February 11th, 2016 at 8:19 AM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 8:21 AM ^
Megatron is a first ballot hall of famer.
That guy was (is) amazing.
An absolute game changer.
Just sad that he never got the chance to win a title.
Fuck off Ford Family
February 11th, 2016 at 8:23 AM ^
None of this matters. Calvin is going to rest for a year and fully heal up and then "unretire" and go play with Brady until they both retire. He will have at least 2 rings when he is done. Depends if he plays 3 years with Brady or 4.. or even 5. Then he is in the HOF for sure and Brady is cemented as greatest ever, stfu everyone else. My gut is strong on this one, plus I have sources.
None with any connection to anyone involved, but sources nonetheless.
February 11th, 2016 at 8:27 AM ^
I hate this narrative. This is what everyone said about Barry Sanders, and look what he did. I don't uundersand why it is so hard to imagine that wanting to hang them up before the game completly destroys your body and the rest of your life.
Calvin has been as loyal of a detroit athlete as I have seen. Lets give him the benifet of the doubt, until he gives us a concrete reason to doubt him.
February 11th, 2016 at 8:38 AM ^
un-retire and go play with Brady. I wish people would stop this. Contract years don't run while a person is "retired". It wouldn't matter if he sat out one, ten or twenty years - when he came back, he would still be under contract with the Lions.
February 11th, 2016 at 8:43 AM ^
Seriously if this really happened this would be amazing imo! A year off to heal and stick it to the Ford family for the creating a culture of losing. Then to team with one of the a GOATs at the QB position?
Go Blue!
Edit: Repy to Hillsdale - It might not be possible? However, it sure is fun to think about. Loosen up those panties
February 11th, 2016 at 8:24 AM ^
Cocaine is a helluva drug.
February 11th, 2016 at 8:32 AM ^
in NINE SEASONS, here are his stats:
5,462 total yards. Wait-- Sorry. That was supposed to be 5.462 MEASLY F'N YARDS (Johnson Passed him in only five seasons)
47.1 Yards per game
2.9 Receptions per game
His best season: 11 TD's , 880 Yards
Lynn Swann: he's in the hall of fame for one great super bowl. End of story.
February 11th, 2016 at 8:40 AM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 9:03 AM ^
Chris Buford
Jabar Gaffney
Mac Speedie
Max McGee
Nate Washington
Pete Retzlaff
TJ Houshmenzadeh
Dante Lavelli
Half of that list played BEFORE or during Lynn Swann's "illustrious" career, in case you were thinking "But the era was different"
February 11th, 2016 at 8:33 AM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 8:38 AM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 8:38 AM ^
i used to like you
for those amazing catches
now please go f**k off
and
you won superbowls
because of the steel curtain
so shut the hell up
February 11th, 2016 at 8:56 AM ^
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February 11th, 2016 at 9:25 AM ^
Swann absolutely was NOT a beast in his time.
He got in because of his amazing super bowl catches.
February 11th, 2016 at 10:42 AM ^
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February 11th, 2016 at 8:56 AM ^
He won't get in for the simple reason his catch/no catch against the Bears introduced all of us to the pain of the "Process of the Catch".
But seriously. Lynn Swann. No one controls the game like a QB and/or defense. Everyone else is a bit player.
February 11th, 2016 at 9:09 AM ^
Swann (Edited to say he was a very good player in his day, but I wonder if he's in without 4 Super Bowl Titles):
February 11th, 2016 at 9:14 AM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 9:27 AM ^
but that doesn't mean he himself wasn't deserving of the Hall. If you're just looking at stats and aren't old enough to have watched during that era, the dude was a dominant player, especially in the big games, and even moreso after the "Mel Blount Rule" came into effect for the '78-79 season (which, by the way, is a reason you can't possibly compare stats from that era to today... every rule change has benefitted the passing game). You were allowed to absolutely mug receivers in those days as far down the field as you wanted. Think about what that would do to the game today. Here's a blurb from an SI article by Paul Zimmerman back in 2000:
Six Receivers Dr. Z Thinks Belong in the Hall 1. Lynn Swann (1974-82) His numbers aren’t good enough is the argument. My pitch has been quality over quantity. He saved his best for when the stakes were highest.
and, explaining why he wasn't voting for Art Monk:
Art Monk: His name has come up for years, and I’ve never voted for him and have always caught heat for it. My argument is always paired with my reasons for pushing hard for Lynn Swann. Quantity vs. quality. Monk caught a million passes, most of them eight-to-10-yard hooks. Swann made spectacular catches at the championship level.
Anyway, Megatron should get in. Great players sometimes have the misfortune to play for crap franchises. Hell, I remember when Archie Manning was the NFC's Player of the Year and Pro Bowl starting QB when his team went 7-9 that year. Winning matters, but for individual honors, what matters is what you did to help your team win, not the other 10 schmucks on your team.
I admit Swann would have been a crappy Governor of Pennsylvania (yes, he once ran).
February 11th, 2016 at 9:48 AM ^
It was a completely different game in the 70s. Apples and oranges.
February 11th, 2016 at 9:28 AM ^
Just a reminder that Lynn Swann wasn't even the best receiver on his own team.
February 11th, 2016 at 9:42 AM ^
Personally, I think the Hall of Fame should be a mix of traits. Winning is *a* factor, but it's not the only factor. If Michael Jordan hadn't won any NBA championships, he should still be in the NBA Hall of Fame. If you're a long snapper who wins 4 Super Bowls, you shouldn't be in the Hall of Fame.
If the HOF were based only on stats, then you would simply just need to look up the top pass receivers, rushers, passers, sackers, tacklers, etc. to make the choice.
If the HOF were based only on Super Bowls, then you take the starters from every Super Bowl team and put them in the HOF.
But that's not how it works. Swann probably wouldn't be in the HOF for his stats only, so his winning propelled him there. And that's fine. I don't have a problem with him having a bust in Canton. But that seems to have warped his thinking to the point where he thinks winning is the only thing that matters when it comes to the HOF.
Also, the name of the place is the Hall of FAME. Granted, not every player who is "famous" deserves to be there (such as Johnny Manziel), but that's part of the equation. Calvin "Megatron" Johnson is a guy who is known by his nickname, one of the greatest physical specimens to ever play the position, has great statistics, etc. He's not just a star in the league, but a superstar. That should also be a part of the equation.
February 11th, 2016 at 9:53 AM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 10:03 AM ^
Each played 9 seasons.
February 11th, 2016 at 9:55 AM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 10:01 AM ^
on rare occassions, as I live in Denver. I still felt he was probably the most dominate receiver the last 9 years in the NFL. He is not responsible for the Lions not being successful as he did all he could do.
Swan was lucky enough to play on one of the all time great teams and while a very good receiver got to go along for the ride most of the time. I don't think his numbers are all that great and he should not be judging a talent like Megatron.
February 11th, 2016 at 10:12 AM ^
I think its close right now because it seems Calvin is ALWAYS hurt, and doesnt want to compete,eg retirement... though i think its a ploy.... Another few years of playing, and then yes, I'd say he'd swing to yes... but it just doesnt feel like he made it yet. Aside, Gayle Sayers made it, with little years played... so maybe I'm wrong.
the thing with swann.. he was on a great team with a great organization, and the steelers were quite the pioneers using steriods (george perles, hello).... so its hard not to discount calvin being a lessor franchise like the lions.
February 11th, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
are they not? The idea that players should continue to compete until their bodies are completely broken down to win our admiration is one I don't share. I'd rather judge them based on their best five or so years, not on how well they avoided injuries or the health risks they were willing to take.
February 11th, 2016 at 10:10 AM ^
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February 11th, 2016 at 10:12 AM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 10:20 AM ^
Lynn Swann is literally the last person who should be arguing that a receiver isn't worthy of the HoF. Like this article says, he was ranked 12th in receptions and yards during his own career. The only reason he's in the Hall is because there's a collective media boner for the 70s Steelers, even though it's almost certain that they benefitted greatly from colossal steroid abuse.
February 11th, 2016 at 10:38 AM ^
Completely agree. Great player who accomplished nothing substantive and to be choked in some the biggest late game moments of his career. Hall of Famers most memorable plays don't usually involve the phrase, "didn't complete the process of catching the ball"
February 11th, 2016 at 10:52 AM ^
but that 'process' is the biggest pile of BS I've ever seen. To me it makes as much sense, and is as consistently applied, as the targeting rule.
February 11th, 2016 at 11:34 AM ^
This was ruled a catch in the Super Bowl.
The only WRs past the turn of the century that are in Calvin Johnson's league of physical domination are Randy Moss and Larry Fitzgerald. He had a 6-7 year run of being a top 3 WR in the NFL. He's a first ballot HoF in my eyes.
February 11th, 2016 at 10:44 AM ^
No matter to me . . . I guess you can let him in, to make all the Michigan and Detroit fans happy. Make it like those participation trophies my kids get for being on a team.
Seriously, there are tons of supremely talented players out there who never really amounted to much. Talent is part of the picture, but only part of the picture.
February 11th, 2016 at 10:50 AM ^
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February 11th, 2016 at 10:58 AM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 2:47 PM ^
2015: 10th in yards, 11th in receptions
2014: 16th in yards, 31st in receptions
2013: 3rd in yards, 17th in receptions
2012: 1st in yards, 1st in receptions
2011: 1st in yards, 4th in receptions
2010: 9th in yards, t15th receptions
2009: 24th in yards, 32nd in receptions
2008: 5th in yards, 20th in receptions
2007: 42nd in yards, 70th in receptions
not quite top 5 every year.
February 11th, 2016 at 10:51 AM ^
All you people talking that Calvin Johnson's not a Hall of Famer are crazy. He was the most dominant reciever of his generation. WInning has nothing to do with his abilities as a player, especially with 22 players making up a team.
February 11th, 2016 at 11:45 AM ^
Is Anquan Bolden HOF worthy?
February 11th, 2016 at 2:29 PM ^
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February 11th, 2016 at 2:36 PM ^
he has 1500+ more receiving yards than calvin, and almost 300 more receptions, plus he's won a lot more than Calvin has (and has a SB ring).
February 12th, 2016 at 10:44 AM ^
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February 11th, 2016 at 10:52 AM ^
February 11th, 2016 at 11:00 AM ^
27th on all time receiving yards, 43rd all time receptions.
doesnt matter to me either way really
February 11th, 2016 at 11:17 AM ^
He is borderline. He has 20 more TDs than Irvin and they are about equal in receptions and yards. Irvin does have 3 super bowl rings though.
If he plays 2 or 3 more years he would be a virtual guarantee as he would have very similar stats to Larry Fitzgerald currently. And everyone says Fitzgerald is a lock to Canton.
February 11th, 2016 at 11:19 AM ^
Anyone stating he has been the best WR in the league for the past decade is kidding themselves. He has had one amazing year. Three great years. 3 decent years and 2 bleh years. It look him 3-4 years to match the likes of Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne as a top flight receiver. And only stayed in the catefory for 3 years. He hasn't been a top 10 reciever in the league for two seasons.
February 11th, 2016 at 2:05 PM ^