Pro Football HOF cuts down to 28 Modern-Era Semifinalists for class of 2023

[TecmoSuperJoe]

A few days late. But here we are. 

[TecmoSuperJoe]

Personally I'd go Ware, Willis, Joe Thomas, Zach Thomas, Ellard if I could only pick 5. 

I know Ellard sticks out due to his lack of awards, and he would be leapfrogging a lot of other decorated players just at his own position, but I'd give it to him since this might be his last year he's eligible as a modern-era finalist. He was a great player. Probably won't go farther though, and a more realistic take is that he's switched out for Holt or Johnson at WR, or Revis makes it in for his place. 

Too bad Tom Nalen and Leslie O'Neal didn't get this far. 

Edited November 28, 2022 by TecmoSuperJoe

[Mox]

Stacked group.

Patrick Willis, Joe Thomas, Demarcus Ware, Darrelle Revis and one of Andre/Torry/Steve is where I'd go.

[Superduperman]

Boy, I'd say at least 20 of those guys have credible arguments

[jebrick]

I think Thomas, Revis and Rodney Harrison are top 3 for me and all of the others have a case.

[seminoles1]

Have they always elected 5 modern players, even when there were less teams?

[Geezy]

Damarcus Ware, Jared Allen, Torry Holt, Steve Smith, Dwight Freeney

[AngusMcFife]

The locks are Joe Thomas and Revis. 

I am looking at Jared Allen and DeMarcus Ware, they have shockingly similar stats. 

Allen:
Games: 187
Sacks: 136
Tackles: 503
Forced Fumbles: 32
All Pros: 4

Ware:
Games: 178
Sacks: 138.5
Tackles: 505
Forced fumbles: 35
All Pros: 4

I initially thought I'd prefer Allen because I thought he was a more well-rounded player than Ware, who I remembered as a pass rush specialist. But now I don't see any evidence for that. Maybe Ware's late Super Bowl will put him in ahead of Allen. 

 

 

[AngusMcFife]

Of the WRs listed, I'd probably go with Andre Johnson, just because he was such a beast in his prime. I'd go:

Tier 1:
Andre Johnson

Tier 2:
Steve Smith
Torry Holt

Tier 3:
Reggie Wayne
Henry Ellard (I'm not too familiar with his work) 

Tier 4:
Anquon Boldin
Hines Ward

Johnson and Smith were tough AND great. Holt, Wayne, and Ellard were great but not that tough. And Boldin and Ward were tough but not that great. 

[ukjets21]

Revis, Thomas, Ware, Allen all deserve it above the rest of that insanely impressive list imo. 

[Wyld Stallyns]

Three Colts: Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis and Reggie Wayne. Freeney first time eligible, Mathis’s second year and Wayne made it to the final 10 last year 

[Malfatron]

Darelle Revis , andre johnson, demarcus Ware, freddie mitchell,  rodney harrison 

 

[Superduperman]

2 hours ago, AngusMcFife said:

Boldin and Ward were tough but not that great. 

Bite your tongue, they were both great

[cp0k2]

16 minutes ago, Malfatron said:

Darelle Revis , andre johnson, demarcus Ware, freddie mitchell,  rodney harrison 

 

[AngusMcFife]

30 minutes ago, Superduperman said:

Bite your tongue, they were both great

Great, but not great enough