Tag: Hall of Fame

Former Broncos safeties Steve Atwater, John Lynch named Hall of Fame finalists

Former Broncos safeties John Lynch and Steve Atwater have been named modern-era finalists for the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

Former Denver Broncos safeties Steve Atwater and John Lynch have been named finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the league announced Thursday. This marks the third time Atwater has been a finalist and the seventh time Lynch has been a finalist.

Atwater and Lynch are among 15 modern-era finalists.

The Broncos also have two Centennial Slate finalists this year — former linebacker Randy Gradishar (senior candidate) and former coach Dan Reeves (coaching candidate). The Hall of Fame will have an expanded class of 20 members this year to celebrate 100 years of the NFL.

The Hall of Fame’s selection committee will meet on the eve of Super Bowl LIV to select five modern-era players for the 2020 class. The 15 Centennial Slate enshrinees will be selected in early January.

The 2020 class will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio in August (modern-era coaches, players and contributors) and September (seniors).

Last year, former Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey and late owner Pat Bowlen were enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Former Vikings G Steve Hutchinson named as a Hall of Fame finalist

Hutchinson spent 12 seasons in the NFL, six with the Vikings. He was named to the Pro Bowl seven times and as an All-Pro five times. 

On Thursday, it was announced that former Vikings guard Steve Hutchinson was named as a Hall of Fame finalist.

This is Hutchinson’s second year of eligibility to make the Hall and most expect that he’ll indeed get inducted.

Hutchinson spent 12 seasons in the NFL, six with the Vikings. He was named to the Pro Bowl seven times and as an All-Pro five times.

Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt among 15 Hall of Fame finalists for 2020

Torry Holt is a first-time finalist, while this is Isaac Bruce’s fourth time as one.

Two former Rams stars could be on their way to Canton this year. The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 15 modern-era finalists for the 2020 class and both Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce made the cut.

This is Holt’s first time being a finalist, but Bruce is in familiar territory. This marks his fourth selection as a Hall of Fame finalist, making it each year dating back to 2017.

Bruce played for the Rams from 1994-2007, recording 942 catches for 14,109 yards and 84 touchdowns in that span. He finished his career with the 49ers, catching 82 passes for 1,099 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons.

Holt played 10 years with the Rams from 1999-2008. During that time, he caught 869 passes for 12,660 yards and 74 touchdowns. In his final NFL season with the Jaguars, he had 51 receptions for 722 yards.

They were both an integral part of the Greatest Show on Turf with the Rams, helping St. Louis win Super Bowl XXXIV. They also reached the Super Bowl following the 2001 season, but lost to the Patriots.

Holt was a seven-time Pro Bowler and led the NFL in receiving twice. Bruce made the Pro Bowl four times and was No. 1 in receiving once in 1996. Holt’s shorter career hurts his case for Canton, but he was one of the most productive receivers during his playing days.

2 former Seahawks among 15 Pro Football Hall of Fame finalists

Former Seahawks OL Steve Hutchinson and RB Edgerrin James are among the two modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 15 finalists for the modern-era ballot and two former Seattle Seahawks, running back Edgerrin James and guard Steve Hutchinson, remain eligible for enshrinement.

The list originally featured 122 names, including six other Seahawks: quarterback Dave Krieg; running backs Shaun Alexander, Ricky Watters and Chris Warren; center Ray Donovan; and punter Jeff Feagles.

Watters was among the 25 semifinalists, but was cut when the list was whittled down to 15, leaving just Hutchinson and James among former Seahawks.

Hutchinson seems like the likeliest of the pair to gain Hall of Fame status this winter, having finished as a finalist in each of the past two years. The guard was a seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All-Pro in his 12-year career.

James only appeared in seven games for the Seahawks in the 2009 season, rushing 46 times for just 125 yards. He is 13th all-time in rushing yards, however, and has a decent chance of hearing his name called this year.

The final ballot will include five inductees, and will be announced the Saturday before the Super Bowl.

As part of the Hall’s special 20-member class of 2020, they will be joined by 10 ‘senior’ players (who have been retired for more than 25 seasons), three ‘contributors’ (neither a player nor coach) and two coaches.

Two former Seattle coaches, Mike Holmgren and Tom Flores, are among the coaches who could be enshrined as well, giving the Seahawks four potential inductees this year.

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Hall of Famer offers Kevin Durant advice regarding comeback

It turns out NBA legend Dominique Wilkins is a fan of Brooklyn Nets superstar forward Kevin Durant.

In a few days, Brooklyn Nets fans will be able to say, “Kevin Durant is expected to be back this year.” Though that doesn’t mean the superstar forward will be able to play in the 2019-20 season. The calendar is turning over, and the franchise has expressed Durant isn’t expected to return this season, but he should be able to suit up for the Nets in the latter half of 2020.

But quite a bit of time has to pass before Durant is back on the floor and making his Nets debut.

When he does come back, a certain Hall of Fame small forward has some advice for the superstar.

Via Mike Mazzeo of Yahoo Sports, Atlanta Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins told Durant, “Don’t listen to your critics.”

The reason Wilkins is offering advice to Durant is he had to bounce back from a torn Achilles, too. So he’s heard everything Durant will when he officially starts his Nets career:

I heard all those negative things. And I used it as fuel to prove [my critics] wrong. So that’s what he has to do. Because you’re going to have your doubters. You’re going to have your naysayers. You’re going to have all these people that have an opinion of what you’re going to be like when you come back.

Wilkins continued:

They’re going to be quick to say, ‘Well, the guy can shoot the ball and he’s talented, but what about the explosion?’ You get people saying stuff like that. So again, it comes down to, ‘How do you prove people wrong?’ You go out there, believe in yourself and work hard to get back to that star level. And I think everything else will take care of itself.

Wilkins also told Mazzeo the forward’s worst days will come at the beginning as he works to overcome the mental scars from the injury. But the Hall of Famer believes Durant will power through that, like he did himself:

We’ve talked a little bit. Not much. But I’m always willing to give any type of insight or advice on that injury. It’s a time-consuming injury, but if you put in the work you can get back from it.

Revisiting the Marshawn Lynch Hall of Fame debate

Will a late career playoff run help propel Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch into the Hall of Fame?

Marshawn Lynch cited “unfinished business” when he returned to the NFL with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday. His goal is to once again lead Seattle to a Super Bowl appearance, likely hoping to avenge the team’s heartbreaking loss in Super Bowl XLIX.

However, Lynch also has an opportunity to pad his already stellar case for the Hall of Fame, and while that’s not his top priority, it is worth exploring with his expected return to the field on Sunday.

Lynch had a strong case long before this reunion, which now pushes his eligibility back to 2025.

Currently, Beast Mode is 29th all-time in rushing with 10,379 yards. 17 running backs, including Gale Sayers and Terrell Davis, have fewer yards than Lynch and are in the Hall.

If Lynch is able to rush for 81 yards on Sunday (which, frankly, would be challenging) he would pass both Eddie George and Tiki Barber to move into 27th all time, just behind Thomas Jones.

Rushing yards aren’t the only thing that matters to Hall voters, but Lynch’s persona, playoff heroics and other intangibles make him a strong candidate for the Hall of Fame, and a late-career rejuvenation and playoff run would all but seal the deal for Beast Mode.

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Don Coryell named Hall of Fame finalist, again

The legendary coach is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the seventh time.

The finalists for the Class of 2020 for the Pro Football Hall of Fame were announced on Wednesday.

For the seventh time, the legendary coach, Don Coryell, is a finalist to be enshrined in Canton, OH.

Coryell coached the Chargers from 1978-86, posting a 72-60 all-time record. Under him, the Bolts won three division titles, played in four divisional playoff games and two AFC Championship Games.

But it’s not what he accomplished while serving as the head coach, it’s how he revolutionized the game. The “Air Coryell” offense was the first time that teams utilized the passing game to attack defenses.

Quarterback Dan Fouts led the league in passing yards four straight seasons (1978-82) to become the first player to surpass 4,000 yards in three consecutive seasons.

Coryell was the first to do it and now many NFL teams are using it. It is now referred to as the West Coast offense because the San Francisco 49ers won Super Bowls with it, but it was originated in San Diego.

His creation also forced defenses to bring in extra defensive backs to slow the passing attack, in which we refer to as nickel and dime defenses nowadays.

Coryell, who changed the game of football, is worthy of being in the Hall of Fame.

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Broncos legend Randy Gradishar a finalist for 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame class

Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar is among the finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Former Denver Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar is among 38 finalists for a special Centennial Slate 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Former coach Dan Reeves (who coached in Denver from 1981-1992) is also a finalist.

Gradishar was a key member of the Broncos’ defense from 1974–1983. During that time, Gradishar earned seven Pro Bowl nods and Defensive Player of the Year honors (1978). He helped Denver’s famous “Orange Crush” defense lead the Broncos to the Super Bowl in 1977 and is a member of the team’s Ring of Fame.

The Hall of Fame’s selection committee has put together a list of eight coaches, 10 contributors and 20 senior finalists for next year’s class. Of those finalists, 15 members will be selected to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio.

In addition to those 15 members, five modern-era players will be part of the 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Safeties Steve Atwater and John Lynch are among the modern-era semifinalists. Earlier this year, late owner Pat Bowlen and cornerback Champ Bailey were part of 2019 class.

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