Aside from one year as a piece of **** and one as a Redskin, Jason Taylor has been a Hall of Fame worthy player. The case is easy to make. Three facts are all I need, but I'll give you more. Currently #8 alltime in sacks. 5 sacks from joining Richard Dent (who was just now inducted) and John Randle in sacks for #6 alltime. 9 from Strahan at #5 alltime. 2× First-team All-MAC (1995-1996) 6× Pro Bowl selection (2000, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007) 5× All-Pro selection (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2006) NFL Alumni Pass Rusher of the Year (2000) 2× AFC Defensive Player of the Year (2002, 2006) 2× NFL Alumni Defensive Lineman Player of the Year (2005, 2006) AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2006) PFWA Defensive Player of the Year (2006) Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (2007) NFL's all time leader in fumble return touchdowns (6)[SUP][1][/SUP] 100 Sacks Club NFL 2000s All-Decade Team I look forward to the day he is giving his speech in canton. He is the only Dolphin I foresee getting inducted anytime in the next 10 years. For that I think he deserves some slack for his indiscretions.
I'd certainly like to see JT go into the hall of fame. So long as he doesn't leave us again. Either way, as you say his body of work should get him in.
I think he has enough Cred's with his DPOY and The Walter award. Won't be 1st ballot but should be in.
I think Michael Strahan will be a strong indication of how long it will take JT to get in. Similar careers. Both sack masters. JT has the TD record. Strahan has the sack season record. Both finish their careers with a SB win.
Statistics and his big play record should EASILY get him in. But im not sure, it may unfortunately be close. If he goes out making some noise it would certainly help, if not solidify his case.
I think so, but Strahan capped his career with a SB win, but as was pointed out JT is also primed to pass some HoFers this yr.
Of course he'll get in. He'll probably finish as a top 5 all time sack guy with a DPOY on his resume. He's an obvious HOF'er.
Yes, he's had a Hall of Fame career in terms of the numbers he's put up individually. The question is how much value and emphasis the voters place on the success of the teams he played on during that career. They may think "Well, he racked up all those sacks, but his team was terrible, so his impact was less than the numbers suggest." There's a logjam of HoF candidates. Voters are looking for reasons not to put guys in just because there are so many "locks" that still have to be selected. JT will probably have to wait a while. Zach can forget it, even though statistically the only difference between him and Ray Lewis (a surefire first ballot HoFer) is that Lewis has more sacks and INTs. Oh, and Zach didn't murder anyone. But that won't matter to voters, while I'm sure some will vote against Randy Moss due to his love of Mary Jane. I'd be surprised if JT made it to the final ballot in his first year of eligibility, and actually was voted in before his fourth year of eligibility.
JT will get in....probably not on the first ballot but I think within five years of eligibility. Zach had more tackles than anyone but Junior Seau at one point in his career, but unfortunately no SB rings or much playoff success will probably doom his chances.
Was gonna say that. And for all the people who think thats impossible..... Tell me that again in December.
Double digit sacks is not happening this year but he'll still get in. Whether it's first ballot will depend on his competition the year he's eligible. It's not just his sacks that will get him, he intercepted the ball, forced fumbles, and scored touchdowns at a rate higher than most at his position.
Nobody cares that much if a defensive player was part of a super bowl winner as long as they were dominant. QBs are the ones who somehow win championships all by themselves.
I think it tips the scales in their favor, JT is moving up the all time sacks list but he is also playing longer then the guys he is passing and the argument will be made that he was a compiler and not a "all time great".
He could have retired after 08 and still been a HOFer. We're acting like you have to have some all-time record to get in the HOF. If you were a dominant player in your day you are going to get votes.
He's tied with LT on the all-time sacks list and a couple after that is John Randle. All of the pass rushers around him are HOF members. I don't see how you can't put him in the conversation.
Brace Smith - 18 years Reggie White - 15 years Kevin Greene - 14 Years Michale Strahan - 14 Years John Randle - 13 Years Lawrence Taylor - 12 Years Jason Taylor - 13 Years From what I see, he's right on pace with the guys he's passing. Not like he's in his 16th season and has these numbers.
I think he needs to play 2 more years (counting this year) and avg 5 sacks per to be a sure fire guy. As of right now I'd think he's 50/50 and it wouldn't surprise me if he got in or didn't.
Think so as well, if he passes up those guys for #5 all time his case gets stronger. Wonder how he compares to LT and Andre Tippet? To me if Tippett made it in so can JT.
Zach's going to have a hard time. He doesn't have nearly as many accolades as JT has. I really hope he gets in but it's going to be tougher for him. What's his first year of eligibility going to be 2014? Maybe if that year has a weak pool of candidates...
I think Zach's best chance to get in will be from the Senior Committee, where they vote in people who played 20+ years ago or whatever it is. I just don't think (I'd love to be wrong) he'll ever be viewed as being in the top 5 of a class during his traditional eligibility time.
The question mark you put on "Hall of Fame Worthy?" forced me to come on here, assuming you were making this a debate, and be an absolute d**khead for even asking such a question, but thats irrelevant because thats obviously not what you meant... haha so i rest my case, Great Post
There is no argument that can be made that JT isn't a HOF. He easily gets in and has a great shot at a first ballot induction. He has the numbers, accolades and is very popular with the media. No chance whatsoever that he does not get in.