Steve Smith Hall of Fame credentials

[Pejorative Miscreant]

Regardless if it happens or not I expect to see a statue of the man outside of the stadium! 

 

To me this is more symbolic of his achievement as a Panther.  Granted a bust in Canton is great but there is honor within the organization that should not be overlooked. 

[Jangler]

Just think of all the times he has been dragged down at the one yard line, all those potential scores....

 

if only the field was 99 yards

[CRA]

Moss and Owens are getting in no doubt.  You could certainly make a case for Reggie Wayne and Andre Johnson (especially the latter given the QBs he's played with), but none of those players are the all-around threat Steve Smith was because none of them have substantial return numbers, and I think that gives him a little bit of an edge over the likes of Fitzgerald and Boldin. In that case he has a comparable resume to Wayne and Johnson.

Fitzgerald will have better numbers....and added to that unless some one breaks it the best single postseason performance of any WR.

Wayne and Harrison also have better numbers.....and rings.

And we haven't gotten into guys like Bruce, Holt whose careers overlap into 89s era.

Simply are too many WRs. Numbers game in many aspects.

[xclr82xtc]

i think you guys are forgetting the "showed heart" aspect of a 5'9 receiver.. no on in this leauge discounts smitty.. he will be a first ballot hall of famer.

 

[OneBadCat]

Fitzgerald will have better numbers....and added to that unless some one breaks it the best single postseason performance of any WR.

Wayne and Harrison also have better numbers.....and rings.

And we haven't gotten into guys like Bruce, Holt whose careers overlap into 89s era.

Simply are too many WRs. Numbers game in many aspects.

 

They might have better numbers but they weren't better players. 

 

 

The only guy that dominated better than Steve in his prime is Moss, and maybe Calvin Johnson. And even then guys like Fitzgerald, Wayne, Harrison, etc didn't have the ability to score from anywhere on the field as WR or KR. Steve did. 

 

All of those WR's also played with top flight QB's. I think Smith will be one of the cases where the guy gets in because he deserved it, because he should have been in. Not what the numbers say. Smith changed the game for short WR's and made the smoke screen a viable play. His highlight reel is more impressive than anybody's. 

[BigBoss]

He's got the talent of one.....

 

 

but hes not getting in ever. If he get's two rings, he can do it, but any less than that and no chance.

 

As previously stated, WR is extremely hard to get in these days and with the inflation of passing numbers, he'll be viewed in a lesser light unfortunately.

 

He doesn't need to be a HOF'r though, he'll forever and always be remembered by true Panther fans.

[Rules&Regulations]

He's got a few things working for him on top of the overall numbers:

Was he ever the best wide receiver in the game? Yes (see triple crown)

Was he unique/did he change the way people looked at the position?

Yes.

Did he perform best on the biggest stages?

Yes.

Was he memorable?

Yes.

Does he have a highlight reel of plays that make you go "Wow, how'd he do that?"

You better believe it.

Did he overcome adversity?

Yes.

Is his story marketable?

Redemption/growth story among the most marketable you can think of.

Add those kinds of things to great overall numbers and the fact that the NFL wants and needs a Panthers representative in Canton, and I think his chances of getting in are better than you think.

[Seal (SmittyIsOurSavior)]

Edit: Accidentally posted this somehow, wasn't done with my post yet though.

[Seal (SmittyIsOurSavior)]

The one major problem is like other people have said, there are so many other wideouts from the same era that were/are REALLY good.

 

Terrell Owens                  Randy Moss                  Marvin Harrison              Torry Holt

Reggie Wayne                 Isaac Bruce                   Larry Fitzgerald               Andre Johnson

Chad Ochocinco             Hines Ward                   Derrick Mason                 Donald Driver        

Joe Horn      

 

And then, of course, you've got the big guys right now who could be primed for numbers greater than Steve.

 

AJ Green                         Calvin Johnson             Brandon Marshall            Dez Bryant

Wes Welker                     Demaryius Thomas       Victor Cruz                       Vincent Jackson

Josh Gordon                   Alshon Jeffery               Roddy White                    Julio Jones

Antonio Brown                Desean Jackson          

 

This is all not to mention the slightly older guys with mad stats that still aren't (and many almost surely never will be) in the Hall.

 

Sterling Sharpe               Jimmy Smith                  Tim Brown                       Herman Moore

Andre Rison                    Andre Reed                     Rod Smith                      Keenan McCardell

 

In my opinion, looking at these guys and their numbers, it's hard to see Steve Smith getting into the Hall unless his longevity turns out to be longer than we expect... Or unless he wins a Super Bowl, has a huge season once he's old, has an amazing personal achievement, etc.

 

The ONE major factor Steve has over 90% of the aforementioned guys is that NFL fans will remember him forever. Steve is a legend already. You have guys with great numbers who dominated the game like a Torry Holt or a Rod Smith, but the second they retire, nobody speaks about them anymore. They don't have that same staying power that your Jerry Rice's and your Terrell Owens' have.

 

I think that COULD end up being Steve's saving grace rather than his downfall, the fact that he put himself out there and backed it up with great game. He is a philanthropist off the field too, and I think a lot of people are taking notice in that late in his career, which should help to add some shine to his somewhat tarnished reputation. People love and respect Steve's tenacity and his toughness, and he will be remembered as an anomoly in the world of wide receivers, even if his numbers don't stand out as an all-time great. Hopefully the voters will vote without looking too much into the stats and where he stands on these all-time lists and more into what they remembered of Steve Smith's field dominance as an NFL anomoly considering his size and the QB's/run heavy offenses he always had working against him.

[rko396]

A few things:

1) great write up. Props to u sir

2) i dont think theres any way in hell he plays 3 MORE years.

3) when he's HOF eligible (7-8 years), there is going to be a laundry list of WRs who have put up very similar, or better numbers. And thats just at the WR position. Thats not counting all the QBS, RBs going in around that time as well.

I dont believe he gets in. To many monster offensive numbers being put up by other guys, in this flag football league that Goodell created. I fear Smitty played in the worst possible time. Had he been a few years earlier , his numbers would destroy most others from the 90's. Had he been a few years later, he would be among the leaders of pass happy offenses with 1,500 yards and 12 TDs per year. Unfortunately for him, he was caught in the middle and also had to suffer thru Weinkie, Peete, Delhomme, mccown, carr, jimmy, moore, and vinni. By the time he finally got a decent QB, he was over 30.

Do the HOF voters take all that into account and hypothetically extrapolate smitty's numbers to what they could/ should have been? Maybe. Is it likely? I dont believe so.

[CRA]

They might have better numbers but they weren't better players.

The only guy that dominated better than Steve in his prime is Moss, and maybe Calvin Johnson. And even then guys like Fitzgerald, Wayne, Harrison, etc didn't have the ability to score from anywhere on the field as WR or KR. Steve did.

All of those WR's also played with top flight QB's. I think Smith will be one of the cases where the guy gets in because he deserved it, because he should have been in. Not what the numbers say. Smith changed the game for short WR's and made the smoke screen a viable play. His highlight reel is more impressive than anybody's.

From a national perspective..... guys Fitzgerald won't be viewed as lesser players

[Cyclonus]

i think you guys are forgetting the "showed heart" aspect of a 5'9 receiver.. no on in this leauge discounts smitty.. he will be a first ballot hall of famer.

 

Put down the pipe and check yourself into rehab.

[Car123]

A great postseason performance this season will greatly help.

[OneBadCat]

From a national perspective..... guys Fitzgerald won't be viewed as lesser players

Well they would be wrong. Smith in his prime is better than  Fitzgerald.