Steve Smith a sure lock for the HOF

[holderoftruth]

Guys quit being a bunch of homers.....

Steve Smith is far from a sure lock for the HOF

For him to be a at least a contender for the Hall of Fame, Smith will have to average 80+ receptions, 1400+ yards, and 10+ touchdowns during the next 5 years and win at least 1 super bowl.

[Panthro]

I think Moose could make the hall of fame if he has two more years of around 60 catch 800 yard seasons (which should be easy with matt moore at QB). Also he needs another playoff run, if Panthers can go to a super bowl, that'll mean he has 3 super bowl appearances.

He's had decent playoffs statistics along with a TD Catch in two Super Bowls, one being the longest in Super Bowl history.

[OneBadassCat]

Steve Smith is one of the most talented WRs ever but it will come down to Steve being healthy and how long he can keep his speed. I didn't really see much of a decline in that this season. Had he played the 04 season he would have much more recognition I think. I think Smith has 2 more years as an elite WR. During that span if he can reach 2000 yds in a season I think he gets in for sure. After that, unless he defies the age factor I think Smith will be in a Hines Ward role or perhaps like Muhammad is for us. Though I think he would be more effective than either of them and still get in to the HOF as the OP said.

Think about it he has already won the triple crown, if he gets 2000 yds wouldn't that make him the only player to achieve both feats except for maybe Jerry Rice?

Smith is far from a lock, but a 2000yd season will get him in.

[csx]

Exactly. Most of the guys highlighted played decades ago under different rules. Quarterbacks back then didn't have consistent passer rating in the 100s either.

They look at superbowls and stats. So far Smith is not the best guy of his era and has no superbowls. His numbers are not HOF by any means. He wil need 4 or 5 years of doing great and perhaps a ring before I think he will be in the conversation.

Yep, you are one of the only people here with any sense.

At this point, he's not close.

[CatMan72]

You can make an argument for him, but he's not a lock.

Keep in mind that the HOF is as much a popularity contest as anything... look at what happened to Art Monk, it's not just about numbers.

[E CaT PanTHer]

One thing Smitty has going for him.. he won the triple crown. However, based on your projection for the next 4 years.. I guarantee you if he performs that poorly, he will not be in the HoF. Smitty needs 80+ catches, 1000+ yards, and 10+ TDs for the next 4 years to even sniff at the HoF.. the reason is, the bar has been raised too high after this years HoF induction.. you have guys like Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, Andre Reed, Cris Carter.. whose respective stats are:

Jerry Rice - 1549 Receptions - 22895 yards - 197 TDs

Tim Brown - 1094 Receptions - 14934 yards - 100 TDs

Andre Reed - 951 Receptions - 13198 yards - 87 TDs - 4 Super Bowl Appearances

Cris Carter - 1101 Receptions - 13899 yards - 130 TDs

Also, you need to look at other potential HoF WRs in the Smitty era, and some of these guys are still active:

Isaac Bruce - 1024 Receptions - 15208 yards - 91 TDs

Torry Holt - 920 Receptions - 13382 yards - 74 TDs

Marvin Harrison - 1102 Receptions - 14580 yards - 128 TDs

Terrell Owens - 1006 Receptions - 14951 yards - 144 TDs

Randy Moss - 926 Receptions - 14465 yards - 148 TDs

Given these numbers.. Smitty would have to do A LOT more than 774 rec, 10,330 yards, 78 TD's.

You do make a great point, and that's what I'm worried about. But Smitty is what, 30??, 31?? Yeah he had an off year this year but I don't think he's lost a step. That was clearly Jake Delhomme's ineptness at QB that caused Smitty to struggle. Smitty put up great numbers when Matt Moore came in. And me saying Smitty averaging 50 rec, 500 yards, 5 TD's a season is a level that he can far exceed, and we all know that. Barring any injuries and with a competent QB under center, Smitty can average about 80 rec, 1000 yards, and 7-8 TD's a season. The dude knows how to take care of himself and is in great shape. If he can play until he's 36, I really think he will have eclipsed 900 rec, 12,000 yards, and between 80-90 TD's. Yeah that doesn't compare to the Jerry Rice, Tim Browns, Randy Moss's, TO's and Cris Carter's, but these guys just had god given talent and were blessed with the physical attributes that Smitty doesn't possess. For a 5,9 receiver, he single handedly could dominate any game at any time, plus he was one of the most dangerous kick off and punt returners before he became a wide receiver, which all should be taken into consideration.

[panthers55]

You can make an argument for him, but he's not a lock.

Keep in mind that the HOF is as much a popularity contest as anything... look at what happened to Art Monk, it's not just about numbers.

It is not about popularity but rings and stats. here is the selection process:

Board of Selectors

Enshrinees are selected by a 44-person committee, largely made up of sportswriters, officially known as the Board of Selectors.[5]

Usually, the representative is a beat writer for the major newspaper in that city, although this is not always the case; for instance, the Atlanta Falcons are represented by ESPN.com senior writer Len Pasquarelli (who lives in Atlanta and formerly wrote for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution), and the Jacksonville Jaguars are represented by WJXT sports director Sam Kouvaris.

There are also eleven at-large delegates (usually cities that lose NFL teams keep representation on the board; Los Angeles is the only current city to have lost an NFL team and not been granted an expansion team), and one representative from the Pro Football Writers of America. Except for the PFWA representative, who is appointed to a two-year term, all other appointments are open-ended and terminated only by death, retirement, or resignation.

Voting procedure

To be eligible for the nominating process, a player must have been retired at least five years, and a coach must be retired (as of 2007, retired for five years). Any other contributor such as a team owner or executive can be voted at any time.[6]

Fans may nominate any player, coach or contributor by simply writing to the Pro Football Hall of Fame via letter or email. The Selection Committee is then polled three times by mail to eventually narrow the list to 25 semifinalists: once in March, one in September, and one in October. In November, the committee then selects 15 finalists by mail balloting.

Nine members of the Selection Committee also serve as a subcommittee known as the Seniors Committee to screen candidates who finished their careers 25 or more years prior.[6] The Seniors Committee then adds two finalists from prior to the modern era, making a final ballot of 17.

The Selection Committee then meets the day before each Super Bowl game to elect a new class. To be elected, a finalist must receive at least 80 percent support from the Board, with at least four, but no more than seven, candidates being elected annually. If less than four candidates get 80 percent of the vote, then the top four vote-getters will get in that year. If more than seven get 80 percent, then only the top seven vote-getters will be inducted.

Art Monk got in because he helped win 3 superbowls in addition to his 3 probowl apprearances, 2 all-pro selections, 12,000 yards, named to the All 80s team of the decade. He was the first to catch 100 balls and 1000 yards in a season, he is second alltime with 940 catches behind Jerry Rice, set 7 NFL records at the time and on and on. It still took him until 2008 to get in.

I love Steve Smith but he isn't close to Monk and plays in an era where big numbers are routine.

[CatMan72]

It is not about popularity but rings and stats. here is the selection process:

Board of Selectors

Enshrinees are selected by a 44-person committee, largely made up of sportswriters, officially known as the Board of Selectors.[5]

Usually, the representative is a beat writer for the major newspaper in that city, although this is not always the case; for instance, the Atlanta Falcons are represented by ESPN.com senior writer Len Pasquarelli (who lives in Atlanta and formerly wrote for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution), and the Jacksonville Jaguars are represented by WJXT sports director Sam Kouvaris.

There are also eleven at-large delegates (usually cities that lose NFL teams keep representation on the board; Los Angeles is the only current city to have lost an NFL team and not been granted an expansion team), and one representative from the Pro Football Writers of America. Except for the PFWA representative, who is appointed to a two-year term, all other appointments are open-ended and terminated only by death, retirement, or resignation.

Voting procedure

To be eligible for the nominating process, a player must have been retired at least five years, and a coach must be retired (as of 2007, retired for five years). Any other contributor such as a team owner or executive can be voted at any time.[6]

Fans may nominate any player, coach or contributor by simply writing to the Pro Football Hall of Fame via letter or email. The Selection Committee is then polled three times by mail to eventually narrow the list to 25 semifinalists: once in March, one in September, and one in October. In November, the committee then selects 15 finalists by mail balloting.

Nine members of the Selection Committee also serve as a subcommittee known as the Seniors Committee to screen candidates who finished their careers 25 or more years prior.[6] The Seniors Committee then adds two finalists from prior to the modern era, making a final ballot of 17.

The Selection Committee then meets the day before each Super Bowl game to elect a new class. To be elected, a finalist must receive at least 80 percent support from the Board, with at least four, but no more than seven, candidates being elected annually. If less than four candidates get 80 percent of the vote, then the top four vote-getters will get in that year. If more than seven get 80 percent, then only the top seven vote-getters will be inducted.

Art Monk got in because he helped win 3 superbowls in addition to his 3 probowl apprearances, 2 all-pro selections, 12,000 yards, named to the All 80s team of the decade. He was the first to catch 100 balls and 1000 yards in a season, he is second alltime with 940 catches behind Jerry Rice, set 7 NFL records at the time and on and on. It still took him until 2008 to get in.

I love Steve Smith but he isn't close to Monk and plays in an era where big numbers are routine.

Right, my point exactly - Art Monk is one of the greatest of all time and he rotted on the ballot for 8 years... If they were voting on numbers alone he would have been a first-ballot lock like Jerry Rice.

I'm not saying Steve Smith is Art Monk, I'm saying numbers alone don't get you in the HOF.

[Panthro]

Right, my point exactly - Art Monk is one of the greatest of all time and he rotted on the ballot for 8 years... If they were voting on numbers alone he would have been a first-ballot lock like Jerry Rice.

I'm not saying Steve Smith is Art Monk, I'm saying numbers alone don't get you in the HOF.

Andre Reed>>>Art Monk

[panthers55]

Right, my point exactly - Art Monk is one of the greatest of all time and he rotted on the ballot for 8 years... If they were voting on numbers alone he would have been a first-ballot lock like Jerry Rice.

I'm not saying Steve Smith is Art Monk, I'm saying numbers alone don't get you in the HOF.

Problem is that only take 7 guys each year. And 2 of them are old timers leaving 5. Most guys have to be a finalist several times before they get in.

[British_Panther]

How many votes does each selector get? As many as they like?

[chbright]

One thing Smitty has going for him.. he won the triple crown. However, based on your projection for the next 4 years.. I guarantee you if he performs that poorly, he will not be in the HoF. Smitty needs 80+ catches, 1000+ yards, and 10+ TDs for the next 4 years to even sniff at the HoF.. the reason is, the bar has been raised too high after this years HoF induction.. you have guys like Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, Andre Reed, Cris Carter.. whose respective stats are:

Jerry Rice - 1549 Receptions - 22895 yards - 197 TDs

Tim Brown - 1094 Receptions - 14934 yards - 100 TDs

Andre Reed - 951 Receptions - 13198 yards - 87 TDs - 4 Super Bowl Appearances

Cris Carter - 1101 Receptions - 13899 yards - 130 TDs

Also, you need to look at other potential HoF WRs in the Smitty era, and some of these guys are still active:

Isaac Bruce - 1024 Receptions - 15208 yards - 91 TDs

Torry Holt - 920 Receptions - 13382 yards - 74 TDs

Marvin Harrison - 1102 Receptions - 14580 yards - 128 TDs

Terrell Owens - 1006 Receptions - 14951 yards - 144 TDs

Randy Moss - 926 Receptions - 14465 yards - 148 TDs

Given these numbers.. Smitty would have to do A LOT more than 774 rec, 10,330 yards, 78 TD's.

add in guys like chad johnson, fitz, hell even welker in ne is putting up unheard of numbers. reggie wayne.......... i love what steve has done and what he brings to the table. fact is he hasnt sustained the numbers and he currently isnt in a system that changed the game (like the greatest show on turff, the manning trio, moss or TO). he isnt in the top 4 throughout his generation.

panther ring of honor sure, HOF, um no. game changed and his numbers among his peers dont stack up.

on a side note: warner may have played with 3 HOF wrs and alteast 1 HOF RB.

[AKPantherFan]

all he needs is a lombardi

^^^^^^^^^^^

this

[OneBadassCat]

I say a 2000 yd season should get him in. Anyone agree? A SB in a addition to that would lock him in.