September 14, 2022When Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Lance Alworth joined the Talk of Fame Network broadcast two years ago we asked him to name one player not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame he’d like to see inducted. He named two.One was Kansas City Chiefs’ star safety Johnny Robinson, and Alworth got his wish. Robinson was enshrined the following year. The other was a former teammate who’s still waiting on Canton.Quarterback John Hadl.It should come as no surprise, then, that when AFL historian and Talk of Fame Network contributor Todd Tobias of Talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com...…September 14, 2022When Hall-of-Fame wide receiver Lance Alworth joined the Talk of Fame Network broadcast two years ago we asked him to name one player not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame he’d like to see inducted. He named two.One was Kansas City Chiefs’ star safety Johnny Robinson, and Alworth got his wish. Robinson was enshrined the following year. The other was a former teammate who’s still waiting on Canton.Quarterback John Hadl.It should come as no surprise, then, that when AFL historian and Talk of Fame Network contributor Todd Tobias of Talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com...WW…

September 14, 2022(EDITOR'S NOTE: Each weekend this offseason a guest columnist weighs in with thoughts on the NFL -- past, present or future. Today we feature AFL historian Todd Tobias of Talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com, who tells us why former Raiders' and Chiefs' defensive back Dave Grayson belongs in Canton. Tobias -- who can be found on Twitter at @TalesfromtheAFL -- is one of 15 voters on our "AFL Call for the Hall," and Grayson is one of 20 finalists.)The American Football League is remembered as a wide-open, free-wheeling league where footballs flew far and frequently. But...…September 14, 2022(EDITOR'S NOTE: Each weekend this offseason a guest columnist weighs in with thoughts on the NFL -- past, present or future. Today we feature AFL historian Todd Tobias of Talesfromtheamericanfootballleague.com, who tells us why former Raiders' and Chiefs' defensive back Dave Grayson belongs in Canton. Tobias -- who can be found on Twitter at @TalesfromtheAFL -- is one of 15 voters on our "AFL Call for the Hall," and Grayson is one of 20 finalists.)The American Football League is remembered as a wide-open, free-wheeling league where footballs flew far and frequently. But...WW…

September 13, 2022(EDITOR'S NOTE: Each weekend this offseason a guest columnist weighs in with thoughts on the NFL -- past, present or future. Today, frequent contributor and historian John Turney of Pro Football Journal tells us why senior candidates Al Wistert and Ox Emerson deserve to reach Canton ... and should have made it with the Centennial Class of 2020.)Like so many others, I was excited about the 2020 Centennial Class because it was a chance for the backlog of senior players I call “super seniors” (those who played long before the more contemporary players in the senior pool) to...…September 13, 2022(EDITOR'S NOTE: Each weekend this offseason a guest columnist weighs in with thoughts on the NFL -- past, present or future. Today, frequent contributor and historian John Turney of Pro Football Journal tells us why senior candidates Al Wistert and Ox Emerson deserve to reach Canton ... and should have made it with the Centennial Class of 2020.)Like so many others, I was excited about the 2020 Centennial Class because it was a chance for the backlog of senior players I call “super seniors” (those who played long before the more contemporary players in the senior pool) to...WW…

September 13, 2022(EDITOR'S NOTE: Each weekend this offseason a guest columnist weighs with thoughts on the NFL -- past, present or future. Today, historian Ken Crippen, president and former executive director of the Pro Football Researchers Association, makes a Hall-of-Fame case for former Dallas linebacker Chuck Howley who hasn't once been a finalist for Canton.)Chuck Howley is one of the best, if not the best, senior linebacker not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Looking at honors, he was a six-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team Associated Press All-Pro. He was also the fourth...…September 13, 2022(EDITOR'S NOTE: Each weekend this offseason a guest columnist weighs with thoughts on the NFL -- past, present or future. Today, historian Ken Crippen, president and former executive director of the Pro Football Researchers Association, makes a Hall-of-Fame case for former Dallas linebacker Chuck Howley who hasn't once been a finalist for Canton.)Chuck Howley is one of the best, if not the best, senior linebacker not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.Looking at honors, he was a six-time Pro Bowler and five-time first-team Associated Press All-Pro. He was also the fourth...WW…

September 13, 2022When the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame board of trustees has its annual meeting on Aug. 7, it’s expected to answer a question you’ve been asking and we’ve been dodging for at least a year.What’s next for seniors?They’re the players who are at least 25 years beyond retirement and haven’t been elected to Canton. Once upon a time (2004-14), two were nominated each year. But then the Hall’s board created the contributor category in 2014 and reduced the seniors to one candidate every other year.That was a five-year experiment that ended in 2019, with the Centennial Class of 2020 to...…September 13, 2022When the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame board of trustees has its annual meeting on Aug. 7, it’s expected to answer a question you’ve been asking and we’ve been dodging for at least a year.What’s next for seniors?They’re the players who are at least 25 years beyond retirement and haven’t been elected to Canton. Once upon a time (2004-14), two were nominated each year. But then the Hall’s board created the contributor category in 2014 and reduced the seniors to one candidate every other year.That was a five-year experiment that ended in 2019, with the Centennial Class of 2020 to...WW…

September 13, 2022When people today talk about NFL coaches on a Hall-of-Fame trajectory, they start with Bill Belichick, move to Andy Reid and might throw in a Pete Carroll or Sean Payton. Fair enough. Nine Lombardi Trophies and 15 Super Bowl appearances are in there.But how come almost nobody includes the Steelers' Mike Tomlin?He’s won a Super Bowl like Reid, Carroll and Payton. He’s been to two, like Carroll. And he’s never had a losing season … unlike Reid, Carroll, Payton and Belichick. You can look it up. In 14 NFL seasons of head coaching he never finished worse than 8-8.Unusual?...…September 13, 2022When people today talk about NFL coaches on a Hall-of-Fame trajectory, they start with Bill Belichick, move to Andy Reid and might throw in a Pete Carroll or Sean Payton. Fair enough. Nine Lombardi Trophies and 15 Super Bowl appearances are in there.But how come almost nobody includes the Steelers' Mike Tomlin?He’s won a Super Bowl like Reid, Carroll and Payton. He’s been to two, like Carroll. And he’s never had a losing season … unlike Reid, Carroll, Payton and Belichick. You can look it up. In 14 NFL seasons of head coaching he never finished worse than 8-8.Unusual?...WW…

September 13, 2022George Seifert hasn’t been on the Hall-of-Fame radar since he left the NFL following the 2001 season. But he should be now, and here’s why.Tom Flores.He was just elected to the Hall’s Class of 2021 as the first coaching candidate, and good for him. He’s deserving. He was the first Hispanic head coach to win a Super Bowl (he won two), and he compiled an 83-53 record -- including 8-3 in the playoffs -- with the Raiders.But if Tom Flores qualifies, why not Seifert?The easy answer is: Because he wasn’t a social pioneer like Flores. Except that isn’t a necessary qualification...…September 13, 2022George Seifert hasn’t been on the Hall-of-Fame radar since he left the NFL following the 2001 season. But he should be now, and here’s why.Tom Flores.He was just elected to the Hall’s Class of 2021 as the first coaching candidate, and good for him. He’s deserving. He was the first Hispanic head coach to win a Super Bowl (he won two), and he compiled an 83-53 record -- including 8-3 in the playoffs -- with the Raiders.But if Tom Flores qualifies, why not Seifert?The easy answer is: Because he wasn’t a social pioneer like Flores. Except that isn’t a necessary qualification...WW…

September 13, 2022(EDITOR’S NOTE: To access the John Turney interview, log on to the following attachment: )The rush to anoint first-ballot Hall of Famers could … no, should … subside next year when the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame’s modern-era Class of 2022 is elected. That’s because there are no dead-bolt cinches as there were this year when Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson and Calvin Johnson were chosen.There’s DeMarcus Ware. And Robert Mathis. Anquan Boldin. Andre Johnson. Steve Smith, Tony Romo and Vince Wilfork. In short, no one who should move to the head of the line. Which means...…September 13, 2022(EDITOR’S NOTE: To access the John Turney interview, log on to the following attachment: )The rush to anoint first-ballot Hall of Famers could … no, should … subside next year when the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame’s modern-era Class of 2022 is elected. That’s because there are no dead-bolt cinches as there were this year when Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson and Calvin Johnson were chosen.There’s DeMarcus Ware. And Robert Mathis. Anquan Boldin. Andre Johnson. Steve Smith, Tony Romo and Vince Wilfork. In short, no one who should move to the head of the line. Which means...WW…

September 13, 2022When tight end Jason Witten retired last week he was described as “a future Hall of Famer...” which he will be. But he was also described as a “first-ballot” Hall of Famer … which he may not be.And should not.That’s not because Witten isn’t Canton worthy. He is. But the frenzy to turn receivers and tight ends with inflated numbers and Pro Bowl mentions into first-ballot Hall of Famers is out of control. Consider, for instance, that of the past 20 modern-era inductees, nine – or 45 percent – have been first-ballot choices. Included are the 2018-19 classes where six...…September 13, 2022When tight end Jason Witten retired last week he was described as “a future Hall of Famer...” which he will be. But he was also described as a “first-ballot” Hall of Famer … which he may not be.And should not.That’s not because Witten isn’t Canton worthy. He is. But the frenzy to turn receivers and tight ends with inflated numbers and Pro Bowl mentions into first-ballot Hall of Famers is out of control. Consider, for instance, that of the past 20 modern-era inductees, nine – or 45 percent – have been first-ballot choices. Included are the 2018-19 classes where six...WW…

September 13, 2022(EDITOR'S NOTE: To access the interview with Willie Anderson fast-forward to 19:20 of the attached audio: )Willie Anderson is one of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame’s Class of 2021, and you’re excused if you didn’t know.First of all, it’s his first time as a semifinalist. Second, he played all but one of his 13 NFL seasons with Cincinnati, a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 1991 and has one … one … former player in Canton. And, third, he played one of the most overlooked positions in pro football.Right tackle.Quick, now, tell me the...…September 13, 2022(EDITOR'S NOTE: To access the interview with Willie Anderson fast-forward to 19:20 of the attached audio: )Willie Anderson is one of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame’s Class of 2021, and you’re excused if you didn’t know.First of all, it’s his first time as a semifinalist. Second, he played all but one of his 13 NFL seasons with Cincinnati, a franchise that hasn’t won a playoff game since 1991 and has one … one … former player in Canton. And, third, he played one of the most overlooked positions in pro football.Right tackle.Quick, now, tell me the...WW…