Quote:
Originally Posted by Paintrain
I'd say yes on LT but no on Champ. What has he done? He's a reputation player his whole career but never did anything to significantly impact any team he's been on. What's his signature season or his signature play? He's been good but I don't put him in the Rod Woodson/Darrell Green/Deion category.
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Well, that's just the thing: Champ's case is similar to LdT's, in that they were the premier player at their position for many, many years. However, neither was a trancendental player who oozed greatness. There have been better than LdT, and there will be better in the future. Like Champ, he has no specific claim to fame or great team-related successes to push him in.
It all comes down to where you draw the line. By Irish's definition, neither Tomlinson nor Bailey makes the Hall. I would put both of them in, because I don't think the Hall should exclude great players regardless of the circumstances.
The only argument I would use against Hall canidacy is that player 'x' was not a "great" player. Like Jim Plunkett. He was not a great player, though he has an argument for the hall based on four years in the early 80's.