Different Expectations Rule the NFL Hall of Fame Inductions

In MLB, the hall of fame is the ultimate accomplishment for a player, more than winning the world series or winning the MVP. The announcement of the players inducted each year is a practical holiday in the sport, and it is likely the most prestigious of all four sports. In the NFL, the hall of fame is definitely important, but the history of the game is not at the legendary status that drives the stock of the membership itself. Because the MLB HOF contains some of the most amazing and well known athletes ever, even collectors value its makeup of players over the other sports.

Today, the Hall of Fame inductees will be announced for the NFL, and among them will be some hugely popular and collectible names. Players like Jerome Bettis and Marshall Faulk, will have the potential to be enshrined with fellow finalists Deion Sanders and Cris Carter. The odd thing about today’s induction, though, will be that the players who make it will be less focused on stats and more focused on the fame and image they brought to the sport.

Although one would expect this to be the case, it never is with its baseball counterpart. In baseball, the HOF has always been about milestones and stats, some of which are completely and utterly meaningless. In football, some of the most statistically successful players in the history of the game arent given the free passes that they would have been in baseball. Take a look at Cris Carter, my one player that I think shouldnt even be a second thought in the voting. He is literally one of the most accomplished receivers to ever play his position, and yet this will most likely be his third time not being voted in. However, because Carter played in Minnesota rather than in Dallas, he is going to have a VERY tough time getting in.

Guys like Deion and Marshall Faulk should have no problem due to the number of championships and stats between them, and I would expect that Bettis even has a good shot. Andre Reed, a receiver that was well below Carter in production, but played in 4 super bowls, may get in ahead of my guy, something that would never have happened in baseball.

We will find out in the matter of minutes who is getting in, but at least in terms of collecting, you can see who would make the hobby’s football HOF for this group of finalists:

1998 Topps Gold Label Jerome Bettis 1/1