OT: NFL HOF finally recognizes that Punters exist
Yes, Ray Guy is finally, after a 23-year wait, elected to the NFL Hall Of Fame. Guy was, without a doubt, the greatest punter in NFL History.
If you're old enough, like me, to have watched those Raiders teams of the 70's and 80's, you'll know what I mean when I say this: Guy was as instrumental as any player on those great Raiders teams in the success that franchise had in that era. He was so skilled in so many aspects of the game that, even though he was obviously a full-time punter, he was also athletic enough to be the Raider's 3rd-string QB during part of his career.
But back to punting skills---Guy had them all:
Hang time? check!
Net Yards per Punt? check!
Coffin Corner? check!
Tackling ability? check!
IMO, it's about time that this man was enschrined. He should have been inducted a couple decades ago.
February 6th, 2014 at 10:01 AM ^
Just in time for the NFL to eliminate the punt from the game in the name of player safety and fan excitement!
February 6th, 2014 at 10:14 AM ^
February 6th, 2014 at 10:18 AM ^
when people, I heard Jay Mohr bashing kickers this week... saying they don't deserve to be considered.
It's a position and in terms of momentum and game winning pressure... can be huge over the course of a game or season.
The arguement they don't tackle or score TD's is stupid.
If it's a position on the field, the very best should be honored just like any other position.
This is a step in the right direction... much like relief pitchers/closers in baseball or the DH or pinch hitters... If the sport has a roster spot for them and they are very best and do what they are asked to do... the hall should enshrine them.
Now are too many people being enshrined?... that's a different argument.
February 6th, 2014 at 10:24 AM ^
the comparison to Baseball and their HOF having recognized relievers/closers as a vital part of their sport. It took a while for the BBWA to "get it", but they wised up some time ago. I just don't understand the resistance of the NFL HOF in recognizing their first punter, especially since it seems to be so much easier to be enshrined at Canton than Cooperstown.
February 6th, 2014 at 10:32 AM ^
It always amazes me how hypocritical NFLers are. They rabble on and on how it is the ultimate team game and then poo poo kickers and punters who have a massive impact on the game (points and field position). Formers players will regularly say they are not football players and are their own separate entity from the team.
February 6th, 2014 at 10:51 AM ^
February 6th, 2014 at 11:56 AM ^
I don't care how good a punter is, unless you've got multiple 1st round picks, you shouldn't be drafting a punter in the first round
February 6th, 2014 at 12:35 PM ^
That is what a lot of people thought back then, and like you, were wrong.
Guy was the 23rd pick of the 1st round, so its not like the Raiders passed on OJ Simpson or Joe Namath. Davis' response to his critics was that Guy was worth 30 yards (or some such similar number) a game. He was that much better than all the other NFL punters. The NFL is a lot different back then, as the games were a lot more defensive oriented. A lot more 3-and-outs resulting in a lot more punting.
Guy often flipped field position (and the field battle was big back then) with 1 punt.
So yeah, he was worth the 23rd pick of the first round, and deserving of the hall of fame.
February 6th, 2014 at 2:37 PM ^
that was well before free agency. Rosters didn't have much turnover from year to year. You look at teams like the Raiders, Steelers, Cowboys, Vikings and their rosters and key players didn't change a lot. When you know the core of your roster is going to be with you and you're not going to need to replace 8-12 free agents every year, it allows you to maybe take a punter/special teams player high in the draft.
February 6th, 2014 at 11:19 AM ^
And it's not like there will be another elected any time soon. Or some flood or kickers and punters. I understand the argument that they average 4 plays of game, but a player like Guy deserves it. He absolutely helped his team win games. And was all pro and a pro bowl guy for many seasons.
February 6th, 2014 at 11:34 AM ^
February 6th, 2014 at 12:19 PM ^
"So you're telling me there's a chance?"
February 6th, 2014 at 11:36 AM ^
#progress
I'll draw the line at longsnappers being elected into the HOF. They can just walk on.
February 6th, 2014 at 12:39 PM ^
Finally; only took them decades. Maybe they'll start recognizing guys like Tim Brown next.
February 6th, 2014 at 1:28 PM ^
Peter King is a HOF voter and an absolute disaster of a sportswriter, and he's been publicly raging for four years against recognizing Ray Guy. I'm willing to bet he's not alone in this regard among voters. This is what happens when you ask self-important dumbasses to let people into a club.
February 6th, 2014 at 2:12 PM ^
Somewhere - somewhere close - Jim Tressel smiles.