Ask Bob – About the Hall of Fame

Bob What happened to this?

“January 17, 2010 – Bob Gretz:
Many of you had nice compliments on the site and those are truly appreciated. Others had some questions about the site and yours truly. I’ve saved those because coming up here later this week; I’m going to have another Answer Bob post dealing entirely with the web site.”

It never happened.

It seems to me that the standards for admittance into the Hall have been lowered over the past 10 years in particular but that’s highly subjective. I’m not talking about the Jerry Rices or Emmitt Smiths, but guys like Ricky Jackson or Andre Tippett. Has anyone thought about having a minimum standard of performance required before being considered?

Said standard would have to be customized per position which might be difficult if not impossible. Howsever, such issues as time played, number of times named to the Pro Bowl, plus a line on exceptional stats well above the norm for that position, ALL might be a good place to start. What say you?

Floyd Little in the H.O.F ? What is this based on? Sure can’t be lifetime stats or a run of 3-5 historic seasons. Postseason performance, zero. Class of 2011 Earnesr Byner.

Bob,

Who decides who gets to decide? As in, how did you get on the election committee? Are you elected? Appointed? Are members there for a “term”, or a set amount of time…or are you there for as long as you want to be? Do all teams have equal representation? Or are teams specifically NOT represented, in order to keep out bias (or try to)?

Does it ever get “heated” during the process of voting? Any “FU’s” ever get thrown around…or guys getting in each others faces? Or is it all fairly peaceful and respectful?

Thanks for taking the time again to do this. These Q&A’s are great! I have to echo what MenInRed said, though…I was looking forward to the one about your site.

Call me old fashioned, but I like the system. A combination of players and sports writers make selections behind closed doors. The last thing I want is for a network or cable channel to get the rights to broadcast the process and turn it into a circus. Save the cameras for the inductions. I enjoy the mystery and and frankly I’d rather not see the warts.

That said, what do you consider to be most important? Fame? Stats? Performance? Contributions to the game? I’ve heard radio commentators say that it is a Hall of FAME, not a Hall of ACCOMPLISHMENT. I couldn’t disagree more.

Bob,
Do you receive any spiffs for being on the board? paid expenses for the travel, salary, or is it all just for fun?

Ps, love it when you interact with us on your site. I too was looking forward to the one about your site. I know your a busy man though, THANKS

I can not thank you enough for all the information you have given us–Thanks—Thanks again!!

I wish more could be put in the HOF while they are alive to enjoy it. It is not the same to have their grandchildren present for the event, and not the one they are giving the honor to. Just wish the great ones could be there for this great honor. And yes I know that can’t always happen.

Thanks again!!

Bob,

Is there a process to change the rules as to how many folks get into the Hall of Fame per year? I, too, agree that the minimum of players that get in every year is a bit high. Eventually, you’ll have to start voting players in that are just Very Good and not Great. Take Kurt Warner for example. He’s a very good player. His “donut hole” of a time where he was terrible (Lost his job in St. Louis, couldn’t maintain the starting job in NY) sits bad with me. However, I fear when his name comes up he’ll get inducted, simply because the players he’ll go up against aren’t as good and don’t really deserve to get in either. You have to look at the players that are in the Hall right now at that position and go, “Is this person Hall of Fame worthy like Joe Montana, Sammy Baugh, and Johny Unitus?”

When Warren Moon made it in, I was sick. There were plenty of other quarterbacks during his tenure in the NFL I could easily say were better than he was. So now I feel like the standard was lowered for Quarterbacks. After Moon and possibly Warner make it in, who’s next? Bernie Kosar? Steve Grogan?

Bob (or anyone on this post),

Do you think Will Shields will get into the HOF?
If so, when? With all those Pro Bowls and consecutive starts one would think he would be a shoo-in.

Bob …..Thanks for the chance to pick your thoughts. To me the HOF has been watered down this past few years. Some of the reasons is players are playing a lot longer, thus causing a gap in HOF cal. players .So I feel in down years …..don’t fill all the slots. Maybe go back & look at pastover players.While no fault of Little’s ……playing for the Donks his numbers are not HOF. You have opened the door for every player that( would of/ should have/ if only) that has played this game. Thanks Bob great site wish you would get a better response from your fans. You deserve it.

Ps …… it’s the HOF for a reason not every one is suppose to make it. That’s what makes it such a honor when they do .

Bob,

Trying to avoid being a “Homer”, but given George Toma’s grooming of all 44 Super Bowl fields (an amazing achievement), what are his chances of being elected to the Hall?

I know they allow non-playing contributors membership but I believe they still count against the 7 inductee maximum. If so, I don’t see him making it. Your thoughts?

BobGretz, which “Old Timer” Chiefs have the best chance of getting in the Hall within the next 5 years (and really – what are their true chances)?

Also, which modern Chiefs have the best shot of getting in…and what are their true chances?