chargers mid-season to go to the San Francisco 49ers because of this reason. Dean was a key reason the 49ers won Super Bowl XVI that year, and was named UPI Defensive Player Of The Year.

With Dean gone, it hurt the Chargers defense immensely. The Chargers had the best defensive line in the NFL up until then, featuring Dean and Pro Bowl defensive tackles Louie Kelcher and Gary "Big Hands" Johnson.

All three were drafted together in 1975, and had a strong bond that had the fans nickname them "The Bruise Brothers".

Don Coryell changed the way football was played. It is still being played the way Coryell invented to this very day.

The now all to common sight on multiple receiver sets was first started by Coryell, as are many versions of offenses being run these days.

They are all spawns of his genius.

The Redskins three Super Bowls winning teams and Saint Louis Rams two Super Bowl winning teams ran offenses that were invented by Coryell. His impact on the game will reverberate for generations to come.

Winslow stated it best when he said, "For Don Coryell to not be in the Hall of Fame is a lack of knowledge of the voters. That's the nicest way that I can put that. A lack of understanding of the legacy of the game."

This is a despicable crime still perpetrated by the voters to this very day. It also shows that Canton MUST change their induction system.

Rumors of getting retired players involved, especially those already in Canton, has been circulated for years. These are the people who truly know who belong.

I have long told you about voters not even knowing what positions legends played in this series.

It, as Winslow stated, truly shows a lack of knowledge. It also shows the corrupt political process involved in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame.

A process that has wrongly kept Don Coryell from taking his rightful place. The worst part is he passed away without given the proper recognition and respect everyone but the voters know he deserved.