Hall of Fame Vote for Roger Craig

Originally posted by DesiDez:
Roger is a really intriguing candidate for the HOF. The homer in me says yes, but he might just be a very very good RB.

Any time the question of whether a player is a HOF, I just myself one question: During his era and when compared to his fellow RBs of the same era, was he considered a top 3 RB during his playing career?

Other RBs of his era:
Payton (past his prime though)
Marcus Allen
Eric Dickerson
Tony Dorsett
John Riggins

And all the guys above are HOFs.

Plus during the 80s, RBs were not really receiving threats, but that could play into Craig's favor because one could argue that he was the 1st RB to make running backs a dual threat as evidenced by being the 1st RB to have 1000 yards rushing and receiving.

I personally think his receiving abilities more than make up for his lack of rushing yards. He was a complete football player.

Here's a good article about Craig: Link

Roger Craig is a lot like Dale Murphy of the Alt. Braves. He's also up for the Baseball Hall of Fame every year and just doesn't make it. Has good numbers and was one of the best during his day.

Originally posted by taney71:

Originally posted by DesiDez:
Roger is a really intriguing candidate for the HOF. The homer in me says yes, but he might just be a very very good RB.

Any time the question of whether a player is a HOF, I just myself one question: During his era and when compared to his fellow RBs of the same era, was he considered a top 3 RB during his playing career?

Other RBs of his era:
Payton (past his prime though)
Marcus Allen
Eric Dickerson
Tony Dorsett
John Riggins

And all the guys above are HOFs.

Plus during the 80s, RBs were not really receiving threats, but that could play into Craig's favor because one could argue that he was the 1st RB to make running backs a dual threat as evidenced by being the 1st RB to have 1000 yards rushing and receiving.

I personally think his receiving abilities more than make up for his lack of rushing yards. He was a complete football player.

Here's a good article about Craig: Link

Roger Craig is a lot like Dale Murphy of the Alt. Braves. He's also up for the Baseball Hall of Fame every year and just doesn't make it. Has good numbers and was one of the best during his day.

Player Name NFL Experience Years of Service Career Stats         
   Riushing Attempts Yards Ave TD Receptions Yards TD Touches Total Yard Total TD
Marcus Allen 16 Years 1982-1997 3,022 12,243 4.1 123 587 5411 21 3609 17,654 144
Eric Dickerson 11 Years 1983-1993 2996 13,259 4.4 90 281 2137 6 3277 15,396 96
Tony Dorsett 12 Years 1977-1988 2936 12,739 4.3 77 398 3554 13 3334 16,293 90
John Riggins 14 years 1971-1985 2916 11,352 3.9 104 250 2090 12 3166 13,442 116
Roger Craig 11 Years 1983-1993 1991 8,189 4.1 56 566 4911 17 2557 13,100 73

Originally posted by BigRon:
If voters only looked at stats and those stats were associated with a number not a name, Craig would have been elected a long time ago.

36th in career rushing yards
35th in career yards from scrimmage
68th in career TD's



Which of those were suppose to get him in?

Originally posted by BigRon:

Originally posted by susweel:

Originally posted by BigRon:

Originally posted by susweel:
No HOF for him. I still remember the fumble

I guess Jerry shouldn't make the Hall due to his Fumble in 86. Or that drop in 87

Those didn't cost us a super bowl.

um No, they cost us the chance to get to the SuperBowl, Just like that Fumble did.

Originally posted by BigRon:

Originally posted by susweel:
No HOF for him. I still remember the fumble

I guess Jerry shouldn't make the Hall due to his Fumble in 86. Or that drop in 87

Man. I tend to doubt if most zoners were even alive in the 1980s let alone remembered those games and plays.

Originally posted by taney71:

Originally posted by BigRon:

Originally posted by susweel:
No HOF for him. I still remember the fumble

I guess Jerry shouldn't make the Hall due to his Fumble in 86. Or that drop in 87

Man. I tend to doubt if most zoners were even alive in the 1980s let alone remembered those games and plays.

oh, I know that is true.

Originally posted by taney71:

Originally posted by BigRon:

Originally posted by susweel:
No HOF for him. I still remember the fumble

I guess Jerry shouldn't make the Hall due to his Fumble in 86. Or that drop in 87

Man. I tend to doubt if most zoners were even alive in the 1980s let alone remembered those games and plays.

I remember that game like it was yesterday. I was 13 years old. I was sad for a week.

Voted :)

Originally posted by taney71:

Originally posted by BigRon:

Originally posted by susweel:
No HOF for him. I still remember the fumble

I guess Jerry shouldn't make the Hall due to his Fumble in 86. Or that drop in 87

Man. I tend to doubt if most zoners were even alive in the 1980s let alone remembered those games and plays.

I heard that.

What kills me are fans that look at Roger's stats and say, "meh".

He is the only player in NFL history to make the pro bowl as a FB and a RB, was the best receiving back of his generation, and was among the most feared players of his era.

What many forget is that he began his career as a fullback. For a time, he was San Francisco's all time leading receiver. He was the first superback. He deserves to be in Canton.

Originally posted by Legbreaker:

Originally posted by taney71:

Originally posted by BigRon:

Originally posted by susweel:
No HOF for him. I still remember the fumble

I guess Jerry shouldn't make the Hall due to his Fumble in 86. Or that drop in 87

Man. I tend to doubt if most zoners were even alive in the 1980s let alone remembered those games and plays.

I heard that.

What kills me are fans that look at Roger's stats and say, "meh".

He is the only player in NFL history to make the pro bowl as a FB and a RB, was the best receiving back of his generation, and was among the most feared players of his era.

What many forget is that he began his career as a fullback. For a time, he was San Francisco's all time leading receiver. He was the first superback. He deserves to be in Canton.

People also forget that Craig was the one that Jerry looked up to during workouts. I believe it was Craig that showed Jerry "the Hill". Now I know being Jerry's mentor isn't enough to put him in the Hall, but the point is, people that didn't see Craig in his prime are totally undervaluing him. Craig was another weapon that we had at our disposal. He was badass

Originally posted by Dreskee:
One of the most UNDERrated RB's. Those stats were crazy!!! Why is he not in the HOF already?Everyone always talks about Marshall Faulk bein the best duel back, but Craig was the prototype for all these dual backs we see now.

i believe rod woodson said it best on the nfl network that craig's 1k/1k season was more impressive than faulk's becuz craig did his on grass...

Originally posted by susweel:

Originally posted by taney71:

Originally posted by BigRon:

Originally posted by susweel:
No HOF for him. I still remember the fumble

I guess Jerry shouldn't make the Hall due to his Fumble in 86. Or that drop in 87

Man. I tend to doubt if most zoners were even alive in the 1980s let alone remembered those games and plays.

I remember that game like it was yesterday. I was 13 years old. I was sad for a week.

I was 9 in 86 and 10 in 87 so I'm not as familiar with those plays. I do remember the 84 win though and some of the playoffs losses but not the specific plays.

Does anyone with the videos of those plays have the ability to put them on youtube for us to see?

It is because of Craig that RB such as Tomlison, R Bush, Thruman Thomas (HOF 07) is as desirable as they are. Craig changed how RB was used in the NFL. Instead of a Riggins or Czonka type runner who was one dimensional Craig and Walsh taught the NFL that a RB that could run like he did (watch his run against Rams) and catch was far more useful and needed than the old school backs.

Many of the RB we all love to watch currently owe their careers to Craig because a Tomlinson, Bush, Westbrook, and may others would never have been drafted if it was not for what Craig was able to accomplish

To the individual who wants to punish Craig because of his fumble get over it. To blame Craig for that loss is childish we lost that game due to multiple turnovers and poor play. Football is a team sport you win and lose as a team not because of one individual. Should Rice be punished for dropping the football on the 15 yard line of New York as he was running in for a 60+ yard TD? His fumble changed the entire momentum of that game

Originally posted by Happs:
Fumbled the threepeat. I'm still not over it.

Without that fumble, he makes 3 straight superbowls and would likely by in the hof already. jmo

Yeah, I'm still a tad bitter about that, too. Unfortunately, that game is etched in my mind.

That aside, IMO, Craig's stats should get him in the HOF, let alone his other accomplishments and how he was key in reshaping the tailback position.