Post by TheShadow on Feb 7, 2009 8:49:45 GMT -5
www.examiner.com
by Patrick Patterson
Every year the NFL enshrines more players in the hallowed halls of Canton and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. However, with each new class that goes in the chances for the deserving Oakland Raiders who have been repeatedly shafted over the years get increasingly dim. The obvious names are Ken "The Snake" Stabler and Ray Guy, every year the Raider Nation holds up those names as more deserving than most of the incoming class, but each year these guys continue waiting for yet another year. Besides the big two, there are several others who should definitely get the call to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Two of the most recent inductees, Ralph Wilson, Jr and Rod Woodson have ties to the Oakland Raiders. The Woodson ties are obvious, as he was a key player in Raiders AFC Championship year of 2002. Wilson, on the other hand, has much more subtle ties to the Silver and Black. In the early days of the Raiders, they were in dire financial straits, and Wilson arranged a loan to keep the Raiders afloat for limited partnership shares that were an arm's length deal.
It is high time for the writers who select the Hall of Fame classes to give the respect that the salad years of the Raiders deserve. There are few teams that had the sustained success that the Raiders had from the mid sixties through the mid eighties. They are also one of the select few teams to win three Super Bowl titles in less than a decade, but they don't get the respect that the other teams who accomplished that feat get. Nearly every starter from the Steelers of the 70s has a bust in Canton. However, the Raiders were their top nemesis, but they have far fewer inductees from that same time period.
Here are ten Raiders who are eligible who deserve their bust in Canton.
1. Ken Stabler- Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z has a personal grudge against Stabler, and has frequently gone on record as saying that he will do anything he can to block Stabler's admission into that immortal club. Stabler has the ring. Stabler has the defining moments. Stabler's statistics are superior to his contemporary Joe Nameth who is enshrined.
2. Ray Guy- The only reason that Ray Guy is not in the Hall of Fame is that he was a punter. He was the best punter in the game, which was proven when he was named to the NFL's All-75 75th anniversary team in 1994. He is the only eligible member of that team who is not recognized by the Hall. It wasn't until Guy that the term hang-time became part of the public lexicon.
3. Jack Tatum- Jack Tatum's impact can not be described by mere statistics. He was the most feared safety in the game. His mere presence in the middle of the field convinced receivers not to make a play on the ball. His game was the template for Hall of Fame members Rod Woodson and Ronnie Lott. His place in the game is unfairly tarnished by his paralyzing hit on Darryl Stingly. It was a tragic moment for the NFL, but it was a clean and legal hit.
4. Cliff Branch- Branch was the quintessential deep threat wide receiver. He won three championships in Silver and Black, and had both a longer and more productive career than Hall of Fame members Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.
5. Lester Hayes- When it comes to shut down receivers Hayes wrote the book. He broke out in the 1980 season coming one pick short of Dick "Night Train" Lane's single season record. He added two interceptions that post season on the way to the first of his two Super Bowl rings. Following the '80 season quarterback stopped throwing to his side of the field, even after current Hall of Fame member Michael Haynes lined up on the other side of the field.
6. Jim Plunkett- There are knocks on him that he wasn't at the top of his game long enough, or that he was a bust out of college before having his success. There are also questions about how his numbers stack up, but here is one fact: Plunk is the only eligible quarterback with multiple Super Bowl rings who hasn't gotten the call.
7. Dave Dalby- Double D took over for Hall of Fame member Double 0, and did not miss a beat or a game. In fact, from the time Dalby took over for Otto in 1975 he continued Otto's ironman streak and didn't miss a game until he retired in 1985. The Raiders won three Super Bowl rings with him having his hands on the ball every play.
8. Tom Flores- Why Coach Flores doesn't get any buzz out of the Raider Nation is a very good question. He has the rings. In fact, Flores has four rings: One as a player, one as an assistant coach, and two as a head coach. He has 97 wins in the regular season to fall just short of the 100 win benchmark, but when his post season is factored in, he clears that hurdle.
9. Phil Villapiano- Sal Palantonio of ESPN has said that he is deserving of the Hall. In fact, he was an underrated member of a dominating defense for the Raiders of the seventies.
10 Tim Brown- Tim Brown will be in his first year of eligibility. He retired as one of the top receivers in nearly all categories. He was the second to 100 touchdowns, and one of the most consistent receivers of all time.
by Patrick Patterson
Every year the NFL enshrines more players in the hallowed halls of Canton and the Pro Football Hall of Fame. However, with each new class that goes in the chances for the deserving Oakland Raiders who have been repeatedly shafted over the years get increasingly dim. The obvious names are Ken "The Snake" Stabler and Ray Guy, every year the Raider Nation holds up those names as more deserving than most of the incoming class, but each year these guys continue waiting for yet another year. Besides the big two, there are several others who should definitely get the call to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Two of the most recent inductees, Ralph Wilson, Jr and Rod Woodson have ties to the Oakland Raiders. The Woodson ties are obvious, as he was a key player in Raiders AFC Championship year of 2002. Wilson, on the other hand, has much more subtle ties to the Silver and Black. In the early days of the Raiders, they were in dire financial straits, and Wilson arranged a loan to keep the Raiders afloat for limited partnership shares that were an arm's length deal.
It is high time for the writers who select the Hall of Fame classes to give the respect that the salad years of the Raiders deserve. There are few teams that had the sustained success that the Raiders had from the mid sixties through the mid eighties. They are also one of the select few teams to win three Super Bowl titles in less than a decade, but they don't get the respect that the other teams who accomplished that feat get. Nearly every starter from the Steelers of the 70s has a bust in Canton. However, the Raiders were their top nemesis, but they have far fewer inductees from that same time period.
Here are ten Raiders who are eligible who deserve their bust in Canton.
1. Ken Stabler- Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z has a personal grudge against Stabler, and has frequently gone on record as saying that he will do anything he can to block Stabler's admission into that immortal club. Stabler has the ring. Stabler has the defining moments. Stabler's statistics are superior to his contemporary Joe Nameth who is enshrined.
2. Ray Guy- The only reason that Ray Guy is not in the Hall of Fame is that he was a punter. He was the best punter in the game, which was proven when he was named to the NFL's All-75 75th anniversary team in 1994. He is the only eligible member of that team who is not recognized by the Hall. It wasn't until Guy that the term hang-time became part of the public lexicon.
3. Jack Tatum- Jack Tatum's impact can not be described by mere statistics. He was the most feared safety in the game. His mere presence in the middle of the field convinced receivers not to make a play on the ball. His game was the template for Hall of Fame members Rod Woodson and Ronnie Lott. His place in the game is unfairly tarnished by his paralyzing hit on Darryl Stingly. It was a tragic moment for the NFL, but it was a clean and legal hit.
4. Cliff Branch- Branch was the quintessential deep threat wide receiver. He won three championships in Silver and Black, and had both a longer and more productive career than Hall of Fame members Lynn Swann and John Stallworth.
5. Lester Hayes- When it comes to shut down receivers Hayes wrote the book. He broke out in the 1980 season coming one pick short of Dick "Night Train" Lane's single season record. He added two interceptions that post season on the way to the first of his two Super Bowl rings. Following the '80 season quarterback stopped throwing to his side of the field, even after current Hall of Fame member Michael Haynes lined up on the other side of the field.
6. Jim Plunkett- There are knocks on him that he wasn't at the top of his game long enough, or that he was a bust out of college before having his success. There are also questions about how his numbers stack up, but here is one fact: Plunk is the only eligible quarterback with multiple Super Bowl rings who hasn't gotten the call.
7. Dave Dalby- Double D took over for Hall of Fame member Double 0, and did not miss a beat or a game. In fact, from the time Dalby took over for Otto in 1975 he continued Otto's ironman streak and didn't miss a game until he retired in 1985. The Raiders won three Super Bowl rings with him having his hands on the ball every play.
8. Tom Flores- Why Coach Flores doesn't get any buzz out of the Raider Nation is a very good question. He has the rings. In fact, Flores has four rings: One as a player, one as an assistant coach, and two as a head coach. He has 97 wins in the regular season to fall just short of the 100 win benchmark, but when his post season is factored in, he clears that hurdle.
9. Phil Villapiano- Sal Palantonio of ESPN has said that he is deserving of the Hall. In fact, he was an underrated member of a dominating defense for the Raiders of the seventies.
10 Tim Brown- Tim Brown will be in his first year of eligibility. He retired as one of the top receivers in nearly all categories. He was the second to 100 touchdowns, and one of the most consistent receivers of all time.