Tag Archives: players who should be in the NFL HoF

NFL

Reed, Andre

 

Cards: Action Packed 1992, SkyBox 1992, Pinnacle 1993
Acquired: TTM 2011, C/o Home
Sent: 2/13   Received: 2/24  (11 days)

A real fast turn around from a big name.  I was really excited to get this one in the mail, especially considering that it is from such a fleet receiver as Andre Reed. He signed all 3 cards and also included a business card with his email and address for his new line of BBQ sauce.

Andre Reed is needless to say, Kutztown Pa College’s most prestigious’ football player to ever play in the NFL. Drafted in the 4th round by the Buffalo Bills during the 1985 draft, he’d be the second most prolific receiver behind all-time great Jerry Rice. This draft in particular was incredibly stocked at receiver with names such as Jerry Rice, Eddie Brown, Al Toon, Reggie Langhorne,  and Eric Martin, coming out of this draft. Andre is considered by all points and purposes one of the great finds of this draft. I’m not sure if he’s considered a steal, because nobody knew who he really was. He was a small town find by the Bills staff.

Andre’s career started off anonymously enough with a respectable rookie season lodging 637 yards, 4 touchdowns, and a meaty 13.3 yard per catch. Notably his yard per catch would become almost a signature of Reed’s career. Over a 16 year career- he’d only have 3 seasons under 13 yards a reception. (A particularly salivating number in today’s pass happy NFL world.) Andre would build off of his rookie season as his receptions and yards would increase through 1988, culminating in his first of 7 Pro Bowl appearances that would last through 1994. In 1989 he’d have a career high 1312 yards, and post career highs in touchdowns with 10 in 1991. Reed in 1993 would have a whopping 16.4 yards a catch and over that period would play in 3 SuperBowls, finishing 3rd in the big game in yards and 2nd in receptions. An injury would sideline him in 1995, but he’d make a full recovery in 1996, logging his 4th 1000 yard season. From 1997 through 2000, Reed’s career would slowly transition downwards, and in 2000 he signed with the Broncos. Unable to make a contribution to the team, he was released and played his final season with the Redskins before retiring.
Reed’s career statistics, when looking at them year over year can be deceptive. While not a perennial 1,000 yard receiver, Andre was an integral part of the no huddle Bills offense in conjunction with Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas. His overall career numbers in yardage at the time of retirement were top 10 and his receptions were third all time. Andre Reed has been eligible for the Pro Football HoF since 2006, but has missed the final ballot on every shot. With a large group of receivers who are becoming eligible for the HoF nomination, it is cloudy to say whether or not Andre will get his true due as a member of the yellow jacket club.  Andre was inducted in the meantime into the Buffalo Bills Wall of Fame in 2006.

He’s also started his own line of BBQ sauce as previously mentioned, called “Over the Middle”. Part of the proceeds of the sale of his sauce go to impoverished children. I am told that it is quite good, and may give it a shot here in the near future. In addition Reed has done occasional commentary on NFL games for Fox and appeared in “Pros Versus Joes” on Spike TV. In 2011, he was honored with announcing the Buffalo Bills 2nd round pick.

G/Gs  234/217     Rec 951     Yds 13198     Avg  13.9     Lg  87t    Td 83

 

NFL, Super Bowl MVP

Martin, Harvey “Too Mean” (1950-2001)

Card: ProSet 1990, Topps 1977
Acquired: In Person 1991,1993 Dallas Cowboys Training Camp, Autograph Signing

Drafted in the 3rd round of the 1973 draft by the Dallas Cowboys Harvey Martin was a powerful member of the famed ‘Doomsday Defense’ and made 8 sacks out of the gate as a rookie that season. Nicknamed ‘Too Mean’ by his teammates to go along with ‘Too Tall’ Jones, Martin had a 20 sack season in 1977, was NFL defensive MVP, and was co-mvp of SuperBowl XII with defensive tackle Randy White. A member of the All 1970s team, Harvey was an embattled individual who dealt with drug, domestic and financial issues throughout and after his career ended in 1983. He also was named to the Pro Bowl and was first or second team AP 4 times over his career. Upon his retirement he held the team record for career sacks with 114.

I’d get his autograph in 1991 packing former players at training camp. He’d curiously sign his card with only his garbled initials. Josh and I looked at each other so disappointedly thinking that Harvey had just ruined this card with his half-assed signature. Later we’d go to an autograph signing where there was Drew, Preston, Harvey and a few other players that were just charging 5 bucks a signature and we would get his full signature this time.  He’d continue to battle his inner demons post retirement, and occasionally do commentary for wrestling circuits such as the WWF and WCC but sadly in 2001, Harvey passed away from Pancreatic Cancer at the age of 51. At this time Martin is the only player who is a Super Bowl MVP who is deceased and is also of a slim minority who have won the award and not been inducted into the NFL HoF.

G/Gs 158/71     Tac N/a     Sac 114    Fum 6   Int 2   Yds 7     Avg 3.5    Td  0

NFL

Kennedy, Cortez (1968-2017)

Cards: Action Packed Rookies 1990, Proline Portraits 1992
Acquired: TTM 1992, C/o The Seattle Seahawks

Cortez Kennedy burst onto the NFL scene in 1990, as the Seahawks traded up to get the defensive lineman from the University of Miami. A prolonged holdout his rookie season kept him on the bench throughout the year which largely destroyed his 1990 season. Things weren’t looking good for the young defensive tackle, but Kennedy turn things around and would only go on to be named Pro Bowl in 8 of the next 10 seasons, dominating offensive linemen enroute to NFL Defensive Player of the Year honors in 1992- a season in which Kennedy had 14 sacks.  He’d also be named All Pro in 1992,1993,1994 and second team AP in 1996. At 6-3, 305 Kennedy was a fearsome force that was well balanced against the pass and dominating against the run. As the years caught up to Kennedy, he retired after the 2000 season playing his whole career in a Seahawks uniform. It’s a shame that he played for such bad Seahawks teams because he rarely got the credit he deserved.  At the time of his retirement he’d be named to the Seahawks Ring of Honor and to the NFL team of the 1990s. In 2010 he was inducted into the U HoF. Since football, curiosity has gotten the best of Kennedy and he has developed an interest in football operations. He’s been serving on and off as a consultant to the New Orleans Saints organization.

Kennedy has been a Hall of Fame semifinalist on 3 occasions now, however I speculate that he has a much steeper hill to climb than most. Defensive players do not get their due, and Kennedy overall didn’t have sexy statistics, or play for even a regular playoff team. He largely played in a city that has very few HoF members, with a few spot performers on defense, and no serious competition at defensive tackle over the decade. Although Kennedy was a trend-setter because of his great blend of mobility and size- I doubt that he would have received as many accolades if he played half his career in the 1980s. Regardless, I’m not raining on his parade, as I think eventually once the loggerjam of defensive players are loosened he will get in. In 2011, Cortez was honored by the Seattle Seahawks who selected him to announce their 2nd round pick during the NFL draft.

Kennedy was the first Seahawk I probably sent out for, and when I opened the letter, I was surprised to find an additional card signed from the lineman. Inside I found an explanation that apparently he had crushed the Action Packed Card when he was signing it, and wanted to give me another for my trouble. Now that’s not only class, but caring as well. What a guy! Here’s his statistics and a short video from YouTube on him.

G/Gs 167/153      Tac 668     Sac 58    Fum 11
Int 3    Yds 26    Avg 8.6   Td 0   Lg 21

UPDATE 5/23/17 –   In 2012, a little over a year after this post, Kennedy made the Pro Football Hall of Fame.  Later that year the Seahawks officially retired his jersey.  Cortez Kennedy passed away at the age of 48 today. The current cause of his death is unknown.