2022 HoF Modern Era Finalists

[JuggernautJ]

https://www.nfl.com/news/finalists-for- ... 2-revealed

Jared Allen, DE – 2004-2007 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-2015 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers
Willie Anderson, OT -- 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens
Ronde Barber, DB – 1997-2012 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tony Boselli, T -- 1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (injured reserve)
LeRoy Butler, S -- 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers
Devin Hester, PR/KR/WR -- 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-2015 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens, 2016 Seattle Seahawks
Torry Holt, WR -- 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
Andre Johnson, WR -- 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans
Sam Mills, LB -- 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers
Richard Seymour, DE/DT -- 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders
Zach Thomas, LB -- 1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
DeMarcus Ware, LB -- 2005-2013 Dallas Cowboys, 2014-2016 Denver Broncos
Reggie Wayne, WR -- 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
Patrick Willis, LB -- 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers
Bryant Young, DE/DT -- 1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers

[Bryan]

Not to denigrate some really good players, but this finalist class is perhaps the weakest I have ever seen.

I have a bad feeling that Hester will get in, simply because of the lack of any "locks" in this group. It probably helps short peak guys like Boselli & Willis, too, but I wouldn't be as upset if they make the HOF. Seymour had a weird career and might qualify as "short peak" too.

I like Butler & Barber, but they have always been borderline IMO. I think Zach Thomas deserves enshrinement, so this could be his best shot.

Its always hard for me to distinguish the pass rush guys from each other...Allen and Ware are very similar and could either both make it or cancel each other out. Robert Mathis stood out with his FF total, but he didn't make it as a finalist.

Andre Johnson? If he makes the HOF, he will be the most boring WR to make it in since Tim Brown, and Brown had 105 TDs to Johnson's 70 and had 9 consecutive 1000-yard seasons to Johnson's 3 (and 4500 return yards to Johnson's 0).

[rhickok1109]

Not to denigrate some really good players, but this finalist class is perhaps the weakest I have ever seen.

I have a bad feeling that Hester will get in, simply because of the lack of any "locks" in this group. It probably helps short peak guys like Boselli & Willis, too, but I wouldn't be as upset if they make the HOF. Seymour had a weird career and might qualify as "short peak" too.

I like Butler & Barber, but they have always been borderline IMO. I think Zach Thomas deserves enshrinement, so this could be his best shot.

Its always hard for me to distinguish the pass rush guys from each other...Allen and Ware are very similar and could either both make it or cancel each other out. Robert Mathis stood out with his FF total, but he didn't make it as a finalist.

Andre Johnson? If he makes the HOF, he will be the most boring WR to make it in since Tim Brown, and Brown had 105 TDs to Johnson's 70 and had 9 consecutive 1000-yard seasons to Johnson's 3 (and 4500 return yards to Johnson's 0).

Yeah, I pretty much agree.

I think Boselli and Willis may actually be the best players in the group but both had short careers.

[Zero26]

I think the semi list was more controversial by far. This list doesn't really have any surprises compared to that one. All the usual suspects are here.

I have a feeling this will be one of those years where other than Ware the HOF mainly inducts candidates who've been waiting for awhile. IMO Hester should be the second most obvious choice but he's a divisive case and I think there's enough resistance to his case where he'll have to wait for next year.

I think Boldin was the best first year eligbile WR and Andre Johnson the worst. I'm aware most people rank the trio the opposite way but I was still disapointed. Was keeping fingers crossed for Boldin to be a surprise first year finalist even though I knew he wasn't getting inducted this year.

[RichardBak]

I think all Halls of Fame could benefit by having some years where nobody gets in. Makes it seem more special for the guys who do make it.

I'm hardly ever right about predictions of any kind. But I think Hester will get in. Sure, he's a specialist---but so are the kickers in the Hall. And watching Hester return a kick was a hell of a lot more exciting than watching some soccer player routinely punch through another (insert big yawn here) 32-yd FG.

[Brian wolf]

I like Boldin too Zero26 but dont see him vaulting ahead of Hines Ward. Johnson like Smith, never had a great QB throwing him the ball but the voters might be inclined to decorate a Texan sooner than later but I feel receivers might wait on getting voted in, with so many other great players becoming eligible. I feel for Tasker, he may never make it now. The queue will get cleared, though Ware will probably be first ballot, though I would put him in with Allen next year.
Could Mills or Willis get in before Thomas ?

[Gary Najman]

I like Andre Johnson. His Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, plus playing with David Carr and Sage Rosenfels gives him (for me) an edge over Boldin. I also met his former WR teammate Kevin Walter two years ago at NRG Stadium before the Texans played the Patriots and he raved about Johnson. I would like that he be inducted this year, but it's tough with Holt and Wayne also in the mix.

[Zero26]

I like Boldin too Zero26 but dont see him vaulting ahead of Hines Ward. Johnson like Smith, never had a great QB throwing him the ball but the voters might be inclined to decorate a Texan sooner than later but I feel receivers might wait on getting voted in, with so many other great players becoming eligible. I feel for Tasker, he may never make it now. The queue will get cleared, though Ware will probably be first ballot, though I would put him in with Allen next year.
Could Mills or Willis get in before Thomas ?

I think Thomas has the best chance of the 3 this year. Given how far Willis has gotten this early it's almost certain he'll get inducted but if a player isn't a "first ballot) type the HOF seems like they weigh how long a players been near the front of the line. I think the four at large spots(assuming Ware is in) will likely come from the group of Holt, Wayne,Butler, Seymour,Thomas and Boselli who've been finalists multiple times. So I think Thomas like all these guys has a good chance even though I wouldn't vote for him this year(I'd go Ware, Hester, Holt, Wayne,Barber I think it should be top 5 on the ballot).

I agree that franchise representation seems somewhat important to the HOF voters. I suspect this is a reason why Eddie George and especially Fred Taylor are where they are in the process. I think it might be the difference for Boselli(I don't think Boselli shouldn't be in the HOF I just don't see him ever being one of the 5 most deserving players on a ballot IMO knowing whose coming). But Mills seems like the candidate who gets that push at the end of his eligibility and falls short. Julius Peppers and Steve Smith also ensure the Panthers will not be waiting long for their first HOF player(who played their best years there) while the Jaguars might be waiting for quite some time if Boselli isn't inducted.

I'm not certain if Boldin will get inducted but I am confident of his chances over Ward. Of course they were both semi finalists this year the voters haven't tipped their hand "ranking" the 2. We shall see. But I see Ward as right on the fence(I do think he gets in even if it's seniors his case is unique enough) while I think Boldin is less of a borderline case even if I rate him higher than the HOF voters do(I consider him the second best receiver drafted in the 2000s). I think all 3 of the first ballot WR's this year get in though Boldin is most likely going to be last. I think Boldin's case is really dependent on how good his HOF presenter is because he compares well to the best receivers of his generation and there is a lot of room to make a really good argument that outweighs some of the weak spots like the 3 pro bowls.