Bettis in the Hall of Fame?

[ricardisimo]

I say yes, and on the first ballot. Here's what they had to say about it at PFW:

There are 113 faces that stand behind the Canton red rope. It's already an impatient, sweaty, elbowing bunch, and now seven strangers have joined the crowd. Let's see how well these rookies candidates can maneuver through it.

RUNNING BACKS
Jerome Bettis (Rams 1993-95, Steelers 1996-2005) — Strangely, prior to his sparse 368-yard output of 2005, his final year, I didn't think "The Bus" had done enough to earn automatic Hall clearance. Yes, he had the numbers, a steady compiler, moving up and through the list of names on the all-time rush chart, past O.J. Simpson, then Marcus Allen and Jim Brown and finally beating out Eric Dickerson (Bettis now sit at fifth all-time, with 13,662 yards). But somehow the act didn't feel complete. All-Pro only twice. Jerome Bettis the jaw-buster, a classic power back. He'd been memorable, but was he really special?
A savage, goring runner in his early days — how many remember his shocking downfield velocity when he first entered the league in 1993? … That Earl Campbell-way about him, exploding through bodies, then grabbing an entrance ramp and hitting the open road.
But the pounding soon cut into his speed, and eventually Bettis settled into a role as a masher, a line-of-scrimmage batterer. Oh, the beautiful footwork was still there, the tip-toeing and near-elegant dance steps amidst the chaos, the ease with which he chipped his way in and out of a hole. But by 1998 or so it was almost all heavy lifting; only four times in 13 seasons did he hold above 3.8 yards per carry. Then came 2005.
Retirement thoughts hounded Bettis after the Steelers' loss to New England in the '04 AFC championship game, the weariness of his work, can the body take it anymore?, etc. Teammates coaxed him back for one more go, and it was his spot service (only 110 carries) during the '05 season that sharply decorated his Canton validity.
Nine touchdowns scored that year, three more in the playoffs. That wild day against the Bears, 101 yards on 17 tries, capped with a massive rhino-burst over Brian Uhrlacher in the black Pittsburgh mud and snow, when the Steelers needed a December sweep to get a playoff position. Finally, his Super Bowl send-off, the confetti and a trophy raised in Detroit, Bus' hometown.
Yep, that's what clinched Bettis for me, the climax, the final clash of the cymbals, not just some big boy hammering into a pile for 13 years then sayonara. It was Tony Bennett, bouncing back, one more time for the younger crowd. It was Hemingway in '51, when they said his typewriter was dead, hitting 'em with The Old Man and the Sea.
Some stories just ring empty without a shot at the end, that final dose of pizzazz. Bettis was the type of runner you didn't want to see just fade away.
Opinion: YES

I'm hoping MoP can provide an appropriate pic for the writer's description of the "shot at the end, that final dose of pizzazz."

[stb_steeler]

He maybe out one vote, since some think we were gift wrapped SBXL......

[BigRick]

I totally agree!

[Merchant]

My favourite ALL-TIME player. I really hope he gets in.

[Spinlcrack]

Not only do I agree, but it brought back some great Steeler memories from that year. Think I might through the DVD in tonight.

[Spinlcrack]

This may warrant a new thread, but it got me thinking...

That was a magical season. Something from almost every game stands out.

Knowing that the season ended with The Steelers in #36’s home town of Detroit, and knowing the Super Bowl was in the Motor City that year, I think we all had dreams of glory going into that season. What if…

Some things I remember:

Week 1 – Titans W 34-7 Willie Parker for 161 yards in NFL debut.
Week 6 – Jaguars L (OT) 23-17 One Word … Tommy Maddox
Week 12 Colts L 26-7 M. Harrison torches Ike for 80 yards on first play
Week 13 Bengals L 38-31 T.J. and the Towel Stomp
Week 14 Bears W 21-9 Bettis with 101 yds, 6 for TD directly over Urlacher
Week 15 Vikings W 18-3 The safety reminded me of IX (our first)
Week 16 Browns W 41-0
Week 17 Detroit W 35-21 Maybe Bettis’ last game in home town. Nice story.
AFC WC Bengals W 31-17 Kimo vs. Palmer. Bummer, but Kitna did well.
AFC Div Colts W 21-18 The Tackle, The stabbed Harper, Vaderjagt miss
AFC Conf Broncos W 34-17 Mighty Champ Bailey beat in the corner.

We all know the next game.

Bettis in the HoF, oh yeah. I believe his stats warrant it, but PR would be great too.

[steelerchad]

Originally Posted by ricardisimo

I say yes, and on the first ballot. Here's what they had to say about it at PFW:



I'm hoping MoP can provide an appropriate pic for the writer's description of the "shot at the end, that final dose of pizzazz."

I got a beautiful framed pic of Bettis trucking Urlacher in the snow on the play that started the run in 05. Just added it to my Steelers basement where I watch the games on Sunday. Christmas present from the wife.
I think Bettis and Faulk make it and Curtis Martin is the odd man out for running backs in this class.

[Need4spd]

I believe Bettis will get in, however I think it's highly unlikely to happen on the first ballot. His career accomplishments will warrant him getting in, and to me if you're a Hall of Famer then you're a Hall of Famer, but just knowing the way that system works it probably will not happen this year. Two, three, maybe four years down the road, count him in.

[SoCalFan]

His numbers are good enough,and he brought so much attention to the game,HE HAS FANS EVERYWHERE!!! Heck yea,let him in...

[Steelers>NFL]

He is HOF material. But I do not think on the first ballot.