The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee has announced the group of semifinalists eligible for election to the Hall in 2024. The 12-member committee has advanced 31 players to the next round. That group will be whittled down to 12 players later this month and up to three players will be selected for consideration by the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee at its annual meeting. Having three players up for election is a change from past years as the pool has been expanded from two to three for the next three elections. Former 49ers running back Roger Craig is one of the semifinalists. Craig was the first player in league history to gain 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season and he won three Super Bowls during his time with San Francisco. The rest of the semifinalists are quarterback Ken Anderson, running back Ottis Anderson, linebacker Carl Banks, linebacker Maxie Baughan, running back Larry Brown, wide receiver Mark Clayton, quarterback Charlie Conerly, wide receiver Henry Ellard, linebacker Randy Gradishar, cornerback Lester Hayes, offensive lineman Chris Hinton, running back/defensive back Cecil Isbell, tackle Joe Jacoby, kick returner Billy “White Shoes” Johnson, tackle Mike Kenn, guard Bob Kuchenberg, tackle George Kunz, defensive back Albert Lewis, defensive end Jim Marshall, linebacker Clay Matthews Jr., defensive tackle Steve McMichael, cornerback Eddie Meador, wide receiver Stanley Morgan, linebacker Tommy Nobis, wide receiver Art Powell, wide receiver Sterling Sharpe, special teamer Steve Tasker, wide receiver Otis Taylor, cornerback Everson Walls, and tackle/defensive tackle Al Wistert.
There are a lot of great players on that list - would not want to be a voter that has to pick just 3. Of the non Phins, would love to see Mongo get in before he’s no longer around to appreciate it.
I like Clayton. Watching him was a fun part of my childhood. But he just doesn't have a strong case for the HoF. He's just one of those guys who was a great for his team but not more, and that's fine. He had one terrific year in no small part due to Marino having a historical season, several other really good ones, and a few other above average. But even for his era, a lot of guys put up bigger numbers, and did it for a longer period. Mark was basically done by the time he was 31. Henry Ellard, for example, was a rookie the same year that Clayton was. He played six more years than Mark, and put up three 1000 yard seasons after Clayton was finished, including one with more yards than Clayton's career year. He's not in the HoF either, and he didn't play with Marino. Gary Clark was another contemporary, and he was the #2 and sometimes #3 Wr on his own team, playing with a variety of different QBs, and he put up more than 100 catches and about 2000 more yards than Clayton. Again, not going to be in the HoF. Historically, Clayton is on par with guys like Emmanuel Sanders, Anthony Miller, Herman Moore and Mark Carrier. Pro Bowlers who all had good seasons on good teams. Not HoFers.
Speaking of wide receivers, DK Metcalf recently listed his top 5 of all time, and Seattle police should probably search his home for crack: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/...ory-omitting-jerry-rice-from-no-1-status/amp/
Cool article on Zach Thomas and the HoF: http://espn.com/blog/miami-dolphins...s-teammates-knew-he-was-special-from-early-on “We know who you are”. Lol
It's weird and sad how little reference a lot of players have for the game before them. That's one reason I'm always a big fan of players who are far more aware.
Clayton is 21st in TD receptions, the others mentioned are not. Everyone in front of him except one is in HOF. The other one is still playing.
I don't really focus on TDs because its so erratic. I guy could catch 40 passes with 10 TDs. That shouldn't make him a Pro Bowler that year unless he's a FB. And while Mark had one epic year in TDs and another that was terrific, he only had five years in his career where he caught more than 7 in a season, so he wasn't usually that type of guy.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame will induct the nine members of the Class of 2023 on Saturday, August 5, with Zach Thomas opening the show and Joe Thomas closing it. After Zach Thomas’s speech, Ken Riley will be posthumously inducted. His son, Ken Riley II, will deliver remarks on his behalf. DeMarcus Ware will be the third member of the class inducted, followed by Joe Klecko fourth. Next will be Chuck Howley, who will not give a speech as he is 87 years old and suffering from dementia. His son, Scott Howley, will represent his father on stage. Darrelle Revis will be the sixth member of the Class of 2023 enshrined. The seventh induction will be the late coach Don Coryell, with his daughter Mindy Coryell Lewis delivering remarks on his behalf. Coryell’s induction will be followed by Ronde Barber, then Joe Thomas will make the final speech of the event. That Howley is being inducted at a time when he is no longer able to give a speech, and Riley and Coryell are being inducted posthumously, spotlights a common criticism of the Hall of Fame, that it has made many worthy candidates wait too long. Howley retired in 1973, Riley retired in 1983 and Coryell retired in 1986, so there was plenty of time to enshrine them when they could have participated in the induction ceremony. This year’s induction ceremony will begin at noon. Chris Berman will continue his longtime role as host of the event, which will air on both ESPN and NFL Network.
This is the first year since I was a little kid that I don't have cable, and of course it's this year that Zach gets inducted. I'll have to catch his speech on YouTube afterwards.
