Does Andre Reed getting into the Hall of Fame help Steve Smith's case?

[ajax4132]

I think being 5'9 helps Smitty case more than anything.

 

For him to put up the stats that he had, they way he dominated his competition in his prime

 

and as an above poster he was the best wr in the game in 05

 

all at 5'9

 

 

[Doc Holiday]

One thing that I keep thinking about Smith is that he seriously could have been a GOAT candidate if it weren't for all the crappy teams he's been on, imagine Smitty and Cam playing together in their prime? The combo would be untouchable, and don't get me wrong I do Love Jake and he will still go down as one of my all time favorite QBs but Cam talent wise is in a different league then Jake even though he doesn't have the Big wins yet.

[RoaringRiot]

. To compare, Steve Smith averages 64 catches, 938 yards and 5 touchdowns over a 13-year career, despite having basically two seasons (2001, 2004) wasted and playing on a team that threw the ball less than pretty much every other team.

.

Don't forget about the wonderful 2010 season

[GRWatcher]

What you have to know is that the game of football was very different when Reed played from how it's played today. TE's mostly blocked, no Gonzales or Graham type of TE (Shannon Sharpe changed that). Running backs seldom were thrown to, the fullback was constantly on the field. If anyone was going to cross the middle & catch the ball it was going to be a WR. And most plays had only 1 WR on the field. And Reed was that guy. Never hesitated going across the middle, seldom dropped the ball. Like they said in his introduction, he was one of the toughest players ever. I think he should've been in the HOF before Kelly. Reed was my absolute favorite player while I was growing up. Glad he made it in.

 

Steve Smith is another tough WR and shouldn't have a problem getting votes to make it in the HOF. Especially if we make it to the Super Bowl again. poo, if Carter can get in (IMO he's a wuss), Smitty can for sure.

[CRA]

Andre Reed didn't play half his career in the passing era.....

Passing era hurts 89. Reed won't have the same competition either.

[hepcat]

If Steve had a ring we wouldn't even be having this conversation.  

[mr beauxjangles]

One thing Steve has going for him is the fact that his game is highly respected by his peers. We'll see what happens with Rod Smith, Derrick Mason, and Hines Ward - they will be good indicators.

[Razeyfingers]

I think the HoF should be about archetypes. Thats my view of what America really reeeeally likes. Americans want to see characters that epitomize a certain archetype. I think 89 is that.

 

Ask yourself this. . did Smith strongly help change how the position was viewed? You would have to be inclined to say yes. Did he change how the game was played? No probably not, but for his position, NFL Staffs will never overlook players in size and weight combinations again. Both tall and short now. Steve Smith strongly reinforces the league to be more open minded and it has been a big impact on how much more experimental offenses are now compared to the conservative days of old.

 

I might go so far to check when that speed TE trend started out of curiosity. Regardless, the notion that guys are too small or too big for a certain position has become more of a thing of the past. Bottom line. . 89

[Seal (SmittyIsOurSavior)]

I'm just gonna go ahead and report what I said last time...

[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 (Edit: now enshrined)                          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 maybe 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.

[PanthersClinic]

I don' see him making it.

 

I think it starts with great offenses (90s Vikings, 90s Rams, 00s Colts, 00s Patriots) then goes to Super Bowl Champions (Hines Ward). Not much place for mediocre offenses and Super Bowl losers.

 

The Hall of Fame is overrated though and heavily favors dynasties and followers over leaders and individuals.

 

Smith was given a shot by the Panthers and John Fox and he responded to that with Loyalty. Had he somehow ended up a Patriot or Colt he likely would have ended up a hall of famer.

[Guest Dark Knight]

Winning a Super Bowl MVP would certainly help his case.