Hall of Fame Material Running Backs

[Lurch]

With some of the NFL threads on here of late, I've been thinking about the NFL HOF and which RB's will get in eventually. I'd like to see what others thoughts are - IMO, this is perhaps the hardest group to break into in all of sports.

Eligible or soon will be:

1. Emmitt Smith: will make it obviously (though not the best ever, IMO).
2. Thurman Thomas: 50/50 at best, IMO
3. Ricky Watters: very doubtful, but an outside shot
4. Terrell Davis: slim to none

Recently retired or soon will be:

1. Jerome Bettis: easy in, IMO (on personality, stats - all levels)
2. Marshall Faulk: in, perhaps not in 1st year though
3. Curtis Martin: in, same as Marshall
4. Priest Holmes: slim to none

Anyway, I just think the NFL bang-on with the way they treat the HOF. Ricky Watters and Thurman Thomas may not ever get in - puts today's RB's in perspective I think.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Pretty fair assessment IMO. Smith and Bettis are locks. Martin will be in.

I think Faulk and Thomas both deserve to be in. Watters, not so much.

The longevity thing is really key. There are guys in the hall who have comparable career stats to Terrell Davis. The thing is, they totally deserve to be in, even if TD doesn't.

I mean, it would be hard for me not to put Gale Sayers and Earl Campbell in my top 5 RB's of all time, so how could they not be in the hall?

[Lurch]

If you take it one more step, who do you see out of the guys in their prime getting in (assuming 3 or 4 more productive years)? These are my picks, knowing that probably half or more will be injured derailing their chances:

1. LT: I think he is the closest to establishing the resume to make it. I think Alexander's career totals are perhaps a little better right now, but Tomlinson was the only option for a long while.
2. Alexander: he's got a shot as well, esp with the single season TD record (which 100% sunk Priest Holmes' shot, IMO).
3. Clinton Portis: I know you find him overrated, but he has averaged 1500 yards per season with 12 TD's. He's only 25 this season, so if he can stay healthy for 5 to 7 seasons (30 to 32) he could easily make it.
4. Edge: 3 more seasons and he's in. I forgot him somehow - should be #1 on this list. Only 28, so 3 seasons of productivity should be very doable. Needs to overcome image problem, so may need to break top 10 in career yards to make it.
5. Corey Dillon: shocking, but he is #17 all-time in rushing and now has a Super Bowl. Nonetheless, I see no way he gets in, even if he gets to about #12 all-time rushing. If he puts together 3 more seasons in some miracle, maybe (personally, I predict this is his last season as a full time NFL RB, if he even holds that down this year). Did hold the single game rush record for a while as well, IIRC, which may help out his perceived personality problem.

[Displaced Flames fan]

I think the first 3 (with Edge moved to the top) will make it, barrin disastrous injuries.

I actually don't think Portis is overrated. He is very young and he's also been very durable. I think he has a great chance to put enough numbers up to get in. I worry about his brain though. I'm not sure the kid is all there. He's a strange cat.

Agree on Dillon. He'd have to have a few more very productive injury free seasons.

[burn_baby_burn]

TD should get in. I'm no Broncos fan but without TD the Donkeys don't get the two Super Bowl titles. Sure he didn't have a long carrier, but you can't help injury.

Smith is a no brainer.

Faulk is a lock, probably a first ballot.

I'm biased when it comes to Priest Holmes, but if Alexander is getting in, so should Holmes.

Watters, no way.

Bettis, probably.

As for current players? LT keeps it up he will be a first ballot. If LJ keeps it up he could find himself in Canton as well.

[flames_1987]

It's amazing how much depth there is at the position. So many guys seem to step up out of nowhere and have big big games when there's an injury.