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| Associated Press / NFL |
| Roger Craig and Ken Stabler are two players often considered for Hall of Fame enshrinement. |
| Two of the biggest glaring omissions to the Pro Football Hall of Fame (according to NFL Network, anyway) will be inducted on Saturday -- LB Derrick Thomas and WR Bob Hayes. Who else is sitting on the outside looking in, but deserving to be enshrined? So I posed the question to NFL.com editors Craig Ellenport and Jim Reineking in NFL.com's Instant Debate. |
 Adam Rank (11:58:24 AM): Jim, we will start with you. Who, in your opinion, is the most glaring omission for the HOF right now? |
 Jim Reineking (11:58:37 AM): Gil Brandt. |
 Craig Ellenport (11:59:08 AM): Well, you'll be glad to know that Pat Kirwan and I were responsible a few years ago for getting Gil on the ballot! |
| Jim Reineking (11:59:35 AM): Other than our resident guru, one player that sticks out for me is Roger Craig. |
| Adam Rank (12:00:10 PM): But wasn't he merely just a good player riding the coattails on some great 49ers teams? Will you be telling your grandkids about the great Roger Craig? |
| Craig Ellenport (12:00:44 PM): He may have been fortunate to play in that system with great players, but he did a helluva job taking advantage. |
| Jim Reineking (12:01:26 PM): He was more of a pioneer than a catalyst. Craig's 1985 season was the stuff of legend ... getting 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving. That was before the days of true duel-threat running backs. |
| Adam Rank (12:01:41 PM): But he rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season only three times in his career. |
| Craig Ellenport (12:02:26 PM): In an offense that was not conducive to 1,000-yard rushers, which makes the three 1,000-yard seasons all the more impressive. |
| Jim Reineking (12:02:46 PM): Before we get all negative on Craig's career statistics, let me remind you that Marcus Allen -- a current Hall of Famer -- only had three 1,000-yard seasons. And, and! Craig has two more Super Bowl rings. |
| Adam Rank (12:03:47 PM): Boy, that's a great point about Marcus Allen, Jim. Maybe if Craig had gone into television, he might be in the Hall of Fame right now. Consider me convinced. Hit me with one, Craig. |
| Craig Ellenport (12:05:13 PM): George Young. Well, I'll bring up the adage about choosing Hall of Famers based on the question, "Can you write the history of the NFL without him?" Drafted Simms and Lawrence Taylor, hired Bill Parcells as head coach. He saved the Giants |
| Jim Reineking (12:07:13 PM): The Giants were awful for a long period of time. You're right, Craig, in hindsight that was a watershed moment for the sport of professional football. |
| Adam Rank (12:08:01 AM): Enough with owners and GMs. Honestly, Eddie DeBartolo hired Bill Walsh. Drafted Joe Montana. Had five Super Bowls under his watch. And the team has yet to recover from him leaving. |
| Craig Ellenport (12:09:38 PM): Well, DeBartolo was an owner. He's done things to merit consideration (and some things outside of football that might make it tough). But I don't want to talk about owners here. Give him credit for hiring Walsh -- but it was Walsh who drafted Montana. |
| Jim Reineking (12:12:05 PM): Walsh also drafted Roger Craig who helped make Joe Montana so great. Adam, please enlighten us with your pick for who should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. |
| Adam Rank (12:13:14 PM): My pick is one of the most underrated players of the 1960s, Los Angeles Rams defensive back Eddie Meador. |
| Jim Reineking (12:13:38 PM): Oh boy. |
| Craig Ellenport (12:14:22 PM): Here we go. State your case for Eddie Meador, Rank. |
| Adam Rank (12:15:50 PM): Happily. Member of the 1960s All-Decade team. Was selected to the All-Pro first- or second-team six times. Everybody remembers the Fearsome Foursome up front, but Meador was a ball hawk in the defensive backfield. Holds the LA Rams career mark with 46 interceptions. |
| Craig Ellenport (12:16:03 PM): Well, you could argue that a decent d-back can take advantage when QBs are getting rid of the ball fast to avoid Deacon Jones. But Meador had 46 career INTs, which is nothing to sneeze at. |
| Jim Reineking (12:16:18 PM): I need some NFL Films to make a case about Meador. Speaking of NFL Films, anybody think that Ed and/or Steve Sabol belong in the Hall of Fame for their contributions to the game? |
| Craig Ellenport (12:16:42 PM): The Sabols absolutely belong. But can you even call them "contributors." At least owners and GMs have a direct impact on the success of teams. I think NFL Films has a place beyond the traditional media, but not sure if they deserve a bust. |
| Jim Reineking (12:16:43 PM): The NFL's growth in popularity can be directly tied to NFL Films. They most deservedly should be in. |
| Craig Ellenport (12:18:19 PM): The player I'm most curious about is Snake Stabler. Is it possible for a QB to be in the Hall if he threw more career INTs than TDs? |
| Adam Rank (12:19:06 PM): Can you talk about the NFL of the 1970s and not talk about Ken Stabler? That seems impossible to do. |
| Craig Ellenport (12:20:52 PM): I totally agree with that. For that reason alone, I would put Stabler in the Hall of Fame. |
 Jim Reineking (12:21:52 PM): Or, what about the 1980s and not Phil Simms? |
| Adam Rank (12:21:46 PM): The Giants seemed to be more about the team than what Phil Simms did at quarterback. I'd say no. |
| Jim Reineking (12:22:02 PM): Jeff Hostetler did fill in just fine for Simms on that Super Bowl XXV-winning team. |
| Craig Ellenport (12:22:48 PM): And I love Simms, but he's just outside the line, I think. Had he not been injured before the Giants won Super Bowl XXV, he might already be in. Simms was the NFL's leading passer when he hurt his knee that season. |
| Adam Rank (12:24:02 PM): What about some of the 1990s Cowboys? How about guys like Charles Haley or Jay Novacek? |
| Craig Ellenport (12:24:56 PM): Haley has won more Super Bowls than any human being. Good credentials right there. But Novacek was just a good player on a great team. |
| Adam Rank (12:25:10 PM): Like Roger Craig. |
| Adam Rank (12:25:39 AM): I want to rapid fire on NFL Network's list. Which did not have Craig, Young or Meador ... So it was a bogus list. First name, Ken Anderson. |
| Jim Reineking(10:57:01 AM): No. |
| Craig Ellenport (11:00:26 AM): No. But really close. Joe Montana kept him out with that first 49ers-Bengals Super Bowl. |
| Adam Rank (11:01:52 AM): Steve Tasker |
| Craig Ellenport (11:02:01 AM): No. |
| Jim Reineking (11:04:40 AM): Absolutely. Greatest special teams player ever to play the game. |
| Adam Rank (11:06:39 AM): When you compare him to other special teams players, you have a point. Alright, Alex Karras? |
| Jim Reineking (11:07:09 AM): No. |
| Craig Ellenport (11:08:42 AM): No. Not even for his excellent work in the classic movie, Blazing Saddles. |
| Adam Rank (11:9:11 AM): Ricky Watters? |
| Craig Ellenport (10:47:21 AM): Maybe. I'll say no for now, but Watters deserves some consideration down the road. |
| Jim Reineking (10:48:37 AM): No. |
| Adam Rank (10:48:51 AM): Both of you had Roger Craig as being the guy from the 49ers who should be in the Hall. How about Stabler? Craig said yes, Rhino? |
| Jim Reineking (10:49:54 AM): No. |
| Adam Rank (10:50:38 AM): Jim Marshall. And no jokes about him running the wrong way, either. That's not cool. |
| Jim Reineking (10:51:13 AM): Yes. |
| Craig Ellenport (10:51:56 AM): No, and I'm not sure he would find the correct stage if he was enshrined. Sue me. |
| Adam Rank (10:53:13 AM): Cris Carter. |
| Jim Reineking (10:53:49 AM): Yes. |
| Craig Ellenport (10:54:10 AM): Yes. |
| Adam Rank (10:54:47 AM): Jerry Kramer. And this is a homer-pick for the Packers-loving Rhino. |
| Craig Ellenport (10:56:17): No. |
| Jim Reineking (10:56:19 AM): Yes. All starters from the 1960s Packers should be in the Hall of Fame. Just kidding. |
| Adam Rank (10:57:01 AM): Alright, one final push for somebody. |
| Craig Ellenport (11:00:26 AM): The Hall selection committee does a great job - and they probably vote too many people in each year. So I don't know if there are really any GLARING omissions. But I'll say George Young, based on what he meant to the long-term history of a marquee franchise. |
| Jim Reineking (11:01:52 AM): Steve Tasker should be the last of the players from the great Bills teams of the Marv Levy era to be enshrined. Also, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention Clay Matthews (not the rookie for the Packers, but his dad, the Browns legend). He played at a high level for 19 seasons at one of the NFL's most grueling positions. However, I believe these two players may never get into Canton. |
| Adam Rank (11:02:01 AM): I know that Pat Tillman already has a display in Canton, but he deserves a bust. He needs his moment in the sun, and those speeches would be simply amazing. |
