What Am I Missing on Riley Matheson?

 By John Turney 

Riley Matheson, #11

In the second week of March, Hall-of-Fame voter Clark Judge organized a meeting with historians and researchers to evaluate the top Pro Football Hall of Fame candidates from the two-way era (roughly 1920–1949, with some flexibility). 

The group discussed contributions and players, but only four earned unanimous support: Al Wistert, Ox Emerson, Verne Lewellen, and Lavvie Dilweg (WELD). Other greats came up, but none achieved universal backing like the four chosen.

One name, Rams guard/linebacker Riley "Rattlesnake" Matheson, appeared on at least three participants’ lists but I spoke up for him because over the years his name had not come up as often in causal online discussions I have read or participated in.

Though he had many similar qualities Matheson never ranked alongside the “big four” (Wistert, Lewellen, Dilweg, and Emerson). My question was simple: "Why not? What am I missing?"

Im my view much of this kind of discussion (who has been passed over by Hall of Fame voters) partly traces back to Bob Carroll’s chapter in "The Hidden Game of Football" (co-authored by Pete Palmer and John Thorn), “Rumblings in the Pantheon.” Carroll argued that applying Bill James’ baseball logic—reassessing overlooked Hall of Fame candidates—could reveal glaring omissions in football. 

He spotlighted Al Wistert, detailing his credentials: multiple All-Pro selections, championships, and blocking for the era’s record-setting runner. Carroll’s charts of “alls” (All-Pros, Pro Bowls, All-Conference honors) highlighted players who stood out. Over the past 30 years, many from that chapter have been inducted, yet the "big four" (among others) remain on the outside.

However, if the James/Carroll premise holds (if player A is in the Hall of Fame and player B has very similar credentials then Player B should be in), why does Riley Matheson lag behind so much? and by that I mean why is his case not as universally accepted as the four selected by the historians this week?

Let’s compare:

• Like WELD, Matheson was a perennial All-Pro—six times, five of them consensus.

• Like the others, he won a championship, though Lewellen and Dilweg have multiple.

• Like Lewellen, he was not voted All-Decade honors.

• Like many, he appeared on All-Time teams, praised by players and media alike.

• Like Dilweg and Emerson, he left a statistical mark. From 1944 (after returning to the Rams from a loan to the Lions) through 1948, no linebacker in pro football intercepted more passes than Matheson—though defensive backs topped him, as should be expected

• From the 1944 through 1947 seasons the Rams led the NFL in yards per rush and twice led the NFL in rushing yards. They also led there league three times in yards per rush in that span.

To make sure, I confirmed with historian/author T.J. Troup, an expert on the era, who’s studied the film and knows players' roles inside out. If you ask him about some player from the mid-1940s not only will you find out he was exclusively a defensive back you'll learn of he was predominantly a safety or defensive halfback and if he was on the left or the right more when he was a halfback. 

Going back to when interceptions were official -- from 1940-48 there were linebackers with more interceptions. But only four -- Charley Brock, Ben Kish, Hall-of-Famer Bulldog Turner and Hall of Famer Alex Wojciechowicz.

Brock's coverage as a linebacker was special -- he's a vastly underrated player. Kish played a little bit of defensive back per Troup. However, none of them spent as much (if any) time with their hands in the dirt as a middle guard/defensive tackle. They just didn't. Matheson was a defensive linemen at least a third of the time ... if not more. And even with that he still picked off as many passes as he did. 

Actually, Matheson seemed like he could freelance whether he'd rush or cover and oftentimes put a hand on the ground when rushing or when it was a likely passing down. So say what you will, Matheson left a top-notch record.

Then there is the issue of longevity. Matheson also played longer than the big four: 10 NFL seasons plus two in the Western Inter-provincial Football Union (CFL’s Western Conference) so 12 season in pro football. 

All that and yet he’s not seen as their equal—or even on par with other notables. Why?

Does it boil down to film? Maybe. Does the fact that the Cleveland Rams were a bad team for the first half of Snake's career? Again, maybe. 

If it is the latter, then it's true. The Rams of the late-1930s and early 1940s were mostly second-division. Facts are facts. But if the issue is the former, them maybe folks can see the things he did.

No, he's not a superior athlete. He kind of has a hunched back, and it not fast or particularly big but for whatever reason as a defender he was always around the ball. He was in on a lot of tackles and when his film is compared to others, at least in the eyes of some, he compares well.

Here are some examples of his play for your review—note that usually Matheson is wearing #11, but he also wore #33 as well when with the Rams and #37 when he was with the 49ers. 

Some tackles—

A couple of pass defections—

Some blocks, both pass protection and run blocks, sweeps, etc.—

Here are some with pressure on passers—

Of course, there are more clips and yes, highlights do not a career make. But the point, for me, is to show that whatever the criticisms of Matheson might me, his film cannot be one of them. He makes a ton of plays, especially on defense. So, if folks say his All-Pro resume is light, or he played during World War II, or whatever, fine. Just apply it evenly to others who played in that era, who did not serve in the military. Just do the same with his film.

In fact, to me, his film enhances his case. He's a better player than I thought he was before taking a close look. 

But, you can decide for yourself. 

Asante Samuel Says He Deserves HOF Attention. Is He Right?

 By John Turney 

It seems that every few months Deion Sanders is involved with a story involving the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with his suggestion for "an upper room" in Canton to house its upper-echelon inductees the most noteworthy.

That idea was a non-starter.

But now it's not Deion starting a ruckus. It's former All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel, who took to the social network X to make a Hall-of-Fame case for a defensive back he believes should be enshrined.

Himself.

"Here is your yearly reminder," he wrote. "Now let’s hear the excuses."

Instead, we heard the testimony. In 31 fewer regular-season games, Samuel intercepted just two fewer passes than Deion (53-51). He also picked off seven passes in the playoffs where Sanders had five - meaning each had 58 career picks, counting the postseason. Finally, we were reminded that both players own two Super Bowl rings.

But Samuel didn't stop there. He posted more stats comparable to the first-ballot Hall of Famer some consider the G.O.A.T of cornerbacks, provoking responses from others who suggested Samuel might want to reconsider his argument.

"Asante Samuel," said former All-Pro Ryan Clark on X, "was a very good football player, but there is no Hall of 'Very Good.' He can have all the technique conversations he wants with Deion Sanders, but do not throw rocks at Tanks.

"You can pull up all the stats you want, but who’s the better of these two should not be a conversation. Both men are far better than me, but Deion Sanders is in a different stratosphere from everyone. He’s the reason people wore 21, he manifested the term 'lockdown corner' & shifted the power in the NFL simply by changing jerseys."

Naturally, Samuel (whose X profile description is "Professional Sh*t Talker") fired back at Clark ... then Clark at Samuel ... and so it goes. I guess it could go on ad infinitum, but it won't. Almost all agree that Sanders was better than Asante Samuel. I know I do. But is that the question? I don't think so.

My question is: Why is Samuel "Sh*t Talking" at all? Simple. He must think he's worthy of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So, THAT is the question. Does he  belong? Let's take a look.

A two-time AP All-Pro, four-time Pro Bowler and two-time interceptions leader, Sanders was New England's fourth-round pick (the 120th overall) of the 2003 NFL draft. As a rookie, he was an effective third corner, and by his second season a starter on a Patriots' team that won its second consecutive Super Bowl. But Samuel was more a contributor ... a "do-your-job" kind of guy ... than the star he would later become.

New England didn't win another Super Bowl while Samuel was there, but no fault could be laid at his feet. Over the next four years -- which totaled 11 playoff games (three with the Philadelphia Eagles) -- he excelled, snagging seven enemy passes and returning four for touchdowns. That's right: Four pick-sixes in the playoffs in four years.

Without question, Asante was someone who played big in the biggest games.

But he also played big in the regular season. In 2006, for instance, he led the NFL with 10 interceptions, though he somehow wasn't named All-Pro and didn't earn an invite to the Pro Bowl. The following year the All-Pro voting panel corrected its mistake, not only naming him to its team but making him a first-team All-Pro. So did the Pro Football Writers of America and Sporting News. Players, coaches and fans soon followed, asking him to join them in Hawaii for the first of four consecutive Pro Bowls.

After signing a big-money deal with the Eagles in 2009, he was voted second-team All-Pro and, one year later, was a first-team All-Pro according to the PFWA and Sporting News. And why not? Over that five-year span, Samuel totaled 36 interceptions, leading the NFL twice in that department as well as passes defensed.

Without question, he was a baller.

Few ever had a five-year run of productivity like Samuel. Plus, he did it for yet another team -- the Atlanta Falcons. After his four years with the Eagles, he was traded to the Falcons for a paltry seventh-round pick. But his play was hardly paltry. In his first year there, he intercepted five passes, returning them for 110 yards and a score in another Pro Bowl-level season for the 31-year-old corner.

All told, his 51 interceptions trail only Rod Woodson, Charles Woodson, Ed Reed, Aeneas Williams, Eric Allen, Ty Law and, yes, Deion among players whose careers began in 1987 or later. The common thread? All own Gold Jackets. 

But three of them spent parts of their careers as safeties. Asante Samuel did not. He's also not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Nor has he been close. He's never been a finalist or semifinalist, and that should change. No, he's not "Prime Time," but who is? That's like comparing defensive ends to Reggie White. Some individuals are just talented freaks, and Deion Sanders is one of them.

But when you see Samuel in the same conversation with names like Williams, Allen and Law, you begin to think what you might not have before -- that maybe Asante Samuel has a point and should at least be included in a Hall-of-Fame conversation.

So let's start talking.

Ever Hear of 'Swede' Youngstrom? Here's Why You Should

 By John Turney 

Adolf Frederick ("Swede") Youngstrom was a formidable presence in the nascent years of professional football, a lineman whose skill and determination etched a lasting legacy in the game. However, the passage of time has obscured his name, and that's more than an unjust oversight. It's one that should change.

During the NFL's rough-and-tumble early era, "Swede" stood out as one of the league's premier guards. In fact, his prowess was so notable that Jeffrey Miller, author of "Buffalo’s Forgotten Champions: The Story of Buffalo’s First Professional Football Team;" considers him Hall-of-Fame worthy.

"It could be argued," Miller wrote, "that had the team he’s most closely tied to—the Buffalo All-Americans—secured a league championship, Youngstrom might have been Buffalo’s inaugural inductee into Canton’s revered Hall."

That's a striking claim, yet it carries a ring of truth. Youngstrom was remarkable, durable, decorated and a league champion. What he isn't is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Hopefully, after reading this, you may understand why I, too, believe his case should be revisited. 

So let's start at the beginning, where Youngstrom’s introduction to football was anything but conventional. 

Born on May 24, 1897, in Waltham, Mass., he attended Waltham High School, where the football team practiced after classes. But because he weighed just 140 pounds, his parents were afraid he might get hurt. So they forbid him from playing. But by his senior year, Youngstrom defied their wishes and joined the team. Not only did he play, he played so well that a local newspaper highlighted his exploits ... which, in turn, provoked his father to covertly watch a practice. Rather than reprimand his son, he was so impressed by his performance that he gave him his blessing -- effectively helping to launch a storied career.

After high school, Youngstrom enrolled at Dartmouth College where he honed his skills in a robust football program and developed into a formidable guard. So skilled was he that, by his senior year in 1919, he earned consensus All-American honors by blocking an astonishing nine punts -- a testament to his athleticism and instincts. 

After graduating, he briefly ran a candy store in Hanover, N,H., with teammate and future Hall-of-Fame lineman Ed Healey, before joining the Buffalo All-Americans in 1920. The team was part of the newly formed American Professional Football Association (APFA), which became the NFL in 1922 and where Youngstrom made an immediate impact. He blocked nine punts in his rookie season, three of which were returned for touchdowns.

Yes, you read that right -- NINE blocked punts in a single season - and that was no aberration. 

Drawing from newspaper accounts, historian Nick Webster credits Youngstrom with 16 punts blocked punts during his pro career. However, he confirmed only four in Youngstrom’s debut season ... which means if the five additional blocks reported elsewhere hold true, Youngstrom's career total would climb to at least 21. And that’s a conservative estimate. Some feats went unrecorded, lost to the gaps in early football documentation.

So, what's the real total? Twenty-five? Thirty? Either is possible, even likely. Youngstrom was that good at rejecting punts, and it was no small accomplishment in his era. Teams then often punted on early downs, not just fourth, making someone with Youngstrom's talent a prized asset.

But he was more than that. He was one of the game's difference makers, a reputation that bolsters Miller’s assertation that Youngstrom deserves a bust in Canton.

His tenure with Buffalo—first with the All-Americans, later the Bisons— highlighted his reliability and talent. He anchored a squad that twice came close to an NFL title. In 1920, the All-Americans posted a 9-1-1 record, only to be overshadowed by the undefeated Akron Pros. With a 9-1-2 record the following year, they fell just short again -- this time edged out by George Halas’ Chicago Staleys at 9-1-1.

However, Youngstrom was first noted as an All-Pro that year.

After those near-misses, Buffalo's team was not quite as good ... but Youngstrom was. Starting in 1923, he earned All-NFL honors three years running. Moreover, as the only guard to make first-team All-NFL in 1923-25, he cemented his status as an elite interior lineman.

In 1926, he left Buffalo for the Frankford Yellow Jackets where, under Hall-of-Famer Guy Chamberlin, he finally claimed a league championship. Then he stepped into a player/coach role the next year, steering the team through a solid season, before retiring at the age of 30 after an eight-year career.

Youngstrom’s durability was remarkable. He played 96 games without missing a snap, and his career spanned the Buffalo All-Americans, Canton Bulldogs, Buffalo Bisons, Cleveland Bulldogs, and Frankford Yellow Jackets. Beyond the NFL, he also moonlighted with independent teams like the Millville Big Blue and Haven-Villa of Winter Haven, often suiting up on Saturdays before NFL Sundays.

In 2012, the Professional Football Researchers Association inducted the 6-foot-1, 187-pound lineman into its Hall of Very Good, but the Pro Football Hall of Fame hasn't acted on him. Youngstrom has never been a finalist for Canton.

"Youngstrom was actually the best guard of the era," said Miller, "since the only two guards in the Hall of Fame who played in the ‘20s—Michalske and Kiesling—actually played the majority of their careers in the 1930s. And Swede had as many All-Pro berths as any other guard during the ‘20s."

So that raises the question: Should Youngstrom have claimed one of those all-decade spots? Bob Carroll, who founded the Professional Football Researchers Association, thought so. He tapped him for his 1920s' all-decade team, a view echoed more recently by Ken Crippen of The Football Learning Academy.

Had that happened ... or had he been a multiple NFL champion ... maybe his name would have resonated with the Hall in the 1960s when it had more recognition. It’s impossible to know. What is clear is that he's been unfairly ignored. A perennial All-Pro, punt-blocking dynamo and linchpin on title-contending teams, Youngstrom has a resume that demands consideration.

He died on Aug. 5, 1968, at 71, leaving behind a legacy as a football trailblazer. From swatting punts at Dartmouth to Buffalo ... to dominating the pros ... to lifting a championship trophy with Frankford ... Youngstom epitomized the rugged brilliance of football’s formative years, an era all but forgotten by football fans and Hall-of-Fame voters.

And that's a shame. Adolf Frederick "Swede" Youngstrom deserves more, much more, than that.

Why There's 'Not Been Another Quite Like' Steve Smith Sr.

By John Turney 

Simply put, Steve Smith Sr. was more than one of the most dynamic and productive wide receivers of his era; he was one of the two greatest players in Carolina Panthers' history, leaving behind a legacy that, after 16 NFL seasons, demands Pro Football Hall-of-Fame consideration.

Thankfully, he's finally getting it. But now the question: Will he also get a Hall-of-Fame bust?

He should.

From 2005-2008, Smith was perhaps the NFL's premier wide receiver, leading the league in receptions, yards and touchdowns to claim the 2005 single-season Triple Crown -- a feat matched only by Jerry Rice, Cooper Kupp and Sterling Sharpe in the modern era. Two of those three are in Canton, while the third (Kupp) is still active.

Furthermore, Smith ranks eighth in career receiving yards and is one of just 12 players with 18,000 combined yards despite losing a year to injury and playing with ... how do I put this? ... undistinguished quarterbacks for much of his career. 

Look who quarterbacked the Panthers during Smith's first few years in Carolina, and tell me if you disagree: Chris Weinke, Rodney Peete, Jake Delhomme, a 44-year-old Vinny Testaverde, Matt Moore and Jimmy Clausen. Granted, Delhomme was pretty good, but compare him to, say, the quarterbacks who threw to Hall-of-Fame finalists Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne.

I'd say Kurt Warner, Mac Bulger and Peyton Manning were slightly better.

OK, so there was Cam Newton, but Smith was 32 when the future league MVP arrived in Carolina. The two spent three seasons together before Smith signed with Baltimore to team with quarterback Joe Flacco in a run-heavy offense. Nevertheless, he remained a dangerous weapon -- finishing among the league leaders in receiving and, in 2014, recording one of the most prolific age-35 seasons ever with 75 receptions for 1,065 yards.

Where Holt and Wayne had better quarterbacks and played in sophisticated passing offenses, Smith embraced the disadvantages of his size (he was 5-9), schemes and quarterbacks and fought to excel -- quickly gaining a reputation as a fearless route runner who wouldn't give in to anyone or anything. You simply didn't mess with Steve Smith. Because he would mess with you, too.

"How many 5-foot-9 receivers," asked NFL Films' Greg Cosell, "have there been in the history of the NFL with Smith's combination of vertical speed, lateral explosion, physical strength, mental toughness and unrelenting competitiveness? You could argue there has not been another quite like him."

And you might be right.

But Smith wasn't just a marvelous receiver. He was a marvelous return man, too. In fact, he was so effective returning punts and kickoffs that he was an All-Pro there before he was an All-Pro receiver. And why not? In his first three seasons, he returned three punts and two kickoffs for touchdowns and scored on a punt return in the 2005 playoffs.

And speaking of playoffs ... Smith was a matchup nightmare there, too. In 11 postseason games, he totaled 59 receptions for 1,001 yards and 9 TDs. Over a 17-game schedule, that works out to 91 catches for 1,547 yards and 14 scores ... and think about that: In what translates to a 17-game NFL season, he produced a first-team All-Pro year. Moreover, those numbers are close to those he produced in 2005 when he won the receiving version of a Triple Crown (1,563 yards, 103 catches and 12 touchdowns) and WAS a first-team All-Pro.

Hall-of-Fame cornerback Ronde Barber called Smith the toughest receiver he ever faced. So did former Steelers' cornerback Ike Taylor. Future Hall-of-Famer Larry Fitzgerald dubbed him the NFL's best man-to-man route runner. With a resume that includes a dominant peak, remarkable longevity and a litany of admirers, Steve Smith Sr. has a rock-solid case for Canton.

So let's see what happens. A first-time finalist this year, he didn't survive the first cut from 15 to 10. But he will. Maybe next year. Maybe 2027. And he should. His giant-sized production and personality left an indelible mark on the game, and it should ... no, it will ... be rewarded.

Reassessing the 1920s' All-Decade Team

 By John Turney 

To commemorate the NFL's 50th anniversary, the Pro Football Hall of Fame's board of selectors embarked on an ambitious project in the late 1960s, designating all-star teams for every decade in league history. Its efforts were largely successful, though evaluating players from 40-50 years earlier posed challenges similar to what we face today when assessing events from nearly a century ago.

In short, while many of the selections were sound, a handful seemed ... well, dubious.

So that prompted a re-evaluation of all-decade teams, with the benefit of insights from historians who thoroughly studied the period. Among the experts were Dan Daly, Bob O’Donnell (author of retro all-decade teams in "The Pro Football Chronicle"), as well as Ken Crippen, PFRA founder Bob Carroll and author Richard Whittingham. Crippen’s version was featured on the Talk of Fame site three years ago, while contributions from Chris Willis, John Maxymuk, Jeffrey Miller and other scholars enriched the discussion. 

Drawing on their research and contemporary papers from the era, I decided to compile my own 1920s all-decade team. The difference between official team selections and mine stem from the time players spent in the decade, as well as the periods when they were dominant, as determined by All-NFL teams. Additionally, my selections are influenced by valuable statistics uncovered by dedicated researchers.

Some of the official all-decade players participated in a handful of seasons during the 1920s and are better suited for the 1930s' team. However, my list operates under the assumption that there should be a hypothetical 1925-35 all-mid-decade team, designed for players whose careers don’t align with the 1920-29 or 1930-39 time frames. Players who excelled in the late 1920s and early 1930s are better grouped in this mid-decade category.

Got it? Good. Let's first take a look at the Official Pro Football Hall-of-Fame Team of the 1920s:

ENDS: Guy Chamberlin, Lavvie Dilweg and George Halas.

TACKLES: Ed Healey, Wilbur “Pete” Henry, Cal Hubbard and Steve Owen.

GUARDS: Hunk Anderson, Walt Kiesling and Mike Michalske.

CENTER: George Trafton.

QUARTERBACKS: Jimmy Conzelman and “Paddy” Driscoll.

Paddy Driscoll

HALFBACK: “Red” Grange, Joe Guyon, “Curly” Lambeau and Jim Thorpe.

FULLBACK: Ernie Nevers.

Now, here is my take on who should have been picked:

ENDS: Guy Chamberlin, Lavvie Dilweg and Tillie Voss.

Halas is out. Put him in as a founder, executive and coach if you want. But, as a player, he didn't leave a trail of All-NFL selections. Tillie Voss did. So he gets the nod.

Chamberlain and Dilweg are two that were no-brainers as first-unit players. 

TACKLES: Ed Healey, Wilbur “Pete” Henry, Duke Slater and “Link” Lyman.

Link Lyman

Gus Sonnenberg earns an honorable mention but doesn’t crack the top four. Cal Hubbard fits better on a 1925-35 all-decade team, while Steve Owen's elite status as a player is questioned by many historians. I’ve opted for Slater and Lyman instead. Both were standout performers squarely in the 1920s.

GUARDS: Swede Youngstrom, Jim McMillen and Al Nesser.

Al Nesser

I scrapped all three of the guards and replaced them with three I thought more deserving. Youngstrom and McMillen were perennial All-NFL, while Nesser - who wasn't recognized as often as those two- was solid for nearly the entire decade.

Duke Osborn and Rudy Comstock deserve honorable mentions and could claim the third spot. But I chose Nesser for his consistent excellence across most of the decade. 

Like Hubbard, Mike Michalske and Walt Kiesling belong in a 1925-35 framework. Michalske, in particular, shines as a 1930s' candidate with seven years and four All-NFL nods in that decade. His three years in the '20s don’t qualify him here.

CENTER: George Trafton and Doc Alexander.

The official team only chose one center, but Alexander had a career deserving of a second-unit. So I added him. Trafton is the only choice as a first-unit center.

QUARTERBACK/TAILBACKS: “Paddy” Driscoll and Jimmy Conzelman.

Driscoll was a no-brainer. He would be on the shortlist for Player of the Decade. Some might ask why Benny Friedman isn't on my team, and here's my answer: His career began in 1927 and included five years in the 1930s. He's a 1925-35 guy.

So, who then? I almost went with little Joey Sternaman who was a star despite his size (he was 5-feet-6 inches tall). He was All-NFL three times and twice consensus. But then I realized I was shorting Jimmy Conzelman.

He was the Hall's official pick, and he should be. According to researchers and historians, Conzelman was a cut above. He had his best years in the early 1920s but played through 1929. And, looking at stats, he was among the league leaders in many categories, with an unofficial total of 26 interceptions. As a player, he was a step up from other legendary player/coaches like Halas and Curly Lambeau.

HALFBACK: “Red” Grange, Verne Lewellen and Tony Latone.

Verne Lewellen

Grange was a superstar, even if a knee injury dulled his early brilliance. He remained great and could double-dip—fitting both the 1920s and 1925-35 teams, thanks to his standout defensive play in the '30s.

Like Halas, whom I snubbed at end, Lambeau was a leader as well as a player/coach. But Verne Lewellen outdid him as a runner and punter, so he earned the spot. Jim Thorpe, a legendary Hall of Famer, suits a 1915-25 All-Pro/Decade team with pre-NFL years included. But his 1920s' play didn’t match his earlier heights. So he’s out.

The "Human Howitzer" -- Tony Latone -- was listed as both a halfback and fullback on the All-NFL teams he made. But encyclopedias also have him as a tailback and wingback, so it's impossible to know which position he played most. Based on available statistics, he was a top runner and terrific defender, credited with 22 career interceptions --  with 20 in the 1920s. All I know is that he had a better decade than some of the backs on official teams. 

The Akron Pros were the first champions of the new pro league, called the APFA (it wasn't the NFL yet), and Pollard probably its best player. He only made All-League that year but played so well in subsequent years that he deserves an honorable mention.

FULLBACK: “Rip” King and “Doc” Elliott.

The official team chose one fullback, but I picked two. Ernie Nevers was the official pick, but he could slide to a 1925-35 "mid-decade" team. Giants' fullback Jack McBride fits the 1920s, too, but he's another overlap guy. He had elite years in the early 1930s, so I am pushing him back, too.

For my picks, I took two overlooked stars: Rip King and Doc Elliott. 

King earned All-NFL honors in 1920-22. played fully in '23, and appeared in parts of two more seasons. Though listed as a fullback, he was the Akron Pros’ primary passer ... which illustrates how positions could be misleading. Elliott mirrors him, grabbing three All-NFL nods in the early 1920s with the champion Canton/Cleveland Bulldogs. Both deserve recognition, so I picked them and left Nevers and McBride for the next era.

State Your Case: Why Can't Isiah Robertson Register with Hall Voters?

By John Turney 

Sometimes history forgets deserving players, so it's left to us to remember them -- which is how I'd describe Isiah Robertson, whom former NFL defensive lineman Phil Olsen once called "the finest athlete I ever played with."

Robertson was a transformative figure in the NFL, widely regarded as one of the most formidable linebackers of the 1970s. He was on the leading edge of outside linebackers who were approximately 20 pounds lighter than linebackers of the 1960s and, as a result, faster.

A lot faster.

Clocked at 4.5 seconds in the 40, Robertson was among the fastest linebackers in the league when he entered the NFL in 1971 as a first-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Rams. He went on to play 12 seasons where he became one of the game's most decorated linebackers, known as much for game-changing plays as he was for his exceptional speed.

But we'll get to that.

His athletic prowess was evident at Southern University, where he made 112 tackles and 45 assists in his 1970 senior year, earning All-American honors from The Sporting News and TIME magazine. He also returned an interception 103 yards for a game-winning touchdown against Grambling with seconds remaining. Playing in the middle, Robertson called himself the "Black Dick Butkus".

The Rams' 10th overall pick in the 1971 draft, Robertson quickly adapted to the pros, earning a starting spot as a weakside linebacker as a rookie. But he just didn't start; he exploded onto the NFL scene, voted the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year, second-team All-NFL, and first-team All-NFC. He was also named to his first Pro Bowl.

He had four interceptions and (unofficially) four sacks, which may not sound like much. But it's a rarity for a linebacker -- especially one in his first pro season -- to have four or more of each in the same season. Robertson -- known as "Butch" -- was the first, and only one has done it since.

As a result, he was one of the cornerstones of a Rams' defense that from 1973-1978 allowed fewer points than all but the Pittsburgh Steelers ... intercepted more passes than all but the Steelers and Raiders .... and had more sacks and allowed fewer rushing touchdowns than all but Dallas. No defense, however, allowed fewer yards,

The point? Those Rams' defenses were great, and Robertson was, too.

After his stellar rookie year, he was second-team All-NFC in 1972 (UPI), first-team All-Pro in 1973 (AP, PFWA), second-team All-Pro in 1974 (AP, PFWA, NEA) and first-team again in 1975 (NEA) and 1976 (AP). He earned his last All-Pro notice as a second-team All-Pro in 1977 (AP, NEA), the same year he went to his sixth Pro Bowl. For good measure, he was first-team All-NFC in 1973, 1975, 1976, 1977 and second-team in 1974.

But it wasn't the accolades that separated him from others. It was the big plays. In 1973, he returned an interception 49 yards for a touchdown against the Giants on Monday Night Football. The next season, his 59-yard interception return for a TD not only showcased his electrifying open-field abilities but sealed a playoff defeat of Washington and former Rams' coach George Allen.

"One of my trades finally got the best of me," Allen said, referring to a 1971 trade with Washington that landed Robertson in Los Angeles.

One season later, Robertson was at it again -- this time returning an interception 76 yards for yet another score on  Monday night.

By 1978, however, things with the Rams soured. Robertson wanted to be one of the highest-paid linebackers in the NFL, and the Rams wouldn't meet his demands. So he pouted, lost his starting and was traded to Buffalo where Chuck Knox, a former coach with the Rams, signed him to a four-year, $1-million contract, making him one of the game's best-paid linebackers.

The move worked out for both parties. Robertson was happy and productive, producing 96 tackles in his first season with the Bills, with two interceptions and a 23-yard touchdown return. In 1980, he contributed 85 tackles as the Bills improved from 5-11 to 11-5 and won the Eastern Division. In 1981, he added more tackles, helping Buffalo reach the playoffs as a wild card.

Wherever Robertson was, it seemed, success followed. He played 168 games, starting 150 and missing only three, while earning six first-or second-team All-NFL selections (1971, 1973–1977) and six Pro Bowl nods. But Robertson had the numbers, too. According to official NFL gamebooks, he totaled 879 tackles -- with nearly 70 behind the line of scrimmage -- and produced 24-1/2 sacks and 25 interceptions. He also forced 24 fumbles, recovering 14, and had four defensive scores in the regular season and another in the playoffs.

That makes him one of only 14 linebackers with 24 or more sacks and 24 interceptions. Eight of them are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Yet, despite his contributions and productivity, Isiah Robertson remains underrecognized and overlooked for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He's never been a finalist nor a semifinalist. Worse, he was on the preliminary ballot only once, the year he was first eligible. As a seniors' candidate, he's been nominated multiple times, but that's where his candidacy starts and ends ... and that's not right.

Maybe he's been ignored because he wasn't chosen to the 1970s' all-decade team, but voters seems to forget that his peers three times voted him the NFC's Linebacker of the Year. Or maybe it's because he never was on a Super Bowl-winning team. Except that argument doesn't hold, either. Plenty of players without Super Bowl rings have Gold Jackets. 

I don't know what's happened ... or hasn't. All I know is that nothing should keep Isiah "Butch" Robertson's candidacy from serious consideration by the Hall's seniors committee. He did too much to merit anything less.

Career stats—

Honors—

State Your Case: If AAFC Can Be Recognized, Why Can't Bruno Banducci?

By John Turney 

As someone who has ancestors with names like "Vincenzo" and "Rocco," I love the name "Bruno" -- as in Bruno Banducci, an NFL and AAFC guard who played for the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers from 1944 through 1954. But it's more than his name that I like.

Bruno Banducci was an elite player, too.

How do I know? Well, for openers, he was voted to the NFL's 1940s' all-decade team, and that matters. As Hall-of-Fame voter Rick Gosselin once wrote, "There are no more powerful words an NFL player can have on his Hall of Fame resume than 'first-team all-decade.' "

And Banducci had them.

In the mid-2010s, the Hall's official website listed its 1920s-2000s' all-decade squads with first-teams separated from the others. So, we know that Banducci and Hall-of-Famer Bill Willis were listed first, or before the other three guards on the 1940s' all-decade team.

Powerful indeed.

Even so, as a modern-era player and, later, senior candidate, he has never risen above the preliminary round, which is as puzzling as it is mistaken -- not only because it flies in the face of what Gosselin espouses but because he deserves more, much more, than that.

Born in Italy, Banducci's family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where he became a high-school football star and All-Conference choice at Stanford University under legendary coach and Hall-of-Fame candidate Clark Shaughnessy. 

Chosen in the sixth round of the 1943 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles, Banducci didn't report right away, working instead for an oil company on the West Coast. Thus, the 5-foot-11, 216-pounder began his professional career in 1944, playing guard and linebacker in the era of two-way football. With the Eagles, he helped block for Hall-of-Famer Steve Van Buren on a team that was 14-4-2 over two seasons and ran the ball better than anyone.

In his two years there, the Eagles led the NFL in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns and highest yards per rush. But that's not all. They also led it in stopping the run, with Banducci a quality linebacker on the Eagles' defense.

Nevertheless, the pull of home was strong. So, in 1946, Banducci jumped to the newly formed All-America Football Conference (AAFC) to join the San Francisco 49ers and reunite with former Stanford teammates like quarterback Frankie Albert and Norm Standlee. 

Result? The narrative remained the same. Once again, a line that featured Banducci was extremely successful running the ball. From 1946-54, the 49ers ran the ball 4,577 times for 22,357 yards and a 4.9 yards per rush. They also ran for 207 touchdowns.  All those marks are better than any pro football team during that time. Moreover, their rushing total is over 4,500 yards more than the next-best team, the Cleveland Browns.

So, it wasn't really close.

Banducci gained his fair share of accolades, earning consensus All-AAFC honors in 1946 and 1947. Then, after the 49ers joined the NFL in 1950, his name often appeared on All-Pro teams. He was named second-team All-Pro in 1951 and 1952 (first-team by N.Y. Daily News) and first-team All-Pro in 1953 and 1954, with the latter a consensus choice in what was his last NFL season. He was also a team captain his last five years with San Francisco.

Oddly, he and the 49ers couldn't agree on a contract in 1955, even though Banducci had perhaps his best pro season the year before. A dispute centered on who was responsible for letting the popular guard go -- 49ers' owner Tony Morabito or coach Red Strader, who led the 49ers to a losing record in Banducci's absence and was fired after one season. In any event, Bruno -- who wanted to stay with the 49ers -- was released and moved to the CFL to start his 12th pro football season as a 34-year-old guard. 

One year later, he returned to San Francisco but, by his own admission, was physically unable to play. So he walked away from the game after 131 games, including 44 in the AAFC and nine in the CFL.

In his career, Banducci was a multi-year all-league standout, a starting lineman on multiple teams that were dominant running the ball. He was also an all-decade pick who played on winning teams in all but one of his pro football seasons and whom Hall-of-Fame end Dante Lavelli named as one of the top two guards he saw in his career.

In 1962, Banducci was chosen to the All-Time 49ers' team, and deservedly so. He blocked for three NFL rushing champions -- Van Buren in 1945 and Joe “The Jet” Perry in 1953 and 1954 -- and that's significant. Now that AAFC numbers are grouped with the NFL, it can be said that when each back retired he was the NFL's all-time leading rusher.

"The Rams thought so much of Banducci's blocking techniques," former San Francisco Examiner sports reporter Don Selby once wrote, "that they made ... film clips of (him) in action, using the movies to show their own guards how the job should be done. 'He's the best in the business, that's all,' said one Rams' ex-coach." 

Maybe Bruno Banducci deserves a Gold Jacket; maybe he doesn't. All I know is that should be decided by voters after his case has been made, not before ... and that hasn't happened. But make no mistake: He belongs in the conversation, and not because I said so. 

Because he earned it.