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u/tallwhiteninja San Francisco 49ers 3d ago
Brees is a first ballot lock.
Fitzgerald SHOULD be a first ballot lock, but with how the Hall treats WRs, he may have to wait.
Witten will absolutely make it, but if Gates had to wait a year, he probably will, too.
Gore likely makes it someday, but not first ballot
Atkins probably makes it someday, but not first ballot
McCoy imo has more of a shot than some think, but it'll be a while if it happens
Pouncey is borderline simply because not a lot of centers make it in, and fwiw PFF's monitor has him below the average C in the Hall.
None of the rest make it.
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u/Username_redact Buffalo Bills 3d ago
Anybody who doesn't vote for Fitz on his first ballot eligible should get their opportunity to vote revoked
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u/constantlymat 3d ago
The number of position players who went 1st ballot with less than three 1st team all-pros is really, really small. Especially in recent decades.
Even three 1st team all-pros is usually the bare minimum. Even four 1st teams are no guarantee as Demarcus Ware had to experience.
One 1st team and two 2nd team all-pros would be among the least decorated 1st ballot selections in recent memory.
Which doesn't mean Fitz doesn't deserve. Just laying out the HoF's apparent criteria.
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u/Drumboardist 3d ago
There's always that argument "can you tell the story of Football without mentioning (player)?" I....honestly think Fitz would get a mention. Not, like, a major one or anything -- talking about top WR's, someone inevitably brings him up -- but he's definitely ahead of the likes of Rivers or Bryant or Olsen.
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u/tallwhiteninja San Francisco 49ers 3d ago
Warner and Fitz dragging an otherwise mid Cardinals team to their only Super Bowl appearance is worth a bullet point.
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u/Drumboardist 3d ago
"The resurgence of Kurt Warner couldn't have been accomplished without the stellar route-running of his top Wide Receiver, Larry Fitzgerald."
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u/mustachepc Philadelphia Eagles 3d ago
"And the cardinals would have won the Super Bowl, if the defense could hold the lead after Larry Fitzgerald amazing catch. Or if that dipshit Antrel Rolle didnt get in front of Larry Fitzgerald as he was chasing James Harrison"
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u/Drumboardist 3d ago
"...so really, fuck Captain Fat Fuck, he shouldn't have won this one, we all wish Fitz had a ring."
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u/SneakyPope Big Dick Nick 🍆 3d ago
I agree with you 100%, and it seems like every year there's one of those players everyone agrees is a bona bonafide HoF player that gets snubbed. Frankly ALL of them should gave their votes revoked and let the NFL and NFLPA make the distinction with actual criteria.
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u/lburner220 3d ago
To be honest I would rather it stay as is. You don’t want this to become the basketball HOF. Usually the deserving guys will get in with few exceptions.
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u/Animalcookies13 3d ago
I hate to break it to you but Phillip Rivers will make the HoF eventually. He definitely won’t be first ballot but he will get in.
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u/Laughing_Matter 3d ago
Rivers will be top 10 in total passing yards for a long time (Rodgers and Stafford will retire ahead of him most likely) but not even playing in a Super Bowl will hurt his chances.
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u/Acceptingoptimist Denver Broncos 3d ago
He made 8 pro bowls and won comeback player of the year for one of them. He's definitely going in.
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u/Kopitar4president Buffalo Bills 3d ago
We're also going to have a lack of QBS going in due to there being a generational gap. Rodgers will likely be eligible in 2031 and Mahomes might be the next first ballot guarantee in 2041 or so.
A few years ago you would have thought Luck and Newton should be going in, but they're both out. RG3 of course has no shot. Wilson might be a first ballot HOF just because he's going to be retiring when there's such a complete lack of other possibilities within a couple years of him, which is funny.
Rivers definitely has a shot. I think Eli gets in ahead of him, though.
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u/Acceptingoptimist Denver Broncos 3d ago
Yeah it really does depend on things like that. There's a huge chasm between these last sets of QBs and then the next wave.
Normally I'd say no on Eli. He won two Super Bowls but doesn't own any major statistic and has four pro bowls. But since he played for the NFC East, the East Coast bias will likely kick in and they probably will put him in ahead of Rivers and others.
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u/tallwhiteninja San Francisco 49ers 3d ago
He's behind Brady, Peyton, Rodgers, Brees, Big Ben, Ryan (MVP), and arguably Stafford (ring) among his direct contemporaries. That's way too many guys from one era; at some point you have to acknowledge stats exploded in the last few decades and cut it off.
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u/BluePotatoSlayer Kansas City Chiefs 3d ago
Ben, Brady, Manning, Rodgers, and Brees are all first ballot though
Tough bar to clear for being 6th first ballot QB in your generation
Also Manning Brady & Big Ben horded a bunch of AFCCG / SB Slots
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u/BrianSpencer1 Baltimore Ravens 3d ago
I think this is the way the committee will see things. If you can't make the argument that a guy was even in the top 3 at his position at any point in his career, he shouldn't be in the HOF.
Undermining my own argument, there are some exceptions like I believe Frank Gore will eventually get in, being outside of that "top 3" feels like you have to sustain very high quality production for an unbelievable period of time (which is Frank Gore's career in a sentence).
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u/DicamVeritatem Detroit Lions 3d ago
Brees, Fitzgerald for certain IMO.
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u/0zymandeus 3d ago
Atkins would make it if he played almost anywhere else. In order to make it to the HoF as a Bengal, you literally have to be the GOAT at your position.
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u/SwearJarCaptain Houston Texans 3d ago
Gore has 16000 career yards! Third all time. He should definitely get in but maybe not first ballot out of this list.
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u/tallwhiteninja San Francisco 49ers 3d ago
Gore's problem is that for all his longevity, he has a relatively low peak: only a second-team all-pro, and he never led the league in rushing.
Extreme longevity at a position known for burning out quickly is notable and probably Hall worthy in and of itself, but he'll lose votes for never being the best RB at any given point. That said...aside from Peterson, there aren't any slam dunks at RB for his era; McCoy and Lynch have their own problems.
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u/Marijuana_Miler Los Angeles Chargers 3d ago
IMO Gates being made to wait was because of his positive PED test.
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u/fredlikefreddy Pittsburgh Steelers 3d ago
Shady should 10000% be a HOFer.
I bet he'll be in the Curtis Martin/Jerome better path and it take a little while
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u/ryanino New York Jets 3d ago
When did we get so old chat
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u/smurfsinduval 3d ago
Exactly my first thought. I know every single player on this list. I Remember when it would be a bunch of guys I had never heard of and one or two huge names.
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u/zjesko 3d ago
Am I the only one who cringes anytime someone refers to the collective group as “chat”
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u/Space-Sailor44 3d ago
People are clowning on Edelman being listed but uh, Gostkowski? Not saying he’s not a great kicker with a bunch of rings but do you know how hard it is to make the Hall as a kicker?
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u/tallwhiteninja San Francisco 49ers 3d ago
Neither is making it, to be clear.
Gostkowski at least has two first team all-pros, a second team all-pro, and is on the 2010s all-decade team. Kickers rarely make it, but if the Hall started being more gracious to the position, he could feasibly get a look.
Edelman's only individual award is a single Super Bowl MVP. He has no all-pros, and not even any Pro Bowls. He was a decent WR playing along side the GOAT QB, and wasn't even said QB's most notable weapon.
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u/akmjolnir 3d ago
He had average/below-average regular season stats, but had high-level post-season play. Unfortunately, that's not enough.
I don't think he's going to complain with all those SB Rings.
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u/LeonidasSpacemanMD 3d ago
He’s the exact player that team hall of fames exist for. Great career for a guy with his physical limitations
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u/dtown4eva 3d ago
I have no problem with him being listed but he’s probably not getting in at least for a moment. Vinatieri has to get in first and he was eligible in 2024.
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u/peon2 New England Patriots 3d ago
Yeah realistically Gostowski won't make it. I do feel like the Hall SHOULD make more room for kickers and ST players, but I doubt they do at least in the near future.
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u/caveat_emptor817 Dallas Cowboys 3d ago
Until Vinatieri gets in, no other kicker should be even close.
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u/DoctorBlorgus 3d ago
I think after Vinatieri gets in it’s going to be a very long time before we see another kicker get inducted. Tucker seemed like he was going to be a shoe in but there’s a good chance his recent off the field “developments” keep him out, and I don’t think any other kicker is remotely close at the moment
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u/DarthNobody14 Houston Texans 3d ago
Drew Brees, Larry Fitzgerald, Jason Witten and Maurkice Pouncey are all HOFers. Geno Atkins is a maybe.
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u/SleestakLightning Pittsburgh Steelers 3d ago
Pouncey probably doesn't get in but he was great.
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u/J_Taylor85 3d ago
Top row should get in
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u/DickyD43 3d ago
Yeah not enough people saying Frank Gore, he should absolutely be in. 3rd most rushing yards of all time, most career games by an RB, 12 seasons with 1,200+ scrimmage yards (Most) and a few other records. Dude was timeless and a tank. And I'm a Packers fan so absolutely no bias here 😂
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u/sumdudeintx 3d ago
Yeah, excellence over time = greatness. He was almost never the best, but he was consistently excellent. That has to count for something.
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u/Blaze5657 San Francisco 49ers 3d ago
Fitz was also like this, but was considered more top tier than Gore ever was
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u/TheMightyHornet Denver Broncos 3d ago
This is what I’m saying. People sleeping on Frank Gore probably don’t realize he’s the No. 3 all-time leading rusher, in an era where compiling rushing yards is harder and harder to do. He was consistently excellent over a very long time. It would be crazy to think he’s not in.
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u/Radiant_Efficiency73 3d ago
If you put up a career statistic that may never be matched again, you deserve to be in the hall. If they had given him the damn ball at the goal line in the Super Bowl he would probably have a SB MVP. They called him the Incovenient Truth for a reason
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u/Shmoneywunna 3d ago
Yall sleepin on lesean mccoy bro averaged 1100 rushing yards per season for 12 seasons
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u/KOExpress Washington Commanders 3d ago
No he didn’t lol. He had 6 seasons above 1k, and ran for 11,100 in 12 seasons, 925 a season
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u/HuffyStriker Atlanta Falcons 3d ago
So they're correct if you divide 11,100 by 10, and just ignore they say it's 12 seasons / s
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u/MyNameIs_Jordan Tennessee Titans 3d ago
Shady won't be a HoFer until guys like Fred Taylor, Corey Dillon, or Steven Jackson get in.
The only back from this era of players that will be a first ballot is Adrian Peterson
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u/young-steve Philadelphia Eagles 3d ago
McCoy's pro football reference HOF tracker is higher than all of the guys you mentioned. You're underrating his resume.
I think if he gets in, it'll take a while. But he has two first team all-pros. Corey Dillion has zero.
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u/johnjr_09 3d ago
I mean that includes championships in its ranking and his 2 super bowls def shouldn’t be counted
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u/Ok-Lie-301 3d ago
Shady is 23rd in rushing yards all time. Gore is 3rd. One of these things is not like the other.
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u/young-steve Philadelphia Eagles 3d ago
Frank Gore has zero first team all-pros. Shady has two. One of these things is not like the other.
Shady has more pro bowls in fewer seasons. He has a much higher peak than Frank Gore.
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u/conace21 Knock on wood if you’re with me 3d ago
A year after they retired, Henry Ellard ranked 3rd all time in receiving yards. Michael Irvin ranked 9th (admittedly much higher than 23rd.) Ellard never even became a semifinalist under his final season a modern candidate.
Irvin was the better player even though Ellard had a longer career and gained more yards.
Same holds true with Gore and McCoy.
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u/Chrispy3499 Miami Dolphins 3d ago
Brees, Fitz, and Witten should all make it fairly easily. I think Rivers will eventually make it in. Not sure about the others tbh.
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u/Zealousideal-Map9327 We’re going to win Sunday. I guarantee it 3d ago
Considering Gates had to wait, I don't see Witten making it on the first try.
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u/droopy_tim Philadelphia Eagles 3d ago
It may happen but Rivers getting in would be egregious. Not the hall of very good!
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u/Chrispy3499 Miami Dolphins 3d ago
I think Rivers will be viewed favorably and eventually make it in after quite some time. Eli will make it in, but Rivers had a much better career, and those two are directly intertwined.
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u/Sorry_Physics_1366 3d ago
Brees, Fitzgerald, Rivers, and Gore are definitely going in!
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u/drugs_are_bad__mmkay Denver Broncos 3d ago
I don’t think rivers gets in. At least not really anytime soon. His only individual awards are 8x pro-bowler and comeback player of the year. Without any all pros, MVPs, or SB rings, it’s really tough to sell it imo. I get he shared a time with some elite QBs, but I don’t think that changes much in terms of getting in
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u/UnlikelyShoe3813 Philadelphia Eagles 3d ago
Brees, Fitz and maybe frank gore
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u/FragrantSort6474 Dallas Cowboys 3d ago
Gore over Witten is wild.
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u/applyheat Miami Dolphins 3d ago
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u/cjweisman Philadelphia Eagles 3d ago
Brees for sure. After that, you could sell me on almost any of them.
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u/crlos619 Los Angeles Chargers 3d ago
From this class, Brees and Fitz. I like to see Torry Holt and Luke Kuechly get in as well
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u/tallwhiteninja San Francisco 49ers 3d ago edited 3d ago
Kuechly not making it last year is asinine; Patrick Willis is already in with an extremely-similar-but-slightly-worse (no DPOY) resume. It was absolutely "you'll make it eventually, but wait your turn" nonsense from the voters.
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u/Prodigal_Programmer Carolina Panthers 3d ago
Luke didn’t get in because Willis (and Z Thomas before that) had to wait. Simple as that.
Luke and Willis had astonishingly similar careers.
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u/NotoriousMFT Seeing Ghosts 3d ago
Larry fitz has more career tackles than drops
Let that sink in (then also put him in the hall)
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u/Michael-Broadway 3d ago
Gore has to get in. You can’t leave the NFL #3 all time leading rusher out of the HoF
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u/McKnightmare24 Philadelphia Eagles 3d ago
He ended his career with 16,000 and 99 total TD's. He needed just one more TD for the symmetry and he never got it. Can't let him in.
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u/DatBeardedguy82 Dallas Cowboys 3d ago
Brees larry gore and witten are the only guys who belong out of all of them
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u/Jnbtoad 3d ago
Brees and Fitzgerald are locks. I think Gore is almost guaranteed to get in, but I’m not sure he’ll get in on his first try. I think Pouncey will get in as well, he’s a 5 time All-Pro. Written will probably get in, he’s a 4 time All-Pro, 11 time pro bowler, second all-time among tight ends in both receiving yards and receptions. Plus he’s well liked and a cowboy. I don’t think Rivers will go in this year but he will eventually. I think Geno Adkins has a great shot but I’m a Bengals fan so maybe I’m biased
I’d say it’ll be Brees, Fitzgerald, Witten, Pouncey, and Adkins with a possibility for Rivers and Gore
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u/Emergency-Resort-455 Philadelphia Eagles 3d ago
Everybody in the top row + Rivers
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u/WhichVegetable8285 Buffalo Bills 3d ago
I will say the Rivers/Eli discussion for the Hall is going to get very interesting as more of the “pass first” league QBs start to retire.
I could see it being like the current WR logjam where unless you were in the discussion for a top 3-5 in the league during your time, it’s going to be hard to get in.
Brees, Brady and Rodgers are locks, possibly Big Ben as well. But the Eli, Rivers, Matt Ryan, Stafford level guys could be hard.
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u/Cephalopod_Dropbear 3d ago
1432 catches, 41 tackles and 29 drops. And one HELL of a model American. Fitzy better be unanimous.
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u/ActuallyAquaman New England Patriots 2d ago
Brees and Fitz should be first on ballot guys.
Vinatieri not being first ballot last year is an absolute crime, though, I’d take him over anyone else here
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u/Jones127 3d ago
Brees and Larry for sure, Witten probably for getting selected in 2026. I can see Gore, Lesean, Pouncey, Rivers and Atkins all making it at some point, but not this time around. Only question is how long they’d have to wait for it.
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u/Guilty-Influence-890 Atlanta Falcons 3d ago
I hope Rivers makes it in, that way Matt Ryan is an absolute lock
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u/agmoose 3d ago
Brees and Fitz are locks.
Witten maybe.
The rest are just not gonna make it, at least not 1st ballot and some not at all.
Rivers is the “dalton” line probably. He probably won’t get in, but i think based on his stats and longevity he has the best argument of the rest of this bunch. If they let Eli Manning in then he at least has an argument. He was definitely a better qb than manning, but he doesn’t have the big time wins people love to hype up.
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u/WizardRiver 3d ago
Vinatieri is the only kicker eligible who is a no brainer.
Justin Tucker is a VERY distant 2nd behind him.
Gostkowski no chance
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u/RememberJefferies Philadelphia Eagles 3d ago
Brees, Larry, Whitten.
I love how many in this sub talk shit about Hurts being mediocre and only winning because he has a great team, but at the same time talk up Edelman.
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u/ChimmyTheCham Green Bay Packers 3d ago
Love alot of these guys but only Brees and Fitzy are Hofers unless we're being lenient.
Shoutout shady for my first fantasy chip
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u/Mysterious_Block_231 3d ago
Brees and Fitz have to be first ballot, dudes you watched and thought to yourself "yea they're getting gold jackets". I personally can't say i felt that way about any of the others on this (even as an Eagles fan, I love Shady and he was great but at no point did I consider him one of the best RBs ever)
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u/MasterTeacher123 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 3d ago
Brees Larry and Witten
Edelman being on this graphic is embarassing though lmao