One More: Derrick Thomas, why not in the HOF?

Ahmanfan

Why isn't this clearly dominant, one of the best ever at his position, in the hall of fame? Some may argue he was a pass rushing specialist, but everyone in the NFL is a specialist in one regard or another.

140 career sacks, record for most sacks in one game (7), 2nd most sacks in one season, 2nd most safeties all time, numerous other records. The best at his position for an entire decade!

discuss!
JOhn

xbaggypants

One of my all-time fav's, cleary he deserves to be in the hall

kcballboy

Let him in!

I think his major hold up was his ability to play the run. Not very good. And I think the MNF Denver game where he was flinging Shannon Sharpe around by the facemask all night might still be in the voters memories.

JasP24

He should have gone in first ballot IMO..If he were a DE, he would already be in...The knock against him is that he was a LB who wasn't strong against the run or very good in pass coverage. LB is THE hardest position to make the HOF...Most of the LBs in the HOF right now were good at everything and not just specialists...Thomas definitely had a few years left in the tank when he was killed. Had he gotten to play the extra few years, I think he would have gone in on the first ballot.

He's not the only LB with 9 Pro Bowls who is not in the HOF..Just ask Chris Hanburger and Maxie Baughn from the 60s-70s era..Each with 9 Pro Bowls and neither has been close to making the HOF...Randy Gradishar was one of the best of the late 70s-early 80s..7 Pro Bowls, Defensive Player of the Year in 1978 ..This year will be his final chance as a modern candidate...Thats 14 chances without being elected so far...It took Harry Carson (the most recent LB to get elected) 13 chances to get in...

DT will get in though, he's only been up for election 3 times so far...To me, he is the most overlooked/snubbed candidate out there right now, not Art Monk as many others will argue.

Jason