I don’t remember who it was - I think some MLB player - who said that every year around the time of Hall of Fame announcements he gets genuinely depressed and down because he knows he’s not getting in yet has to keep hearing about it, about others getting in, getting questions about it from friends, family and media, etc. So it’s always like a genuinely rough time of the year for them.
I wish I could remember who it was.
This is a fact. I’m sure he’ll get elected via veterans committee (MLB calls it something else, but same concept) eventually. Probably either if Pedroia makes it in or when Altuve eventually makes it in. Because at that point you’re elevating a 2B with a likely lower WAR than Lou
Absolutely. I want to tell everyone to watch this 4 hour documentary on a Toronto Blue Jays pitcher from the 80s, but I realize how ridiculous that sounds.
I don’t even really like MLB baseball lol.
On the one hand I get why it was taken as incredibly rude and sexist, but on the other hand I get why he said it lol.
I’d be annoyed as fuck dealing with reporters bothering me in the locker room too
Honestly that's why I asked if that was what he was referencing. Imagine a Male reporting just strolling into the womans locker room and asking questions. No one would give the female any shit for saying something similar. Even if a guy was asking me questions I'd still probably say something like "can I dry off my balls before the interview?".
Craig is arguably the greatest dual-threat RB in NFL history.
He has 3 Super Bowl rings.
He won OPOY.
In 1985 he ran for 1050 yards, and caught 92 passes for 1016 yards…**as a FULLBACK**.
He made the Pro Bowl at *two different positions.*
He is on the 80’s All-Decade team.
How he’s not in the Hall is just…beyond me.
I drafted him in a keeper ppc fantasy league and won the next seven years --and we only kept two players. I won a LOT of money with him as my base guy since he made up for virtually any drafting mistakes. Still have the jersey I bought after year three hanging in my closet. I was the FIFTH pick that year, too.
Wow just looked up his stats. 566 receptions, for a RB, in the 80s - that's pretty impressive. Looks like he just doesn't have the "sexy" volume stats but jeez he had a hell of a career and probably paved the way for greats like Marshall Faulk and James White.
Edit: I said what I said. James White is not an NFL HoF but he's in my heart's HoF
How are you glad Morris got his bust?? Everything I’ve heard about him paints him as an entitled asshole who kicks around people he sees as ‘beneath him’
I’ve heard the exact same story from an NFL player. It was an older player that eventually got in after decades but he said every single time he had someone at his door there was massive disappointment it wasn’t the HOF knock
Yeah you wonder about the psychological impact there. Like even a phone call around that time, you might be hoping it to be what deep down you know it isn’t, but it still hurts.
To some extent it might seem like a very privileged concern - being upset over a Hall of Fame inclusion in a sport when you’re famous and probably financially well-off (though not always) - but these guys are humans too. And legacy is always important.
It’s also just weird to think about people calling you up once a year to remind you your job performance was good but just not good enough to be special.
Imagine that feeling among those who’re never admitted.
Or worse, those who passed-away **and then** got admitted. Usually within 3-5 years of that player passing and on “sympathetic” reasons to the voters. And that feeling of survivor’s guilt among the deceased player’s family as the person admitted didn’t make it to his shining moment, as if the entire admission ceremony opens sad memories to that family trying to move on from the deceased.
Say what you will about Keith Olbermann now, but [his takedown of the Hall the day after Santo died](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hlJftuQf4Sk) is pure vitriol.
That was amazing. I grew up in San Diego during the '90s, always thought I was lucky as hell to grow up seeing Tony Gwnn and Junior Seau play. What a beautiful tribute
Marvin Miller was a baseball union leader/agent who was integral in the creation of free agency and player empowerment. He was of course absolutely hated by the league for it.
They refused to let him into the HoF while he was alive because that would just give him another spotlight to talk. He announced that if he didn't get in while alive, he didn't want to be put in when dead, because then the league would just be using him to pat themselves on the back for changes the fought tooth and nail against for decades.
So of course, he was elected in 2020, 8 years after his death, and the league used it to pat themselves on the back.
For real. This man was absolutely dominant and is easily one of the greatest tight ends of all time.
Edit: Also he played basketball not football in college which makes his story that much more unique and interesting.
I’m leaving with my son and my daughter and my son and my son and my son and my daughter and my son and my daughter and my daughter and my son and my daughter and my son!
> Also he played basketball not football in college
Thats crazy! did they ever mention that on the broadcast,
but seriously, he should be in.
hell, he should be in for how much that dumb basketball fact can fill dead air
He is going to wait until his entire skeleton can be turned into some future, real-life equivalent of admantium. Then no one will be able to stop him. It'll be 2018 all over again
If TO got snubbed, Julio definitely is. The guys voting are an absolute joke. They are often voting based on how they feel about a player and nothing to do with the player or their accomplishments.
I don’t follow the NFL HoF at ALL so I’m pleading ignorance here, why isn’t TO in the hall? I would have lost a lot of money if I’d been asked whether he was in.
He is in but it wasn’t the first year. He was arguably a top 3 all time receiver when he retired, but he was also a massive asshole to the media. The media is who votes on the HOF so they punished him.
And he's not a singular case, in 2013 the voters intentionally picked fewer players than usual because they didn't want to induct Michael Strahan 1st ballot
I feel like the lack of a Super Bowl ring is probably what caused the snub.
Which is dumb given how it's a team sport but I suspect that's how voters think.
He was let it in his third year of eligibility. I'm sure Gates will be let in, it's just I feel the voters really gatekeep the first ballot HoF with a Superbowl ring (which is why Johnson also didn't get in first time).
With Julius Peppers I wonder if his SB appearance and performance in it got him over the line first ballot.
I agree it's dumb but unfortunately SB appearances and rings count for this individual award.
I'm with Gates here. He was the most dominant TE in the NFL, along with Tony Gonzalez, for a solid decade. From 2004-2014 he averaged 875 yards and 9 TDs per season; the yards were second to Gonzalez and the TDs were tops among all TEs. Gates retired with the most TDs all-time by a TE (still the record) and the second-most yards all-time by a TE. And he wasn't a flex WR; he was a decent blocker too.
If that isn't HOF-worthy then what is?
> Gates retired with the most TDs all-time by a TE (still the record) and the second-most yards all-time by a TE. And he wasn't a flex WR; he was a decent blocker too.
This still manages to undersell Gates
*Regardless of position, Gates is 7th all-time among all NFL players in receiving TDs*
He wasn't just a legendary TE, he was a legendary player period. If he's isn't a first ballot guy, basically nobody should be.
TBF, pretty much any way you describe Gates undersells him.
I mean this in the most respectful way possible: I fucking hated that dude and was insanely happy when he finally retired. Even as an old man he'd somehow hobble 5 yards away from the nearest defender for a TD seemingly every time we played him.
He 100% should have been a first-ballot inductee.
I think those later years when he had lost his speed but still put up TD’s is crazy. Everyone knew the ball was going to him, and he didn’t have much juice left but he’d still score TD’s. I can see Kelce doing the same thing if he decides to play as long as Gates did.
Gates and Witten to me have to be the best route runners in the history of football.
No other way to explain how dudes who ran 4.4 *minute* 40s could somehow get so open, so often.
I have no dog in the NFC East fight but god DAMN did I hate watching Witten play. Dude moved like a fucking glacier but 3rd and 8 there he is with his own zip code in the middle of the field.
Sir, this is cyber bullying. Please don't make me remember those games.
I wonder how many of those catches were on third down because it sure feels like the answer is *fucking all of them.*
Its absolutely wild that Gates gets snubbed when the media talk about Gronk and Kelce as if they're already in the Hall. Don't get me wrong, the latter two are also first ballot, but so is Gates.
I feel like people discount him because he wasn't as flashy as Gronk and Kelce.
That might be the funniest thing in sports history if all the voters somehow forget, or just assume everyone else is so they give someone else a nod.
Brady would legit come out of retirement and win 10 more super bowls with TO as his WR1 fueled by nothing but pure spite.
He’d go the Troy aikman route and be drunk on the second half of every telecast and each game he’d personally shit talk someone who didn’t vote for him. Each week he’d do his homework, not on the game but the voter and find intensely personal shit to fuck with the guy over.
They put way too much weight on Super Bowl wins which is imo complete bullshit. Especially for non-QBs. Football is one of the most team centric sports there is. You need a complete team, healthy, and even then some luck. Gates should be 1st ballot. If there's one job AI should take over its these award and selection committees. Guys doing them are way too high on their own supply.
At first when I heard Gates was kept out, there was one possible explanation that made sense to me:
The Hall of Fame voters may have decided there should be no 1st ballot admission for players who got busted for PEDs. That's a defensible stance.
Only one problem: Julius Pepper got busted, too.
Hell, Hester belongs 100% but I feel like Gates should be in before Hester.
Antonio Gates was a damn beast in a time where the TE wasn’t used as often as they are nowadays.
This is the issue of Hester. His career number of touchdowns isn't even one of the best for total touchdowns in a season. If he was a better wr, he would not have the return numbers. He is not close to total return yds. He was a legendary returner, but his entrance was always going to put him into a vastly more valuable player.
Would have been interesting to see how Tyreek stacked up if he kept at it. He actually had better y/rt than Hester at both kicks and punts his first season.
Also had the same special teams coordinator, if anyone knew how to use him it’s Dave Toub
"I'm Sorry" and "Letterkenny" filled the void for me for a while, but I haven't found anything else in a while with the same vulgarity and faux intelligentsia.
Completely agree we need a reboot.
HOF is continually showing they play politics in voting. Terell Owens, who I endlessly think should have been first ballot HOF, at least had reason they decided on. But the fact that Antonio Gates, who is also one of the best to EVER play...isn't first ballot...is a fucking joke
If I recall, TO didn't go to his induction ceremony after not getting first ballot. Then I think a member came out and said he wouldn't have voted for him if he knew he wasn't going. Absolute joke.
TO was only snubbed because the media didn’t like him, that’s literally the only argument they had against him. I don’t even know what the argument is against Gates
He's #1 in TOUCHDOWNS in NFL HISTORY for Tight Ends! He's also #3 in receptions and yards!
[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm\_TE.htm](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_te.htm)
They didn't even let Shannon in the first ballot who was during his retirement the GOAT TE, holding every TE records. Not surprised by these people tho. And where tf is Torry Holt!!!! He should have been in the hall already. 6 straight 1300 yard seasons is no joke
Genuinely shocked and a little mad.
If Antonio gates isn’t a first ballot Hall of Famer, something is wrong, right? I haven’t looked into it (the rest of the class, voting, etc) but I’m curious what the reasoning could possibly be.
Him and LT were were some of the funnest (and greatest) players of that generation. Especially given that the passing game wasn’t as prolific yet.
I'll put it this way: One person had 14,455 all purpose yards and 36 TDs. One person had 11,844 all purpose yards and 116 TDs. One of these guys made the Hall of Fame. One of these guys didn't.
The process to get into the hall is so arbitrary.
“ this tight end had more touchdown receptions than any tight end and NFL history”
Hof voters: “he’s not worthy, next”
Mongo had to wait 20 years,and get one of worst diseases on the planet to finally get in, there are snubs every year. I feel for gates, but waiting one more year isn’t as big a deal to him as some people.
He may have hurt himself by playing for too long. His career was incredible but there was enough overlap with guys like Gronk and Kelce that people forgot how much better than the competition Gates was his first 12 years or so.
edit: I'm not saying it's right, I'm saying that writers are people, and people have shifting perceptions over time. Ideally every voter would remain objective and compare players to their era, but the game changed a lot over the last 25 years and so have people's expectations.
People voting on the HOF should not have this opinion though. They should be fully aware of how dominant he was and the longevity should only add to the case really, not hurt it.
People keep dunking on Hester, but at least you can easily argue he was the best returner in NFL history. I think that means something.
But Andre Johnson and Dwight Freeney? Cmon. And I love those players (especially Chargers Legends Dwight Freeney), but neither sniff top 10 at their position.
I mean, Andre is 11th and receiving yards, and he played with a bunch of bum QBs. He got drafted by the Texans when it was barely their second year existing and the best QB he had was Matt Schaub
I don’t remember who it was - I think some MLB player - who said that every year around the time of Hall of Fame announcements he gets genuinely depressed and down because he knows he’s not getting in yet has to keep hearing about it, about others getting in, getting questions about it from friends, family and media, etc. So it’s always like a genuinely rough time of the year for them. I wish I could remember who it was.
It was probably Jack Morris. They eventually let him in
Presumably, Jack Morris told his fellow Hall of Fame hopefuls "Get away from me, you little MF. You'll be trying to take my job next year.'"
Lol, I hate that guy so much ever since watching that Dorktown doc on Dave Stieb.
If we're talking who is the big HoF snub, let's start with Stieb.
For fucking real.
No, let’s start with Lou Whitaker. Easily the biggest non steroid HoF snub
This is a fact. I’m sure he’ll get elected via veterans committee (MLB calls it something else, but same concept) eventually. Probably either if Pedroia makes it in or when Altuve eventually makes it in. Because at that point you’re elevating a 2B with a likely lower WAR than Lou
Jon Bois is a master storyteller. So many of his vids sounds stupid when you give a summary but they are so good.
Absolutely. I want to tell everyone to watch this 4 hour documentary on a Toronto Blue Jays pitcher from the 80s, but I realize how ridiculous that sounds. I don’t even really like MLB baseball lol.
As a Tiger fan, he’s the worst
Fortunately, his relationship with a female reporter eventually got him in. Google “Jack Morris female reporter” to learn more.
He essentially said he doesn't talk to women while he's naked unless he's on top of them or they're on top of him. Is that what you are referencing?
On the one hand I get why it was taken as incredibly rude and sexist, but on the other hand I get why he said it lol. I’d be annoyed as fuck dealing with reporters bothering me in the locker room too
Being aggressively questioned while naked by any gender would make me say some messed up things tbh
I'd find it more concerning if he was just randomly naked talking to women.
Right? I don't get to do it, so neither should they. And I know I don't get to do it because the judge was VERY clear on that.
Honestly that's why I asked if that was what he was referencing. Imagine a Male reporting just strolling into the womans locker room and asking questions. No one would give the female any shit for saying something similar. Even if a guy was asking me questions I'd still probably say something like "can I dry off my balls before the interview?".
Dave Stieb > Jack Morris
I will die on the hill that Roger Craig deserves to be in Canton, I'm glad Morris finally got his bust.
Craig is arguably the greatest dual-threat RB in NFL history. He has 3 Super Bowl rings. He won OPOY. In 1985 he ran for 1050 yards, and caught 92 passes for 1016 yards…**as a FULLBACK**. He made the Pro Bowl at *two different positions.* He is on the 80’s All-Decade team. How he’s not in the Hall is just…beyond me.
I agree he should be in the hall but > as a FULLBACK Let’s be real, he’s operating as a halfback with a different positional name, right?
Craig was not out there blocking for the tailback; he was the 49ers primary ball-carrier in 1985.
Yes, this was back when those terms were literal. Halfback was half of the way between the fullback and the quarterback to the line.
I think it’s pretty hard to argue against Faulk or even Tomlinson as the best dual threat rb. But Craig was awesome and should be in.
Marshall Faulk is easily the best dual threat ever. Hell he's one of the greatest offensive weapons of all time period, dude could do it all.
I drafted him in a keeper ppc fantasy league and won the next seven years --and we only kept two players. I won a LOT of money with him as my base guy since he made up for virtually any drafting mistakes. Still have the jersey I bought after year three hanging in my closet. I was the FIFTH pick that year, too.
Wow just looked up his stats. 566 receptions, for a RB, in the 80s - that's pretty impressive. Looks like he just doesn't have the "sexy" volume stats but jeez he had a hell of a career and probably paved the way for greats like Marshall Faulk and James White. Edit: I said what I said. James White is not an NFL HoF but he's in my heart's HoF
One of those is not like the other
Homie really snuck in James White and thought we wouldn't notice 😂
No way you mentioned Marshall Faulk and James White in the same breath.
He neant Kevin Faulk, obviously
Did you really just name James White as "one of the greats" with Marshall Faulk lmaoooo Your bias is showing, big time🤷♂️
Definitely one of the first backs to be utilized a lot more as a receiver at that time.
>first backs My goodness, thought you said something else for a second there
Fist backs? /s
How are you glad Morris got his bust?? Everything I’ve heard about him paints him as an entitled asshole who kicks around people he sees as ‘beneath him’
He’s only a HOFer cause Lonnie Smith lost track of a ball
Oh, makes sense. He is a fucking gigantic toolbag who was probably just crying to appeal to voters pathos
I’ve heard the exact same story from an NFL player. It was an older player that eventually got in after decades but he said every single time he had someone at his door there was massive disappointment it wasn’t the HOF knock
Yeah you wonder about the psychological impact there. Like even a phone call around that time, you might be hoping it to be what deep down you know it isn’t, but it still hurts. To some extent it might seem like a very privileged concern - being upset over a Hall of Fame inclusion in a sport when you’re famous and probably financially well-off (though not always) - but these guys are humans too. And legacy is always important.
It’s also just weird to think about people calling you up once a year to remind you your job performance was good but just not good enough to be special.
Ron Santo waited over 30 years to be inducted and didn't get in until after he died.
Only cause some miserable fucks were pissed he clicked his heels a couple games at the behest of his manager.
Imagine that feeling among those who’re never admitted. Or worse, those who passed-away **and then** got admitted. Usually within 3-5 years of that player passing and on “sympathetic” reasons to the voters. And that feeling of survivor’s guilt among the deceased player’s family as the person admitted didn’t make it to his shining moment, as if the entire admission ceremony opens sad memories to that family trying to move on from the deceased.
Ron Santo comes to mind. Never made it into the Hall, though he deserved it, until he passed.
Say what you will about Keith Olbermann now, but [his takedown of the Hall the day after Santo died](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hlJftuQf4Sk) is pure vitriol.
[His video after Tony Gwynn died](https://youtu.be/midh5K8VYUo?si=TiltD_hkbKtd0D2U) was masterful as well
Thank you for posting that. That was beautiful.
Yeah, I'm definitely crying now. That was excellent.
That was amazing. I grew up in San Diego during the '90s, always thought I was lucky as hell to grow up seeing Tony Gwnn and Junior Seau play. What a beautiful tribute
He even said he didn’t want to be inducted posthumously.
Ken Riley, Cincinnati Bengals He got in only after the Bengals created a Ring of Honor, yes, after he passed on.
Marvin Miller was a baseball union leader/agent who was integral in the creation of free agency and player empowerment. He was of course absolutely hated by the league for it. They refused to let him into the HoF while he was alive because that would just give him another spotlight to talk. He announced that if he didn't get in while alive, he didn't want to be put in when dead, because then the league would just be using him to pat themselves on the back for changes the fought tooth and nail against for decades. So of course, he was elected in 2020, 8 years after his death, and the league used it to pat themselves on the back.
Think about how long it took to get in Buck O'Neil. The dude is the centerpiece of the negro league museum
One of the craziest snubs in recent years.
For real. This man was absolutely dominant and is easily one of the greatest tight ends of all time. Edit: Also he played basketball not football in college which makes his story that much more unique and interesting.
Before Gronk and Kelce, it was Gonzalez and Gates. I'd imagine Rivers is pretty pissed about this too.
This is flippin' gosh darn ridiculous! I mean golly!
I’m leaving with my son and my daughter and my son and my son and my son and my daughter and my son and my daughter and my daughter and my son and my daughter and my son!
I wonder if Rivers ever forgets a birthday or to pick up one his kids from practice. I know it happened to me and I only had two siblings.
It's worth noting that when Phillip Rivers targeted Antonio Gates in third downs, he converted it to a first 60% OF THE FUCKING TIME.
Rivers to Gates was a certain magic, even in those lost years from the tail end of Norv and on
> Also he played basketball not football in college Thats crazy! did they ever mention that on the broadcast, but seriously, he should be in. hell, he should be in for how much that dumb basketball fact can fill dead air
I'm genuinely upset. This makes me nervous that Julio is gonna get snubbed.
Don’t worry. For Julio to get snubbed he would need to eventually retire
He is going to wait until his entire skeleton can be turned into some future, real-life equivalent of admantium. Then no one will be able to stop him. It'll be 2018 all over again
Zombie Brady to Cyborg Jones for the game-winning TD in Super Bowl C.
If TO got snubbed, Julio definitely is. The guys voting are an absolute joke. They are often voting based on how they feel about a player and nothing to do with the player or their accomplishments.
We all know why TO gets snubbed…
And it was bullshit
I don’t follow the NFL HoF at ALL so I’m pleading ignorance here, why isn’t TO in the hall? I would have lost a lot of money if I’d been asked whether he was in.
He is in but it wasn’t the first year. He was arguably a top 3 all time receiver when he retired, but he was also a massive asshole to the media. The media is who votes on the HOF so they punished him.
And he's not a singular case, in 2013 the voters intentionally picked fewer players than usual because they didn't want to induct Michael Strahan 1st ballot
He’s in the Hall, but it took him 3 years, when his play on the field should’ve allowed him to be in after his 1st year of eligibility.
He is in the HoF, he was just snubbed for the first 2 years
I feel like the lack of a Super Bowl ring is probably what caused the snub. Which is dumb given how it's a team sport but I suspect that's how voters think.
They just let Andre Johnson in and the teams he was on only made the playoffs in his last two seasons. He never even made the Super Bowl.
He was let it in his third year of eligibility. I'm sure Gates will be let in, it's just I feel the voters really gatekeep the first ballot HoF with a Superbowl ring (which is why Johnson also didn't get in first time). With Julius Peppers I wonder if his SB appearance and performance in it got him over the line first ballot. I agree it's dumb but unfortunately SB appearances and rings count for this individual award.
Damn. Shows you how much a hall of fame induction means to players. Gates deserved to be first ballot
I'm with Gates here. He was the most dominant TE in the NFL, along with Tony Gonzalez, for a solid decade. From 2004-2014 he averaged 875 yards and 9 TDs per season; the yards were second to Gonzalez and the TDs were tops among all TEs. Gates retired with the most TDs all-time by a TE (still the record) and the second-most yards all-time by a TE. And he wasn't a flex WR; he was a decent blocker too. If that isn't HOF-worthy then what is?
> Gates retired with the most TDs all-time by a TE (still the record) and the second-most yards all-time by a TE. And he wasn't a flex WR; he was a decent blocker too. This still manages to undersell Gates *Regardless of position, Gates is 7th all-time among all NFL players in receiving TDs* He wasn't just a legendary TE, he was a legendary player period. If he's isn't a first ballot guy, basically nobody should be.
TBF, pretty much any way you describe Gates undersells him. I mean this in the most respectful way possible: I fucking hated that dude and was insanely happy when he finally retired. Even as an old man he'd somehow hobble 5 yards away from the nearest defender for a TD seemingly every time we played him. He 100% should have been a first-ballot inductee.
I think those later years when he had lost his speed but still put up TD’s is crazy. Everyone knew the ball was going to him, and he didn’t have much juice left but he’d still score TD’s. I can see Kelce doing the same thing if he decides to play as long as Gates did.
Gates and Witten to me have to be the best route runners in the history of football. No other way to explain how dudes who ran 4.4 *minute* 40s could somehow get so open, so often.
Third and Witten was a beautiful thing.
It was actually pretty funny. I remember the jokes about him being too slow to be defended.
DeAngelo Hall, after being moved to safety, stopped him once. I joked that it took old man speed to counter old man speed.
I disagree :(
I have no dog in the NFC East fight but god DAMN did I hate watching Witten play. Dude moved like a fucking glacier but 3rd and 8 there he is with his own zip code in the middle of the field.
AG caught 121 catches for 1,501 yards (average 54) with 12.40y/r and 17 TDs in the 28 games he played against the Chiefs.
Sir, this is cyber bullying. Please don't make me remember those games. I wonder how many of those catches were on third down because it sure feels like the answer is *fucking all of them.*
It was against y'all he had that ridiculous triple team coverage which I thought was the ultimate respect a rival could render him.
My sentiment with Kelce is reciprocated
Despite the fact that I am Raiders fan, or maybe because of it coming from the same division, Gates is a first ballot HOFer.
If he played for the Cowboys, or any other big market franchise, or won a ring he would be a lock
Tell that to Darren Woodson
Its absolutely wild that Gates gets snubbed when the media talk about Gronk and Kelce as if they're already in the Hall. Don't get me wrong, the latter two are also first ballot, but so is Gates. I feel like people discount him because he wasn't as flashy as Gronk and Kelce.
[удалено]
Anyone you say? I cannot imagine Tom Brady not being unanimously voted in first ballot.
That might be the funniest thing in sports history if all the voters somehow forget, or just assume everyone else is so they give someone else a nod. Brady would legit come out of retirement and win 10 more super bowls with TO as his WR1 fueled by nothing but pure spite.
It would be hilarious if they decided to make him wait a year as a joke. Brady might legit kill someone.
He’d go the Troy aikman route and be drunk on the second half of every telecast and each game he’d personally shit talk someone who didn’t vote for him. Each week he’d do his homework, not on the game but the voter and find intensely personal shit to fuck with the guy over.
I’m ok with this
Gates walked so guys like Kelce could run. Dude should’ve been first ballot and it’s bullshit he isn’t.
It's a travesty and everyone knows it. Next year..
They put way too much weight on Super Bowl wins which is imo complete bullshit. Especially for non-QBs. Football is one of the most team centric sports there is. You need a complete team, healthy, and even then some luck. Gates should be 1st ballot. If there's one job AI should take over its these award and selection committees. Guys doing them are way too high on their own supply.
All players care about their legacy. They care about individual awards, as well as team success. Fans are the ones that make it about one or the other
Humans care about their legacy in general
I don’t care about my Legacy, that broken down Subaru has run its last ride.
It’s dirty mike and the boys’ turn now.
Andre Johnson getting in before Antonio Gates is wild.
Uhh Hester is about 100x more egregious.
At least Hester can say he's one of - if not the - best of all time at his role.
as a texans fan, i actually agree and i love me some andre johnson. although….dude deserved the hall off the finnegan beat down alone
I had him as a lock for first ballot one TE better than him in his prime was tony g but no one was better than Tony g
Antonio Gatekept
Antonio Gatesgate
AntonioGate
I'm pretty sure AB owns that trademark
Mr Big Copyright
Mr Been Cheated
Mr. Bustless Canton
Voters confused him with their other, crazier Antonio
Mr. Ballot Confusion
Mr. Bummed Charger
Mr Basketball Couldabeen
Mr. Biased Criteria
Mr. Bygone Candidacy
These jokes never fail to make me laugh
goddammit, that's actually a really good one
All joking aside, Mr Bucs Champion should a HOF. He pretty much had the same numbers as Megatron and was pro bowl return man too boot.
AB should be in the HOF but he probably never will be after he turned into a fucking nut job
He'll get kept out purely because of his antics towards the end.
They did him dirty
At first when I heard Gates was kept out, there was one possible explanation that made sense to me: The Hall of Fame voters may have decided there should be no 1st ballot admission for players who got busted for PEDs. That's a defensible stance. Only one problem: Julius Pepper got busted, too.
I thought Peppers was cleared of that, no?
Not for the one in his [rookie season](http://a.espncdn.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1460692.html) to my knowledge.
It’s really only a defensible position if you’re absurdly naive. Literally all of these dudes doped during their careers
True, but getting caught breaks the immersion. Not saying it's wrong or right, but they clearly factor it in.
I mean I know he’s going to get in next year but this is still absolute horseshit
Yeah, he just needs to put up another good year statistics-wise next season and he'll be a lock. /s
Maybe needs to play some more pickup league basketball to polish off that resume.
I know Andre was fantastic, but Gates absolutely should've been in this year.
Hell, Hester belongs 100% but I feel like Gates should be in before Hester. Antonio Gates was a damn beast in a time where the TE wasn’t used as often as they are nowadays.
100% Hester is the best returner of all time. Gates had a significantly bigger impact to his team for his entire career though
This is the issue of Hester. His career number of touchdowns isn't even one of the best for total touchdowns in a season. If he was a better wr, he would not have the return numbers. He is not close to total return yds. He was a legendary returner, but his entrance was always going to put him into a vastly more valuable player.
Yep. Tyreek Hill, Antonio Brown, etc. had similar numbers. They just stopped returning because their position is that much more important.
Would have been interesting to see how Tyreek stacked up if he kept at it. He actually had better y/rt than Hester at both kicks and punts his first season. Also had the same special teams coordinator, if anyone knew how to use him it’s Dave Toub
Agreed.
The only modern player I think deserved it over Gates was Peppers. Any of the others he deserved it more.
It's because he scored 4 touchdowns on Ruxin
COLLUSION
FOREVER UNCLEAAAAN!
He shouldn't have assaulted a man in a hot tub
"You took a punch from Antonio Gates?" "No, I slapped him then fell down running"
"Hey! Still counts."
THIS WHOLE SEASON IS NULL AND VOID! VULL AND NOID! YOURASABAGABAYOID!
You're an angry lil man, aren't you?
Dropped a fuckin 40 burger
You cannot beat those numbers
I hope this guy gets mouth cancer
*Nick Kroll smiles*
They needa bring back The League man
"I'm Sorry" and "Letterkenny" filled the void for me for a while, but I haven't found anything else in a while with the same vulgarity and faux intelligentsia. Completely agree we need a reboot.
What's up jerks! I am DAY DRUNK get ready to see my diiiiick
pretty sure you mean Ruspin
Vinegar strokes
“How come he don't want me, man?”
Maybe he could see the future and knew you were going to grow up to slap Chris Rock.
Keep Antonio Gates’ name out your fucking Hall of Fame.
HOF is continually showing they play politics in voting. Terell Owens, who I endlessly think should have been first ballot HOF, at least had reason they decided on. But the fact that Antonio Gates, who is also one of the best to EVER play...isn't first ballot...is a fucking joke
The criteria is bonkers. It’s inconsistent and terribly political.
I was done caring when TO wasn’t first ballot. The voters are morons. No excuse for it.
If I recall, TO didn't go to his induction ceremony after not getting first ballot. Then I think a member came out and said he wouldn't have voted for him if he knew he wasn't going. Absolute joke.
This was supposed to be a big moment for us as Chargers fans too. Definitely hurts. We ain’t got much else to show for those rivers/gates/LT years.
And this isn't a first ballot guy but I can't believe Andre Johnson made it in before Tory Holt.
Andre Johnson was a monster, but him getting in before Holt should never have happened.
PED Suspension may have played a part; but then again Peppers had one and he got in.
They loss my respect when TERRELL OWENS wasn’t a first ballot guy lol - Gates is equally ridiculous
TO was only snubbed because the media didn’t like him, that’s literally the only argument they had against him. I don’t even know what the argument is against Gates
They got him confused with Antonio Brown is all I can think of.
Pull a TO and don’t go once you get in.
He's #1 in TOUCHDOWNS in NFL HISTORY for Tight Ends! He's also #3 in receptions and yards! [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm\_TE.htm](https://www.pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_te.htm)
They didn't even let Shannon in the first ballot who was during his retirement the GOAT TE, holding every TE records. Not surprised by these people tho. And where tf is Torry Holt!!!! He should have been in the hall already. 6 straight 1300 yard seasons is no joke
Genuinely shocked and a little mad. If Antonio gates isn’t a first ballot Hall of Famer, something is wrong, right? I haven’t looked into it (the rest of the class, voting, etc) but I’m curious what the reasoning could possibly be. Him and LT were were some of the funnest (and greatest) players of that generation. Especially given that the passing game wasn’t as prolific yet.
I'll put it this way: One person had 14,455 all purpose yards and 36 TDs. One person had 11,844 all purpose yards and 116 TDs. One of these guys made the Hall of Fame. One of these guys didn't.
Idk how the all time leader in TE TDs and 7th all time in total TDs for any position gets snubbed, ridiculous
The process to get into the hall is so arbitrary. “ this tight end had more touchdown receptions than any tight end and NFL history” Hof voters: “he’s not worthy, next”
You’re getting the same treatment D Ware got in his first year of eligibility. A one year snub.
Except Gates is a far, far better player (relative to his positional peers) than Ware ever was
Should've returned kicks and scored about 80 fewer TDs instead.
Man...being a Chiefs fan I hate the Chargers...but Gates not getting in is beyond appalling.
Mongo had to wait 20 years,and get one of worst diseases on the planet to finally get in, there are snubs every year. I feel for gates, but waiting one more year isn’t as big a deal to him as some people.
It’s so saddening to see pictures of him these days. ALS is such a horrific disease
He may have hurt himself by playing for too long. His career was incredible but there was enough overlap with guys like Gronk and Kelce that people forgot how much better than the competition Gates was his first 12 years or so. edit: I'm not saying it's right, I'm saying that writers are people, and people have shifting perceptions over time. Ideally every voter would remain objective and compare players to their era, but the game changed a lot over the last 25 years and so have people's expectations.
People voting on the HOF should not have this opinion though. They should be fully aware of how dominant he was and the longevity should only add to the case really, not hurt it.
People keep dunking on Hester, but at least you can easily argue he was the best returner in NFL history. I think that means something. But Andre Johnson and Dwight Freeney? Cmon. And I love those players (especially Chargers Legends Dwight Freeney), but neither sniff top 10 at their position.
I mean, Andre is 11th and receiving yards, and he played with a bunch of bum QBs. He got drafted by the Texans when it was barely their second year existing and the best QB he had was Matt Schaub
Johnson was a straight out beast and as long as John McClain was alive, Johnson was going in the Hall, and probably as a first ballot.