Pro Football Hall of Fame Semifinalists: Hines Ward, James Harrison

[86WARD]

[Rotorhead]

Would be great if either can get in, but if I had to choose one this time, it would be Ward, and I am a silverback fan.

[oneforthetoe]

Hines def deserves it.

[BlackAndGold]

Harrison has a DPOY and has an argument for being the best defensive player in the game for 'multiple' seasons. He's 100% a HOF.

Ward has an uphill battle for his position. He does not have the stats like many of his peers, but with two rings, a Super Bowl MVP, and arguably being known as the best blocking receiver of all time. I can see Ward getting in as a part of the senior committee down the road.

[HollywoodSteel]

Harrison has a DPOY and has an argument for being the best defensive player in the game for 'multiple' seasons. He's 100% a HOF.

Ward has an uphill battle for his position. He does not have the stats like many of his peers, but with two rings, a Super Bowl MVP, and arguably being known as the best blocking receiver of all time. I can see Ward getting in as a part of the senior committee down the road.

I mean, he was so fierce they had to change the rules of football to protect defenders from him. That has to count for something.

[BlackAndGold]

I mean, he was so fierce they had to change the rules of football to protect defenders from him. That has to count for something.

That too, though he was painted as the devil during that time period. Something the league won't gloat about. Still one of the baddest mf's that has walked on an NFL field.

[pczach]

Harrison has a DPOY and has an argument for being the best defensive player in the game for 'multiple' seasons. He's 100% a HOF.

Ward has an uphill battle for his position. He does not have the stats like many of his peers, but with two rings, a Super Bowl MVP, and arguably being known as the best blocking receiver of all time. I can see Ward getting in as a part of the senior committee down the road.

I think you kind of nail what both these players were.

Harrison was an elite defender and perhaps the best defensive player in the game for a number of years. His career was relatively short but if a guy like Terell Davis gets in, Harrison should be in. He was the baddest man on an NFL field for an extended period of time.

Like you said, Ward probably has to wait a good while to have a chance to get in because his numbers don't compare to the best at his position.

[MikeT]

I think you kind of nail what both these players were.

Harrison was an elite defender and perhaps the best defensive player in the game for a number of years. His career was relatively short but if a guy like Terell Davis gets in, Harrison should be in. He was the baddest man on an NFL field for an extended period of time.

Like you said, Ward probably has to wait a good while to have a chance to get in because his numbers don't compare to the best at his position.

Only thing missing from this about Harrison is his Journey to becoming the player that he was. He wasnt some high draft pick that came in and had a starting role handed to him. He worked his tail off to become elite and thru lots of ups and downs. That makes for a pretty cool part of the story as well.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

Harrison has a DPOY and has an argument for being the best defensive player in the game for 'multiple' seasons. He's 100% a HOF.

Ward has an uphill battle for his position. He does not have the stats like many of his peers, but with two rings, a Super Bowl MVP, and arguably being known as the best blocking receiver of all time. I can see Ward getting in as a part of the senior committee down the road.

Yeah, this might be the year for Harrison, but I agree that Ward may take a while if he ever gets in.

Julius Peppers, Reggie Wayne, Antonio Gates, Dwight Freeney, James Harrison, Rodney Harrison are my guesses this year.

Andre Johnson, Devin Hester, Eddie George, Torry Holt, Ricky Watters, Vince Wilfork, Eric Allen could all be in the mix as well.

[Mojouw]

Both are great players. Both have an impressive track record of achievements. Neither is a HOF'er in my opinion.

[tube517]

So for Deebo the "magic" number is 100 sacks. He doesn't have that. However, there are several HOF'ers under 100 sacks.

Deebo has a DPOY, 2x SB Champion, 4x AFC Champion (yeah one w/the Cheats**), 2x First Team All Pro, 2x Second team All Pro, 5x Pro Bowl.

FWIW, Deebo himself said he doesn't think he deserves to get in.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

So for Deebo the "magic" number is 100 sacks. He doesn't have that. However, there are several HOF'ers under 100 sacks.

Deebo has a DPOY, 2x SB Champion, 4x AFC Champion (yeah one w/the Cheats**), 2x First Team All Pro, 2x Second team All Pro, 5x Pro Bowl.

FWIW, Deebo himself said he doesn't think he deserves to get in.

For me the stats of Super Bowls and AFCC dont really mean anything in the conversation. Lots of great players played on lousy teams and didnt have team success. So for Deebo the DPOY and All Pro awards mean something, as I recall there was a 3-5 year stretch where he was dominant and one of the most impactful defensive players in the league. Elvis Dumerville has 105.5 career sacks and I dont consider him to be HOF worthy, but Deebo I do.

[Rocky Mtn.]

For me the stats of Super Bowls and AFCC dont really mean anything in the conversation. Lots of great players played on lousy teams and didnt have team success. So for Deebo the DPOY and All Pro awards mean something, as I recall there was a 3-5 year stretch where he was dominant and one of the most impactful defensive players in the league. Elvis Dumerville has 105.5 career sacks and I dont consider him to be HOF worthy, but Deebo I do.

In pass rushing ,Harrison was HELD to some degree on almost every play. The refs let so many of them slide .

[Devilsdancefloor]

hines has a a uphill ar WR it took art monk forever to get in . as far as deebo i doubt he ever makes it, but it would be great to hear his speech lol

[Hawkman]

hines has a a uphill ar WR it took art monk forever to get in . as far as deebo i doubt he ever makes it, but it would be great to hear his speech lol

As a homer I want both of them to get in as soon as possible, but realistically…..I’m not sure either one of them will ever get in.

[86WARD]

Harrison has the greatest play in Super Bowl History on his resume as well. That doesn’t hurt…

[DesertSteel]

I like how baseball shows the voting results so you know how close a guy is and you're able to project his election in the near future. I think both of these guys deserve to be in.

[tube517]

Harold Carmichael got in. Yes different era and his stats were not that great. Hines will eventually get in maybe later on.

Sent from my SM-F711U using Tapatalk

[Craic]

Harrison has a DPOY and has an argument for being the best defensive player in the game for 'multiple' seasons. He's 100% a HOF.

Ward has an uphill battle for his position. He does not have the stats like many of his peers, but with two rings, a Super Bowl MVP, and arguably being known as the best blocking receiver of all time. I can see Ward getting in as a part of the senior committee down the road.

One of the best, sure. But he wasn't even the best defensive player on the team. That, I think, goes to Troy. Nevertheless, for a good five or so seasons, he was perhaps one of, if not the best OLB in the NFL. I absolutely think he belongs in the HoF.
------------

Hines Ward belongs in it as well but I think it may be a harder road for him because HoF voters tend not to value grunt work like blocking.

[willy]

I don't know about James Harrison. I didn't see him enough to judge. You sure knew he was out there though.

Rodney Harrison, also a semifinalists, and another hard hitter, should get in.