Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Since the HoF nominating committee has released its candidates for next year's expanded class, I'd be interested in hearing who the group thinks should be included as candidates for the senior/veteran class. Here's my top of mind top 10 list. Not all are locks, but are certainly part of the discussion. Other afterthoughts may occur to me.

Cliff Branch
Ken Riley
Mike Curtis
Harold Carmichael
Duke Slater
Chuck Foreman
Ken Anderson
Ernie McMillan
Ron McDole
Pat Fischer

Slater
Howley
Shofner
Pearson
Karras
Wistert
Dilweg

Shipley wrote: Cliff Branch
Ken Riley
Mike Curtis
Harold Carmichael
Duke Slater
Chuck Foreman
Ken Anderson
Ernie McMillan
Ron McDole
Pat Fischer

Cliff Branch-----would be good choice, 4 All-Pros, good stats for era, 3 rings
Ken Riley------no high on him, 1 All-Pro, no pro Bowls, great stats, poor rankings by PSI
Mike Curtis------Again, few honors. Has ring.
Harold Carmichael------ehhh
Duke Slater---yes
Chuck Foreman---has excellent honors and stats...
Ken Anderson---well discussed
Ernie McMillan------no
Ron McDole-----no
Pat Fischer------no

Shipley wrote:Since the HoF nominating committee has released its candidates for next year's expanded class, I'd be interested in hearing who the group thinks should be included as candidates for the senior/veteran class. Here's my top of mind top 10 list. Not all are locks, but are certainly part of the discussion. Other afterthoughts may occur to me.

Cliff Branch
Ken Riley
Mike Curtis
Harold Carmichael
Duke Slater
Chuck Foreman
Ken Anderson
Ernie McMillan
Ron McDole
Pat Fischer

The only players on this list I think have any kind of HoF argument are Branch, Carmichael, Slater, and Anderson. Riley, Curtis, McMillan, McDole, and Fischer would be very poor choices IMHO, and Foreman would make sense only if you have to have a RB (and I’m not sold on the idea given how many are already in). If these are the nominees, I’m going to be severely disappointed. The ten I’d like to see:

Dilweg
Slater
Lewellen
Emerson
Wistert
Speedie
Howton
Howley
Baughan
Shofner

But I doubt that’s likely. A more realistic hope might be for:

Dilweg
Slater
Wistert
Howley
Baughan
Branch
Pearson
Gradishar
Karras
Shofner

I’d be fine with this group as well.

Branch
Slater
Foreman
Karras
Shofner
Dilweg
Otis Taylor
Tom Sestak

JeffreyMiller wrote:Branch
Slater
Foreman
Karras
Shofner
Dilweg
Otis Taylor
Tom Sestak

This list I like a lot, I'd take Foreman and Sestak last as a function of short peak.

any part reason why you dont like speedie John

I'm glad this is sparking the kind of interesting, lively discussion I had hoped for. One afterthought on Mike Curtis, guess I view him as on par with two of his contemporaries who are in the Hall, Chris Hanburger and Dave Wilcox, but would be interested to hear if others think they're a cut above Curtis and why. He has something they don't have, a ring, and made the interception that paved the way for the Colts' win in Super Bowl V (one of the most if not THE most poorly played Super Bowl of all, but that's another discussion!). I'd also be interested to hear about Joe Jacoby's worthiness to be a nominee. I know the enduring image of him is getting beaten by LT, but he was a starter on three Super Bowl-winning teams and a vital cog in one of the all-time great offensive lines.

I like Riley and Mike Curtis as well. I'd just rather see the other guys first. Not so much Ken Anderson.

bachslunch wrote: The ten I’d like to see:

Dilweg
Slater
Lewellen
Emerson
Wistert
Speedie
Howton
Howley
Baughan
Shofner

Dilweg--would love to see it
Slater--would love to see it
Lewellen--would love to see it
Emerson--would love to see it
Wistert--would love to see it
Speedie------would be good, but less than the ones above in my thoughts
Howton-----same as Speedie
Howley--would love to see it
Baughan------would be okay, to me he's "less than" Howley....
Shofner--would love to see it