Post by TheShadow on Nov 30, 2008 9:45:45 GMT -5
www.insidebayarea.com
By Monte Poole
THE LIST DID not include such bejeweled, accomplished men as Jim Plunkett, Cliff Branch or John Taylor. Nor did it include George Seifert or Tom Flores, each of whom coached two Super Bowl champions.
But 25 individuals were announced as semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009, and nine of them played for the Raiders or the 49ers — or both. This is one man's list of their worthiness, in reverse order:
Richard Dent was a pass-rushing defensive end who spent one unremarkable season, late in his career, with the 49ers. His best years were with the Chicago Bears, for whom he was a key member of some of the best units in NFL history.
Dent retired with 137.5 sacks (seventh all-time). He was terrific, a four-time Pro Bowler, but probably not a Hall of Famer. If I were a voter, he wouldn't be on my ballot this time around.
Kenny Stabler is the most fabled quarterback in Raiders history and the first to win a Super Bowl. The southpaw's greatest asset was his ability to perform in the clutch. Only two quarterbacks in NFL history, Joe Montana and Tom Brady, reached 100 wins faster.
Stabler, however, was surrounded by a wealth of talent. He was a winner, for sure, and a four-time Pro Bowler, but how does one vote for a QB who had only one truly great season (1976) and threw far more interceptions than touchdowns?
Chris Doleman was a pass-rushing specialist who spent three years with the 49ers (1996-98) and ranks fourth on the league's all-time sacks list (150.5). His best years were in Minnesota, where he was a feared member of some wicked units.
Though Doleman's numbers are impressive, including eight Pro Bowls, he didn't change the game, and his Vikings consistently came up short. He comes up short, because Bruce Smith and John Randle also are semifinalists.
Ray Guy spent his entire 14-year career with the Raiders and generally is considered the greatest punter ever. The issue is debated, justifiably, but nobody's name is more synonymous with superior punting than this seven-time Pro Bowl selection.
If a punter should get in, my vote goes to Guy. Others had better numbers, but nobody made a greater impact. This field of candidates, however, is too deep to fight for Guy's inclusion.
Kevin Greene spent one-year in San Francisco, and it wasn't one of his greatest seasons. That said, Greene's pass-rushing skill as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense was comparable to that of Lawrence Taylor.
Greene ranks third all-time in sacks (160) and earned five trips to the Pro Bowl. He was a beast, no doubt, but his teams rarely were championship-caliber. He deserves to be in the discussion, but he doesn't measure up with this group.
Lester Hayes, who spent his 10-year career as a Raider, is among the most famous/infamous cornerbacks in league history. His 1980 season (13 interceptions, four others nullified by penalty) was off the charts.
The Judge had but 26 picks over the eight other seasons, many of which were with Hall of Famer Mike Haynes on the other side of the field. It's good to see Lester's candidacy get enough traction to reach this stage, but he's still outside looking in.
Roger Craig played one year with the Raiders but is the most complete running back in 49ers history. He ran, he caught, he blocked, and he played on three Super Bowl champions. This first-time semifinalist deserves to be here.
Was he distinctive? Yes. Did he force defensive adjustments? Absolutely. Is he a Hall of Famer? Maybe. But not in the Class of 2009.
Charles Haley was a defensive end, a linebacker and a maniac. This Bill Walsh discovery, who basically split his career between the 49ers and Cowboys, was one of the best football players, ever.
Haley, the first great ``elephant'' pass-rusher, accumulated 100.5 sacks and made five Pro Bowl squads. More to the point, he played on two Super Bowl champions in San Francisco and three in Dallas — the only man with five rings, from two organizations. He'd get my vote.
The easiest call of all is Rod Woodson, who spent one year at cornerback with the 49ers and two at safety with the Raiders but was a legend in Pittsburgh.
He had 71 interceptions, 12 of which were returned for touchdowns. He also returned punts and kickoffs, made 11 Pro Bowls and frequented the playoffs. If Woodson isn't a first-ballot lock, well, it's time to investigate the voters.
By Monte Poole
THE LIST DID not include such bejeweled, accomplished men as Jim Plunkett, Cliff Branch or John Taylor. Nor did it include George Seifert or Tom Flores, each of whom coached two Super Bowl champions.
But 25 individuals were announced as semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009, and nine of them played for the Raiders or the 49ers — or both. This is one man's list of their worthiness, in reverse order:
Richard Dent was a pass-rushing defensive end who spent one unremarkable season, late in his career, with the 49ers. His best years were with the Chicago Bears, for whom he was a key member of some of the best units in NFL history.
Dent retired with 137.5 sacks (seventh all-time). He was terrific, a four-time Pro Bowler, but probably not a Hall of Famer. If I were a voter, he wouldn't be on my ballot this time around.
Kenny Stabler is the most fabled quarterback in Raiders history and the first to win a Super Bowl. The southpaw's greatest asset was his ability to perform in the clutch. Only two quarterbacks in NFL history, Joe Montana and Tom Brady, reached 100 wins faster.
Stabler, however, was surrounded by a wealth of talent. He was a winner, for sure, and a four-time Pro Bowler, but how does one vote for a QB who had only one truly great season (1976) and threw far more interceptions than touchdowns?
Chris Doleman was a pass-rushing specialist who spent three years with the 49ers (1996-98) and ranks fourth on the league's all-time sacks list (150.5). His best years were in Minnesota, where he was a feared member of some wicked units.
Though Doleman's numbers are impressive, including eight Pro Bowls, he didn't change the game, and his Vikings consistently came up short. He comes up short, because Bruce Smith and John Randle also are semifinalists.
Ray Guy spent his entire 14-year career with the Raiders and generally is considered the greatest punter ever. The issue is debated, justifiably, but nobody's name is more synonymous with superior punting than this seven-time Pro Bowl selection.
If a punter should get in, my vote goes to Guy. Others had better numbers, but nobody made a greater impact. This field of candidates, however, is too deep to fight for Guy's inclusion.
Kevin Greene spent one-year in San Francisco, and it wasn't one of his greatest seasons. That said, Greene's pass-rushing skill as an outside linebacker in the 3-4 defense was comparable to that of Lawrence Taylor.
Greene ranks third all-time in sacks (160) and earned five trips to the Pro Bowl. He was a beast, no doubt, but his teams rarely were championship-caliber. He deserves to be in the discussion, but he doesn't measure up with this group.
Lester Hayes, who spent his 10-year career as a Raider, is among the most famous/infamous cornerbacks in league history. His 1980 season (13 interceptions, four others nullified by penalty) was off the charts.
The Judge had but 26 picks over the eight other seasons, many of which were with Hall of Famer Mike Haynes on the other side of the field. It's good to see Lester's candidacy get enough traction to reach this stage, but he's still outside looking in.
Roger Craig played one year with the Raiders but is the most complete running back in 49ers history. He ran, he caught, he blocked, and he played on three Super Bowl champions. This first-time semifinalist deserves to be here.
Was he distinctive? Yes. Did he force defensive adjustments? Absolutely. Is he a Hall of Famer? Maybe. But not in the Class of 2009.
Charles Haley was a defensive end, a linebacker and a maniac. This Bill Walsh discovery, who basically split his career between the 49ers and Cowboys, was one of the best football players, ever.
Haley, the first great ``elephant'' pass-rusher, accumulated 100.5 sacks and made five Pro Bowl squads. More to the point, he played on two Super Bowl champions in San Francisco and three in Dallas — the only man with five rings, from two organizations. He'd get my vote.
The easiest call of all is Rod Woodson, who spent one year at cornerback with the 49ers and two at safety with the Raiders but was a legend in Pittsburgh.
He had 71 interceptions, 12 of which were returned for touchdowns. He also returned punts and kickoffs, made 11 Pro Bowls and frequented the playoffs. If Woodson isn't a first-ballot lock, well, it's time to investigate the voters.