Rickey Jackson snubbed again for HOF. (1 Viewer)

[Father Markus]

Well you compare Jackson to the other LBs on the list to see if he belongs

Randy Gradishar - No idea who this is

Kevin Greene - Probably the most direct comparison to Rickey Jackson. Similiar players. Greene had more sacks though (3rd all-time, 160 to 126) so until he gets in, Jackson shoulodn't get in.

Charles Haley - Similiar player to Greene and Jackson except he spent much more time in his prime as a 4-3 DE then either Greene or Jackson. Only 100 sacks but also 5 Super Bowl rings.

Derrick Thomas - Amazing 126 sacks in only 11 seasons. Would have finished in the top 3 all-time sack list for sure if he hadn't died. Probably the next LB on this entire list to get in.

Andre Tippett - Don't know a lot about him actually.

Shocked, just shocked, Sam Mills didn't make the semi-finalist list. As for Rickey, honestly guys, I don't see him making it. You have at least 3 "pass-rushing specialist" type DE/LB making it in before him in Greene (#3 all-time), Haley (5 SB rings), and Derrick Thomas (tragic end to what was almost certainly a HoF career on its own).

Found a site that actually listed a number of defensive player statistics.. (note that Sacks didn't start counting as a statistic until 1983... so only one year of triplet's numbers can't be accounted for...

But I honestly don't know how Tippet made the list of 25 to be honest.. '83 good year, '84 good year, '87 decent year... Grand total of 100.0 sacks (only .5 more than Charles Haley), and a lot less number of super bowl rings.

As for Haley, I think this was his first year of eligibility... Not sure though. His Super bowl ring collection will probably be enough to overlook his 100.5 sacks deficiency on the list.

As for Greene, I say he lost his eligibility when he joined WCW and pro-wrestling scene

Gradishar probably WILL make it at some point, just based on the ILB vs. OLB debate (did you know that there were only 5 OLB's total in the modern era that were in the HOF?). However, he played in the pre-sack-stat era, so his numbers may never be found.

 

[skymike]

By the way, HOW BOUT MY SUPERDOME CAKE! (see avatar) HUAAAAH!!!! I have a pretty rockin wife too!

I think the child-support issue is pretty moot in a HOF which includes L.T. (tootin), O.J (killin--"allegedly"), and is considering Michael Irvin (tootin & ho's). And Paul Hornung---are you kidding? He stayed up late, kissed girls, and had a drink w/ Bobby Layne. Big hootin deal. Talk to me when he's rolling with Ray Lewis. Child support is often a money management prob, like a tax problem, especially in sports, where the gold-digging kicks in. I doubt Rickey is a bad guy, but I wouldnt try to hustle him in pool.

That said, IM MAD AS HELL! RICKEY BELONGS IN THE HOF!

Just for fun, I picked my top 5 from the field. You're gonna think Im stupid. Isnt that why we're here? To say, "youre stupid, this is what I think!" hahaha

1. Stabler (despite his last years) 2. Hayes (not a fan of the guy, but...)
3. Haley (yuck, a 49er & Cowboy--I've set my feelings aside here!)
4. Matthews!!!! 5. Kuechenberg--a rock.

But its (sort of) a crying shame if... Dermontti Dawson, R. Dent, R. Gradishar, Randal McDaniel, Andre Reed, Andre Tippet dont get in...

just no: Terrell Davis--great guy, too short career
K. Greene-- ? Fun guy, good player, I like him, but not HOF.
Derrick Thomas-- next year.
Michael Irvin--character issues--sorry, Im stuck in that 50's mindset, so shoot me!
Art Modell?????? $u@% * Art Modell! If Art Modell
ever gets in a HOF, there's something wrong w/
the HOF.

...but Im stupid, here's what YOU think:

 

[St. Pike]

Without repeating some of the other points,...

Jackson is what made the Saints defense click. He made everyone around him better. You couldn;t run on him and he could bull rish or run around the end. If I had a dime the number of times the QB backed up into Swilling to get away from Jackson,... It would be a lot!

There are also the number of times Jackson made QBs throw early or away as well. Also, someone correctly pointed out that Jackson was god in coverage.

Many of you may or may not be old enought o remember that Jackson was an impact player on this team long before Mora's arrival. There were games where the only name that was constantly repeate was Jacksons. He is also the same player that every player on the defense credit for being the key to their success as a team and individually.

Whether or not teams "schemed" for Jackson we will never know,... I don't think anyone ever ask an opponent that qestion. In fact, most questions, ironically, revolved stopping Swilling. Additionally, media oftenhyped Swilling and Mills,.... Jacson was ironic after thought,... without Jackson, they may have never made it to the pro- Bowl. (I don't have it in front of me, but I am sure Jackson went to the pro bowl, prior to Mora's arrival...?

Jackson is ignored because he played on a small team on a crowded field in an uncelebrated position,...lets face, its all about the sack total for the outside LB (blindside or not!)

 

[rhawkins]

... Jackson is ignored because he played on a small team on a crowded field in an uncelebrated position,...lets face, its all about the sack total for the outside LB (blindside or not!)

Actually, Rickey retired in the top 10 for all time sacks (but he lost some as the stat started after he began playing). I also think the position became celebrated during his career, but that is my opinion.

Search the archives and you'll find one Jim Mora does not support his inclusion. He has no chance under that condition.

 

[David Robbins]

may be getting a little carried away there man....LT was an absolute beast every second he was in the game...

Top Tier - LT - Singletary - Butkus

Rickey wasn't quite as good as these guys...

You must not have watched him play? Rickey was a beast. I remember when we drafted him. I was watching him play and I remember telling my Dad that we had the greatest LB'er ever on our team. Rickey was a tremendous LB'er.

 

[longtime lurker]

Search the archives and you'll find one Jim Mora does not support his inclusion. He has no chance under that condition.

I'd love to know what Dom Capers feels about Rickey and the HOF.....I'm not sure if anyone has ever asked him about that.

 

[Loose Cannon]

I remember telling my Dad that we had the greatest LB'er ever on our team.

Well, that's it. Argument over.

 

[Domeination]

Rickey was much more than just a pass rush specialist. He was an all-around linebacker who was tough against the run (averaging 85 tackles a season) and brilliant rushing the QB. He also had a great nose for the ball and is among the all-time league leaders in fumble recoveries. Having been in the Dome for many games in which Rickey played, I can testify that no player on the team during his era--including Sam Mills--could lift the emotion of the D like Rickey. He would call on the fans to make noise and then, time after time, uncork a big play to turn the momentum of the game around in favor of the Saints. Rickey definitely deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Because he played for a small market team that never won a playoff game, he may never get there--not because he's not as a good or better than some of the guys already in the Hall, though.

A few statistics on Rickey from Wikipedia: "A 6-time pro bowler(1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1992, 1993), Jackson recorded 10 or more sacks in 6 different seasons and led the NFL in fumble recoveries in 1990 and 1991. He finished his career with 128 sacks and 8 interceptions, which he returned for 68 yards. He also recovered 29 fumbles. At the time of his retirement, his 28 defensive fumble recoveries were the second most in NFL history behind Jim Marshall's 29."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickey_Jackson

Joel Buchsbaum puts Rickey in his "Linebacker Legends" list and has this to say about him: "Rickey Jackson / Saints — A natural football player who intuitively seemed to do the right thing. Big-time hitter with speed."

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/NFL+Features/2002/linebackers1718.htm

 

[JoeIgottago]

Rickey Jackson made Jim Mora's career.

 

[antipop]

am i the only one that views the hall of fame as a popularity contest??

 

[St. Pike]

Actually, Rickey retired in the top 10 for all time sacks (but he lost some as the stat started after he began playing). I also think the position became celebrated during his career, but that is my opinion.

You illustrated my point,.... the "would if" pundits are out now..... Would if he had been a "blindside" LB all of his career?

Search the archives and you'll find one Jim Mora does not support his inclusion. He has no chance under that condition.

How ironic,... the players always credit Ricky Jackson for their maturation and success. Also, without Ricky, the Saints defense would not have been has good.

Jim Mora is fast becoming an anomoly. He is both a genius and an ignoramous.

In all honesty, If you are one of the lucky people to watch Ricky play throughout his entire career. You know he was an impact player from the very beginning. He went to three pro- bowls long before Jim Mora was a head coach and long before the media paid any attention to New Orleans. Unfortunately, by the time we started winning, The sack guy was Pat Swilling. Ricky jackson was still making noise, but now, everyone on the defense was making a lot of noise. The mainstream media never had a chance,.... sacks was the only criteria they ever look at, and jusdging by some people's response, the same is true for fans. As I mentioned, and others mentioned, Ricky brought a lot more to the table than pure numbers. AND YES, even his numbers are very good.

I am not sure why Jim Mora would be against is inclusion, but I do recall that Ricky wanted to coach for the team, Mora was against it. (sniff sniff) Conspiracy nuts arise!

I think someone with the technical ability should start an online campaign to get Ricky into thre hall of fame. I know there was one for Archie. I love Archie, but lets face it, Ricky is far nore deserving to be in the Hall of Fame. You have to make some noise,...

 

[thundar1084]

I agree with you 1,000% J. Guidry. It the market and the team that's keeping Ricky out, not his performance.

Pat was a better pass rusher than Ricky, but he was weak against the run. Ricky was 2nd only to L.T. during his time. Ricky was the leader on one of the best defenses in NFL history. Nothing will ever change that FACT.

 

[The Mongoose]

Mongoose, did you watch the Saints play with Rickey Jackson? If you watched, you had to know that he was a man whose greatness would have emerged no matter who lined up oppisite of him.

Dude, you need to re-read my post. I was saying that Rickey was the man, and he made all those dudes around him look good.

I'm the biggest Rickey fan I know...

 

[JoeIgottago]

Dude, you need to re-read my post. I was saying that Rickey was the man, and he made all those dudes around him look good.

I'm the biggest Rickey fan I know...

My apologies Mongoose. I don't know how I misread that. Sometimes when I'm reading posts I refuse to take off my Rickey Jackson post-crash helmet and visor. It can make it hard to read sometimes.

Rickey Forever!

 

[JackT.]

LT was a beast because he was smoking crack and was amped up. Jackson was a beast because he had that killer instint. I remember he used to not wear pads on his legs just to get an advantage in speed. And if anyone remembers the old field at the Dome you would know that was incredible. That was like playing on pure concrete. Had to hurt to fall on that but he did it anyway. Ricky played hurt alot. Now days a player who has a hangnail sits out for weeks. Money has changed a lot of players now. Don't want to get hurt and miss out on the millions.