What if...New Tier of Pro Football Hall of Fame

[PrimeTimeScott]

What if the Pro Football Hall of Fame had an upper tier (call it the Diamond Level), where only 5 or 10% of Hall of Famers are included. They would have to be in the regular Hall of Fame for 10 years prior to being eligible for the upper tier. It would be voted on by only Members of the Hall of Fame.

If it were 5% there would be 18 players included, if 10% there would be 37. You'd only add one every other year or every three or four years. There would be no other rules for positions or coaches/contributors/Senior selections. Two part question. First, do you think this could ever happen? Is there any merit to a higher tier within the Hall of Fame? Second, for simplicity, lets say it's 5%, who are your 18 players? I has to be Hall of Famers inducted in 2015 or before. To get it started, here's my list of 18.

1. Sammy Baugh
2. Otto Graham
3. Chuck Bednarik
4. Jim Brown
5. Vince Lombardi
6. Gale Sayers
7. Dick Butkus
8. Johnny Unitas
9. Joe Greene
10. Walter Payton
11. Lawrence Taylor
12. Joe Montana
13. John Elway
14. Barry Sanders
15. Reggie White
16. Jerry Rice
17. Emmitt Smith
18. Deion Sanders

[TheFrenzy]

I see what you did here. Love it.

I'm actually pretty conflicted. Right off the bat, a few guys are easy:

- WR, Jerry Rice
- LB, Lawrence Taylor
- QB, Tom Brady

Looking at how the game evolved, a few more guys are easy picks:

- Coach, Vince Lombardi
- Coach, Tom Landry (I would also accept George Halas)
- QB, Sammy Baugh
- QB, Otto Graham
- WR, Don Hutson
- HB, Jim Thorpe
- HB, Red Grange
- DB, Dick "Night Train" Lane

Running back gets super interesting. I'd go with:

- Jim Brown
- Walter Payton

I don't think Sayers played long enough and that's the exact problem that leads to the Sanders/Smith debate. Had Barry Sanders decided to play until his body gave out, he would have been the Jerry Rice of RBs—but he retired early and it was Smith who set the records that now seem untouchable. I don't think you can use "raw talent" as the measure for the HOF Diamond Club, so in my opinion, either both are in or both are out.

I'll make the controversial decision to leave both out and make more room for some elite linemen.

Give me:

- Larry Allen
- Zack Martin (possibly a homer pick)
- Joe Thomas
- Bruce Smith
- Reggie White

[88horsepower]

This would be a brutal list to come up with, as many people have forgotten about some super-dominant players from years gone by. Guys like Emlen Tunnell, Gino Marchetti, Joe Perry, and a host of others would need representation for how remarkable they were for their given eras.

[majestik101]

1. Sammy Baugh
2. Otto Graham
3. Chuck Bednarik
4. Jim Brown
5. Vince Lombardi
6. Gale Sayers
7. Dick Butkus
8. Johnny Unitas
9. Joe Greene
10. Walter Payton
11. Lawrence Taylor
12. Joe Montana
13. John Elway
14. Barry Sanders
15. Reggie White
16. Jerry Rice
17. Emmitt Smith
18. Deion Sanders

A better list would be 15 without these 3 on it

[Archangel1775]

That's just voting for another Hall of Fame. Their careers already speak for themselves.

[jplarson]

Gotta remove Sayers from the Diamond level. It needs to be both accomplishments and longevity. Love the guy but too short of a career unfortunately.

[sethc1020]

I wouldn't mind it and I think at this point it would be a great addition to the HOF. I don't agree that they should add one to the upper tier every other year. I think that tier is for the Best of the Best and those don't come around every other year.

Mine would be:

Jim Brown
Jerry Rice
Tom Brady

Probably an even better set up would be to have the Best of the Best at each position. No one gets added unless someone comes along and has a general consensus of being better all time than the player at their position

[jlzinck]

Sponsored by Fanatics

[the mesiah]

Originally Posted by PrimeTimeScott

What if the Pro Football Hall of Fame had an upper tier (call it the Diamond Level), where only 5 or 10% of Hall of Famers are included. They would have to be in the regular Hall of Fame for 10 years prior to being eligible for the upper tier. It would be voted on by only Members of the Hall of Fame.


1. Sammy Baugh
2. Otto Graham
3. Chuck Bednarik
4. Jim Brown
5. Vince Lombardi
6. Gale Sayers
7. Dick Butkus
8. Johnny Unitas
9. Joe Greene
10. Walter Payton
11. Lawrence Taylor
12. Joe Montana
13. John Elway
14. Barry Sanders
15. Reggie White
16. Jerry Rice
17. Emmitt Smith
18. Deion Sanders

How is Anthony Munoz NOT on the list ,easily over Sammy, Emmitt , gale ,Joe Greene, Butkus , Bernarik, Otto ,

[Grid]

Making a wing for "Better than the rest" would do nothing but insult the other HOF members who don't make the cut. And ruins the integrity of the Hall, which is already made up of the "Best of the Best".

The NFL itself already does this, by compiling a list of their All Time Best every quarter century. When new players are added, older players that no longer make the cut get dropped. But the list itself gets bigger each time. So it kinda does what this thread is asking for.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_50..._All-Time_Team

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NFL_75..._All-Time_Team

https://www.nfl.com/100/all-time-team/roster

[PrimeTimeScott]

I appreciate all of the conversation on this. Grid, I sort of agree about not having a second tier as well for just the reason that you stated, although, I didn't think specifically about the quarter century lists (I thought more about the decade lists, but those seem to be the list that sometimes help make a better case for certain positions/guys). More than anything, I enjoy the discussion. I also know that my list had no offensive lineman, as they are difficult to compare to other positions.

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by PrimeTimeScott

I appreciate all of the conversation on this. Grid, I sort of agree about not having a second tier as well for just the reason that you stated, although, I didn't think specifically about the quarter century lists (I thought more about the decade lists, but those seem to be the list that sometimes help make a better case for certain positions/guys). More than anything, I enjoy the discussion. I also know that my list had no offensive lineman, as they are difficult to compare to other positions.

This reply is a model of Blowout politeness.

#respect

[JeremyNick]

Yeah but what happens when Mahomes knocks Brady out of the Super Diamond Elite HOF spot?

[asujbl]

At least give Deion credit for this idea since you’re Prime Time from Denver

[kaisersoze]

mount rushmore - jim brown, tom brady, jerry rice, lawrence taylor

[TheFrenzy]

Originally Posted by kaisersoze

mount rushmore - jim brown, tom brady, jerry rice, lawrence taylor

I'm sure it will be tweaked, but it sounds like:

GOAT > Mount Rushmore > Hall of Fame > Hall of Very Good > Guest Room of Fan Favorites

[jplarson]

Originally Posted by kaisersoze

mount rushmore - jim brown, tom brady, jerry rice, lawrence taylor

Ahhh, yes, I remember all the Mount Rushmore threads from.... 2022? 2023? Good times. Not as good as when Baker Mayfield dominated the first page, but still good.

[PrimeTimeScott]

Originally Posted by asujbl

At least give Deion credit for this idea since you’re Prime Time from Denver

I totally forgot about that. He deserves the credit. Or maybe him being on the list is credit enough. Full disclosure, John Elway being on my list may be a bit of a homer pick too, but I make no apologies for that one!!

[Scottish Punk]

I agree with Grid. Adding an extra tier just makes the existing HOF dumbed down. Than the upper tier will get watered down and than you will need a super exclusive tier. As for Deion. For a CB to be in that special tier, I would want one that actually makes tackles.

[Noles939913]

You don’t need a “Diamond Level” to tell you Walter Payton was on a different level than Edgerrin James even though both are in the HOF.

[marinocollector]

I think the biggest issue, is as we grow older, we take the names that were in the Hall of Fame before we were born and put them on a pedestal.
As we grow older, more names get added, including players who we did not appreciate while they were playing. We start seeing "flaws" in the system, when in fact, the players that get in are 1:83 professional players. Essentially, 20 people are playing in the NFL every season, that are good enough to be in the HOF.
Y'all need to calm down with this small hall ish. Bc if we cannot celebrate the 20 best every year? Y'all have issues.