Really, more deserving then Zach, whys that?

 

What? Zach at worst is the 3rd best MLB of his generation behind Lewis and Urlacher while Webb is behind Roaf, Ogden, Pace, Jones.

 

Personally I would take Ray Lewis over Jonathan Ogden if I had to pick one, I don't feel like have an All Pro LT is a top need in todays NFL, you can easily make due with an average LT.

 

Webb suffers because he was seen as a better pass blocker than run blocker, plus Dan Marno’s quick release gets broughtup as an explanation for his pass blocking.

 

Yup. And I don't think there is a strong case for Urlacher being ranked ahead of Thomas, especially since Zach has superior stats. In fact, Zach's stats are better than any LB in the HOF not named Ray Lewis. Crazy that BU gets in first ballot and Zach doesn't even make semi final list.

 

If Richmond Webb was a "skill" position such as QB, RB, WR, CB etc...and was selected for 7 consecutive Pro Bowls, you really wouldn't be asking this question.

Of all of the GREATS to ever play the game, how many of them went to 7...SEVEN consecutive Pro Bowls?

 

Webb was very good. But not elite for a long time, and his career wasn't all that long compared to the all timers. He's well remembered by Dolphin fans, but I think his overall legacy is fair. There was just never a real chance of him getting into the hall

 

The simple fact is that everyone ignores linemen. On any given week, a fan could name the best 3 runs of the game....but maybe one in a thousand can tell you who sealed the lead block. That's just the way it is in football and the HOF is right to focus on the players that are remembered by the fans.

Now, I'm not saying that Webb doesn't belong in Canton. I'm simply saying that he understands that outside of his quarterbacks and running backs, he was never appreciated for his battles in the trenches.

 

I'm not commenting on who's ultimately better, but why would you compare those positions based on today's NFL?

Just because LT isn't the cornerstone it once was doesn't invalidate the fact that when Webb played there it was a cornerstone position. Besides, with defenses playing a lot more dime and nickel packages and getting more athletic, and offenses spreading the field with athletes and mismatches, that version of ILB is just as dead.

tl;dr You were holding Webb to a standard you weren't holding Thomas to, even though both of their positions are now obsolete. Either way, comparing them to today makes no sense when trying to establish their greatness in their respective eras.

 

Considering how much team success contributes to player popularity, the sequence of the selections don't matter nearly as much as the amount. An injury to a QB or the emergence of a different player that season could overshadow a routinely stellar season for a lineman. Then there's the fact that 7 non-consecutive selections signal greatness over a longer sustained period of time compared to 7 in-a-row. The implication there is a clear dropoff with no recovery or being surpassed and never elevating.

But still it's 7 pro-bowls. There's no real argument to knock one person's selections over the others short of an objective talent disparity across eras or positions.

 

Webb and ZT should both be in, IMO.

 

/end thread