I read a story this morning where TMZ caught up with Darren Sproles and asked him about the possibility of enshrinement in the HOF. When asked directly if he is a HOF player, he responds, "I feel like I am." Well, I feel like you are too Mr. Sproles. Likewise for Brian Mitchell.
This made me start to wonder why there is such a reluctance to put predominantly special teams players in the HOF. I mean, people use the argument that they were just good at one thing - returning kicks. Well if you apply that logic, Tom Brady is only good at one thing - throwing a football. I'm sorry Mr. Brady, you're one-dimensional so no HOF for you. Do you see how ridiculous that argument sounds when applied evenly?
There are kickers, punters, even guys who are non-players but were really good at filming that are in the HOF. You get there for being among the best at what you did. Nobody with a sound mind can make an argument that Brian Mitchell and Darren Sproles aren't among the elite of the elite as return specialists. These are the types of guys other returners aspire to be.
Brian Mitchell had 23,316 all purpose yards for his career. That's second only to Jerry Rice (23,546). Among the top 10 career leaders in all-purpose yards, four men are not in the HOF. Frank Gore (still active) and Steve Smith (not yet eligible) are both going without a doubt. That will leave 2 of the top 10 on the outside looking in. Brian Mitchell, and Darren Sproles. These men didn't just dominate the league at their position, they did it for over a decade. Yet the only accolades they receive for their accomplishments are a pat on the back, and the occasional discussion about how great they are?
Being an elite special teams player is a skill, it still takes talent, and they deserve to be rewarded just as any other player who nears or reaches the pinnacle for his position. These two men each averaged around 25 yards per return, over the course of 14 years. These are two men who as running backs averaged 5 yards per carry between them - only 10 other players in NFL history have that on their career resume, and 3 are QBS.
Brian Mitchell wasn't just the best when he played. He's still the best 17 years after retiring. Brian Mitchell is 1,291 yards ahead of the next closest player, and the next closest active player is Ted Ginn with 2,600. He will never come close. Sproles sits at 13th all time. For kick returns, Mitchell is at the top as well, with more than double the yards of the closest active player - also Ted Ginn, who is on the brink of retirement and will be 35 this coming season. Sproles is 8th all time.
I believe both of these guys played a hall of fame caliber career. Whether they will ever actually receive recognition for their accomplishments is another story altogether.
This made me start to wonder why there is such a reluctance to put predominantly special teams players in the HOF. I mean, people use the argument that they were just good at one thing - returning kicks. Well if you apply that logic, Tom Brady is only good at one thing - throwing a football. I'm sorry Mr. Brady, you're one-dimensional so no HOF for you. Do you see how ridiculous that argument sounds when applied evenly?
There are kickers, punters, even guys who are non-players but were really good at filming that are in the HOF. You get there for being among the best at what you did. Nobody with a sound mind can make an argument that Brian Mitchell and Darren Sproles aren't among the elite of the elite as return specialists. These are the types of guys other returners aspire to be.
Brian Mitchell had 23,316 all purpose yards for his career. That's second only to Jerry Rice (23,546). Among the top 10 career leaders in all-purpose yards, four men are not in the HOF. Frank Gore (still active) and Steve Smith (not yet eligible) are both going without a doubt. That will leave 2 of the top 10 on the outside looking in. Brian Mitchell, and Darren Sproles. These men didn't just dominate the league at their position, they did it for over a decade. Yet the only accolades they receive for their accomplishments are a pat on the back, and the occasional discussion about how great they are?
Being an elite special teams player is a skill, it still takes talent, and they deserve to be rewarded just as any other player who nears or reaches the pinnacle for his position. These two men each averaged around 25 yards per return, over the course of 14 years. These are two men who as running backs averaged 5 yards per carry between them - only 10 other players in NFL history have that on their career resume, and 3 are QBS.
Brian Mitchell wasn't just the best when he played. He's still the best 17 years after retiring. Brian Mitchell is 1,291 yards ahead of the next closest player, and the next closest active player is Ted Ginn with 2,600. He will never come close. Sproles sits at 13th all time. For kick returns, Mitchell is at the top as well, with more than double the yards of the closest active player - also Ted Ginn, who is on the brink of retirement and will be 35 this coming season. Sproles is 8th all time.
I believe both of these guys played a hall of fame caliber career. Whether they will ever actually receive recognition for their accomplishments is another story altogether.