Brian Mitchell

[Hark Mudspeth]

I don't know how his 4,303 yards from scrimmage play into this.

He could have played any number of positions in the NFL, he was just out of this world valuable as a return man.

Only averaging 307 yards per season not on special teams is what hurts him IMO.

[stodgdog]

They are very much a part of the game but you and I don't vote...their peers do. I think the overall feeling of a locker room in regards to special teams guys is that you aren't good enough for first or second string so you go get hurt on special teams while we save our "good players" for the game. Those guys doing the voting think "imagine if i played special teams, I'm a hall of fame LB or RB, I was too good to risk playing special teams but if I did, I'd be way better than that guy"

Members of the Pro Football Selection Committee are primarily sports writers. I looked up Mitchell's stats and they are very impressive. He averaged 5.1 yds/carry in addition to his outstanding stats as a ST player.

[Hark Mudspeth]

Members of the Pro Football Selection Committee are primarily sports writers. I looked up Mitchell's stats and they are very impressive. He averaged 5.1 yds/carry in addition to his outstanding stats as a ST player.

Not arguing against him being in, putting rational reasons why he isn't. There are a lot of really good players with impressive stats that aren't in the NFL hall of fame...ALOT

[Turbine]

Not arguing against him being in, putting rational reasons why he isn't. There are a lot of really good players with impressive stats that aren't in the NFL hall of fame...ALOT

Every single one with Brian Mitchell type numbers is in.

[Hark Mudspeth]

Every single one with Brian Mitchell type numbers is in.

None of them were special teams. Why don't you go to canton and plead your case, because you are literally preaching to the choir here. I don't vote for the NFL HOF...merely suggesting why I think it will be tough for him to get in. In people's minds he was one of the best specialists ever, who for the majority of his career was a backup football player.

[Turbine]

None of them were special teams. Why don't you go to canton and plead your case, because you are literally preaching to the choir here. I don't vote for the NFL HOF...merely suggesting why I think it will be tough for him to get in. In people's minds he was one of the best specialists ever, who for the majority of his career was a backup football player.

You toss that term around like crazy but until this thread I had never heard it applied to Brian Mitchell before.

He should get into the HoF on that phrase alone. "The only backup player to amass over 23.000 all purpose yards."

[Turbine]

What I think hurt Brian Mitchell's HoF bid early on is that Hall of Famers Curtis Martin, Marshall Faulk, Tim Brown, Emmitt Smith, and Jerry Rice all retired within 3-years of his last game. And Thurmon Thomas 3 years prior.

He slipped through the early cracks due to a plethora of candidates and the hindsight analysis has been dirt poor.

[Hark Mudspeth]

What I think hurt Brian Mitchell's HoF bid early on is that Hall of Famers Curtis Martin, Marshall Faulk, Tim Brown, Emmitt Smith, and Jerry Rice all retired within 3-years of his last game. And Thurmon Thomas 3 years prior.

He slipped through the early cracks due to a plethora of candidates and the hindsight analysis has been dirt poor.

Go look up players that still aren't in. I don't think it's dirt poor analysis, they just don't value special teams players. I doubt we will ever see a long snapper get in strictly for his long snapping abilities but it's pretty damn important aspect of a football game. It would have to be a hall of fame position player who also long snapped. I still think he gets in it just maybtaje quite a few years, probably after his death. Or a year when the ballot is really thin. Dont confuse what I think should happen with the reason I think he isn't in or may not get in.

[Turbine]

Go look up players that still aren't in. I don't think it's dirt poor analysis, they just don't value special teams players. I doubt we will ever see a long snapper get in strictly for his long snapping abilities but it's pretty damn important aspect of a football game. It would have to be a hall of fame position player who also long snapped. I still think he gets in it just maybtaje quite a few years, probably after his death. Or a year when the ballot is really thin. Dont confuse what I think should happen with the reason I think he isn't in or may not get in.

None have Brian Mitchell type numbers and he did it in a position that is hard as can be to put up the kind of career numbers that he did.

Even if you take away Brian's "back up" numbers as you coined them, he would still be in the top-10 all-time.

The ones you allude to that are not in, (they are good) don't have numbers that match their peers. Brian Mitchell has no peer.

[Hark Mudspeth]

None have Brian Mitchell type numbers and he did it in a position that is hard as can be to put up the kind of career numbers that he did.

Even if you take away Brian's "back up" numbers as you coined them, he would still be in the top-10 all-time.

The ones you allude to that are not in, (they are good) don't have numbers that match their peers. Brian Mitchell has no peer.

Again, as usual you are confusing a discussion for my stance. Whether I think he should be in or not is irrelevant bc I don't have a vote. Ive said why I think he isn't in yet,,what do you think? It's obviously not lack of total yards yards, so what is it? His total yardage blows everyone out the water so what's keeping him out? They lost his paper? Confused him with a different brian Mitchell? He's black! He went to USL? I promise you his name has been discussed so what is it?

[Turbine]

Again, as usual you are confusing a discussion for my stance. Whether I think he should be in or not is irrelevant bc I don't have a vote. Ive said why I think he isn't in yet,,what do you think? It's obviously not lack of total yards yards, so what is it? His total yardage blows everyone out the water so what's keeping him out? They lost his paper? Confused him with a different brian Mitchell? He's black! He went to USL? I promise you his name has been discussed so what is it?

I told you 6 current HoF members (in his category range) (1 better)retired within 3-years of Brian Mitchell retiring.

Also poor marketing.

[Hark Mudspeth]

I told you 6 current HoF members (in his category range) (1 better)retired within 3-years of Brian Mitchell retiring.

Also poor marketing.

He has had several chances since then, he is always eligible. Those guys have long been in. If he has those yards on offense he is first ballot...it's the fact it was mainly accomplished on special teams is what kept him out. They don't value special teams, nothing to do with marketing. Not saying it's right but it's reality. Teams regularly sign guys literally off the couch to play special teams devaluing their perceived worth. I Still think he and Hester eventually get in.