Category: Pro Football Hall of Fame

Deion Sanders’ support of Eli Manning seems to stop at Hall of Fame

Deion Sanders has long been a supporter of New York Giants QB Eli Manning, but that seems to stop at the Hall of Fame.

For many, many years, retired NFL legend and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Deion Sanders, has been an avid supporter of New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning. In fact, you often heard him singing, “I believe in Eli” on national television.

Sanders never strayed. He was a supporter of Manning from start to finish, never caving to the pressure that came along with standing by one of the most controversial quarterbacks of all-time. He always believed Manning was more talented than he was given credit for, and always believed he could win a game so long as the ball was in his hands.

However, Sanders’ support of Manning seems to have reached its end.

As Manning heads into retirement and the debate over his Hall of Fame candidacy rages, Sanders admits that too many regular Joes are getting in. And yes, that would include Manning.

From Pro Football Talk:

“What is a Hall of Famer now? Is it a guy who played a long time?” Sanders said. “It’s so skewed now. Once upon a time, a Hall of Famer was a player who changed the darn game, who made you want to reach in your pocket and pay your admission to see that guy play. That’s not a Hall of Famer anymore. Every Tom, Dick and Harry, you’re a Hall of Famer, you’re a Hall of Famer, you’re a Hall of Famer. They let everybody in this thing. It’s not exclusive anymore. And I don’t like it.”

Although Sanders didn’t want to name any specific players who he thinks have watered down the Hall of Fame, when Patrick asked him about Eli Manning, Sanders answered, “You get the point.”

Ultimately, Sanders says, there should be no minimum on the number of inductees per year and that it should be solely based on the worthiness of Canton.

“It should be based on, ‘Are you that guy?’ Not just because we have to meet a quota,” Sanders said.

Many believe Manning is that guy. Sanders clearly does not.

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Geoff Schwartz: Eli Manning will absolutely get into the Hall of Fame

Retired NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz says New York Giants QB Eli Manning will “absolutely get into the Hall of Fame.”

In the days since it was announced that New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning would retire from the NFL after 16 remarkable seasons, the debate over his Hall of Fame candidacy has reached a fever pitch.

Lines in the sand have been drawn and the opposing views are drastic.

On one hand, most professional athletes who know Manning, have played alongside Manning or competed against Manning all believe he’s a shoo-in Hall of Famer. Daring to question that is not met kindly.

On the other hand, there are many pundits and fans who have never laced up their cleats who believe Manning stands no chance at enshrinement in Canton and find themselves sharing contradicting arguments based on emotion.

Retired offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz rests somewhere in the middle, acknowledging in an SB Nation column that he has tremendous respect for Manning after spending two years in East Rutherford while also arguing that Eli’s career record is a detriment.

Ultimately, however, Schwartz believes Manning will find his way into Canton and that his detractors had better take a deep breath and prepare themselves for what’s to come.

Manning does not have the best statistical profile of a quarterback of this era. It’s hard to ignore this truth. He has big numbers because of his long career, one that spanned 236 games and 210 straight starts — the latter a remarkable feat. He threw for 57,023 yards, 366 touchdowns, 244 interceptions, and completed just over 60 percent of passes during the regular season. He finished with a 117-117 record as a starter.

However, the Hall of Fame is not the Hall of Amazing Stats. You have to consider the performance of these players in the biggest moments of their career. That’s where Manning shined the most.

Analytically, Manning remains one of the most successful playoff/Super Bowl quarterbacks in the history of the NFL, and in a game where winning is the only thing that matters, he’s done it twice on the grandest stage.

That includes a victory over the then-18-0 New England Patriots, who were already in the midst of their dynasty and considered the best team ever assembled.

Manning isn’t the perfect Hall of Fame candidate, but he’ll be voted in because he showed up when it mattered most for an iconic franchise. Manning was never on Page Six, he never embarrassed himself or the team, and he was the ultimate leader and competitor.

His team won two Super Bowls and dismantled the Patriots twice to do it. For that, he will be in Canton one day.

Hall of Famer votes sound split five years in advance of that decision, but as we’ve said before, Manning’s career and his impact on the game will appreciate over time. He will get his gold jacket one day. There’s no doubt about it.

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Plaxico Burress, Brandon Jacobs: Eli Manning a first ballot Hall of Famer

Retired New York Giants stars Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs don’t want to hear your anti-Eli Manning Hall of Fame debate.

Don’t bring any of that anti-Eli Manning bias to retired New York Giants stars Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs because they’re not interested in hearing it. In fact, if you even try to debate them on Eli’s Hall of Fame chances, you’re going to get an aggressive earful.

“Might, my [expletive],” Burress told SNY when asked if Eli “might” find his way into Canton. “He’s a first ballot Hall of Famer to me. The quarterbacks are in the Hall of Fame with less.”

Jacobs was even less interested in discussing the topic, suggesting that anyone who refused to vote for Manning should be immediately terminated and lose their vote.

“They should be out of a job,” Jacobs said bluntly.

The topic of Manning and the Hall of Fame is a contentious one in the sports world. However, it’s clear that the vast majority of Manning’s former teammates all believe he’s a shoo-in, which is an opinion shared by a large number of his opponents as well.

In fact, those who consistently argue against Manning’s Hall of Fame eligibility are those who have never competed alongside or against Eli, and know little about him other than the clips they occasionally see on television.

Manning’s legacy is one that will appreciate over time, and five years from now, the question of his Hall of Fame eligibility be far less fiery and emotionally-driven.

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Giants’ George Young finally, deservedly headed to the Hall of Fame

Late New York Giants executive George Young is finally and most deservedly headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Rejoice, New York Giants fans! It has finally happened! The late George Young is finally and deservedly headed to Canton, Ohio to forever enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“George is certainly very deserving of being in the Hall of Fame,” co-owner John Mara said in a team statement. “My only regret is that he’s not around to enjoy this. He took our organization from being in last place and not having a lot of respect around the league, to being a Super Bowl Champion. He made every football department in our organization more professional. He changed the reputation and level of respect that our team had for the better. He improved us in so many different ways. He certainly is a very deserving Hall of Famer. Again, I only wish he could be around to enjoy this moment. It’s long overdue. All of us here are very happy that at long last, he will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.

“I think this would have meant a lot to George because he always had a great appreciation for the history of the game and he had so much respect for people who were enshrined in the Hall. I think this would have meant the world to him, even though he may not have admitted to that. I think this would have had a huge impact on him. Again, I’m really sorry he’s not around to enjoy it.”

Young served as the Giants’ general manager from 1979-97 after serving four years as the Director of player personnel for the Miami Dolphins. Prior to that, he was the assistant coach of the Baltimore Ravens from 1968-1974.

During his time as GM of the Giants, Young won Executive of the Year a remarkable five times (1984, 1986, 1990, 1993, 1997). He is also a three-time Super Bowl champion (V, XXI, XXV) and one-time NFL champion (1968).

“George Young’s career is the very definition of a Hall of Famer,” said Ernie Accorsi, who succeeded him as general manager in 1998. “From assistant coach to scout to general manager to trusted advisor to Commissioner Tagliabue, every step of the way there was excellence. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t think of George or something I learned from him. The only bittersweet part is that he’s not here. But as the great Beano Cook would say, ‘If the Gipper knew, George knows.’

“He was my best friend in the National Football League for 31 years. There were not too many days, certainly when we were together every day, but there weren’t too many days, even when I was in Cleveland, that we didn’t talk.

“It was so great being able to come back to work for him (on the Giants). I was working for the Orioles. I don’t know if I would have ever gotten back into the National Football League if it wasn’t for George.”

Young enters Canton as part of a unique centennial class aimed at celebrating the league’s 100th anniversary.

Retired Giant Ottis Anderson believes he has Hall of Fame credentials

Retired New York Giants RB Ottis Anderson and one-time Super Bowl MVP believes he deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Former New York Giants star running back Ottis “O.J.” Anderson is not shy when it comes to his legacy.

Speaking to a reporter from TMZ Sports underneath scaffolding on a Manhattan street, Anderson said he belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame and that “one day they’ll figure it out.”

From TMZ Sports:

“If you check my credentials, I think I earned the right to be considered [a Hall of Famer],” Anderson says.

Ottis sneakily has a solid case for the honor … the 62-year-old rushed for 10,273 yards and 81 TDs in his 14-year career, and he added 3,062 receiving yards as well.

Plus, the dude IS a two-time Super Bowl champion … something plenty of Hall of Fame tailbacks can’t say themselves right now.

“Put me in,” Ottis says … “One day they’ll figure it out and, until then, we’ll just keep on enjoying what I accomplished as a 14-year vet.”

Not only was Anderson a two-time Super Bowl champ, he scored a touchdown in the Giants’ Super Bowl XXI victory over Denver then repeated the feat four years later against Buffalo. He was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXV.

The NFL just treleased their 100th Anniversary Team and Anderson was not on it. In fact, he was not even named a finalist. Anderson is the Cardinals’ all-time leading rusher and was the NFL Rookie of the Year with them in 1979.

10 years later, Ottis was named the NFL Comeback Player of the Year with the Giants as was as reliable a runner as the Giants have ever had, fumbling just three times from 1987-1992.

It’s nothing new for Anderson to feel disrespected. He is not in either the Cardinals or Giants’ Rings of Honor and when he retired only seven players had more rushing yards than Anderson at the time.

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George Young, Dan Reeves named finalists for Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 Centennial Slate

Ex-New York Giants, George Young and Dan Reeves, are among the finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 Centennial Slate.

Former New York Giants general manager George Young and head coach Dan Reeves were named finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2020 Centennial Slate.

Of the above group, 10 Seniors, three (3) Contributors and two (2) Coaches will be elected to the Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2020 along with five Modern-Era Players who will be elected from 15 finalists by the full Selection Committee on “Selection Saturday,” the eve of Super Bowl LIV in Miami.

The list of the Modern-Era Player finalists will be announced on Jan. 2, 2020.

Young had a 33-year career in the NFL, first with the Baltimore Colts before moving on to the Miami Dolphins and the Giants where he built Big Blue into a league power, winning two Super Bowls before taking a job in the league office.

Reeves was the longtime head coach of the Denver Broncos, leading them to three losing Super Bowl appearances before latching on with the Giants from 1993-96. He finished his career with the Atlanta Falcons.

Of all the people who are genuinely deserving, Young has been on the outside looking in for entirely too long. It’s time he is enshrined forever.

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