Polamalu Headlines 2020 Pro Football HOF Finalists

[pczach]

Troy Polamalu headlines the 2020 Hall of Fame modern-era finalists: Patrick Willis among notable snubs

The Pro Football Hall of Fame is one step closer towards finalizing its largest-ever induction class

By Bryan DeArdo & Jeff Kerr



On Thursday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame revealed the 15 modern-era nominees that are finalists for induction in this year's class. Five modern-era players will be part of a record 20 enshrinees consisting of five modern-era players, 10 senior inductees, three contributors, and two coaches. Here's a look at the modern-era finalists as well as the ten semifinalists that were left off the list. The NFL (https://www.cbssports.com/nfl) will announce the full 2020 Hall of Fame induction class on the eve of Super Bowl (https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/superbowl/) LIV from Miami.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/troy-polamalu-headlines-the-2020-hall-of-fame-modern-era-finalists-patrick-willis-among-notable-snubs/

[teegre]

Troy was okay. It’s not like he’s one of the Top 100 to ever play the game...

:jerkit:

[pczach]

Troy was okay. It’s not like he’s one of the Top 100 to ever play the game...

:jerkit:


I try not to get too worked up over those make-believe lists, but it's hard not to bristle at the omission of Troy Polamalu. I think I can sum it up pretty succinctly.

There had never been a player like Troy Polamalu until he came into the NFL.

He terrorized NFL offenses in a way that had never been done before with his athleticism and his football IQ. He did things that were awe inspiring and at times....seemed impossible.

There hasn't been a player like Troy Polamalu since he left football, and there may never be another player like him. He was that special, his skillset was that diverse, and his influence on games was undeniable. He was the most disruptive secondary player that I have ever seen play.

[AtlantaDan]

I will be stunned if Troy is not selected in his first year of eligibility

Who is his presenter next summer at the induction ceremony?

Coach LeBeau?

[st33lersguy]

If Troy is not selected, you can pretty much invalidate the HOF selection committee. There is not a single nominee from that list of 15 that is better and more impactful than Troy let alone 5 (which is how much will be sent in)

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Troy will get in. I still wonder if Faneca gets in over Hutchinson or Boselli? I think both of those guys were higher profile players, but IMO Boselli only playing something like 6 seasons isn't enough to be HOF worthy and I would be surprised if 2 offensive guards make it in the same class, but both Faneca and Hutchinson belong.

[Hawkman]

I’m going. I went when Bettis went in.......like the alliteration?

[AtlantaDan]

If Troy is not selected, you can pretty much invalidate the HOF selection committee. There is not a single nominee from that list of 15 that is better and more impactful than Troy let alone 5 (which is how much will be sent in)

They are going to have to start the induction ceremony at sunrise next summer

In addition to the regular inductees the NFL is planning to induct an additional “Centennial Class” of 15 coaches, players and other “contributors” as part of the 100th anniversary shenanigans

[pczach]

They are going to have to start the induction ceremony at sunrise next summer

In addition to the regular inductees the NFL is planning to induct an additional “Centennial Class” of 15 coaches, players and other “contributors” as part of the 100th anniversary shenanigans


That's why the title of the article I posted calls this list "modern-era".

I hadn't heard about that until just recently.

A long day indeed.

[86WARD]

Troy will get in. I still wonder if Faneca gets in over Hutchinson or Boselli? I think both of those guys were higher profile players, but IMO Boselli only playing something like 6 seasons isn't enough to be HOF worthy and I would be surprised if 2 offensive guards make it in the same class, but both Faneca and Hutchinson belong.

Both Troy and Faneca should be in but they’ll come up with some cockamamie story that Polamalu and Faneca split votes or some bullshit. Hutchinson Polamalu and Faneca are all no brainers and I wouldn’t be upset if they put Boselli in with those three. He was dominating when he played...but I would also understand if Boselli never made it because he only played 7-8 seasons.

[tube517]

I will be stunned if Troy is not selected in his first year of eligibility

Who is his presenter next summer at the induction ceremony?

Coach LeBeau?

LeBeau would be my first guess.

Ryan Clark a maybe.

Maybe his USC coach if his "hatred" of the Steelers carries through to then? Not sure of who he was close to in his college days

[tube517]

1212878612925501440


Greatness.

[Crow-Magnon]

I’ll wave a Terrible Towel at a Ravens home game if TP does not make it in as a first ballot HOF’er.

Needless to say, I’m 99.9999% confident one of the best safeties of all time (regardless of that NFL 100 slight) makes it in without a sweat.

Polamalu, Reed and Lott are the Trifecta of safeties in my book.

[pczach]

I’ll wave a Terrible Towel at a Ravens home game if TP does not make it in as a first ballot HOF’er.

Needless to say, I’m 99.9999% confident one of the best safeties of all time (regardless of that NFL 100 slight) makes it in without a sweat.

Polamalu, Reed and Lott are the Trifecta of safeties in my book.



They are my top 3 as well.

Oh how lucky we have been to have a front row seat to greatness watching these guys play football.

[teegre]

Dan Patrick once stated that the NFL should have a “Polamalu cam”. Because, as good as Troy was after the snap, before the snap he’d do all sorts of stuff to throw off offenses. I mentioned him & Peyton (in another thread). There’s also highlights of entire O-lines yelling, “Find 43!!!” The dude HAD to be located and accounted for on every single play.

[Hawkman]

Dan Patrick once stated that the NFL should have a “Polamalu cam”. Because, as good as Troy was after the snap, before the snap he’d do all sorts of stuff to throw off offenses. I mentioned him & Peyton (in another thread). There’s also highlights of entire O-lines yelling, “Find 43!!!” The dude HAD to be located and accounted for on every single play.

Did LeBeau even try to coach him, or did he just say “go out there and do what you do”?

[teegre]

Did LeBeau even try to coach him, or did he just say “go out there and do what you do”?

They played 10 positions, allowing Troy to freelance. What is amazing is that Ryan Clark has to know where the hole was (that Troy vacated) and cover for that gap. It’s pretty amazing how GREAT Ryan Clark was, because in his first six season with the Steelers, he only gave up something like 5 total plays of 20+ yards.

[tube517]

Dan Patrick once stated that the NFL should have a “Polamalu cam”. Because, as good as Troy was after the snap, before the snap he’d do all sorts of stuff to throw off offenses. I mentioned him & Peyton (in another thread). There’s also highlights of entire O-lines yelling, “Find 43!!!” The dude HAD to be located and accounted for on every single play.

Peyton Manning tipped his hat to Troy and LeBeau in his retirement speech. Classy touch.

[Hawkman]

They played 10 positions, allowing Troy to freelance. What is amazing is that Ryan Clark has to know where the hole was (that Troy vacated) and cover for that gap. It’s pretty amazing how GREAT Ryan Clark was, because in his first six season with the Steelers, he only gave up something like 5 total plays of 20+ yards.

Had the true pleasure of meeting Clark at a James Farrior fund raiser here in Richmond the summer after they beat the Cardinals in the SB. What an incredibly intelligent guy and fun to talk to. Had him to myself for about fifteen minutes.

[tube517]

Peyton Manning tipped his hat to Troy and LeBeau in his retirement speech. Classy touch.

https://247sports.com/nfl/pittsburgh-steelers/Article/Peyton-Manning-mentions-Steelers-greats-in-retirement-speech-44133462/

[pczach]

Had the true pleasure of meeting Clark at a James Farrior fund raiser here in Richmond the summer after they beat the Cardinals in the SB. What an incredibly intelligent guy and fun to talk to. Had him to myself for about fifteen minutes.


That's very cool!

[Fire Goodell]

Troy P has to make it, best damned SS to ever play the game

Could you imagine a defense that had Troy and Reed in the same secondary lol. It'd be unfair.

[86WARD]

Polamalu, Reed and Lott are the Trifecta of safeties in my book.


In that order! ;)

[Born2Steel]

But would TP43 be great without all those Cowher players around him? :stirthepot:

[Fire Goodell]

But would TP43 be great without all those Cowher players around him? :stirthepot:

Yes he would. Put him on any team and he'd be great. The dude was born to play football

The Steelers always went on losing streaks whenever Troy was out, IMO, him and Aaron Smith (aka frankenstein, it always looked like his helmet was too small for his body lol) were the 2 most important players on the defense in his era.

I know Aaron Smith will never be a hall of famer, but he's one of those unsung heroes who probably deserves as much credit as anyone else

[Born2Steel]

Yes he would. Put him on any team and he'd be great. The dude was born to play football

The Steelers always went on losing streaks whenever Troy was out, IMO, him and Aaron Smith (aka frankenstein, it always looked like his helmet was too small for his body lol) were the 2 most important players on the defense in his era.

I know Aaron Smith will never be a hall of famer, but he's one of those unsung heroes who probably deserves as much credit as anyone else

:sarcasm:

[Fire Goodell]

:sarcasm:

I know your post was sarcasm but I also wanted to add 2 cents :chuckle:

[Born2Steel]

I know your post was sarcasm but I also wanted to add 2 cents :chuckle:

:drink:

[Crow-Magnon]

In that order! ;)

As this is a Steelers forum, I will digress lol.

Seriously though, as mentioned, could you even imagine Polomalu and Reed, in their primes, playing together as FS and SS? Unfair wouldn’t even begin to describe it.

[tube517]

1223442875075088385


Troy just dropped the mic. LMAO

[BlackAndGold]

1223729404427325440

[Craic]

As this is a Steelers forum, I will digress lol.

Seriously though, as mentioned, could you even imagine Polomalu and Reed, in their primes, playing together as FS and SS? Unfair wouldn’t even begin to describe it.

You know, I have thought about that, and I'm not sure if it would have worked out. Troy needed someone who would cover for him when he free-lanced. Making Reed do that would have hindered his own instinctual plays, I think. It's one of those things where the sum of the parts is greater than the whole rather than the opposite.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Great for Troy. Definately a first ballot HOF.

Faneca gets ripped off again. He and Will Sheilds were the best OG of his era and then he and Hutchinson were the best towards the end of Alan's career.

IMO, Steve Atwater belongs in the hall of very good.

[43Hitman]

I'm so happy for Troy and the Steelers. He has always represented Pittsburgh with a level of class not seen too often. The Hall just got better with the addition of 43

[stillers4me]

Please start a new thread.
Thanks.

[Butch]

Congrats to Troy, I love that he is so humble and gives credit to his teammates for helping him to become who he was. A true hero for kids to look up to, he is a very good person outside of football.

[AtlantaDan]

Great for Troy. Definately a first ballot HOF.

Faneca gets ripped off again. He and Will Sheilds were the best OG of his era and then he and Hutchinson were the best towards the end of Alan's career.

IMO, Steve Atwater belongs in the hall of very good.

Yep - Atwater 2 time All Pro as opposed to Faneca 6 time All Pro

Not as if they did not want 2 players from the same position inducted since 2 safeties are getting in

Probably a combination of Atwater had been waiting longer after multiple times as a finalist along with the usual there are enough Steelers in Canton crowd with Troy, Cowher and Shell getting in

It is an arbitrary PR exercise but Faneca should get in soon as the only current viable Steeler (Hines Ward is a longshot) in the HOF pipeline until Ben retires

[st33lersguy]

Congrats to Polamalu, well deserved. He was an obvious choice. As for Faneca, no way the Hall would let them in considering they already elected Cowher and Shell and had to let in Polamalu or essentially render themselves invalid

[DesertSteel]

Faneca gets in next year for sure.

[pczach]

Great for Troy. Definately a first ballot HOF.

Faneca gets ripped off again. He and Will Sheilds were the best OG of his era and then he and Hutchinson were the best towards the end of Alan's career.

IMO, Steve Atwater belongs in the hall of very good.



Completely agree.

[fansince'76]

Yep - Atwater 2 time All Pro as opposed to Faneca 6 time All Pro

Not as if they did not want 2 players from the same position inducted since 2 safeties are getting in

Probably a combination of Atwater had been waiting longer after multiple times as a finalist along with the usual there are enough Steelers in Canton crowd with Troy, Cowher and Shell getting in

The Broncos player that should be in there is Gradishar. 7 Pro Bowls (when that still meant something), 6-time All-Pro and DPOY in 1978.

[pczach]

The Broncos player that should be in there is Gradishar. 7 Pro Bowls (when that still meant something), 6-time All-Pro and DPOY in 1978.


Yep. He was a far better player than Atwater IMO.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

The Broncos player that should be in there is Gradishar. 7 Pro Bowls (when that still meant something), 6-time All-Pro and DPOY in 1978.

Agreed, he was the guy that you thought of when it came to those Bronco defenses.

Conversely, when I think of Broncos safety in the 90's, I think of Dennis Smith having better range in that secondary and Atwater being the hitter. One could argue that Smith was the more valuable safeties in that Denver defense. Faneca still got jobbed, but no way they put in 4 Steelers in the HOF the same class, so I guess he will have to wait some more.

[BlackAndGold]

Faneca will get in next year, suck he had to wait but it is what it is.

After him it'll be a while until a Steeler gets inducted in the HOF. Assuming Ben would be next.

[86WARD]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200202/c23465c852f2706ca9d2812565826e7f.jpg

[tube517]

The Broncos player that should be in there is Gradishar. 7 Pro Bowls (when that still meant something), 6-time All-Pro and DPOY in 1978.

I remember the AFC team LBs would have Ham, Lambert, Gradishar. Like clockwork.