Well deserved both of em!
For about five years, James Harrison was the most feared man on a professional football field. He is responsible for one of the most iconic plays in Super Bowl history. He should be in the Hall of Fame. Period.
Would love to see them get in but each year the road gets longer and longer
Letting Warren Sapp in and neither of these guys is an atrocity
I don’t think either guy is HOF worthy to be honest.
Looking at the list of 28 semifinalists, and knowing they’re going to reduce it to 15 finalists – I could see both guys making the final 15. This isn’t a very strong semifinalist class in my opinion. I see maybe 2 locks to ever get in and they’re both first year guys (Peppers and Gates).
Julius Peppers, Antonio Gates, Tiki Barber, Jared Allen, Dwight Freeney, Devin Hester, Andre Johnson, Torry Holt, Patrick Willis, Willie Anderson, Darren Woodson, Eric Allen, Anquan Boldin, Jahri Evans, London Fletcher, Eddie George, James Harrison, Rodney Harrison, Robert Mathis, Steve Smith Sr., Fred Taylor, Hines Ward, Ricky Watters, Reggie Wayne and Vince Wilfork.
These are tough ones. James Harrison has the peak, but not the longevity due to his late start. Hines has the longevity, but not the statistical peak.
I think both have HOF worthy resumes
But, the HOF only votes on 5 players each year (I think), and competition is pretty tough. I think they consider Julius Peppers and Antonio Gates for sure, probably Dwight Freeney, and I think Patrick Willis as well. There’s also a shitton of great WRs on the docket like Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Steve Smith Sr, and Torry Holt. I don’t think Hines leapfrogs these dudes for spot #5, Deebo might but also a lot of those guys were pretty great. Just a tough year for it
I can see Harrison getting in. Ward I don’t know but every team would have loved to have him.
Sadly, I don’t think either of them will ever get in.