What is the worst kind of fan?

Obviously the game took it's toll. Namath was a great athlete. "pocket sloths" don't get to play QB for Bear Bryant...

Smh..I know, I said I was done with this, but just gotta chime in here...I'm still amazed that we can't at least agree that HoF'r's were all elite players....

So the Jets were creative and crossed up Shula's Colts in the Super Bowl, and you want to point to that in the Namath critique?...Who cares that Joe didn't have jaw dropping numbers that day? They won the game, and he was the MVP...Stats don't mean squat in that situation. They ran effectively, and stuck with it, all the way to the Lombardi trophy...This is not to suggest that Namath didn't rack up impressive stats in his era, because he certainly did.

Iike I said, Joe's considerable football accomplishments speak for themselves. I will never understand how anyone can say that he wasn't an elite player.

Millions have played this game that we all love...Only 316 have made it all the way to the NFL Hall of Fame, and that includes those that were voted in as coaches and executives. So the number on players elected is actually even smaller...I really think it's safe to assume, even if you know nothing about the player, if he is in the NFL HoF for what he accomplished on the gridiron, he's an elite player....And ya can't compare different generations. That should go without saying. The game has evolved.

 

TD, if it makes you feel better . . . Okay, Joe Namath was an elite player.

Even though he didn't lead the league (when measured against his peers) in any major statistical category in any year he played except for 1972 (the only year he was named as an All Pro). That's one year out of a 13 year career where he played at a higher level than his peers.

 

Not true Lyman he led the league in interceptons 4 times in his career

 

but top dawg i think the term "elite" is not used correctly. any hall of famer is elite. we all get that, but like baseball's first hof class, there are select few in sports that are immortal like and beyond the term "elite." namath is a hof'er and elite. they are a few beyond the reach of willie joe namath and on the pantheon of football greatness. same for all sports. no flies on namath but a few were even greater than he was.

 

That's kinda my point. If he is "elite" only because he's in the HoF, then maybe he shouldn't be in the HoF to begin with. He had ONE year out thirteen where he played better than his peers. I don't have the time or inclination to look it up but, who got passed over the year he was inducted? I will guarantee it was a player who was a lot closer to "elite" status than Namath.

Granted, he was an extremely popular player. In fact, he was probably one of the first players to grow his brand. His lifestyle (fur coats, babes hanging all over him and even his nickname ,"Broadway Joe") all contributed to his popularity. Throw in the pantyhose commercial and he most definitely cashed in. But his REAL claim to fame was "the Guarantee " and that came true due to the Jets defense and their ability to run the ball.

 

It does Lym. Along with jq, you were directly saying that he wasn't...That's the only reason I'm back in this conversation.

My work is done here...

 

Keep reading . . . . .

 

Namath wasn’t elite.

And he shouldn’t be in the HOF.

 

doh! so much for TopDawg being happy?

 

Nah, I'll pass...I don't know what more I could add.....It absolutely blows my mind that a player can actually get the NFL gold jacket, and yet still have those questioning whether or not he was an elite player...

If ever there was a topic that I would have assumed all football fans could agree on, this would be it....HoF = Elite.

 

Not to mention that I back everything up with actual career facts....

I don't just do this:

 

Normally, I would agree that HoF = Elite.

But, in Namath's case, is he elite because he's in the HoF or is he in the HoF because he was elite? I believe it's the former.

 

Sorry that bothers you. I saw the guy play a lot. I also saw all the other QBs from that era. I'm of the opinion Namath wasn't elite compared to the players he played with.

Namath was a legend in a lot of ways. From guaranteeing a SB win to commercials and everything else...he was a household name.

On the field though? Not elite. And I never thought be belonged in the Hall.

 

There are players in the HOF in every sport we could debate on if they really do belong there.

The HOF is subjective because it comes down to human beings casting votes. It's not an objective thing.

 

Maybe because he has a loosing record
Maybe because he only took his team to the playoffd twice

 

What's worse.....

Logically questioning if a player truly deserved being called elite or the honor of being in the Hall Of Fame by using reason, analyzing their on field performance, and comparing them to the players that played in the same era...

Or...

Throwing out a blanket assumption that all players in a certain group, Hall of Fame, are automatically elite?

 

Also....I would just like to say there are other players like Namath that weren't elite and also their membership in the HOF is questionable to me.

I would put Bob Hayes on that list. Fred Dean as well. Dave Casper, Lynn Swann, Dan Dierdorf, and John Riggins are some other guys we could debate on.

 

I think the main issue is the makeup of the HoF selection committee. It's virtually made up entirely of members of the media. Remember when I said that Namath (during his career) was a media darling? What better way to legitimize your man crush than to vote the person you hyped for years into the HoF?

 

You didn't logically question anything BWW...You made the insinuation that Namath made it to the HoF, not because he was a great player, but because he was a popular guy that did a lot of commercials, and made a famous guarantee...I didn't even respond because I felt it was so ridiculous. And I got news for ya, they don't give you a gold jacket for that shit...

You fellas keep up the fight, silly as it may be...What do I care? This is amusing... I don't know if it was the panty hose or the fur coat or what, but obviously Namath still has his share of haters...Geez.

FTR: Namath was before my time. I only saw him play at the tail end of his career when he was a Ram...I'm using the tried and true formula that HoF = elite...

lol! Yes, I've said as much. I'm perfectly fine with that. By all means, feel free to throw out that blanket with confidence if discussing whether a HoF'r was an elite player or not...

Just curious: I wonder how many QB's in the history of the game can say that they won a college national championship, a Super Bowl, A Super Bowl MVP, rookie of the year, 2 league MVPs, comeback player of the year, and had their NFL number retired forever?

Anybody other than Namath?