Patrick Willis / Sterling Sharpe

[Fried Chicken]

First, this isn’t a slight at Patrick Willis. He was a great player, as was Sterling Sharpe…which is the point. For years the reason given that Sterling Sharpe isn’t in the Pro Football Hall of Fame has been 7 year career that ended with a neck injury was too short. Everything up to that pointed to the Hall of Fame.

Patrick Willis was recently elected to the Hall of Fame for his 8 year career.

How many regular season games did Willis play over 8 seasons? 112…the same exact amount of games as Sterling Sharpe played in 7 seasons.

Willis did play in an additional 8 playoff games, but it’s time for Sterling to be elected. His career didn’t end because he was declining (Willis only played 6 games in his final season). He had a career high TD receptions (led the NFL) in his final season and had over 1,100 yards receiving. And he was finally playing with a decent QB (Favre).

You can expect this post annually until Sterling gets in. Hopefully one day he’ll get the call. For now, it seems someone with a voice should point out the longevity excuse can’t be used anymore. He’s worthy.

 

[Prestonyte]

First, this isn’t a slight at Patrick Willis. He was a great player, as was Sterling Sharpe…which is the point. For years the reason given that Sterling Sharpe isn’t in the Pro Football Hall of Fame has been 7 year career that ended with a neck injury was too short. Everything up to that pointed to the Hall of Fame.

Patrick Willis was recently elected to the Hall of Fame for his 8 year career.

How many regular season games did Willis play over 8 seasons? 112…the same exact amount of games as Sterling Sharpe played in 7 seasons.

Willis did play in an additional 8 playoff games, but it’s time for Sterling to be elected. His career didn’t end because he was declining (Willis only played 6 games in his final season). He had a career high TD receptions (led the NFL) in his final season and had over 1,100 yards receiving. And he was finally playing with a decent QB (Favre).

You can expect this post annually until Sterling gets in. Hopefully one day he’ll get the call. For now, it seems someone with a voice should point out the longevity excuse can’t be used anymore. He’s worthy.

Never bought length of career as a valid reason to keep a worthy player out of the HOF.

 

[KingWard]

Never bought length of career as a valid reason to keep a worthy player out of the HOF.

How long was Gale Sayers in the NFL?

 

[Prestonyte]

How long was Gale Sayers in the NFL?

In a relatively brief but highly productive NFL career, Sayers spent seven seasons with the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1971, though multiple injuries effectively limited him to five seasons of play.

 

[DarkCock]

I'll always remember Patrick Willis as the guy with the cast on his hand. He looked like he could do some damage with that hand.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

.

 

[BigJC]

First, this isn’t a slight at Patrick Willis. He was a great player, as was Sterling Sharpe…which is the point. For years the reason given that Sterling Sharpe isn’t in the Pro Football Hall of Fame has been 7 year career that ended with a neck injury was too short. Everything up to that pointed to the Hall of Fame.

Patrick Willis was recently elected to the Hall of Fame for his 8 year career.

How many regular season games did Willis play over 8 seasons? 112…the same exact amount of games as Sterling Sharpe played in 7 seasons.

Willis did play in an additional 8 playoff games, but it’s time for Sterling to be elected. His career didn’t end because he was declining (Willis only played 6 games in his final season). He had a career high TD receptions (led the NFL) in his final season and had over 1,100 yards receiving. And he was finally playing with a decent QB (Favre).

You can expect this post annually until Sterling gets in. Hopefully one day he’ll get the call. For now, it seems someone with a voice should point out the longevity excuse can’t be used anymore. He’s worthy.

I'm sure the powers that be in Canton keep a close eye on FGF in order to keep their finger on the pulse of the nation.

 

[ToddFlanders]

Sterling is so close, but I think stats just aren't there because he didn't play long enough. He's 95th All-time in receptions. 105th in yards. 66th in TD receptions. It's just hard to justify. There aren't any other circumstances that might justify it either.

You take guys like Sayers and Terrell Davis - they didn't play long either and their stats suffer as well. However, Sayers was one the most electrifying players ever and was 1st Team All-Pro five straight times before his injury. Davis was pretty similar in that he was unstoppable, and he carried Elway to two Super Bowls - winning MVP of one of the games.

Sharpe was 1st team All-Pro three times - which is impressive, but not unheard of. And there just isn't that "extra" to give him the nod. The Packers didn't win all that much when he was there. And he wasn't "other worldly" in this abilities.

As for Willis, dude was 1st team all-pro five times and second team all-pro once. That means he was the best at his position for 6 of his 8 seasons. That's a lot of dominance in a shorter career.

 

[Surfcock]

How long was Gale Sayers in the NFL?

I am too young to have seen Sayers play but I’ve often wondered if his election had more to do with the movie Brian’s Song than his performance. A good heart string movie can go a long way in helping mold some memories.

 

[Fried Chicken]

I'm sure the powers that be in Canton keep a close eye on FGF in order to keep their finger on the pulse of the nation.

Read the last paragraph again. I said someone with a voice should speak up. My reason for posting annually is just to complain out of frustration.

But nice attempt to be a prick. Good grief.

 

[Fried Chicken]

Sterling is so close, but I think stats just aren't there because he didn't play long enough. He's 95th All-time in receptions. 105th in yards. 66th in TD receptions. It's just hard to justify. There aren't any other circumstances that might justify it either.

You take guys like Sayers and Terrell Davis - they didn't play long either and their stats suffer as well. However, Sayers was one the most electrifying players ever and was 1st Team All-Pro five straight times before his injury. Davis was pretty similar in that he was unstoppable, and he carried Elway to two Super Bowls - winning MVP of one of the games.

Sharpe was 1st team All-Pro three times - which is impressive, but not unheard of. And there just isn't that "extra" to give him the nod. The Packers didn't win all that much when he was there. And he wasn't "other worldly" in this abilities.

As for Willis, dude was 1st team all-pro five times and second team all-pro once. That means he was the best at his position for 6 of his 8 seasons. That's a lot of dominance in a shorter career.

Good analysis, but when you look at the guys above him on the all-time lists…so many of them are from the modern era where teams are throwing the football way more. I understand what you are saying, but these things are often taken into account.

Many in football circles have talked about how dominant Sterling Sharpe was. It’s not all statistics in football like it is in baseball. Ultimately, I think Sharpe eventually gets in, but I think it’ll be years down the road when people barely remember him.

 

[ToddFlanders]

Good analysis, but when you look at the guys above him on the all-time lists…so many of them are from the modern era where teams are throwing the football way more. I understand what you are saying, but these things are often taken into account.

Many in football circles have talked about how dominant Sterling Sharpe was. It’s not all statistics in football like it is in baseball. Ultimately, I think Sharpe eventually gets in, but I think it’ll be years down the road when people barely remember him.

Looking at some of the senior committee picks over the years, I think you're probably right - he'll get in one day. Even just recently, Cliff Branch (2022) and Drew Pearson (2021) are two wideouts with very similar resumes as Sharpe that have gotten in through the Senior Committee. I think he just needs someone like Favre to start campaigning for the committee to give him a long look.