Hines Ward Hall of Fame Debate

I see the Hines HOF debates popping up in the news again and just wanted to drop some ammo here in case you find yourself in one of these debates.

Everyone wants to overvalue stats even for guys that decimate teams like T.O. or guys that ran up numbers in meaningless regular season games when their team was down by 20 (looking at you Calvin). But ok, I'll play along, let's look at stats. But stats in games that actually matter.

ALL TIME POST SEASON RECEIVING LEADERS

Receptions
1 Jerry Rice 151
2 Reggie Wayne 93
3 Hines Ward 88
Wes Welker 88
5 Michael Irvin 87

Yards
1 Jerry Rice 2,245
2 Michael Irvin 1,315
3 Cliff Branch 1,289
4 Reggie Wayne 1,254
5 Andre Reed 1,229
6 Hines Ward 1,181

TDs
1 Jerry Rice 22
2 John Stallworth 12
3 Hines Ward 10
Randy Moss 10
Antonio Freeman 10
Larry Fitzgerald 10
Fred Biletnikoff 10

But for some reason, people don't seem to pay any attention to playoff numbers when considering HOF. These post season #s + solid reg season #s with qb carousel + best blocking wr ever + rule change + sb mvp + 2 rings = HOF

 

Ward forever changed the game. They had to come up with a rule to stop a WR from blowing people up. You have to look at that also. He wasn't just some thug running around out there. He was a playmaker.

 

Do they have a stat for # of opponents jaws broken while blocking?

 

Good players can be held back that are on crappy teams. Can't just look at playoff stats as not everyone gets to make the playoffs.
Gotta look at the whole body of work.

 

That n' at

Although some people think 2 Superbowls get a QB into the hall off fame, what you do in October should count more. Same for wide receivers.

 

John Madden talked about how great Hines was the night that he set the all time Steelers record for receptions. That's the same John Madden who had been on the receiving end, no pun intended, of Swann and Stallworth and both of those guys are in the Hall. Hines wasn't "flashy" and for this era that's more what counts but man if you wanted an all around FOOTBALL PLAYER Hines was a beast and then some. I wouldn't say he's a "first ballot" guy but he definitely deserves it and should be strongly considered. I thought it was a joke that Andre Reed had to wait so long but hopefully Hines won't have to.

 

I think he deserves it... Is there a stat for most 3rd down conversion catches, he might be #1?

 

It maybe hard getting in for Hines, we shall see.

 

Disagree. His TD celebrations were dazzling.

 

Debate? What debate? He is HOF'er period. Might take some time.

 

he's in mine
sooo
thats all that matters

 

Touche. Also his dance moves are phenomenal.

 

He's a Hover but they won't put him in ...1st ballot

 

Antonio Brown is on a HOF trajectory... and will likely surpass Ward in every stat category. That, in itself, will make it harder for Hines Ward to make the HOF.

Plus, if Ben plays another 5 years... Antonio Brown will be a lock for HOF, 1st ballot.

 

as a STEELER?

 

I think Hines will eventually get in but I think it'll be a seniors committee thing well down the road.

13th all-time in receptions (and every guy on the list ahead of him is either current or future HOF'er -- except T.O.?) and nobody else is even on the radar to pass him any time soon unless a broken down Steve Smith finds 40 catches this season (he had 46 last season)
15th all-time in TD receptions (and, again, every guy on the list ahead of him . . . HOF)

Add 2 Super Bowl rings, add a Super Bowl MVP, add his 'star power', and add the intangibles (best blocking wr in football, chain mover, etc) . . .

Cons: Only 4 Pro Bowls in 14-year career and zero first-team All-Pro selections.
Wasn't named to the All-Decade team for the 2000's (Moss, Harrison, T.O., Torry Holt)

In comparison to his peers: Randy Moss played 13 seasons, 6 Pro Bowls and 4 first-team All-Pro.
Marvin Harrison played 13 seasons, 8 Pro Bowls, 3 first-team All-Pro.
Terrell Owens played 15 seasons, 6 Pro Bowls, and 5-time first-team All-Pro.
Torry Holt played 11 seasons, 7 Pro Bowls, 1 first-team All-Pro.

I'd put him in -- but, obviously, i'm quite biased.

Oh, and the TD celebrations in 2004 alone should get him in. Mimicking other TD celebrations was hysterical (Chad Johnson's Riverdance, T.O.'s flappy bird, Randy Moss's mooning of the GB fans and, the best, burying the turds in the Dawg Pound). The best part was that he did all of those celebrations against their teams as we were blowing 'em out. Fun season!

 

He will get in... but it is going to take some time.


Marvin Harrison, Torey Holt, Randy Moss and Terrell Owens will get in before him I am afraid. While none of them have the same amount of total hardware, their stats either exceed or far exceed his.

 

On average the HOF puts in one WR every two years. I think your right that Harrison, Holt, Moss and Owens get in ahead of Hines. He may not get in before 2025.

Actually, I wouldn't be shocked if Ben gets in before Hines does.

 

Nor would I. Should Ben win one more, he is an auto lock for first ballot and there is nothing anyone else can say about it.