2021 Hall of Fame (and media guys) Initial Cut

[Rain Man]

130 great former players and some former players who are friends with the media made the cut.

The ones that matter (former Chiefs) are:

Priest Holmes
Brian Waters
Jared Allen
Leslie O'Neal
Michael Dean Perry (one game with the Chiefs, but it counts)
Neil Smith
Zach Thomas (well, kind of)
James Hasty
Albert Lewis
Nick Lowery

Spoiler!

QUARTERBACKS
(8): Drew Bledsoe, Randall Cunningham, Jake Delhomme, Jeff Garcia, Dave Krieg, Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb, Steve McNair

RUNNING BACKS
(17): Shaun Alexander, Mike Alstott (FB), Tiki Barber, Earnest Byner, Larry Centers, Corey Dillon, Warrick Dunn, Eddie George, Priest Holmes, Steven Jackson, Jamal Lewis, Eric Metcalf (also WR/KR/PR), Glyn Milburn (also WR/KR/PR), Lorenzo Neal (FB), Fred Taylor, Herschel Walker (also KR), Ricky Watters

WIDE RECEIVERS
(13): Donald Driver, Henry Ellard (also PR), *Torry Holt, Calvin Johnson, Chad Johnson, Derrick Mason, Muhsin Muhammad, Jimmy Smith, Rod Smith, Hines Ward, *Reggie Wayne, Wes Welker, Roddy White

TIGHT ENDS
(7): Dallas Clark, Ben Coates, Keith Jackson, Brent Jones, Heath Miller, Jeremy Shockey, Wesley Walls

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
(20): Willie Anderson (T), Matt Birk (C), *Tony Boselli (T), Lomas Brown (T), Ruben Brown (G), *Alan Faneca (G), D’Brickashaw Ferguson (T), Kevin Glover (C/G), Jordan Gross (T), Kent Hull (C), Olin Kreutz (C), Logan Mankins (G), Tom Nalen (C), Chris Samuels (T), Jeff Saturday (C), Chris Snee (G), Brian Waters (G), Richmond Webb (T), Erik Williams (T), Steve Wisniewski (G)

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
(15): John Abraham (DE also LB), Jared Allen (DE), Ray Childress (DT/DE), La’Roi Glover (DT/NT), Casey Hampton (DT/NT), Leslie O’Neal (DE), Michael Dean Perry (DT/DE), Simeon Rice (DE), *Richard Seymour (DT), Justin Smith (DE), Neil Smith (DE), Greg Townsend (DE/LB/DT/NT), Justin Tuck (DE), Kevin Williams (DT), *Bryant Young (DT)

LINEBACKERS
(16): Cornelius Bennett, Lance Briggs, Tedy Bruschi, London Fletcher, Seth Joyner, Clay Matthews Jr., Jerod Mayo, Willie McGinest (also DE), *Sam Mills, Joey Porter, Chris Spielman, Takeo Spikes, Pat Swilling (also DE), Darryl Talley, *Zach Thomas, Patrick Willis

DEFENSIVE BACKS
(18): Eric Allen (CB), Ronde Barber (CB/S), *LeRoy Butler (S), Nick Collins (S), Merton Hanks (S), Rodney Harrison (S), James Hasty (DB), Albert Lewis (CB), *John Lynch (S), Tim McDonald (S), Allen Rossum (DB), Asante Samuel (DB), Bob Sanders (S), Charles Tillman (CB), Troy Vincent (CB), Adrian Wilson (S), Charles Woodson (CB/S), Darren Woodson (S)

PUNTERS/KICKERS
(12): David Akers (K), Gary Anderson (K), Jason Elam (K), Jeff Feagles (P), Jason Hanson (K), John Kasay (K), Sean Landeta (P), Ryan Longwell (K), Nick Lowery (K), Reggie Roby (P), Rohn Stark (P), Matt Turk (P)

SPECIAL TEAMS
(4): Josh Cribbs (KR/PR also WR), Mel Gray (PR/KR also WR), Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB), Steve Tasker (ST also WR)

[Rain Man]

There are several deserving players on that list, but if I have to throw my weight behind one, it would be Albert Lewis. I never caught a single pass against Albert Lewis.

[Sorry]

That wr list is stacked. Ellard, Calvin and Chad Johnson, Hines ward

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Sorry

That wr list is stacked. Ellard, Calvin and Chad Johnson, Hines ward

And I might take Torry Holt over any of them. Well, maybe not Calvin.

[Rain Man]

If I was picking the 25 semifinalists from this list, they would be:

Peyton Manning, even though he ended his career as a cheater.
Randall Cunningham
Tiki Barber
Priest Holmes
Torry Holt
Calvin Johnson (hard to believe he's been retired for five years)
Jimmy Smith
Brian Waters
Alan Faneca
Erik Williams
Richard Seymour
Ray Childress
Jared Allen
Neil Smith
Clay Matthews
Pat Swilling
Lance Briggs
Patrick Willis
Chris Spielman
Albert Lewis
Charles Woodson
Adrian Wilson
John Lynch (cheater)
Charles Tillman
Gary Anderson

[oldman]

Until OT is in, the HoF is a joke. The Ben Davidson incident alone should be enough to qualify him.
That rant over, my choice would be Brian Waters. He should have never left KC. Thanks a lot, Scoot Peeholi, you miserable SOB.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

There are several deserving players on that list, but if I have to throw my weight behind one, it would be Albert Lewis. I never caught a single pass against Albert Lewis.

Agreed.

I've always kinda felt like Lewis has been overlooked in historical conversations.

I mean ultimately I don't think he makes the cut or even that he SHOULD, but Lewis is almost certainly one of the best 50 Cornerbacks of all time. You can make an argument to put him in the top 25 if you try hard enough.

His 1989 season is one for the ages (1990 was excellent as well). The list of dudes that reached the peak he reached over that 4 year run from '87-90 and also played at a high level for as long as he did (a quality starter CB from 84-96) is really damn short.

When talking heads discuss guys like Richard Sherman they just call him "Future Hall of Famer Richard Sherman" and that's that. But man, apart from hype, I struggle to say that Sherman has had a demonstrably better career than Lewis had.

And his exploits on special teams are legendary to boot.

Yeah, this is Lewis in a walk. He won't get in and maybe he even shouldn't get in, but he damn sure deserves more credit than he gets.

[oldman]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Agreed.

I've always kinda felt like Lewis has been overlooked in historical conversations.

I mean ultimately I don't think he makes the cut or even that he SHOULD, but Lewis is almost certainly one of the best 50 Cornerbacks of all time. You can make an argument to put him in the top 25 if you try hard enough.

His 1989 season is one for the ages (1990 was excellent as well). The list of dudes that reached the peak he reached over that 4 year run from '87-90 and also played at a high level for as long as he did (a quality starter CB from 84-96) is really damn short.

When talking heads discuss guys like Richard Sherman they just call him "Future Hall of Famer Richard Sherman" and that's that. But man, apart from hype, I struggle to say that Sherman has had a demonstrably better career than Lewis had.

And his exploits on special teams are legendary to boot.

Yeah, this is Lewis in a walk. He won't get in and maybe he even shouldn't get in, but he damn sure deserves more credit than he gets.

One of the best CBs to ever wear red and gold. You're right about his special teams play as well, he was a kick-blocking machine. However, I still can't get past playing for the hated Faiders.

[gblowfish]

Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor and Otis Taylor. In that order.

[scho63]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor and Otis Taylor. In that order.

Not sure why but I knew this was coming........

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor and Otis Taylor. In that order.

Well, yeah, that's a given. I'm hoping they finally wise up and nominate him through the seniors committee.

[Mecca]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

Agreed.

I've always kinda felt like Lewis has been overlooked in historical conversations.

I mean ultimately I don't think he makes the cut or even that he SHOULD, but Lewis is almost certainly one of the best 50 Cornerbacks of all time. You can make an argument to put him in the top 25 if you try hard enough.

His 1989 season is one for the ages (1990 was excellent as well). The list of dudes that reached the peak he reached over that 4 year run from '87-90 and also played at a high level for as long as he did (a quality starter CB from 84-96) is really damn short.

When talking heads discuss guys like Richard Sherman they just call him "Future Hall of Famer Richard Sherman" and that's that. But man, apart from hype, I struggle to say that Sherman has had a demonstrably better career than Lewis had.

And his exploits on special teams are legendary to boot.

Yeah, this is Lewis in a walk. He won't get in and maybe he even shouldn't get in, but he damn sure deserves more credit than he gets.

Richard Sherman made himself a household name, his personality and stand out plays in post season games is what will get him in.

[tatorhog]

listing Zach Thomas as a Chief is kind of like Ronnie Lott being a Chief.

[big nasty kcnut]

Originally Posted by gblowfish

Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor, Otis Taylor and Otis Taylor. In that order.

Dang it i wanted to hit up but accidentally hit down otis should ve hall of fame worthy

[Rain Man]

The more I look at the list, I think the only thing keeping several of these guys out is that they embraced evil at the ends of their careers. Albert and Hasty became Raiders, Neil became a bronco, and Waters became a patriot. It's hard to overcome stuff like that in the minds of ethical voters.