HOF Candidates

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Paintrain

I guess I don't know if I'd consider Champ as the premier player at his position for an extended period of time. Early in his career as a Redskin and his first year in Denver-yes, I'd agree but his last season here teams threw at him with no fear. Outside of his first season in Denver teams have gone at him as well. For most of his career you could name a few CB that you would put above or on the same level as him (C. Woodson, Asomugha, Ronde Barber, Clements). He's in the discussion, no doubt, but I just don't know if I consider Champ a Hall of Fame player.

I do think that the same argument fits for Tomlinson, in that, you wouldn't have taken him over Portis + the Broncos offensive line, you probably wouldn't have taken him over Shaun Alexander in 2004 and 2005, or Larry Johnson in 2005. What Tomlinson has going for him is that one MVP (which probably should have gone to Peyton, but I digress), and the fact that he's been the common link stretching from Marshall Faulk and Preist Holmes to Brian Westbrook and Adrian Peterson.

Which, I think, is what the argument for Champ relies on. He was good in 2000 when Troy Vincent was the premier CB in the NFL, and he was just as good in 2006, when Nnamdi Asomugha was the premier CB.

Charles Woodson though has an intriguing hall of fame case, because there was a four year period in the middle of his career where nobody really knew his whereabouts (it was the Raiders training room). But he's a 5 time pro bowler these days, and that could reach 6 or 7, in which case, if he strings togethether elite apperances in 2009 and 2010 as a veteran, I'd say yes, Woodson is a hall of famer.