Hall of Fame LB, Patrick Willis

Originally posted by Niners99:
lol so many embarrassing takes in this thread.

Calvin Johnson just got in. These voters actually get into a room and openly debate until they settle on a class. This isn't baseball where passive aggressive beta male writers use their secret vote like a weapon. People in the room will say "We just put Calvin Johnson in, so we cant use career length against Willis." It will be hard to justify keeping him out this year with such a weak class. He was the best MLB in the game during his career.

Willis quit in his prime on a good team and was exceptional at everything but never the best at any one thing and he quite after 7 years rather healthy. Johnson quite as his career was on a downward trajectory because of long term injuries sustained while exclusively playing on one of the worst teams in the NFL and he managed to set several all time records doing so, he also played 9 seasons.

Willis quitting as a healthy athlete with a short career is going to get held against him.

Originally posted by jcs:

Originally posted by Niners99:
lol so many embarrassing takes in this thread.

Calvin Johnson just got in. These voters actually get into a room and openly debate until they settle on a class. This isn't baseball where passive aggressive beta male writers use their secret vote like a weapon. People in the room will say "We just put Calvin Johnson in, so we cant use career length against Willis." It will be hard to justify keeping him out this year with such a weak class. He was the best MLB in the game during his career.

Willis quit in his prime on a good team and was exceptional at everything but never the best at any one thing and he quite after 7 years rather healthy. Johnson quite as his career was on a downward trajectory because of long term injuries sustained while exclusively playing on one of the worst teams in the NFL and he managed to set several all time records doing so, he also played 9 seasons.

Willis quitting as a healthy athlete with a short career is going to get held against him.

I think as time goes on, as player safety gets more emphasis, him retiring early won't be held against him as much.
He certainly was a dominant linebacker when he played. He was ROTY his first year and then was a Pro Bowl and/or All-Pro LB every year for the next seven years. That pretty much says he was the best linebacker in the league while he was playing.

I think it's harder for him to get in as a LB is that there aren't really any big linebacker stats. Tackle numbers don't amount to much because an okay linebacker on a bad defense can still rack up tackles. He's not an edge-rusher that racks up sacks. Meanwhile, you look at Calvin Johnson and can easily be like "Oh, he had seven 1000 yard seasons, four 10+ TD seasons, and a three year stretch where he had 1600, 1900, and 1400 receiving yards... And then the 2012 season was such a record breaking season in itself."

I think it also hurts that he doesn't have a Super Bowl champion tag next to his name.

He'll get in, probably in the next two years. This year it was clear the voters mostly focused on players who were near the end of their eligibility time frames.

Yea. By bumped him. Thats the only reason.

Originally posted by captveg:
He'll get in, probably in the next two years. This year it was clear the voters mostly focused on players who were near the end of their eligibility time frames.

Originally posted by captveg:
He'll get in, probably in the next two years. This year it was clear the voters mostly focused on players who were near the end of their eligibility time frames.

BUT are they gonna let TWO Middle Linebackers in a the same time?

Zach Thomas and Willis?... when is Luke Kuechly eligible?

IMO, Pat was better than all of them (it was extremely rare to see Patrick make a mistake on the field).

Originally posted by Afrikan:
BUT are they gonna let TWO Middle Linebackers in a the same time?

Zach Thomas and Willis?... when is Luke Kuechly eligible?

IMO, Pat was better than all of them (it was extremely rare to see Patrick make a mistake on the field).

Willis was all time great even if you can redraft all lb ever I think Willis would go above most big names

Not a fan of the "wait your turn" model. Sam Mills and his 1 time 1st team all pro gets in before Willis? But apparently Calvin Johnson skips the line over Holt?

Originally posted by rockzz:

Congrats to the @RamsNFL 🏆 The New Super Bowl Champions 2022. They all pulled together and did what needed to be done with whom were committed to the cause. I must say! It does make my heart tingle and blood flow when I think about 🏆 and not talking about the PAST…..

— Patrick Willis (@PatrickWillis52) February 16, 2022

Coach Willis has a nice ring to it.

I think Patrick would make a great coach.

Originally posted by mayo49:
I think Patrick would make a great coach.

Usually when players are great, they make poor coaches. But in this case I agree. He had great tackling technique, and really understood how to play. It wasn't just pure talent, although he had plenty of that too.

Originally posted by TheGore49er:

Originally posted by mayo49:
I think Patrick would make a great coach.

Usually when players are great, they make poor coaches. But in this case I agree. He had great tackling technique, and really understood how to play. It wasn't just pure talent, although he had plenty of that too.

Singletary would be a great coach also

Is he talking about coaching or playing? Word is he's stayed in great shape/working out

Originally posted by Mertonschickendance:
Is he talking about coaching or playing? Word is he's stayed in great shape/working out

He's 37…

Originally posted by Hysterikal:
He's 37…

32 is considered old in todays NFL