Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

With the retirement of Ted Ginn Jr, I thought it would be cool to compare his career to Devin Hester, who many people feel will be in the HOF ...

Tale Of The Tape :

Rushing yards/Avg/TDs

Ginn ... 486 yrds ... 7 ypc ... 2 TDs
Hester ...116 yrds ... 3 ypc ... 1TD

Receiving yards/Avg/TDs

Ginn ... 5742 yds ... 14 ypc ... 33 TDs
Hester ... 3311 yds ... 13 ypc ... 16 TDs

Total Scrimmage yards/TDs

Ginn ... 6,228 ... 35 TDs
Hester ... 3427 ... 17 TDs

Punt Return yards/Avg/TDs

Ginn ... 2624 yrds ... 10 ypr ... 4 TDs
Hester ... 3695 yrds ... 11.7 ... 14 TDs

Kickoff Returns yards/Avg/TDs

Ginn ... 6899 yrds ... 22.5 ypr ... 3 TDs
Hester ... 7333 yrds ... 25 ypr ... 5 TDs

Total Kickoff/Punt Return yards/TDs

Ginn ... 9523 ... 7 TDs
Hester ... 11,028 ... 19 TDs

Total Yardage/Career TDs(postseason included)

Ginn ... 15,751 ... 43 TDs
Hester ... 14,455 ... 38 TDs

Counting yardage and TDs rather than touches, both players made explosive plays with Ginn doing better in terms of scrimmage yardage, while Hester doing better in special teams return yardage. The TD numbers on kickoff/punt return yardage and honors/accolades, gives Hester a HOF case but Ginn wasnt a slouch himself, with Hester clearly being the better punt returner. Though Ginn was the better receiver and probably played a lot more as a regular, the question is, does Ginn Jr have a case for the HOVG/HOF ?

In my opinion, maybe the HOVG along with Hester, who was spectacular but not the regular starter he should have been to make the HOF. Many people believe a returner is due however and Hester may get voted in before other returners like Mitchell, Johnson, Upchurch, Metcalf, Brown, or Woodson.

Without accolades, Ginn won't have as much a case but had a good to very good total career, without the hands to have made more of an impact as a receiver. Did he justify his high draft status ? Probably not, but a versatile weapon for a number of teams ...

IMO Hester belongs in the HOF, solely for what he did as a return man. With the new rules in place, I doubt we'll see numbers like those he racked up ever again. Ginn is a borderline case. Both are obvious HOFG.

Then again, I predicted Montreal would win the Stanley Cup.

Ginn Jr. for the HOF? Hmm. The zero accolades really does not help. He does have the numbers which are on his side. Problem is, there are other players who have a high total all-purpose yards that aren't in the PFHOF, like Herschel Walker.

The stats are interesting but what set these guys apart is their return abilities (and speed) and Hester is way ahead of Ginn in that regard.

Ginn has nice stats, don't get me wrong. He led the league once in Kick Return TDs once (with 1).
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... nnTe00.htm

Hester led the NFL in Punt Return yards twice and TDs three times. He led in Kick Return yardage twice and TDs twice (once with 1).
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... stDe99.htm

And what about the "eye-test"?
When I think of Hester I think of the record setting returns and see him streaking through special teams defense to another TD.
When I remember Ginn, Jr. (and as a Niners fan) I remember him muffing a punt...

I can see Hester in the HoVG.
And I see how some people, wanting another special teamer in Canton, might construe his career to be enshrinement-worthy.

Not so sold on Ginn, though (sorry).

Never, in my wildest flights of fancy, would I have thought of Ted Ginn Jr. for the HOVG.

Hester, probably HOVG, but not HOF material, IMO.

Very few existing PFRA members, if any, will still be alive when Ginn becomes HOVG eligible, correct?

I plan on living to be 106, so yeah, I'll be around.

And still waiting for the Lions to make the Super Bowl, as well.....

Brian wolf wrote:In my opinion, maybe the HOVG along with Hester, who was spectacular but not the regular starter he should have been to make the HOF. Many people believe a returner is due however and Hester may get voted in before other returners like Mitchell, Johnson, Upchurch, Metcalf, Brown, or Woodson.

I don't know if 'irony' is the right word, but its interesting how this quote is open to interpretation. Multiple players with the same last name were great returners and clearly better football players than Devin Hester. Terry Metcalf or Eric Metcalf? Both great returners, both better than Hester. Tim Brown or Timmy Brown? Abe Woodson or Rod Woodson?

Part of what allowed Hester to compile large career return totals was that he couldn't do anything else. Even in college all he did was return kicks. I think Josh Cribbs was a better special teams player than Hester, because Cribbs could do everything on special teams. Hester was a specialist specialist, if that makes sense.

I have no problem with a specialist getting in. Hester was a beast on any kind of return and was fun to watch, especially those first couple seasons.

Mel Gray was pretty good, too....