Post by TheShadow on Dec 5, 2007 4:35:18 GMT -5
www.sacbee.com/
By Paul Gutierrez
With Oakland claiming 17 Pro Football Hall of Famers, including Raiders-for-a-minute Ronnie Lott and Eric Dickerson, and the 49ers boasting 12 , including Lott, The Bee submits five candidates with Bay Area ties for Hall consideration:
TOM FLORES
Raiders head coach 1979-87
Yea: One of three Hall-eligible coaches with at least two Super Bowl titles not in Canton, Flores also owns rings as an Oakland assistant and as a backup QB with Kansas City, and he boasts a lasting legacy as the first Latino/minority coach to win the Super Bowl.
• Nay: Overall 105-90 record sullied by three consecutive last-place finishes and cumulative mark of 14-34 as Seattle coach after the Raiders.
TOMMY DAVIS 49ers kicker, punter, 1959-69
• Yea: Converted a then-record 234 consecutive extra points, missing just two of 350 in his career, and though he punted in windy Kezar Stadium, his 44.7-yard career average was third in league history entering this season.
• Nay: Played before special teams were considered integral; plus, history and bias work against him, as no punters have been elected.
RAY GUY Raiders punter 1973-86
• Yea: His booming punts and magnificent hang time – he once hit the hanging scoreboard at the Superdome – seemed to at once define and reinvent the position. The seven-time Pro Bowler also won three rings.
• Nay: His 42.4-yard career average ranked just 45th in league history entering last weekend's games. Plus, there's that bias-against-punters thing.
ROGER CRAIG 49ers running back 1983-90
• Yea: Three-time Super Bowl champ became first RB to gain more than 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in one season (1985), and the four-time Pro Bowl player is the only back to lead league in receptions in a season.
• Nay: He had only three 1,000-yard rushing seasons and just one 1,000-yard receiving season and is not in top 30 of all-time leading rushers.
JIM PLUNKETT
Raiders quarterback 1978-86
• Yea: The heart and soul of two title teams, he is one of only eight starting QBs with multiple championships (six others already are in Canton, and Tom Brady is en route), and the Super Bowl XV MVP was 8-2 in the postseason.
• Nay: With a career passer rating of just 67.5, he also threw 34 more interceptions than touchdowns (198 to 164).
By Paul Gutierrez
With Oakland claiming 17 Pro Football Hall of Famers, including Raiders-for-a-minute Ronnie Lott and Eric Dickerson, and the 49ers boasting 12 , including Lott, The Bee submits five candidates with Bay Area ties for Hall consideration:
TOM FLORES
Raiders head coach 1979-87
Yea: One of three Hall-eligible coaches with at least two Super Bowl titles not in Canton, Flores also owns rings as an Oakland assistant and as a backup QB with Kansas City, and he boasts a lasting legacy as the first Latino/minority coach to win the Super Bowl.
• Nay: Overall 105-90 record sullied by three consecutive last-place finishes and cumulative mark of 14-34 as Seattle coach after the Raiders.
TOMMY DAVIS 49ers kicker, punter, 1959-69
• Yea: Converted a then-record 234 consecutive extra points, missing just two of 350 in his career, and though he punted in windy Kezar Stadium, his 44.7-yard career average was third in league history entering this season.
• Nay: Played before special teams were considered integral; plus, history and bias work against him, as no punters have been elected.
RAY GUY Raiders punter 1973-86
• Yea: His booming punts and magnificent hang time – he once hit the hanging scoreboard at the Superdome – seemed to at once define and reinvent the position. The seven-time Pro Bowler also won three rings.
• Nay: His 42.4-yard career average ranked just 45th in league history entering last weekend's games. Plus, there's that bias-against-punters thing.
ROGER CRAIG 49ers running back 1983-90
• Yea: Three-time Super Bowl champ became first RB to gain more than 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in one season (1985), and the four-time Pro Bowl player is the only back to lead league in receptions in a season.
• Nay: He had only three 1,000-yard rushing seasons and just one 1,000-yard receiving season and is not in top 30 of all-time leading rushers.
JIM PLUNKETT
Raiders quarterback 1978-86
• Yea: The heart and soul of two title teams, he is one of only eight starting QBs with multiple championships (six others already are in Canton, and Tom Brady is en route), and the Super Bowl XV MVP was 8-2 in the postseason.
• Nay: With a career passer rating of just 67.5, he also threw 34 more interceptions than touchdowns (198 to 164).