2016 HOF RB Nominees

Fourteen running backs were nominated for consideration to be enshrined in the 2016 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. A few candidates may be obvious choices, but many are not. As usual, those playing for Super Bowl champions or in the media spotlight will be granted more favor than some who did not. Some will lose favor for how they conducted themselves and others will win points for being media darlings.

Shaun Alexander scored 100 touchdowns, but did not crack the ten thousand yard barrier. These numbers are comparable to hall of famer John Riggins, whose Super Bowl win and oversized personality helped vault him into the hall.

 

Ottis Anderson lasted 15 seasons, but played for middling teams.

Tiki Barber played in New York and put up great numbers. The fact he wasn’t therefore a mega-star is interesting. Will it keep him out of the hall?

Roger Craig was a productive part of the 49er dynasty, giving him more consideration over players with better stats who toiled with losing teams.

Stephen Davis had more yards per game than only three of the nominees. A talent, but not a hall of famer.

Eddie George was an NFL favorite who put up great numbers. This should help his candidacy.

Priest Holmes toiled in Kansas City and Baltimore, away from the media spotlight.

Edgerrin James put up big numbers in Indianapolis.

Daryl Johnston was nominated solely for his role in the Dallas dynasty, though his stats pale in comparison with the other nominees. He does not belong.

Jamal Lewis quietly gained 10,000 yards. The hall likes winners and bigger than life characters. Not sure Jamal makes the cut.

Clinton Portis outgained only Daryl Johnston. Not sure how he got nominated.

Herschel Walker gained more NFL combined yards than any other nominee, retiring with the third most NFL combined yards in NFL history as well as the most NFL return yards of any running back in history. His NFL yards were more than the combined yards of nominees Shaun Alexander, Clinton Portis, and Daryl Johnston, as well as the combined yards of nominees Stephen and Terrell Davis. His rushing stats are comparable to any the other nominees, his receiving stats top the list, and his return yards are off the charts. At a position with an average career of two years, Walker’s longevity is just one more plus.

Ricky Watters turned off the press with his big mouth, though he was a very productive back.

Brian Westbrook was known for his versatility, and is well known for playing mostly in Philadelphia. Had fewer rushing yards, receiving yards, and return yards than Walker.

PL.YR.games.rush.TD.avg.rec.yards.TD.returns.TD

HW.13.187.08225.061.4.2.512.4859.21.5084.2

TB..10.154.10449.055.417.586.5183.12.1725.1

RW.10.144.10643.078.4.1.467.4248.13

EJ..11.148.12246.080.4.0.433.3364.11

OA.15.182.10273.081.4.1.376.3062.05

RC.11.165.08289.056.4.1.566.4911.17.0043.0

EG.09.141.10441.068.3.6.268.2227.10

JL..09.131.10607.058.4.2.221.1879.04

BW.09.121.06335.041.4.6.442.3940.30.0985.2

PH..10.113.08172.086.4.6.339.2962.08.0051.0

SA..09.123.09453.100.4.3.215.1520.12

SD..10.143.08052.065.4.1.179.1494.04.0062.0

CP..09.113.02230.075.4.4.247.2018.05

DJ..11.151.00753.008.3.2.294.2227.14

Combined yards, average yards per season, years played:

18168.1398.13.Hershel Walker

17357.1735.10.Tiki Barber

14891.1489.10.Ricky Watters

15610.1419.11.Edgerrin James

13335.0889.15.Ottis Anderson

13243.1203.11.Roger Craig

12668.1407.09.Eddie George

12486.1387.09.Jamal Lewis

11260.1251.09.Brian Westbrook

11185.1118.10.Priest Holmes

10973.1219.09.Shaun Alexander

09608.0960.10.Stephen Davis

04248.0472.09.Clinton Portis

02980.0270.11.Daryl Johnston

Terrell Davis deserves special consideration, having put up monster numbers in an injury-shortened career. Forty years ago a Kansas Comet with a similarly short career was enshrined into the Hall. Does Terrell compare favorably to Gale Sayers? The Bear great gained almost one hundred more yards per game, thanks mostly to his dangerous return yards. While Terrell rushed for more yards, I’m not sure the selection committee will let him in.  

08887.1269.07.Terrell Davis

09435.1347.07.Gale Sayers

TD.07.078.07607.60.4.6.169.1280.05

GS.07.068.04956.39.5.0.112.1307.09.3172.8

With USFL alumni Steve Young, Reggie White, and Jim Kelly already members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, it’s time to add the well-deserving Walker. Though his NFL numbers speak for themselves, adding in his USFL numbers make Walker the all-time leading combined yards leader in pro football history. And besides, it’s not called the NFL Hall of Fame.