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Rand: Thomas Sitting on Bubble of Fame
Feb. 1, 2005
Chiefs fans who saw Derrick Thomas knock down quarterbacks for 11 seasons perhaps can’t understand why, in his first year of eligibility, he’s on the “bubble” for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Fans in Pittsburgh and Baltimore must have wondered the same thing as they saw wide receiver Lynn Stallworth and tight end John Mackey, respectively, wait until their 15 years of eligibility were nearly up before they got their busts in Canton, Ohio.
New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson, who’s been eligible since 1994, is so fed up with being stuck on the bubble that he’s asked the Hall of Fame to remove him from consideration. His request was ignored and he remains among the 15 finalists who’ll be considered for election in Jacksonville, Florida on Saturday.
When the 39 Hall of Fame voters get down to the final 15, there are slam-dunk candidates, long shots and those on the bubble. Quarterbacks Dan Marino and Steve Young, each eligible for the first time, are the only slam dunks in the field.
Thomas and Michael Irvin are the other first-time candidates. Irvin, a marquee receiver of the 1990s and one of the “triplets” who led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories, isn’t a slam dunk. But he’s probably a layup. Thomas may have to wait for a rebound.
A slam-dunk candidate gets elected in his first year of eligibility. His career speaks for itself and he doesn’t need the benefit of a convincing presentation. The case for each candidate is made by the elector representing his franchise, which for the Chiefs is Bob Gretz.
The bubble candidate typically waits anywhere from a few years to more than a decade to get elected. His chances usually depend upon whether his support has increased or withered over time and upon the strength of the competition in a particular year.
As many as six candidates receiving an 80 percent majority of the vote can get elected, though at least three must get in. Only once since 1994 have as many as six candidates been elected. Seven were elected in 2001, when the rules were slightly different.
A slam-dunk candidate has few, if any, holes. Marino never won a Super Bowl. But he’s the best pure passer of all time and led the Miami Dolphins to a Super Bowl.
Thomas is knocking at the door of Canton because he led all players with 116.5 sacks during the 1990s, starting with his league-leading 20 sacks in 1990. He also was the foundation and signature player of a team that totaled seven playoff appearances and three division titles. He repeatedly came up with a sack, strip or other big defensive play that could turn a game around. And he made nine straight Pro Bowls.
The Hall of Fame case for Thomas can be summed up in four words once uttered by coach Marty Schottenheimer: “Derrick Thomas wins games.”
But he didn’t help win an AFC championship or Super Bowl game. And while he had few peers as a pass rusher, Thomas wasn’t noted as a run stopper and had just one career interception. That’s why he’s considered on the bubble.
When a candidate is considered for the Hall of Fame, his every bright spot and blemish goes under a microscope. And should be. Remember, it’s not the Hall of Excellence or the Hall of the Very, Very Good. It’s the Hall of Fame, which means only the greatest players who ever played the game ought to get elected.
So it’s not exactly a disgrace if Thomas has to wait his turn in line.
from KC Chiefs.com
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