Let's discuss Hines and the HOF

Now that Hines has officially retired, I see a lot of people talking about him and the HOF. I had always thought he gets in but I know I'm biased because Hines has always been my favorite player. With the recent logjam of wide receivers (Chris Carter, Tim Brown, Andre Reed)... I start to wonder.


The argument for him is his stats are solid for playing in a running offense most of his career, his team's overwhelming success while he was on the team, by far the best blocking WR of all time, 2 rings, 1 more SB appearance, 1 SB MVP award. His contributions off the field will probably be a plus also.

The argument against him is he was never really dominant or the best WR in the game at any point in his career. That shows by the fact he was never selected to an all pro team, and only 4 pro bowls.

 

Also need to look at who goes in around him. I don't think Hines will be a first balloter so guys that retire before and after him will matter, like Randy Moss and T.O. who should both be in for sure.

 

I think for most Steelers fans, it would be a no-brainer. For one thing, he has eclipsed the records set by Stallworth and Swann, who are already in.

But I think as well as the points you mention against him going in, we should add thaht he's a Steeler, and there are a lot of them already in... which shouldn't matter, but may well fuel the "he wasn't dominant" "only 4 pro bowls" argument further than it would otherwise go.

I guess the main thing is to consider who his competition would be to get in. For my part, while I hope I'm wrong, I can't see him going in first time round.

EDIT: D'oh! Managed to say exactly what Steelbydesign did above me, somehow...

 

His post season stats are great that helps him out a lot. Alao hia impact on the game itself. He changed the game of football forever theres no denying that. He went hard no matter what the play was and never looked like he wasnt having a good time. When you're talking HOF its more then numbers and the littlest things separate people.

 

I think that the numbers are a huge factor but I have heard quite a few people talking how he changed game being a bigger factor in any HOF discussion so you may be right. If that is the case I think he doesn't get in initially until he is nominated by the veteran committee, guys who look beyond the stats.

 

I don't think he gets in on the first ballot but I hope he does get in eventually. I mean when you have Chris Carter and Andre Reed still waiting I think it's safe to say that Hines will probably have to wait a while. I mean Jerome Bettis is not even in yet and he was the 5th all time rusher when he called it a day. We know as Steeler fans that Hines was great because we see the intangible things that they don't make stats for. How many other receivers look for people to hit and lay out safeties and linbackers? Also how many wide receivers could block like him? I think the HOF is kinda incompetent anyway and before long they will be looking at things like how early a guy was taken in fantasy drafts during his career. Stretching it I know but still.

 

Saw this article after I posted, that's relevant... Makes a good point of Hines being a figure head for grit and old school in an age of "finesse" football.

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...935511.html;_ylt=AqyT3dUKgte1fhNo4rRHkKRDubYF

 

If Hines Ward is not a first ballot HOFer then as far as I'm concerned the HOF has lost all credibility! He may not be one of the greatest WRs to play the game, but he is dang sure one of the best FOOTBALL PLAYERS EVER TO PLAY THE GAME!! His stats are nothing to sneeze at. 1,000 receptions and 12,000 yards are stats any receiver would be proud of. He is the all-time leading receiver for the Steelers. He's a Super Bowl MVP. But the thing that makes him the most special is that he is the MOST FEARED WR EVER TO DON A UNIFORM. That's right, there is no WR in the game that was feared more than Hines. Ask Ed Reed, Keith Rivers, Orpheus Roye, Chris Crocker or any other defender who forgot to put his head on a swivel and got leveled by Hines. He was the GREATEST blocking receiver to ever play the game. No one would argue with that. In his career he established himself as a very good receiver who always seemed to come up big at the right time, but it was all of the other things that Hines did throughout his career that truly differentiates him from every other receiver to ever play the game. If the people in Canton don't realize that, then they need to close their doors!

 

It comes down to this, the media gets to vote on the HOF. The media loved Hines. Therefore Hines will get in, someday.

 

Speaking of Crocker, it was good to see him respond to Hines' retirement with the dignity and respect I have grown to expect from Bengals players tired of getting their asses kicked twice a year.

 

This.

If Hines Ward is not a HOF'er, then I've never seen one...EVER. No player has represented their franchise AND fan base so completely over the last decade and a half than Hines. If anyone disputes his right to be in the HOF, then they simply DID NOT WATCH HIM PLAY. To Steeler Nation, and Pittsburgh (the Mecca of football), Hines Ward is LEGEND. That should be enough all by itself - throw in the multiple Super Bowls, receiving records, Pro Bowls and Super Bowl MVP, not to mention the 'Hines Ward' rule change, his reputation as a blocker, and that unforgettable smiling face - and he's a sure-fire first ballot HOF'er. Those who dispute this are either jealous fans of other teams, or they weren't paying attention, and have no clue what Hines Ward has meant to the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Steeler Nation.

And I agree: If the doors in Canton don't open for Hines, then they should just keep them closed, because it will have lost it's meaning completely......

 

On this logic, Ickey Woods would be in the hall of fame, owing to his legendary status in Cincinnati...

 

We will all have to wait and see. Jerome still isn't in, neither is alot of talent from the 70's, 80's and 90's Steeler teams. Rocky Bleier isn't in the HOF yet, and yes I know his numbers are not huge, but the story is.

Messed up system if you ask me. And well, T.O. (who cares, how many rings does he have anyway?) best know for being a loud mouth crybaby *****, Randy Moss, no team loyalty, I go where the money is...doesn't really scream HOF to me. Yes I am biased, but I truly believe, if you aren't a Steeler fan you're not ****, and if you are not good enough to play for the Rooneys and the great city of pittsburgh, well, you aren't **** either.

Peyton Manning caused a media ****storm these past couple weeks, for what? Regular season only counts so much...where is his post season success? Phillip Rivers, same thing, and these are seriously "ELITE QB's" in the league...**** them...Let's get Big Ben in those discussions...

 

I think there might be a bit of a difference between the franchises and fan bases of Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. Even a casual fan would acknowledge that, wouldn't you say?

 

Yeah, I was pulling your chain a little. But still, I'm not sure it's a strong argument.

 

IMO part of the process for getting into the HoF involves having some strong support among the committee - in other words - someone who's going to go in and make a strong case for you. There are politics involved. From that standpoint, I think Hines will have a tremendous advantage when his time comes. I guess we'll have to wait and see who else is in line at that time, but personally, I think his charisma is going to lead to someone - maybe more than one - making a strong case for his election, and he'll get in - first ballot.

 

Hines Ward will get in the HOF, eventually.

But he's not a first ballot guy, or even close. If they make Art Monk wait, Chris Carter wait, Andre Reed wait and Lynn Swann wait, they will make Hines Ward wait too.

One thing could be a problem though, a flood of WRs with big stats will come after Hines, he could reach a point where there may be enough of these with big numbers that Hines entry may get delays year by year as they take in the guys with better stats. He might get pushed back 10 or 15 yrs, and by then the memory of what we was may fade. I suspect that won't happen, Hines is a bit of an attention whore and will probably stay in the public eye. But he may have to wait longer than a lot of yinz think.

 

There's only 2 players with 1000 receptions and multiple SB rings. One is Hines, the other.......................................





Jerry Rice!
IMO, 1st ballot all the way.

 

To many people are focusing on stats way to much. Hines was a football player. He has the stats but he also has two rings and a super bowl mvp. Anybody waiting on the list have that. Good lord he has a rule named after him for blocking . The whole getting voted the dirtiest player in the game as a wr only helps him. He e may not be a first ballot guy but he will get in.

 

Yeah but Jerry Rice was also the all time leading receiver in TDs, yards, and catches by a country mile. Unfortunately people are becoming too caught up in stats, I think that makes it tough for Hines. Hopefully there will be some element of people who recognize that it is more than just stats (which for Hines are very good anyway), but its your impact on the game....and Hines is off the chart on those. But alas I think it is going to be tough with the current crop in front of him and with Moss, TO, Marvin Harrison, etc. lining up as well.

 

He may have a hard time getting in?

 

I'M GETTING IN... amen (first ballot)

 

The writers are not stupid. Even though his numbers are behind some, they know he played in an offense where the pass was secondary for a numbe of years in his career.

Couple that with the way he defined the WR position as a blocker in the running game and he has a strong case.

 

I beg to differ, many of the writers are stupid and biased. Why did it take something like 10-12 years for Art Monk to get in, Peter King was interviewed about a year or two before he got in and said he thought Monk was hurt because he didn't have a signature catch....WTF...I guess the 900+ and retiring as the all time leading receiver wasn't enough. Why so long for Dermontti Dawson the premier center for a decade. I also do not think that blocking is going to be a big draw for a wide receiver.

Hines should get in...but the wide receiver position is getting more and more crowded. Its no guarantee.