The 2016 NFL Hall of Fame class was voted on Saturday night. Brett Favre highlights the class. He is one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game and was a lock to make it in on his first year of eligibility. He was joined by Orlando Pace, Marvin Harrison, Ken Stabler, Dick Sanfel, Eddie DeBartolo and Tony Dungy.
Favre, Pace and Harrison definitely deserved to make it. Tony Dungy was known for pioneering the Tampa 2 so I think he also deserved it based on innovation. It does seem like Sanfel and Stabler made it because of their deaths between voting. Both deserved it, but their inductions were expedited, by their unfortunate deaths.
Terrell Davis was once again left out of the hall. The Hall of Fame continues to be a farce as long as Jerome Bettis is in the Hall of Fame and Terrell Davis isn't. It baffles me that one of the best running backs to ever step on the field is left out because he only played four full seasons. Too bad he couldn't be mediocre for five plus years like Bettis, then he could be towards the top of the all-time rushing list because clearly thats all that matters to the Hall of Fame voters.
The accomplishments of TD are unmatched by most other running backs: One League MVP, one Super Bowl MVP, 2000 rushing yards in one season, in which he sat out the equivalent of 8 quarters because of blow outs, three time first team all-pro, two time offensive player of the year. TD was also the best post season running back of all time bar-none. He averaged 142.5 yards rushing per game in eight career playoff games. He increased his total rushing yards in each of his four healthy seasons.
Steve Atwater and John Lynch were also finalists, but neither made it. Atwater should also be in, but for some reason, it is extremely hard for safeties to make it into the Hall of Fame. He was a huge difference maker at safety and just about every player feared going over the middle during his years in Denver.
It will be a while until Lynch makes it in. He wasn't as good as Atwater and I think it will be at least another five years before he even makes it in. Out of the number of Broncos players left out of the Hall of Fame, Randy Gradishar and Karl Mecklenberg should go in ahead of Lynch.
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