Current Cowboy HOFers?

by GhettoBear04 on Jun 10, 2008 11:56 AM CDT Comment 28 comments

John Clayton had an article this morning talking about the draft class of 2013 that would theoretically include Favre, Sapp, Strahan (assuming he makes it, I think he will), and possibly Ogden (assuming he retires). Here's the link.

Edit: Reading Peter King's column yesterday reminded me that Larry Allen and Junior Seau (assuming he's retiring) would also be in this class.

This got me thinking about the Hall of Fame, the league right now, and current Cowboys. If you look at the contending teams of the past few years, it seems they all have a couple of players who are either locks for the HOF or have very good chances. For example, New England (Brady, Moss, Belichick), Indy (Manning, Harrison probably), and San Diego (LT, maybe Merriman one day). These are players who are first-pick Pro-Bowlers every year, often All-Pro, and have Player of the Year awards.

So here's my question: We all think of the Cowboys as serious Superbowl contenders (myself included), so are there any players on the team now who are considered strong HOF candidates? Here's my list of guys, in order of my perceived strength of their HOF bids.

1. TO: Should be Top 3 in TD's by the end of his career. 2nd best receiver of this generation. 6 Pro-Bowls, 5 time All-Pro to go with what should be 1000 catches and almost 15,000 yards. I think he's a lock either way, but winning a Superbowl solidifies his first-ballot status. Prediction: Canton-bound.

2. Ware: He's young, this is more projection than anything. I think he has the potential, but he has to maintain this level. So far, he's been in the league 3 years and has been to 2 Pro-Bowls, and been All-Pro twice. He's averaging about 11 sacks a year, meaning he would have to play another 10 years at this rate to reach Strahan's totals. Like Strahan, he is not just a sack artist but is just as good in run defense. Strahan was All-Pro six times, NFL Defensive player of the year once (NFC twice), and won a Superbowl. All of these (especially the last hopefully!) are in reach for Ware, but he's got a long way to go. Prediction: Projecting a lot, but I say yes.

3. Romo: He will be hurt by 2 things: 1. He became a starter later than most, so he's got a couple less years of stat accumulation. 2. The competition at QB is always so tough. Possibly also that he throws a lot of interceptions, but I expect that to improve. Working in his favor, he's the QB of the Cowboys, so he gets plenty of attention and he dates really hot women, so he gets plenty of attention. Uhh...moving on. Jerry has put together a good team around him and should continue to do so, so he should always have the good receivers/TE's to throw at. Assuming Red is the next head coach, I expect the offense to continue to put up big numbers. But numbers alone do not assure a HOF ticket. For QB more than any other position, postseason wins matter. In the younger generation of QB's, he is in a battle with Big Ben, Carson Palmer, possibly Brees, and (UGH!) Eli Manning; only a couple will be picked and SB wins will probably matter most. Prediction: Too much projection, too much competition, I just don't know.

4. Witten: Fortunately, the HOF voters usually look past just the big stats like sacks, TDs, receptions, etc. I say this because Witten was not put into the same position that Dallas Clark or Antonio Gates was from the start (being more of a checkdown option than an actual deep threat). However, he has steadily improved each year going to 4 Pro-Bowls and making his first All-Pro team last year. I think he is a definite possibility, but he will need to improve on last year slightly and then maintain that level for a few more years. It's tough for TE's to make it, but hopefully the writers will realize that the spread offenses have taken TE's into account more and put more of them into the HOF. Prediction: Should be yes, assuming continued performance and the HOF voters wising up.

5. Flo: I just don't know. I'd like to say yes, because he has been very good for a while. But in his ten year career, he has only been All-Pro once (last year), and made 4 Pro-Bowls. If the Cowboys win 2 superbowls and he All-Pro a couple more times, then maybe. But as of right now, I think the penalties and lack of consistent excellent performance doom his chances. Prediction: Sadly no.

Honorable Mention: Greg Ellis

If you made it this far, congrats! Now let me know what y'all think...

Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.

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TO is the only lock

But he will have a lot of detractors because of his early career shenanigans.

Ware is on his way, but he needs to develop past simply using his freakish athleticism and power moves. On the plus side, he is a complete player on defense playing pass AND run.

Romo will probably not make it unless he wins a Superbowl or two. The old fogeys will always remember him as a playboy and a gunslinger unless he has the requisite hardware on his resume. I am not worried about stats as much as perception.

Witten needs another two years like the last one, and then he will also be a lock.

Flo gets an honorable mention, and too many people will remember his false starts and early inconsistency to vote him in. I will hold out hope for him though.

Thanks for your post—good topic.

Championship...believe it!

by accidental innuendo on Jun 10, 2008 1:14 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

They all get in

I think they all get in. TO should already be a lock.

Injury in my estimation is the only thing stoping any of the rest.

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 10, 2008 1:59 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

time will tell but...

TO is a lock, no doubt. If Ware keeps up his improving pace for years to come, he will be enshrined in Canton. Romo is a lock if he wins multiple super bowls, if he wins one, his stats will come into play, if he doesn’t win the big one, he has no shot. Witten is a tough one because it’s hard for his style of tight end to get national exposure, unlike Antonio Gates who is almost strictly a receiver. In the end though, I say Witten in Canton. Flozell- no chance.

by ctrain7379 on Jun 10, 2008 2:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

TO: definitely

Witten: probably
Ware: who knows right now
Romo: No
Flo: eventually, i’ll say maybe.

by Longhorn on Jun 10, 2008 6:16 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

really no Romo

The guy throws 4k yds, 30+ td’s, and leads his team to the best record in the nfc in his 1st full year as a starter and it is simply no.

I HAVE FAITH IN ROMO.

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 10, 2008 7:50 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

you said it about Romo: "one season".....let him play 10 seasons before making such predictions...

same with Ware and Witten…..you can’t even discuss this matter with only 3-4 years under their belts….If any of these players get injured over the next few years, all deals are off..

TO is the only HOF canidate on this squad, as of today. And he’ll be enshined as a Cowboy…gotta love it.

A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.

"If you don’t take him off the field as a coach, he will just about die out there," Jerry Jones said. "That impacted my decision. It’s a Michael Irvin-type work ethic. That’s what we are talking about with Felix Jones."
- Owner/G.M of the Dallas Cowboys , Jerry Jones

by BoyzRback on Jun 10, 2008 7:54 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

true enough

there are no guarantees for the guys still early in their careers, but you can look at how they are performing at this point in their careers and at least make a reasonable prediction that if they continued to play at this level or improve, they’d have a shot at it. Based on what they’ve shown so far, Romo, Ware and Witten I think all could make it. Maybe they won’t, but they could. There’s a lot of guys you couldn’t even say that about.

by scottmaui on Jun 10, 2008 8:05 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

they are well on their way......

In this defense…I see Ware putting up 12-20 sacks per year….IF he can do that for the next 8-10 years…He’ll be in….

Witten continues to put up 80+ receptions 8+ TD’s….he’ll ge there too…

Romo….He needs to win a big game period (THIS YEAR)...He’s on one of the best teams Dallas has EVER assembled…IF he doesn’t win at least 2 SB’s with this current roster over the next 5 years….his window will close real fast….

A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.

by BoyzRback on Jun 11, 2008 12:59 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I concur

I’d like to see Ware lead the league in sacks for a few years to be a lock.

by BigE on Jun 11, 2008 5:48 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Romo

Now i dont know the actual stat so i might make a fool out of myself but how many qbs are in the HOF and havent won a superbowl AND arent on top of the passing records? I think for romo to get in he needs atleast a super bowl maybe two. He has had a late start already so even if he keeps up with this production i dont think it will matter unless it increases and/or wins the super bowl.

What the French?! Toast!

by thebigham on Jun 11, 2008 7:38 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I have him winning at least one..

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 11, 2008 9:35 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

From the competition you listed above

I think Big Ben might be his only real competitor. Palmer is wasting away in Cincy, Brees is a couple years older than Romo and has only slightly above average career totals and plays on a team that probably won’t be going to the superbowl any time soon, Eli is OVERATED, I can’t understand why so many people are so high on him, he wins a superbowl and suddenly he’s a top-5 QB. Yes, he did play well in that superbowl and he wasn’t mediocre in the playoffs, but his playoff performance doesn’t rank that high, the media and ESPN just wants to love him.This isn’t directed at you Mr. Ghetto, I noticed your “ugh” but I don’t understand what makes people think he is a top QB in this league.
Eli
TD-INT 77-64
Passing yards 11,385
QB Rating 73.4

Tony
55-32
7114
96.5
After that…T.O. is a lock to get in, Ware will get in one day, Witten is another year away from being a lock himself (there are records to be broke), and Romo, when its all said and done will have a couple superbowls to his credit to go along with his great stats.

by Romo9 on Jun 11, 2008 10:01 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

The reason for the Ugh

is that I don’t think he’s that good. Now, he may prove me wrong and show this year that he has made “the leap”, but I think it’s more likely that he had a hot streak in the playoffs last year. And you can’t argue that he doesn’t have the talent that the Cowboys have, the Cowboys offense is similar to the Giants at the skill positions and their O-Line is at the least decent.

The reason I included him on the list is that since he plays for New York and has won a Superbowl, he’s at least on the list of potential HOF QB’s. I don’t think it will happen and I think Romo could be a better QB and still not get in (neither would in this scenario), but I’d rather Romo just win more superbowls!

by GhettoBear04 on Jun 11, 2008 10:06 AM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

I see,

so you are saying that he is on the list because he is fairly young and has a superbowl ring but needs stats whereas Romo is fairly young, has stats, but needs a ring?

by Romo9 on Jun 12, 2008 1:07 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

T.O., Yes; Flo, No

everybody else is maybe.

A QB with two SB wins is pretty much a lock. Had Phil Simms not been hurt for the Giants vs. Bills SB and the Giants had won, he’d probably be in. As it stands now, he won’t make it.

Ware is the guy with the clearest track to the HOF , assuming he avoids injuries, distractions, etc. Witten is next, but there are not a whole lot of TEs in the Hall. Should he make it, the video of him rumbling down the field after he lost his helmet will be played at his induction ceremony. Romo is putting up good numbers, but if the Cowboys do not go deep into the playoffs this year, meaning all the way to the Super Bowl, Romo is going to be stuck with the “Can’t Win the Big One” label, and the only way to shake that is to win the Big One.

John Elway would have made the HOF even without the 2 Super Bowl wins, but he would be remembered very differently. Jim Kelly would be in the discussion of the all time greats had Scott Norwoods’ kick split the uprights. Joe Namath might not have made the HOF without the win over the Colts (173 career tds/220 career ints: that’s ugly stuff).

If the Cowboys win a couple of Super Bowls with ROmo as QB, this is all academic.

Lifetime Cowboys Fan from the Swamps of Jersey

by Seanrude on Jun 11, 2008 11:37 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Zach Thomas

Is the only guaranteed HOF’er on the roster other than TO. A lot of guys could get in, if they continue the pace they set last year for a decade, but you can’t assume something like that.

by grapejoos on Jun 11, 2008 7:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

My 2 cents

TO: definitely
Witten: probably
Ware: too early
Romo: way too early
Flo: maybe.

"Support Our Troops"

Have the intelligence to know the difference between the Policy and the Soldiers!

by afl_storm on Jun 11, 2008 8:38 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ware

Everyone on here keeps saying if Ware keeps up his sack production, he’s going to be in. Sacks do not equal HOF! (See Greene, K and Doleman, C) There’s much more to it than that, not that I don’t think he’s a great all around LB, but you have to take more into account than that.

by Mandmeisterx on Jun 12, 2008 12:43 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

my prediction

T.O., Romo, Witten and Ware.

T.O. is a lock, no question.

Regarding Romo, I don’t buy what Ghetto says about starting late, Steve Young started really late but got in and so can Romo. If he gets a few rings which I’m sure he will, he’s in barring any major injury set backs.

Witten is simply the best all around TE in this era, he’ll get in.

Ware will be thought of in the same breath as LT someday when his playing days are done, he’s a lock barring any major injuires as well.

In Romo we Trust

by Terry on Jun 12, 2008 9:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't think Ghetto meant

that starting late hurts his career or anything, but he was pointing out the fact that his window of opportunity to win a superbowl or accumulate stats was smaller than other’s. Say Tom Brady, who came in and started at a relatively young age on a good team, he had a much larger window. But yes, there are examples of some of the greatest players starting their career late and finishing in the HOF. Look no further than America’s quarterback, Roger Staubach.

by Romo9 on Jun 12, 2008 1:02 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Witten for sure

By the time he hangs it up, Jason will be considered the quintessential tight end.

Witten’s hatless rumble is a highlight for the ages.

Keep doing what you been doing, keep getting what you been getting.

by OskieOskie on Jun 13, 2008 11:11 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

TO FOR SURE

Witten and ware and zach thomas

How 'Bout Them Cowboys!!!!

by emmitt22 on Jun 13, 2008 10:03 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

zach

Should be a lock.. Not 1st ballot, but a lock.. Tackling beast for years..

"Why everything that's supposed to be bad, Make me feel so good?"

by Wmillion on Jun 14, 2008 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

not first ballot ?? there is no doubt he will be...

A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.

by BoyzRback on Jun 14, 2008 11:32 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

witten highlights

this is a great witten reel because it shows both receiving and blocking highlights. some really nice blocks!

http://www.youtube.com/v/jSitxZ7djWo

(6:10 for hatless rumble)

by scottmaui on Jun 14, 2008 4:35 AM CDT reply actions 0 recs

witten is the best TE in the league

we could stick him at fullback, tackle, or wideout and he would still produce. look at that highlight reel, he made plays from every position and always finished his blocks. don’t try to tell me gates, witten is ten times better than gates as an all-around tight end.

by ctrain7379 on Jun 15, 2008 2:16 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

HOF

T.O. is a lock.
Witten is the next best hope at this date.
I agree with those who have said that Romo will have to win at least one Super Bowl.
Ware can work his way into the equation.

I was skewered on this site last year when, after reading comments about how Romo was going to make quantum leaps, I had to interject that he wouldn’t. He had four years in the league being developed in the best way. He is who is he. In his fourth year, whether he’s played or not, he is there, because the development of a quarterback in the NFL is mental, not physical. Too many are ruined by being inserted into the starting role as a rookie. Rookies are not ready to play in the NFL. Just ask Parcells, who commented about his subject often.

Romo did not make statistical improvement from year four to year five, as I predicted. He wasn’t a rookie, despite the desire by some to ignore his four training camps, four seasons on the sideline, and four years of practice. Don’t think he’s going to develop like Jason Campbell might, who is going from year three to year four, or like Matt Leinart. Those guys are making quantum leaps, but Romo is already at a level they are trying to reach. That’s because this is his SIXTH YEAR in the NFL. When can we get past the idea that he is some newbie and judge him as a starting quarterback rather than compare him to rookies and second year players? Let’s see what happens in the near future when T.O. is gone. T.O. is a quarterback maker. (See Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb)

by rrb on Jun 15, 2008 11:40 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

You been sniffin' glue ??? Leinart couldn't hold Romo's jock.

He wouldn’t even be starting in Arizona if wasn’t for the exec’s wanting to see a return on their huge over investment…...Cambell will never , ever put up the numbers that Romo has…I see he has possible upside….but he isn’t going to be sniffing any Pro Bowls any time in the near future….where you came up with this assessment of yours is way offbase and jaded….before you go pattin’ yourself on the back for some unfounded predictions you feel you made correctly…...you better check yourself….cuz your post was flawed and so out of wack i felt compelled to defend my QB Tony Romo, for you to even compare Leinart or Cambell to him is complete nonsense….Here’s a prediction for you…..Cambell or Leinart will NEVER have a higher QB rating or throw for more TD passes in a season…...count it it….

A true diehard Cowboys fan since 1975.

by BoyzRback on Jun 20, 2008 4:09 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs