Jon Beason statistically a lock for the Hall of Fame.

[Cat'sGrowl]

If he continues at this pace of course and God forbid anything such as a serious injury or alien abduction happens.

Gaining entrance into the NFL Hall of Fame isn't merely a talent qualification. If that was the case, then guys like Smitty would be locks for the Hall. One of the most important factors in getting into the Hall, is sheer chance. Luck of the draw. Plenty a talented players have been unable to reach the Hall because of factors like going to a poor team early in the draft and never getting a fair shot, or going places where the poor system puts them at a disadvantage. Likewise, plenty of players have gained entrance to the Hall by benefit of great systems or great teams around them, ala Terry Bradshaw and Troy Aikman, despite not having the amount of talent that your typical HoF'er does.

Often times, as we see with my first example, Smitty, an incredibly talented player may not enter the Hall because of a delayed start to their career, not giving that player enough time to accumulate HoF type stats.

This is where I arrive at Beason. Beason doesn't have this disadvantage. He's one of the few players in the Fox era who Ole Gum Smacker let touch the ball as a rookie. That, coupled with Beason's enormous talent from the beginning, has given Beason a quick start to his career. It also has allowed Beason to put up tremendous stats. At this point in his career, entering his 5th season, Beason currently has 540 tackles. Now let's compare that to some other current, and future HoF LB's.

Jack Lambert, played 10 years, and accumulated 1479 tackles, this according to Wikipedia, as NFL.com doesn't list stats for Tackles prior to the year 2001.

Mike Singletary, played 11 years, and accumulated 1488 career tackles.

Derrick Thomas, played 10 years, and accumulated 642 career tackles.

Ray Lewis, who is about to enter his 16th season, has recorded 1184 career tackles since the year 2001, that number not including the 5 seasons prior to when tackle stats started being recorded.

Brian Urlacher, who is about to enter his 12th season, has recorded 1059 career tackles, that number not including the 2000 season in which his numbers were not recorded.

I would've loved to give more examples, but sadly, recorded tackle numbers are hard to come by prior to the year 2001.

With that in mind though, I think we've seen enough evidence to see that Beason will more than statistically qualify for the Hall, and could be the first true Panther to enter. Modern medicine in sports will allow him to play more than the average 10 seasons which we see with some of the great LB's from the previous generations, as seen with Ray Lewis who his entering his 16th season.

With that said, Beason, if he keeps his current pace, seems to be a lock for the HoF which is something only a few other LBs in the game today can say.

Obviously stats aren't the only thing that matter when determing if a player should be in the Hall, but Beason meets those requirements as well, seeing as how he is one of the faces of our team, and respected as one of the very best players at his position.

Career Achievements so far:

3× Pro Bowl selection (2008, 2009, 2010)

First-Team All-Pro selection (2008)

Second-Team All-Pro selection (2009)

[Fiz]

It is VERY difficult to get into the HOF as a linebacker, and we're in an age where sacks are the only things that matter. Urlacher is probably in, Ray Lewis is definitely in.

I don't know how much specific scheme and position come into play.

[BountyHunter]

A couple of rings would help his cause. Hope he gets them while retiring a Panther.

[Fiz]

It's not necessary. It's not going to stop Urlacher. It's been over a decade since Lewis won one and he hasn't even been back to the Super Bowl.

Rings really only matter for QBs. And they shouldn't fyi.

[vorbis]

i think some sort of memorable team success is going to be necessary for Beason. otherwise, people who aren't very interested in having a broad knowledge of the NFL will say "but he wasn't even the best LB in his draft class" and garbage like that.

[Cat'sGrowl]

I think we're about to see more LB's entering the Hall. Not just Beason, but I think there about 6 or 7 guys in the game today who will enter the Hall at some point. I'd put Beason on that list. I just don't see sacks being an important number for a Middle Linebacker. He has 4 total in case your wondering, all 4 of which have come in the past 2 years. Also has 8 career interceptions, which is a nice number as long as it stays at that pace.

I believe a ring would definitely help.

[XClown1986]

Unfortunately for Jon, there isn't a point of his game that sticks out and sets him apart. Statistically London Fletcher should be hall of fame worthy, but it'll never happen.

[XClown1986]

Just to further my point, when you think of linebackers in the hall of fame, usually it's a single guy that could change a game, not just do very good job.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Your right. As i said in my post, stats aren't the sole determiner of whether or not a player should be in the Hall. Jon has however, qualities that will aid him in getting there.

He's the face of our defense with Peppers gone. When you think about our D, he's the man that comes to mind. He also, has gotten recognition for being one of the elite players at his position, a must have for a LB. I can remember reading articles from places like PFW that have ranked him up there, or right behind Willis as the best LB in the game today. He's not just a great LB, but is also recognized as such. Frankly I just can't see him not making it if he stays at this level for another 10 years. He's too talented, and we've had quite a number of talented LBs here in Pantherland throughout our history, but the Beast is just miles ahead of anybody I've ever seen here. He's simply too good to not make it in my mind unless he falls off the face of the earth.

[Cat'sGrowl]

Just to further my point, when you think of linebackers in the hall of fame, usually it's a single guy that could change a game, not just do very good job.

That's him though. As I've stated, we've had great LBs here. Mills, Morgan, Greene, Lathon, Fields, Witherspoon. All very talented players, but none are on the level that Beason is. He's simply a major threat no matter where on the field he is. He's miles ahead of those guys along with most of the other LB's in the game today.

[XClown1986]

That's him though. As I've stated, we've had great LBs here. Mills, Morgan, Greene, Lathon, Fields, Witherspoon. All very talented players, but none are on the level that Beason is. He's simply a major threat no matter where on the field he is. He's miles ahead of those guys along with most of the other LB's in the game today.

I'm going to disagree with you here. Dan Morgan would have been the best linebacker in the NFL not named Ray Lewis if he could have stayed healthy. But I'll see your point as unachieved potential vs. what Beason has done.

Kevin Greene was a sack machine and a game changer (granted the position was different being in a 3-4), and is in contention to be inducted to the hall of fame, I'd say Greene is a guy Beason hopes to be like.

I'd say statistically Beason is very similar to Sam Mills. More tackles than Mills but less big plays.

He's not a god among men yet. He's hitting his prime now, so he has the opportunity to do some special things.

[Cat'sGrowl]

I disagree with the Kevin Greene bit.

Jim Kelly is also in the Hall but that doesn't make him any better than Peyton Manning.

As for everything else, we will just have to see. Only time will tell.

[XClown1986]

Food for Thought:

Great Linebackers NOT in the Hall of Fame

Greg Lloyd

Chuck Howley

Lee Roy Jordan

Karl Mecklenburg

Sam Mills

Pat Swilling (Jesus the Saints were pumping out some linebackers in the 90's)

Joe Fortunato

Cornelius Bennett

Tom Jackson

Tommy Nobis

I know you'll have to google some of these guys, but it's amazing some of them aren't in there.

P.S. There's many more than that.

[XClown1986]

All I'm saying is the Hall of Fame is a great achievement. But it's not everything. (Peyton will be in the hall of fame one day, so your point is moot there).