OT: Is Anquan a Hall of Famer? Let's look...

[sr7706]

Isn't it amazing to look back as the careers of Fitz and Boldin wind down to think we actually had these 2 on our roster at the same time. When Fitz is mentioned on T.V. he is always mentioned as a future HOFer. Going by the stats, if Fitz is a HOFer, then so is Boldin.

Their stats are unbelievably close. They have each played in exactly 191 games.. They rank 9th and 11th all time in catches 1049 to 1030, 14th and 16th all time in yards 13,727 to 13,379. Larry is #8 all time in Rec. TD, Anquan ranks #30, 103 to 76.

 

[Shane]

Hard to say... depends on what exactly the voters themselves feel toward Q... There are WRs with worse stats in the hall... One thing he does have going for him is he has a SB ring to boot and he had a monster post season that year... Carried the Ravens through a couple of those games. I don't recall offhand but I remember them saying it's like the third or 4th best post season by a wide receiver in NFL history or something like that???? Of course the best season is by Fitz.... However his didn't result in a championship... Sooooo????

Q has also amassed over 1000 yard in 14 playoff appearances and another 8 TDs... he's played in 5 more playoff games as a whole than Fitz... Regardless post season matters... As do post season results(victories and championships)

Fitz hasent reached 1000 in the playoffs but has 10TDs in total...

I think personally the SB ring puts him over the top... As well as winning awards like the NFL man of the year and holding many NFL records... I know that man of the year award isn't supposed to count but I believe stuff like that can only help in the eyes of the voters... I say he gets in over time but isn't a first balloter... Where Fitz may be a 1st ballot HOFer by the time all is said and done...

Both have had some of the most amazing plays I've seen on a football field and both have had amazing careers... Both like you said have reached that hallowed "1000 catch mark" too and rank in the top 12 all time.... I think both are deserving!

 

[Jetstream Green]

I will say this, Fitz is the epitome of sportsmanship to match his great stats, especially in the post season, and he gets in no question but I think one aspect of Boldin should be considered and that is his toughness... if the Football Hall of Fame is about being a all time great football player, Q's toughness cannot be ignored as Fitz's character is important to solidify his contribution to the sport

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Two of the worst moves the Cardinals have made since moving into the new stadium.

1. Getting rid of Anquan Boldin.
2. Getting rid of Karlos Dansby.

I am 100% playing hindsight 20/20 here, btw, but the "money saved" in letting these two players walk never amounted to anything. And while I really liked Anquan Boldin, I would say that Dansby was the bigger loss. I know "the player we will not mention" had a lot of promise, but Dansby still was a really good player.

Boldin in the Hall of Fame? Its a discussion at least.

The Hall of Fame has a lot to do with popularity, sports writers, and "stuff of legends", and what I mean by that, is it is more than just stats. Stats are convenient truths in Hall of Fame discussions. How strongly they play into the decision has more to do with the aforementioned stuff than anything.

Its the classic Joe Montana/Tom Brady vs. Dan Marino/Aaron Rogers debate of "stuff of legends talk" vs. "statistical proof".

Larry Fitzgerald has both the stats, and the "stuff of legends" on his side, while Boldin has stats. The thing about Boldin is that his latter years, he has become a technician/savy vet. He runs good routes, knows all the tricks to get open, and still is a fierce competitor.

The biggest crime against Boldin, is that his time in Arizona is very much lost in NFL history. I tell people all the time that Boldin's first few years in the league he was an electrifying player, whose run after the catch skills were special.

It will be an interesting situation for Anquan Boldin concerning the Hall of Fame. He gets my nod, but I am WAY too biased to be taken seriously. LOL.

BTW - I believe Fitz/Boldin/Breaston > Fitz/Floyd/Brown. Both groups are really good, but Warner with those three receivers was just downright unfair at times, just IMAGINE what Warner could have done if he had David Johnson......Super Bowl ring is what I imagine.


Sidenote:

Larry Fitzgerald - Happy to see him get his due....what do I mean by that ? Too many years where he was "2nd best reciever" Andre Johnson ? Remember him ? Calvin Johnson. and now Antonio Brown.

Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, and Antonio Brown are all incredible receivers (especially Antonio Brown he is REALLY special) but Larry Fitzgerald has been doing his thing, consistently throughout all three careers.

I put Larry Fitzgerald behind Rice, and I put Fitzgerald as the top "big body" receiver of all time, yes, even over Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.

 

[WisconsinCard]

One thing to consider, is Q hurting his chances? His decline has been very noticeable over the last three years or so. I think he is in the conversation, but I don't think he gets in. If he does it will take a while. This coming from a man who loves Q and have met some of his family. They are great people and so is Q, in fact they treated my son and I like we were family.

 

[NJCardFan]

Q gets in. His numbers support it.

 

[juza76]

yes he deserve it plus he won a superbowl

if terrel owens had consideration about it even anquan should have

 

[Capital Card]

Q gets in. His numbers support it.

I don't think he will. It's not all about numbers. There are too many really talented WR's that will keep Q out.

WR's that will make the HOF before Q - and not all of them will make it...

Larry Fitzgerald
Calvin Johnson
Andre Johnson
Hines Ward
Randy Moss
T.O.
Issac Bruce (I'd rank Q above Issac, but Q doesn't have the "greatest show" moniker to go along with his name on the ballot.

 

[Shane]

I don't think he will. It's not all about numbers. There are too many really talented WR's that will keep Q out.

WR's that will make the HOF before Q - and not all of them will make it...

Larry Fitzgerald
Calvin Johnson
Andre Johnson
Hines Ward
Randy Moss
T.O.
Issac Bruce (I'd rank Q above Issac, but Q doesn't have the "greatest show" moniker to go along with his name on the ballot.

JMO but Q should be in before Calvin Johnson & Andre Johnson

And you can't use other WR's as an argument against. otherwise you could use that argument against every position in football. There are always other great players at any position. Q has a ring and some masterful playoff performances that neither of those guys have and that makes huge difference.

 

[Brak]

Q gets in. His numbers support it.

I agree. His longevity and productivity late in his career help too. And let's not forget that he, unlike Fitz at this point, also has a SB ring. That can only help.

 

[Bodha]

Its not just stats. Troy Polamalu is a clean cut hall of famer. Everyone agrees.

Adrian Wilsons career stats are better. Go look it up.


and yet Adub isnt a HOFr. Being a part of a winning team matters alot, apparently.

 

[sr7706]

Most receptions in a rookie season: 101

Most receiving yards in first career game: 217

Most receptions in the first 26 games of an NFL career: 157

Fastest to record 200 career receptions (in 34 games)

Fastest to record 300 career receptions (in 47 games)

Fastest to record 400 career receptions (in 67 games)

Fastest to record 500 career receptions (in 80 games)

Fastest to record 600 career receptions (in 98 games)

I think these put him over the top.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Big D]

I think he deserves to get in but I agree with Rugby about the whole perceived lack of "legendary folklore" hurting his chances. The thing is though, if you really look, it is there.

We all know the kind of player he is. We all know what kind of shape the franchise was in before he arrived and what it was like when he departed. He was a huge contributing factor in that turnaround. As time has passed and perception of the Cardinals organization has changed, I don't think a lot of people from the outside looking in truly understand that though.

For my money he had the best rookie season ever for a WR. Even you want to argue about it, you can't put it any lower than #2 or #3. Thant should count for something.

Fastest guy to several different receiving plateaus, a SB ring where he really was the post season MVP, another SB appearance, guy played with a broken FACE, etc, etc.

One of the biggest factors that likely won't be taken into consideration is the fact that Q and Fitz for that matter only had good/consistent QB play for maybe half of the seasons they have played. I can't think of 2 WRs in the history of the NFL that have done more with less at QB than Q and Fitz.

As a tandem, Q and Fitz rank as one of if not the best of all time. I just wish they would have had a longer run together, and more than a handful of years of even decent QB play.

And just to expand on that thought with kind of a side thought about WRs in general in thinking about 2 guys taken high in the same draft class (not saying I would change a thing but...)- A week ago I watched Fitz try to do his best to take over and dominate the game in SF only to be at the mercy of the decision making and duck throwing of Drew Stanton. In the end he grinded out two critical TD catches and thankfully we won.

Then on Sunday I watched Big Ben come out in the 2nd half of the game against the Jets with his mind made up to dominate the game with his arm which is exactly what he did and did so rather easily. Obviously the guys he is throwing to are pretty good, but it just really further illustrated in my mind how important the guy that touches the ball every play is compared to everybody else. Better to have the good to great QB than even the all time great WR.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Hard to say... depends on what exactly the voters themselves feel toward Q... There are WRs with worse stats in the hall... One thing he does have going for him is he has a SB ring to boot and he had a monster post season that year... Carried the Ravens through a couple of those games. I don't recall offhand but I remember them saying it's like the third or 4th best post season by a wide receiver in NFL history or something like that???? Of course the best season is by Fitz.... However his didn't result in a championship... Sooooo????

Q has also amassed over 1000 yard in 14 playoff appearances and another 8 TDs... he's played in 5 more playoff games as a whole than Fitz... Regardless post season matters... As do post season results(victories and championships)

Fitz hasent reached 1000 in the playoffs but has 10TDs in total...

I think personally the SB ring puts him over the top... As well as winning awards like the NFL man of the year and holding many NFL records... I know that man of the year award isn't supposed to count but I believe stuff like that can only help in the eyes of the voters... I say he gets in over time but isn't a first balloter... Where Fitz may be a 1st ballot HOFer by the time all is said and done...

Both have had some of the most amazing plays I've seen on a football field and both have had amazing careers... Both like you said have reached that hallowed "1000 catch mark" too and rank in the top 12 all time.... I think both are deserving!

I believe Q should get in... But, the fact that past WR's with lesser numbers have gotten in doesn't mean squat... The HOF voters place way more emphasis on how a player fared against his own competition, versus comparing players from different eras. In that context, Q has never led the league in any stat at any point in his career... Larry led the league in receptions 2005, and in TD's in '08 and '09. Larry is a 9 time Pro Bowler, whereas Q has only been 3 times, the last time coming all the way back in '08!
I think it will take a while (see Cris Carter), but eventually he gets in.

 

[kerouac9]

JMO but Q should be in before Calvin Johnson & Andre Johnson

And you can't use other WR's as an argument against. otherwise you could use that argument against every position in football. There are always other great players at any position. Q has a ring and some masterful playoff performances that neither of those guys have and that makes huge difference.

Q was never the best WR in the NFL. Calvin Johnson was for multiple years. Calvin Johnson is absolutely worthy of the Hall of Fame.

I don't think that Andre Johnson or Boldin are worthy of the Hall of Fame. Andre has a better argument with 7 Pro Bowls and 2 first-team All-Pros, but (and I was shocked looking at this) he never had a double-digit TD season. I think that Andre Johnson might make it as the best player on the Texans before J.J. Watt, and that kind of stuff matters.

Boldin has 3 Pro Bowls in a 14 year career and was never one of the best WRs in the NFL (0 first-team All-Pros, no AP second-team All-Pros.

 

[NJCardFan]

Its not just stats. Troy Polamalu is a clean cut hall of famer. Everyone agrees.

Adrian Wilsons career stats are better. Go look it up.


and yet Adub isnt a HOFr. Being a part of a winning team matters alot, apparently.

Roger Wherli was a part of only a handful of winning teams in his career but never won a playoff game and only had 2 divisional championships and he's in. And Q has accomplished a hell of a lot more than Carter. This is why I believe he gets in.

 

[juza76]

So now the legendary folklore is worth of consideration

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Its not just stats. Troy Polamalu is a clean cut hall of famer. Everyone agrees.

Adrian Wilsons career stats are better. Go look it up.


and yet Adub isnt a HOFr. Being a part of a winning team matters alot, apparently.

The most unfair situation I have ever seen in the NFL is the clipping of Adrian Wilson's nails (aka his violent tackling style), and then the NFL turning around and promoting the same type of tackles and hits when Ray Lewis would do it. Hell, the game where Adrian Wilson almost killed Todd Heap, Ray Lewis had 2 huge, to the helmet, defenseless receiver hits that no flag was thrown, and were later shown on Sportscenter.

Again, the "fork lore" side of things when it comes to Hall of Fame voting plays a really big part.

The other sad situation with the whole A-Dub and Polamalu conversation is that many point out (including A-Dub himself) that Wilson was not a good player for the 1st 4 years of his career, but he ended his career strong, but everyone seems to forget the last 4 years of Polamalu's career was not very good as well.

But, there are so many cases of this, and while both in in the Hall Of Fame, you talk about the best OLBer in history......Lawrence Taylor right ? ....... not so fast, go watch some tape of Andre Tippett. I was a doubter.....then I watched, the man makes a case for himself, that is for sure. One played in NYC with the 1986 Giants (aka Rome in the height of its glory), and the other in New England.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

So now the legendary folklore is worth of consideration

Always has been.

 

[Cheesebeef]

man... that's a tough one. I actually think the fact that he bounced around to so many teams kind of hurts him because when you think Q, you don't have that visceral reaction of "Oh... he was THE MAN" on so and so team and I think visceral reaction to players gets them in more then numbers. The guys who vote for the hall probably don't care or remember how good Q was early in his career because he was on awful teams and later in his career on good teams, even Super Bowl teams, he was no longer putting up great stats, merely solid ones.

Maybe the ring puts him over the top, but even there, he wasn't the narrative during that run, even though he was having an amazing playoff run.

Also, he played in an era of GREAT WRs up and down the league. That will hurt him as well.

He might get in, but no way does he make it on first ballot.

 

[Cardsmasochist]

Two of the worst moves the Cardinals have made since moving into the new stadium.

1. Getting rid of Anquan Boldin.
2. Getting rid of Karlos Dansby.

I am 100% playing hindsight 20/20 here, btw, but the "money saved" in letting these two players walk never amounted to anything. And while I really liked Anquan Boldin, I would say that Dansby was the bigger loss. I know "the player we will not mention" had a lot of promise, but Dansby still was a really good player.

Boldin in the Hall of Fame? Its a discussion at least.

The Hall of Fame has a lot to do with popularity, sports writers, and "stuff of legends", and what I mean by that, is it is more than just stats. Stats are convenient truths in Hall of Fame discussions. How strongly they play into the decision has more to do with the aforementioned stuff than anything.

Its the classic Joe Montana/Tom Brady vs. Dan Marino/Aaron Rogers debate of "stuff of legends talk" vs. "statistical proof".

Larry Fitzgerald has both the stats, and the "stuff of legends" on his side, while Boldin has stats. The thing about Boldin is that his latter years, he has become a technician/savy vet. He runs good routes, knows all the tricks to get open, and still is a fierce competitor.

The biggest crime against Boldin, is that his time in Arizona is very much lost in NFL history. I tell people all the time that Boldin's first few years in the league he was an electrifying player, whose run after the catch skills were special.

It will be an interesting situation for Anquan Boldin concerning the Hall of Fame. He gets my nod, but I am WAY too biased to be taken seriously. LOL.

BTW - I believe Fitz/Boldin/Breaston > Fitz/Floyd/Brown. Both groups are really good, but Warner with those three receivers was just downright unfair at times, just IMAGINE what Warner could have done if he had David Johnson......Super Bowl ring is what I imagine.


Sidenote:

Larry Fitzgerald - Happy to see him get his due....what do I mean by that ? Too many years where he was "2nd best reciever" Andre Johnson ? Remember him ? Calvin Johnson. and now Antonio Brown.

Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson, and Antonio Brown are all incredible receivers (especially Antonio Brown he is REALLY special) but Larry Fitzgerald has been doing his thing, consistently throughout all three careers.

I put Larry Fitzgerald behind Rice, and I put Fitzgerald as the top "big body" receiver of all time, yes, even over Randy Moss and Terrell Owens.

Agreed! Boldin should have been a Cardinal for life. He brought toughness and leadership to this team. Coming back so soon after breaking his face is the "stuff of ledgends"

 

[NJCardFan]

Q was never the best WR in the NFL. Calvin Johnson was for multiple years. Calvin Johnson is absolutely worthy of the Hall of Fame.

I don't think that Andre Johnson or Boldin are worthy of the Hall of Fame. Andre has a better argument with 7 Pro Bowls and 2 first-team All-Pros, but (and I was shocked looking at this) he never had a double-digit TD season. I think that Andre Johnson might make it as the best player on the Texans before J.J. Watt, and that kind of stuff matters.

Boldin has 3 Pro Bowls in a 14 year career and was never one of the best WRs in the NFL (0 first-team All-Pros, no AP second-team All-Pros.

Boldin was never that type of receiver. He isn't the #1 guy. He was always the possession type guy, the slot receiver. Megatron, AJ, Rice, those guys were the big play guys. Even as a slot Boldin has the numbers.

 

[kerouac9]

Boldin was never that type of receiver. He isn't the #1 guy. He was always the possession type guy, the slot receiver. Megatron, AJ, Rice, those guys were the big play guys. Even as a slot Boldin has the numbers.

Not really. He has career numbers because he got off to such a fast start. He belongs in the hall of the very good, not the hall of fame. 3 seasons with over 1200 yards, and 0 seasons over that mark in the last decade. One season with 10 plus TDs.

His numbers are going to look pedestrian in a couple years. I know a lot of you guys loved Q, but you can easily tell the story of the NFL without him.

 

[Russ Smith]

JMO but Q should be in before Calvin Johnson & Andre Johnson

And you can't use other WR's as an argument against. otherwise you could use that argument against every position in football. There are always other great players at any position. Q has a ring and some masterful playoff performances that neither of those guys have and that makes huge difference.

But there's a sort of unwritten rule against voting "too many" guys from the same position in a given year it's the same in baseball. So if you don't get in the first few years it becomes much harder because new guys come up and people forget about you.

It sucks but it's a real thing with HOF voting IMO.

 

[82CardsGrad]

Not really. He has career numbers because he got off to such a fast start. He belongs in the hall of the very good, not the hall of fame. 3 seasons with over 1200 yards, and 0 seasons over that mark in the last decade. One season with 10 plus TDs.

His numbers are going to look pedestrian in a couple years. I know a lot of you guys loved Q, but you can easily tell the story of the NFL without him.

I agree with this... though I still think eventually he will get in, a la Cris Carter. Comparing this MLB, Q would be characterized as a "compiler", where he ends up with solid numbers largely due to the amount of time he played in the league... never great... never league-leading... But when you add it all up in the end, his numbers are compelling...