2019 15 Finalists

[JuggernautJ]

From NFL.com:
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... ss-of-2019

Tony Gonzalez, TE -- 1997-2008 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009-2013 Atlanta Falcons
Isaac Bruce, WR -- 1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers

Edgerrin James, RB -- 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks

Ed Reed, FS -- 2002-2012 Baltimore Ravens, 2013 New York Jets, 2013 Houston Texans
Steve Atwater, S -- 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets
Champ Bailey, CB -- 1999-2003 Washington Redskins, 2004-2013 Denver Broncos
Ty Law, CB --1995-2004 New England Patriots, 2005, 2008 New York Jets, 2006-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2009 Denver Broncos
John Lynch, FS -- 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos

Tony Boselli, T -- 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve)
Steve Hutchinson, G --2001-05 Seattle Seahawks, 2006-2011 Minnesota Vikings, 2012 Tennessee Titans
Alan Faneca, G -- 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals
Kevin Mawae, C/G -- 1994-97 Seattle Seahawks, 1998-2005 New York Jets, 2006-09 Tennessee Titans

Richard Seymour, DE/DT -- 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders

Don Coryell, Coach -- 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
Tom Flores, Coach -- 1979-1987 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-94 Seattle Seahawks

An unusual number of DBs and OLs?

[sheajets]

John Lynch to me was never a Hall of Fame player. Never a difference making impact player for a long enough stretch.

Ed Reed, Faneca, Mawae should all be locks. Faneca was a 6x All-Pro. Hutchinson 5x All Pro- That's Hall of Fame to me. Passed the eye test as well. These guys were just outright great

Overall I look at this list and I see a bunch of Hall of Famers...and John Lynch, Richard Seymour, Edgerrin James who are all Hall of Very Good

Tony Boselli - didn't play very long but was great when he did. He's sort of borderline

[JuggernautJ]

I can see the makings of a great class or a really mediocre class...

It might be great if they inducted Tony Gonzalez, Ed Reed and maybe 3 of the linemen.

It could be pretty bad, too. John Lynch and perhaps a few others are probably undeserving.

I guess we'll have to wait to find out...
Other than the initial 1963 class does anyone know the max number of offensive linemen selected in any previous year?

[RRMarshall]

Flores and Coryell both among the finalists in the coaches category. I doubt both get in, which one gets your vote? Flores had 2 SB wins but Coryell's teams seemed to flame out in the postseason, especially in 1979 when many thought SD had a chance to unseat the Steelers. But I always had a soft spot for him with those dynamic offenses he directed for two different teams.

[sheajets]

Flores had such an odd career as a coach. Regular season he only had 4 double digit winning seasons, and 97 wins just doesn't scream Hall of Fame. Plus his last 5 years were a nightmare and he couldn't revive the Seahawks. The two Super Bowls may not do it for him

He's sort of like Coughlin only with a shorter career.

[Bryan]

Splitting hairs here, but its odd who they left off from the 25 semifinalists.

Flores over Jimmy Johnson?

Lynch over Zach Thomas?


I thought Hutchinson should have made it last year. I figured he would go in 2018, then Faneca would go in 2019. I'm guessing they both get in this year, but who knows. I think this Finalist list is incredibly weak, so it could be a wide-open race. I could see a wild-card like Edgerrin James (or Tony Boselli) getting in this year, or 'finalist fatigue' allowing John Lynch and/or Isaac Bruce to make it.

I'm not sure what the minimum number of players you have to have. My top 5 in order are Reed, Gonzalez, Hutchinson....(noticeable gap)....Faneca, and Bailey, although Bailey is a 'nominal' selection, like when Tom Mack got in. I have a bias towards Don Coryell being in the HOF, and I understand that logical arguments can easily be made against Coryell getting in, but he would be my 6th person.

[bachslunch]

This ends Karl Mecklenburg's regular candidacy, unfortunately. It's especially irritating to see Tom Flores, who doesn't belong in the HoF without buying a ticket, get a finalist slot ahead of him -- especially since coaches seem to be exempt from falling into a Senior pool. Another beneficiary of the Raiders shameless hard-push machine.

Glad Seymour and Atwater got through, at least.

My class guess: Gonzalez, Reed, Bailey, Boselli, Mawae, Robinson, Brandt, Bowlen. Am hoping that sinking feeling I've got that Flores may sneak in is only indigestion.

[sheajets]

Mecklenburg is another absolute borderline guy. Even though the comparison is not totally apples to apples, if Klecko isn't in then I don't think Mecklenberg should be either

[sheajets]

Gastineau is never going to get in but if you look at his peak era of dominance it really is HOF caliber. But he was about as beloved as Albert Belle

1980 - 11.5 Sacks
1981 - 20 sacks
1982 - 6 sacks (on pace for 10-11 in a what was a 9 game season
1983 - 19 sacks
1984 - 22 sacks
1985 - 13.5 sacks

That's a 6 year Hall of Fame run to me.

[bachslunch]

Mecklenburg is another absolute borderline guy. Even though the comparison is not totally apples to apples, if Klecko isn't in then I don't think Mecklenberg should be either

The reason I'm on board with Mecklenburg (4/6/none) and Sam Mills (3/5/none) is that they appear to be the best MLBs/ILBs not in the HoF from the 80s-90s. Best I can tell, only Mike SIngletary and Harry Carson are in from that period who played that position. Maybe there's a reason for going skimpy at MLB/ILB from that time, but if so, I'd like to hear the rationale. And these guys seem like the best options available.