Assuming Smitty never gets a ring...

[csx]

Smith wasn't even a full time WR the first couple years in the league. His PR stats are very impressive though and should be included in his HOF considerations.

Weird, how'd he get over 800 yards receiving his second year then?

He's been a starter every year other than his rookie season.

[Way Truth Life]

Weird, how'd he get over 800 yards receiving his second year then?

He's been a starter every year other than his rookie season.

Rookie season he had 10 receptions and was primarily a PR/KR and for the next 4 years he was the the primary PR/KR guy. He didn't take over the #1 WR spot until his 3rd or 4th year, but still managed to almost match Mushins numbers his 2nd year and surpassed him there after. As a PR/KR guy during his first 4 years he had 1500 plus and 2300 plus return yards along with 6 TDs.

Do you not think being the primary PR/KR guy for 4 years affected his WR stats? Imagine if he was a WR from day 1 and didn't have to perform on special teams. Steve Smith EARNED his WR spot through hard work and his PR/KR work should be considered when looking at his HOF possibilities.

[CRA]

Rookie season he had 10 receptions and was primarily a PR/KR and for the next 4 years he was the the primary PR/KR guy. He didn't take over the #1 WR spot until his 3rd or 4th year, but still managed to almost match Mushins numbers his 2nd year and surpassed him there after. As a PR/KR guy during his first 4 years he had 1500 plus and 2300 plus return yards along with 6 TDs.

Do you not think being the primary PR/KR guy for 4 years affected his WR stats? Imagine if he was a WR from day 1 and didn't have to perform on special teams. Steve Smith EARNED his WR spot through hard work and his PR/KR work should be considered when looking at his HOF possibilities.

He was still a starter....not all WRs are #1s as rookies. Cant just give Smitty a bump bc he was not the primary WR every season

[Way Truth Life]

He was still a starter....not all WRs are #1s as rookies. Cant just give Smitty a bump bc he was not the primary WR every season

Most HOFer WRs were not the primary PR/KR player for the first 4 years of their career. Can we at least agree that this duty reduced the amount of targets and plays that Steve Smith may have seen the first 4 years of his career?

[thefuzz]

He will be very hard pressed to get in.

A couple more post seasons where he shines, and if he can move up to top 10 he will have a shot.

He will be hurt by 3 major things:

No Ring

Small Market

Early troubles

[Peppers90 NC]

i dont see it ever happening. he has had only one season where he was the best wr in the league, production-wise.

[Peppers90 NC]

Most HOFer WRs were not the primary PR/KR player for the first 4 years of their career. Can we at least agree that this duty reduced the amount of targets and plays that Steve Smith may have seen the first 4 years of his career?

first 2 years, his 4th season ended in week 1 and by his 3rd season he was the #2 wr.

[CRA]

Most HOFer WRs were not the primary PR/KR player for the first 4 years of their career. Can we at least agree that this duty reduced the amount of targets and plays that Steve Smith may have seen the first 4 years of his career?

Doesn't matter....

and Smith was targeted 9 less times in his 3rd season than when he won the triple crown in 05. So no...

Plenty of WRs weren't studs or given a starting job immediately. WRs like QBs, are thrust into roles earlier now than years ago....HOF doesn't give people bumps bc they missed a year or bc it took them a few years to get rolling