Will Shaun Alexander be a Pro Football Hall of Famer?

bonehouse81 · February 6th, 2010, 12:17 AM

With the Pro Football Hall of Fame selecting its next class Saturday, I was wondering if Shaun Alexander did enough to be a Hall of Famer (obviously he's not eligible this time around).

Looking at his stats (links below), he's elite as a touchdown scorer (No. 7 all-time with 100), but his rushing total isn't nearly as impressive (No. 27 with 9,400 or so yards).

It will probably be to his detriment that he toiled for an underachieving franchise that is located in Seattle. Also, aside from his record-setting MVP year in 2005, he always seemed to be one of those guys who put up good numbers but never really got a lot of attention.

Personally, I think he's got an OK chance, but he's definitely no lock to find his name on the list with these guys: Positions

Stats:

Shaun Alexander NFL & AFL Football Statistics | Pro-Football-Reference.com

NFL Career Rushing Touchdowns Leaders | Pro-Football-Reference.com

NFL Career Rushing Yards Leaders | Pro-Football-Reference.com

CHATTBRIT · February 6th, 2010, 12:21 AM

He did lead the number of touchdowns scored in a season until LT did more, and he was MVP one time. However, he only played for 6 or 7 seasons, so I'm not sure if that is enough to get him in.

bamabryan · February 6th, 2010, 12:22 AM

JMO, but I will be surprised if he makes it to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

CrimsonJag · February 6th, 2010, 12:47 AM

As much as I love Shaun and his ties to the U of A, if Fred Taylor is a bubble Hall of Famer, Shaun has zero chance. JMO

CrimsonBleedRed · February 6th, 2010, 02:55 AM

The fact that there is even a thread/debate about it, prolly means he isn't a HOFer.

TommyMac · February 6th, 2010, 03:45 AM

I don't think so. Mike Holmgren's decision to take him out of the game that one year when he only needed a couple of yards to win the rushing title will probably cost him any chance for the HofF. As stated before, his total rushing yards aren't eye popping, but with 2 rushing titles he might have had a chance. I lost all respect for Holmgren after that.

bamagradinATL · February 6th, 2010, 04:02 AM

IF he gets in, it will be 15-20 years from now. If he had a Super Bowl ring, I think he would have a great shot. As it stands now, I think his chances are pretty slim.

selmaborntidefan · February 6th, 2010, 09:39 AM

No.

Not a chance, and it won't even be close.

I wish that weren't true, but Shaun never had the dominating performance required of an RB. His stats aren't overly impressive other than TDs that one year. And let's be blunt - those can be inflated, too.

A lot of TDs but few yards means you're getting hand-offs at the one. With NFL level blocking, most of us could have scored 2/3 as many as he did.

WMack4Bama · February 6th, 2010, 10:58 AM

Keep in mind that I'm saying this with all due respect to Shaun and all who love him, but coming from someone who follows the NFL as much as (if not more than) I follow Alabama football, to put it mildly, Phil Fulmer has a better chance of being the next head coach at Alabama.

Shaun's reputation around the league is that he's the "Tip-Toe Burglarer". Here's where that comes from. Seattle gave him a HUGE contract when he was on the downside of his career, an unprecedented move, seeing as how the league has started to place very little value on the running back position. And while he had some nice productive years, everything changed once Steve Hutchinson got traded to Minnesota (who's now the best rushing team in the league, no coincidence) and Aliceville, AL native Walter Jones started to break down. At that same time, to compound matters, Shaun broke his foot and rushed himself back saying that God had healed him. I'm never one do doubt God's healing powers, but Shaun clearly wasn't ready when he came back, and he hurt himself (not to mention his team) much more than he helped. Truth be told, he probably played hurt before discovering his foot was broken. Because he'd started to tip to the line very timidly after getting the handoff, as if he was allergic to contact. It seemed like the year after they lost the Super Bowl, the Shaun Alexander that was at Alabama and in the NFL for the first 5-6 years had gone and there was an imposter in his uniform.

You have guys like Roger Craig and Terrell Davis that keep getting turned away. If they can't get in, no way Shaun even gets mentioned. Sorry, but it's the truth.

JeffAtlanta · February 6th, 2010, 11:37 AM

I didn't realize that Roger Craig wasn't in the HOF. He may be one of the players where the stats just don't tell the whole story.

WMack4Bama · February 6th, 2010, 11:43 AM

	Quote:	JeffAtlanta
	I didn't realize that Roger Craig wasn't in the HOF. He may be one of the players where the stats just don't tell the whole story.

He's a finalist this year and the 2010 enshrinees will be announced at 4 pm today. Jerry Rice & Emmitt Smith are locks for this year's class along with Dick LaBeau. They won't take more than 6, and with these voters, they may just put those 3 in, and not take anymore and leave guys like Chris Carter, Shannon Sharpe, Tim Brown, Roger Craig, Richard Dent, Charles Haley, Dermonti Dawson, and Coach Don Coryell on the outside looking in

BigEasyTider · February 6th, 2010, 11:54 AM

No, no chance.

And frankly, as much as I love Shaun, he doesn't deserve it either. The guy had one great year, two good years, two years as a back-up, and two years playing at an outright terrible level. That's not the resume of a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate.

If there is a 'Bama guy that ought to be in, it's Snake...

BamainBoston · February 6th, 2010, 11:59 AM

	Quote:	BigEasyTider
	No, no chance. And frankly, as much as I love Shaun, he doesn't deserve it either. The guy had one great year, two good years, two years as a back-up, and two years playing at an outright terrible level. That's not the resume of a legitimate Hall of Fame candidate. If there is a 'Bama guy that ought to be in, it's Snake...

Agreed on all points.