re: Lynn Swann: Calvin Johnson has not done enough to be considered a HOFer

quote:

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Well...do cumulative stats or skillset get you in the HOF?
22nd in Receiving TDs
43rd in Receptions
27th in Receiving Yards

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That is going to be an interesting debate. It will come down to whether or not you reward the best players in the NFL or the players with the best careers, because those two aren't always the same group of players. I'm of the opinion that a 3-ish year run as the best player at your position should be enough, regardless of the length of your career.

I don't mean to take away from compilers because there is something to be said for being in the Top 5-10 for an extended period of time, but I prefer to put more value on a guy who was in the Top 3 for 3 or so years instead.

Take Megatron vs. Terrell Owens for instance. Owens should have been a 1st ballot guy, and I'm not arguing careers as TO's is significantly better/longer than CJ's, but in their best 3 year stretch, the numbers look like this:

Megatron (11-13): 5,137 yards, 111.7 YPG, 33 TDs, 302 receptions
Owens (00-02): 4,163 yards, 94.6 YPG, 42 TDs, 290 receptions

You can undoubtedly peg Calvin Johnson as the best WR in the league for 3 straight seasons. As good as Owens was, and as great as his career was, you can't do the same for him. Although TO's career was better, Marvin Harrison's 3 year stretch from 2000-2002 edges out TO's IMO - 4,659 yards, 97.1 ypg, 40 TDs and 354 receptions.

I'm not going to put a guy in the HOF for one great season, but 3 seasons of being undoubtedly the best player at your position should be enough.

People always want to say that players should be compared to their peers, so let's do it. CJ's got 3 years as the best player at his position, which is more than most of the guys already in the HOF can say.