2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductees
2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductees
No less than four, no more than eight. That is the rules for the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction class. When looking at the 15 names remaining on the list, it’s quite difficult to cut down this year’s class. Hall of Fame voting is something that’s gotten a lot of shit over the years but now that I’m in their shoes, I understand the thought process a little more.
I think the best thing to do would be to get the locks out of the way. Of the players who are on the ballot for the first time, there are three that will be going in. It’s Ed Reed, Tony Gonzalez, and Champ Bailey. That leaves five potential spots left. I’d give a spot to Tom Flores because of his Super Bowl wins with the Raiders. If you have two or more, you’re a Hall of Fame coach in my book.
That leaves four spots left and eleven names still left. The names are as followed: Isaac Bruce, Edgerrin James, Steve Atwater, Ty Law, John Lynch, Kevin Mawae, Alan Faneca, Richard Seymour, Don Coryell, Tony Boselli, and Steve Hutchinson. All of these names command great respect in the football world and while I do think they all may get into the hall eventually, which ones are going in this week?
Isaac Bruce had a great career with the Rams but I don’t think he’s making the cut. Edgerrin James is another one I don’t see making the cut either. I feel the Hall should put Steve Atwater into the Hall because of his accolades and impact on the field. Honestly, how he’s not in already baffles my mind.
That’s five, three more to go.
Ty Law has three rings and 53 career picks. If Deion has two rings and roughly the same amount of picks, I don’t see why the Hall won’t give Ty Law a break. John Lynch is a lock for me. Like Atwater, I don’t understand how he’s not in already. Nine Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl with the 2002 Bucs? Come on, put him in!
That puts us at seven, one last spot. This is where that final spot becomes so damn tough for me. I love all of the players but I know I may need to take some out. Let me get one thing out of the way by saying Don Coryell will not be making the cut. His passing offense got him no rings so that leaves us with five more names.
First up is Richard Seymour, a teammate of Ty Law’s in New England. With three rings and seven pro bowls, I should give him the pass but I can’t count out the other names. Kevin Mawae is one of the greatest centers ever and with seven appearances on the First Team All-Pro Team, I should give him the nod but he hasn’t a ring. Is that his fault? Not necessarily but I do give credence to those with the Lombardi Trophy in their corner.
So does that mean I’m going to put Alan Faneca in over Steve Hutchinson? Faneca has nine Pro-Bowls and a Super Bowl win while Hutchinson went to Seven Pro Bowls and not even a Super Bowl appearance. Sorry, Steve, I’m giving the nod to Faneca over you. It’s the same thing with you, Tony Boselli. Had your dominance with Jacksonville continued, I’d say different but it is what it is. I’m taking Hutchinson and Boselli off the board while keeping Faneca on.
Does that leave us with eight? NO! It leaves us with nine, I need to cut one more. Oh, this is torture, why can’t the Hall extend their induction class to nine names? Well, I’ll have to play by the rules and cut it down to eight. Let me try to do this without having a breakdown.
Ed Reed, Tony Gonzalez and Champ Bailey are not leaving under any circumstances. I’m also not going to take Tom Flores out. Steve Atwater terrorized receivers and running backs for a decade so he’s making the cut as well. I’m keeping John Lynch on as well if only because he cleaned the clock of Barry Sanders, on top of all his other accomplishments.
That leaves Ty Law, Alan Faneca, and Richard Seymour. Ty Law will be making it into my Hall of Fame, which leaves Faneca and Seymour. Faneca went to nine Pro Bowls, won Super Bowl XL with the Steelers and continued to be a force in the league even when he left Pittsburgh.
Then there’s Seymour, who was a big reason why New England won those Super Bowls in the early 2000s. Is it just a coincidence that they go 11-5 and win the Super Bowl during Seymour’s rookie season? All of these people talk about there is this Brady guy but defense wins championships! Speaking of which, where the heck are Teddy Bruschi and Willie McGinnest?
Who am I going to pick? I’m sorry Alan Faneca, I’m going to have to take Richard Seymour over you. Seymour continued to be a force even when he went to the Raiders. He was a big part of a championship squad that was the team of the 2000s and those teams beat Faneca’s Steelers, twice…both games were in Pittsburgh.
So there you have it. My inductees for the 2019 Pro Football Hall of Fame are as followed:
Champ Bailey, Tom Flores, Ed Reed, Steve Atwater, John Lynch, Tony Gonzalez, Richard Seymour, and Ty Law.
Of course, just because I feel it should be this way doesn’t mean it’s going to be that way. I was of the opinion that Cris Carter should’ve gotten in on the first ballot but they made that poor sucker wait for years before showing mercy. I’m sure one of these great players is going to have to wait a little longer. If that’s the case, I hope their wait ends within the next few years.
We’ll just have to wait for next Saturday…
-By: Thomas P. Braun Jr.