Now for the offense and special teams (damn right there are special teams, well one guy at least)
Remember, Tier 1 is for first-ballot guys, Tier 2 is for guys that should make it, and Tier 3 is for the young guys who are on the right path.
Kickers
Tier 2
There are no tier one players, since I think to qualify for first-ballot lock, you have to hit every field goal ever and kick a touchback on every kickoff.
Adam Vinatieri - He should absolutely be in. He is probably the single most important player of this decade, and to the careers of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady (other than Walt Coleman, the little fucker who overturned the fumble in the "tuck game"). If he misses that kick to send the game against the Raiders to overtime, there is no dynasty. Instead of Brady and Belichick starting out at 10-0 in the playoffs, they would have lost thier first playoff game at home. Had he missed the kick at the gun against the Rams, it goes to overtime, and maybe the Rams win and get thier dynasty. He has the all-time record for field goals in the playoffs, including going 5-5 in a game three times. Even his work with the Colts has been admirable. If there ever is a kicker hall-worthy it is him. Clutch kickers are real. He is the only true one. He never misses a clutch kick, ever. After seeing Mike Vanderjagt shank kicks that resemble my golf game, I know just how amazing having Vinatieri is.
Lineman
Tier 3
Ryan Clady - Sure, he is only in his second year, but he deserves this mention. He started from day one at LT, and allowed half a sack for a team that threw it 590 times. That is production, and protection, that only a select few have ever given. Walter Jones called him "the best young tackle I have ever seen since Ogden" and he's absolutely right. Great LT don't just lose it suddenly, so unless he gets seriously hurt, he is nearly assured to keep playing at the high level he is. Another plus is that he is a terrific run blocker, as the Broncos were 2nd in the league in yards running behind LT last year.
Tier 2
Jeff Saturday - He is the second most indispensible player on the Colts other than Manning. When he starts, which has been 138 out of the last 144 games, Manning has a 96.1 rating. In the games that he has not been there, Manning has a 82.2 rating. There is a reason for that. Considering the no-huddle nature of the Colts offense, and Manning's tendency to change play calls, there is no lineman asked to do more than Saturday is. There is a reason why Manning has often stated that he would pay Jeff himself just to keep him. He is the only constant in the best offense of the last decade on the line.
Alan Faneca - The biggest difference between people who like football and people who played football in their understanding of the game is the way they know how lineman play. I really have no subjective evidence to say that Faneca is a good player, but from what I have heard, he is excellent. The guy is a horse, missing only one game this decade, and is an 8 time pro bowler. He was the key cog in the Steelers line that made the Steelers the second best rushing attack during his tenure, and the Steelers have never been able to run the ball nearly as well ever since he left. He was the most talked about O-Lineman in years when he switched to the Jets, and that has to be for a reason.
Kevin Mawae - Like in Faneca's case, I have no real evidence to back this up, but the guy made pro-bowl and all-pro team after pro-bowl and all-pro team for a reason. He was the guy that centered the line that made Curtis Martin into a great player. He was the heart and soul of the line that made the Titans a playoff team each of the last two years. Plus, he's a center, so having to shove a ball near your genitals for the last 15 years, and missing only 13 games. That is dedication to your craft. He's been the preeminent center the last two decades, and easily deserves the hall nod, just not as much as the next guys.
Tier 1
Steve Hutchinson - Here are Shaun Alexanders numbers in the four years where Hutchinson played LG for the Hawks: 1318 yds (14tds), 1435 yds (14tds), 1696 yds (16tds), 1880 yds (27tds). Here are his numbers after Hutchinson left: 896 yds (7tds), 716 yds (4tds). Here are the numbers for the new guy that Hutchinson primarily blocks for: 1340 yds (12tds), 1760 yds (10tds). That guy is Adrian Peterson. There is a reason why in the last six years, the back that Hutchinson opened up Red Sea like holes for has averaged 1571 yds and 15.5 tds. The second he left Seattle, they have never been close to the same on offense. The second he came to Minnesota he transformed them into one of the top running teams in the league. Sure, he played next to Walter Jones, but he's a pass blocker. Hutchinson was the guy who made that running game go, and made Matt Hasselbeck, Shaun Alexander and even Mike Holmgren millions.
Orlando Pace - He was the heart and soul of the line that made the Greatest Show on Turf hum along for years. He was the guy who protected Kurt Warner, and in that offense, which usually left him all-alone one on one with the other teams best pass-rusher, he kept Warner upright alot. He was the best LT with the next guy for this decade, and road-grated for Faulk and now Steven Jackson. Not much else to say here, since I have no idea if he is actually as good as I think he is. He does give out five tickets for every Rams game to the less fortunate, so the guy is at least a good human being.
Walter Jones - Big Walter has been to nine pro-bowls, has missed just 12 games since he entered the league, and has been the stronghold of that same Seahawks offense that made Hasselbeck and Alexander into stars. He has given up 8 sacks in the last 6 years, total. That is ridiculous. He has been the only LT playing currently to be listed among the other more marketable positions as being the best player in the league (along with Jonathan Ogden, who retired this year). In 2006, Sporting News named him the best player in the NFL. In Peter Kings "King 500" before the 2007 season, he was listed as the eighth best player in the NFL. John Madden, who rarely says anything about linemen in broadcasts, other than to point out how large their appetites are, called him the best LT ever. That's all I need to know.
Tight Ends
Tier 2
Jason Witten - Cowboy's usually get in even if they are undeserving, so this one should not be that hard if he continues to play like he is now for the forseeable future. He is only 27, and he is a 5 time pro bowler, and is the only pass-catcher who has any rapport or good timing with Romo. He is only 50 catches away from 500, and could threaten 800 in his career, which would put him in the top-5 all time for TEs. Becuase people generally overrate Cowboys, actually legitimate great players like him go unnoticed. Also, he is one of the few great pass-catching TEs to be also a very good, if not great blocker.
Antonio Gates - His career numbers are strikingly similar to those of Mr. Witten above, and that is a good thing. He is also a 5 time pro bowler. The only problem is that he has been more injury prone, but usually that only comes into effect in the playoffs. He is closing in on 500 receptions, and although he is older, so he won't approach 800, 700 may be attainable. He is the epitome of the basketball-player turned TE, and he has been dominant at times, with multiple QBs, and for years was the only legitimate target in San Diego apart from Tomlinson.
Tier 1
Tony Gonzalez - You are currently watching the end of the career of the Greatest Tight End of all Time. Had he played Wideout, his numbers are hall-worthy. He will become the first Tight End to get 1000 catches. a number which only 5 receivers have attained. He will retire in the Top-15 in catches, yards and TDs, which is insane for a TE. After all of this, he is still only 33, so he probably has three more productive years like this after this one. This is alot like watching Jerry Rice at the end of his career. It is rare that we can see someone who is the greatest at what he does ever. We could see that with Jerry, and the only other examples play other sports, like Jordan and Gretzky. Now, he is not in those all-time classes, but at every position in football there is debate as to the greatest to ever play it. There are two that have no debate, which is Rice at Wideout and Gonzalez at TE.
Wide Receiver
Tier 3
Andre Johnson - He is on pace for another monster year, and at this point the only thing that can stop his is injuries. He already has 500 catches, and this is with missing 10 games in his career. He just catches the ball. He twice has caught 100 balls, and twice led the league in yards. He is the perfect combination of size and speed, and he is not a dive, like most WRs these days. Just for that, and also for his freakish ability to catch and run with the football, he is well on his way to Canton.
Larry Fitzgerald - He just turned 26. The only player who put up even comparable numbers at that age is Jerry Rice. He will most likely get his 500th catch this year. He has gotten 100 catches twice times in the last 4 years and has eclipsed 1400 yards 3 times. No one will pile up TDs like Rice, and later Moss, but he is the only man that can conceivably top Rice's catches and yardage marks. That is saying alot, but it is all true. As shown in last years playoffs, he is a great prime-time player. He is also one of the classiest athletes in the NFL and will just continue to grow as a great WR. Recent receivers, like Harrison, Moss and Owens have shown that they age well, and if that is true, look out. Rice will probably never be topped, but he can come close.
Tier 2
Isaac Bruce - He is one out of 5 players to catch 1000 balls. The other five are (or in Marvin's case will be) hall of famers. He is a compiler though, as he has 16 years, but his overall numbers are good enough to get him there, it just may take awhile. He has had some amazing seasons, like in 1995-1996 where he caught 200 passes for 3,000 yards and 20tds. He was one of the centerpieces of the greatest show on turf, and continued to be stellar throughout his 30's. It might take him longer than some of the other guys on this list, but it is hard to say that he is not ultimately deserving.
Chad Ochocinco - He deserves it. He may be a serious joke, and a mini-diva, but it is hard to say there has been anyone better since 2003. This is the numbers he tossed up from 2003-2007 (5 seasons): 462 catches, 6870 yards and 43 tds. Those numbers rank 2, 1 and 4 over that time period. It was him that turned Cincinnatti from a joke to a real franchise. He's only 32, so he probably has 4-5 more years to make music with Carson and by then he should be nearing 1000 catches. His antics may have rubbed people the wrong way, but he always went out and competed, had a ton of fun playing football, and was the leader of the resurgence of the Bengals (he was putting up numbers, dancing weirdly and guaranteeing wins before Carson started). I just hope he changes his name by then.
Terrell Owens - I really considered putting him in the next class, but seeing that it is really hard for receivers to get in, I could not do it. Part of the hall's qualifications is being a stand-up performer and class guy. Terrell has burned bridges in 3 cities, hard public spats with three different QBs, and even insinuated one of his QBs was gay (Jeff Garcia , by the way, got married to a Playboy playmate, and has probably resisted many an urge to go to Owens's driveway and fuck her right there, and make TO watch). He is a coach, QB and team killer. However, you cannot underestimate his talent. His numbers are scary, and that is what will eventually get him in, even though he probably will have to wait a while.
Torry Holt - He was as consistent and as brilliant as they come for years and years. His numbers are right there with the TOs and Mosses, except for TD catches. Here's why I would not care to much about that, Moss and TO have had better QBs. When Holt was part of the Show, he caught TDs, but since then he has had Marc Bulger, Jeff Fitzpatrick, David Garrard, Scott Covington and Gus Frerotte throw him balls. Put him in for this stretch from 2000-2007: 753 catches, 11094 yards and 65 tds. He was a catching machine for years and years, and still has something left.
Tier 1
Randy Moss - Yup, he's a first ballot Hall of Famer. In fact, there is a case to be made that he was as dominant as Rice, just lacked the longevity and the drive. He was the centerpiece of both of the top-2 scoring offenses of all time. He took Tom Brady and made him finally reach the stat-levels of Peyton Manning. He made Randall Cunningham, Jeff Goerge and Daunte Culpepper viable QB options. He had a run of six years to start his career where he had 525 catches, 8375 yards (15.9 a catch) and 77 tds. He was the greatest downfield target ever, and there was nothing more exciting than when some QB launched one deep to him. Even his first year in Oakland, one that people like to forget, was a very good year, especially when you consider he was in Oakland: 60 catches 1005 yards and 8 tds. He made everyone around him better, especially that Patriots team. Without him, the Pats don't approach the numbers they did. He is only 32, but he has lost a step, and is still one of the 10 best receivers in the league. Sure, he has had his fair share of off-field incidents, but he was a good teammate. Lawrence Taylor is in the hall, and he was practically butt-fucking hookers and snorting cocaine in the huddle. This guy should be in first ballot.
Marvin Harrison - Since he technically has not yet retired, he qualifies. And thank god. I've put up alot of "runs" in the receiver column, and here is one more. And it shatters every other one posted. From 1999 to 2002 (before Manning even won 1 MVP), he put up (and remember this is just 4 years) 469 catches, 6322 yards and 52 tds. He had 8 consecutive years of at least 10 tds. He has helped Manning as much as Manning helped him. As Manning got better and better, and guys like Clark and Wayne got better and better, Manning threw to him less and less, but he never complained, never sulked. All he did, and all he ever has done, is run his route, get open and catch the ball. He has some of the more underrated circus catches too. He was a catching machine, a true great person and a surefire first ballot Hall of Famer.
Running Backs
Tier 3
Adrian Peterson - My god, is he a shoo-in unless he gets hurt. Every running back seemingly falls of an edge when they hit 30, so he will eventually start to decline, but he has six full season after this one before he reaches 30. He is putting up numbers at a record pace. So far, he has averaged 102.5 yards per game in his career. He is fresh off a running title, and is the consensus favorite to win the next five. He is fast, strong, agile, quick and many other similar adjectives that explain his being a manbeast. Sure, he has a great O-Line playing in front of him, but the last two years he faced a rare 13 men in the box defense when Tarvaris Jackson was his QB, and prospered at levels rarely seen from young runners. This will be special.
Tier 2
Edgerrin James - Guess who has more rushing yards in his career: Edge or LT? Its Edge, and its not close. Now Edge has played for two more years, but he also missed much of two years with serious injuries. Edgerrin is in the top-10 in rushing yards, and everyone else around him will or already are hall of famers. He was part of the new triplets, with Harrison and Peyton, and was arguably as important as either guy. He is 12th in yards from scrimmage, which shows how valuable he was a reciever. He may have never gotten the publicity of an Alexander, or Tomlinson or even Priest Holmes but he deserves all of it. I just wish the Colts kept him for 2006 so he could get his ring he so truly deserved.
Tier 1
LaDainian Tomlinson - He used to be scary. He used to be the best single skill position player in the NFL. He used to be a touchdown machine, a guy who has scored 10+ TDs every year of his career. He won rushing titles, touchdown titles, and even an MVP. He even caught 100 balls one year, and was, after Faulk the best all-purpose back we have season. He was a first-ballot hall of famer. In fact, he still is one. He just is not half as good as he thinks he is anymore. I would feel the same way if I were him. He dominated this game on the ground, and is the NFL leader in yards, tds, yards from scrimmage and even non-QB passing touchdowns since entering the league in 2001. He was a stand-up guy throughout, garnering one of the most beloved followings from the mainstream media. He was the perfect running back, and should easily get first-ballot distinction.
Quarterbacks
Tier 3
Phil Rivers - He got a late start, sitting on the bench each of his first two years, but he has lost no time in catching up to his class of 2004 brethren statisctically. He has an insane 88-39 TD/INT ratio and a career 93.3 passer rating, which is barely worse than that of one Thomas Brady. He has a career 37-17 record, and throughout his receivers were Malcolm Floyd, Vincent Jackson, Chris Chambers and other no-names. He is an absolutely fantastic QB, but he is stuck on a team that is a bit lost. They gave away a good young RB for an aging old one, and have not surrounded him with the pieces to win a super bowl, despite this annual notion of them being the "most talented team in the league." He has shown, though, that he is a gamer in the postseason, nearly knocking off the 17-0 Pats with one good leg, and winning playoff games each of the last two years (he is, shockingly, the only QB in the NFL to do that). He should continue to pile up stats, and hopefully the national recognition will follow in earnest.
Carson Palmer - This takes the projection that those elbow problems are behind him. If they are, he is in pretty good position to make a run at it. He is only 29, even though it seems he's been in the NFL for years and years. With him healthy, Chad motivated and Andre Caldwell and Chris Henry finally showing the promise that they had, he can pile up numbers the next four or five years. Also, with a good defense, he has the opportunity to win playoff games and maybe even a Super Bowl. This might be outlandish, but I think he has a better chance to win a super bowl than Phil Rivers. It might be a strecth, but I'm behind him.
Joe Flacco - I'll believe in him. Sure he's young, and everything may all go wrong later, but he's for real. He's better than Matt Ryan (I think I made Peter King cry with that) and it will continue to show. He is throwing for 280 yards a game this year, and here are his receivers: Derrick Mason (ancient), Mark Clayton (sucks), Kelley Washington (was the 5th receiver on the Bengals) and the corpse of Todd Heap. That is really impressive. This guy will be a star for a long, long time, and with the era of defensive dominance slowing, he will emerge as the leader of that team. Also, losing the unibrow makes him so much more believable.
Tier 2
Drew Brees - I assume the Saints greatest show on turf impression will continue another three to four years, becuase if so, he is golden. This guy is fast approaching 200 career TDs, 30,000 yards and is a career 90.9 passer rating and 64.1 cmp%. That all is great, but put him in for what he did for New Orleans, and induct him on the spot if he wins a super bowl with them. Not only is New Orleans a team with a wretched history, he inherited a post-Katrina wasteland, and turned them into the most exciting team in the NFL. He should retroactively get that 2006 MVP award, but he should get this nod anyway.
Kurt Warner - He probably needs to lead this team back to the playoffs this year to put this cast in stone, but even if he leaves the sport tomorrow, he should be in. Here are his rate stat numbers: #2 in yards per game (.1 behind Peyton), #5 in YPA, #4 passer rating, #2 cmp%. He has taken two downtrodden franchises to three super bowls (one combined super bowl before that). He has the three largest passing days in QB history, and barely lost two of them. He has a career 8-3 in the playoffs. He led the fucking Arizona Cardinals to the Super Bowl. These are his numbers in his 7 kinda-healthy years: 4354 yds 41 tds, 3429 yds 21 tds (11gms), 4830 yds 36 tds, 2713 yds 11 tds (10gms), 3417 yds 27 tds (14gms), 4583 yds 30 tds. He is a hall of famer. Above all that, he has the greatest story in NFL history. People laud Brady for being a 6th round pick. Warner was not even picked, he played Arena League, bagged groceries and still made it and won a Super Bowl.
Ben Roethlisberger - He too, could probably retire today and make it, or at least play averagely for the remainder of his career and make it. Through five years, no one has his numbers. Through 2008, he was 51-20 as a starter, with a career 101-69 td/int, 63.3 cmp%, 8.0 ypa, 90.2 passer rating. In the postseason, he is 8-2 as a starter, he has won two super bowls. This is probably going to make Peter King cry as well, but he has a more impressive resumer through 5 years than Brady had. He is also a far better throwing statistical QB than people give him credit for. His physical style of play may evential knock him out, but if he has three more years like the five he has had, he should be in the Hall.
Tier 1
Brett Favre - What is there to say? Nothing, every possible combination of words to describe Brett Favre has already been said millions of times over. I'll just say this, look at the stats from 1994-1998 that Favre put up. I think with all his gay shenenigans recently people have forgotten what a great QB he used to be. He was amazing. I have no comment as to the current farce of a person named Brett Favre today.
Tom Brady - I hate him as well. I respect him to hell too. He is a surefire hall of famer. Colts fans like to make reasons to discredit Tom, but honestly, when you are 14-3 in the playoffs. He is 92-26 in the regular season. Now, he has always had a hall-of-famer as a coach, and a top-5 defense, so those wins are not totally due to him, but there is no way you can take away those accomplishments away from the guy. He is an amazing player. He can make every throw (I'll add one shot at him though: his throwing arm has very interestingly gotten much stronger since he came into the league). He put up the 3rd greatest season for a QB ever (behind Marino's 1984 and Manning's 2004) and deserves all of it. He has raised his game when the playoffs start, and even pre-Moss, his numbers dwarfed Aikman's and resembled Montana's. He is as sure-fire as the guy above him and below.
Peyton Manning - He is not done, as he has probably as good a shot at winning another super bowl this year as anyone else, but if, god forbid, he retired tomorrow, he would be a first ballot. His numbers are scary, and if Favre ever retires he will own every passing record in the leagues history. He already has 350 tds, and 47500 yards, which put him in 3rd and 4th respectively already. That is scary. He is on his way to a 4th MVP award, and has directed an offense that has been the league's best since 1999. He has not really had the weapons people try to make it seem, as, besides Marvin, he made every other receiver into a great player. He made Wayne, Stokley, Collie, Garcon, Clark, Pollard, Addai, James, Rhodes and all of those guys into better players. He called his own plays. Why am I using the past tense? I don't know. He still has many more great accomplishments to go. He is already better than Brady (one day I will write about that argument), and if he wins the Super Bowl this year, there is just no point of having an argument about that. At this point, he's up there with Montana and Marino as the greatest QBs of the Super Bowl era, and if anyone does not vote for him for the Hall, that person should lose their voting license.
