Never Reached a Super Bowl? No Problem. Neither Did These Greats

By John Turney

Stop if you heard this before: Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen will be home for the Super Bowl.

Sound familiar? It should. It's been that way the entirety of Allen's seven-year NFL career, with the Kansas City Chiefs dismissing him and the Bills from the playoffs four of the past five seasons. The latest setback occurred last weekend, with the Chiefs prevailing 32-29, keeping Allen's streak of missing Super Bowls intact.

It was the fourth time Allen lost to Patrick Mahomes in the playoffs, and the first time one quarterback beat the other that many times in a five-year span. So that makes Allen unique. But missing the Super Bowl? That doesn't.

Two-time MVP Lamar Jackson hasn't played in one. Nor, for that matter, have some of the NFL's all-time greats. Some, like Hall-of-Famers Dick Butkus and Gale Sayers, were stuck on underwhelming Chicago Bears' teams that couldn't reach the playoffs, let alone the Super Bowl. The same goes for Browns' tackle Joe Thomas. Then there were others whose teams made the playoffs but didn't go far.

However, my interest is with none of them. 

I'm here to choose the 10 greatest players who didn't play in Super Bowls, but who, like Allen and Jackson, came close by playing in one or more conference championship games. Call it a misery index ... as in: The greater the heartbreak, the more you move up the list ... and let's call it now. 

Here are my picks:

1. Dan Fouts—The leader of "Air Coryell" had the San Diego Chargers close. Losing the AFC championship game three times -- in 1980-82. That was his window, and it slammed shut after that. He still put up numbers and picked up his Gold Jacket but never played in the Big Game ... and, in terms of legacy, that means more for quarterbacks than other positions.

2. Merlin Olsen—Like Fouts, Olsen came close to playing in a Super Bowl. The Rams played in NFC championship games in 1974-76, losing all three -- twice to the Vikings and once to the Cowboys. The 14-time Pro Bowler would be on most people's "Mt. Rushmore" of defensive tackles.

3. LaDainian Tomlinson—The Patriots stopped Tomlinson's Chargers twice. Then, in 2010, the Pittsburgh Steelers shut the door on his Jets. So Tomlinson never held the Lamar Hunt Trophy after an AFC title game. One of the best all-around running backs, Tomlinson could run, catch, block, run short and run long. But he couldn't run his teams to the Super Bowl in two title tries.

4. Earl Campbell—Twice he led the Houston Oilers to an AFC championship game ... and by "led," I mean that without him they don't get there. In fact, without him, they wouldn't make the playoffs, period. He was the Oilers' offense, but that wasn't enough. The Steelers were a better, more complete team and twice the "Tyler Rose" fell one game short of playing in a Super Bowl.

5. Barry Sanders—One of the top-five running backs in league history, Sanders played in only one NFC championship game. That happened in his third season (1991), and it never happened again despite the Lions reaching the playoffs five of his 10 NFL seasons. Sanders was an elite player, but he wasn't enough to push Detroit over the hump. 

6. Randall McDaniel—Offensive linemen are people, too, and this Hall-of-Fame guard fits perfectly on this list. He played 14 seasons, including 11 in the playoffs, and never advanced to the Big Game. The closest he came was 1998 when his Vikings lost in the NFC championship game after a missed Gary Anderson field goal (his first of the season) ended that dream. Nine times his team advanced to the playoffs but never won a conference championship. Ouch. 

7. John Randle—Another Vikings' star, Randle is one of the best pass-rushing defensive tackles in the history of the NFL. He was a seven-time Pro Bowler, six-time All-Pro, all-decade choice and member of the league's 100th anniversary team who produced 137-1/2 sacks. Like McDaniel, he got close to making the Super Bowl in 1998, and the rest you know. Just read the paragraph above.  

8. Eric Dickerson—Like Barry Sanders, Dickerson is one of the top running backs the game has seen. But his Rams' team only made one championship game, only to be shut out by the Bears (1985). He played for four teams, and all were one-dimensional ...with Dickerson the one dimension. But it was never enough. 

9. Steve Largent—The Seattle wide receiver played in an AFC championship game in 1983 in a Cinderella playoff run. The Seahawks snuck into the playoffs with a 9-7 record, proceeded to beat John Elway and the Broncos and then upset the 12-4 Miami Dolphins. However, they couldn't handle the Raiders. It was the first and last time Largent played in a conference title game, though he'd make three more playoff appearances.

10. Tony Gonzalez—The 14-time Pro Bowler was on six playoff teams, but it wasn't until his second-to-last year in the NFL that he got his closest shot at a Super Bowl. That was the 2012 season when the Falcons hosted the NFC championship gamer, only to be beaten by San Francisco, 28-24.

Fred Taylor a Hall-of-Fame Finalist for the Second Straight Year—Can He Win the Support of Voters?

By John Turney 

Art Credit: Michael Pattison

All-Pro teams traditionally have had two slots for running backs, though they expanded to three in the mid-1990s when a fullback was added. But now they're back to two again, with one more of a blocker, which means ...

You guessed it. They're really down to just one running back.

Yet, in most seasons, there are almost always more than two backs with All-Pro numbers, rushing for 1,200 or more yards or scoring 10 or more touchdowns. But they don't make All-Pro teams for a variety of reasons, sometimes because voters just weren't as familiar with them as they were with others.

One such back is Jaguars' Hall-of-Fame finalist Fred Taylor.

Playing in Jacksonville almost certainly affected how much notice Taylor received. A small-market team, the Jaguars were not often on national television and rarely seen in person by NFL beat writers. The result was that Taylor, one of the best running backs you'd hope to see, didn't gain the All-Pro attention he deserved. He was chosen to one All-Pro team (2007), and that was as a second-teamer.

But that doesn't mean he didn't have All-Pro years. He did. In fact, he had plenty of them, and the numbers prove it. The problem is that he doesn't have the All-Pro resume, one reason it took him eight years to become a Hall-of-Fame finalist in 2024. But at least he got there, and he's back again as one of 15 finalists for the Class of 2025.

Now the question: Will he be elected when the class is revealed? Probably not, but he might if voters paid attention to what former Pittsburgh defensive back Deshea Townsend -- a guy who faced Taylor 13 times --  had to say about him. 

"It's always more than (awards and championships)," Townsend said. "If you look at numbers, some guys might not be in (the Hall of Fame). (But when you ask) who is that guy that you can't plan for him? Did you worry about him? Did you know where he was at? Did you try to take him away? Those are the ones that are Hall of Famers."

Fred Taylor not only agrees; he's more direct.

"My numbers," he said on a Talk of Fame Network broadcast, "were better than [the] majority of the backs that had ever played this game."

He can say that because he's right. Take a look: 

-- He ranks 17th all-time in rushing yards with 11,695, placing him ahead of numerous Hall of Famers, including John Riggins, O.J. Simpson, Earl Campbell and Terrell Davis. 

-- He had seven seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards, including a career-high 1,572 yards in 2003, despite battling injuries earlier in his career. In six of those seven seasons, he was over 1,200 yards rushing.

-- Additionally, in six seasons he was in the NFL's top 10 in rushing. 

-- Eight times he was in the top 10 in yards per carry, and his career average of 4.6 yards per rush is tied for sixth-most among the 42 backs with 2,000 or more carries.

-- Even though he never played in an offense that featured running backs as receivers, he still caught 290 balls for 2,384 yards and eight touchdowns. 

No, Taylor never was able to get the cherished ring with a Super Bowl win, but when he did get to the postseason (which wasn't often), he played at an elite level. In the Jacksonville Jaguars' run to the 1998 AFC championship game his rookie season, for instance, he ran for 248 yards in two contests. 

The next postseason, he rushed for 162 yards and a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins, helping the Jaguars to an historic 62-7 win. In that game, he had a 90-yard touchdown run -- still the longest in NFL postseason history. It was the second straight postseason he ran for at least 245 yards in two games.

In his first four playoff contests, Taylor ran for 123.3 yards a game, with a 5.5 yards-per-carry average -- tied for fourth best among all running backs who played in eight playoff games and ran the ball at least 100 times (two quarterbacks, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes, are ahead of him, but that's apples to oranges). My point: Given the chance to play in big games, Taylor delivered. It's just a shame that he didn't get more opportunities.

But such was life in Jacksonville in the 2000s. 

However, there's more to Taylor's case than numbers. A lot more. Look what Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley accomplished this season once he joined a quality team. He ran for over 2,000 yards, rushed for over 100 yards in 14 of 19 games (including the playoffs), led the NFL with 2,283 yards from scrimmage and is a favorite to be chosen as the league's Offensive Player of the Year.

Now see what Hall-of-Fame voter Sam Kouvaris recently wrote about him.

"I heard Bill Belichick say last month, unsolicited, 'Saquon Barkley reminds me of Fred Taylor,' " Kouvaris said, " 'and I think Fred’s a Hall of Famer.' " 

In a Q&A at a Hall-of-Fame event several years ago, former Baltimore linebacker  Ray Lewis endorsed Taylor as an elite player, saying, "(He's) got the numbers (for the Hall of Fame). Troy Polamalu agreed, adding in 2007 that Taylor "is probably the best back I've seen in the NFL."

Repeat: The. Best.

His achievements are more remarkable when you consider that, coming out of the University of Florida, the 6-1, 225-pound running back was projected as an NFL fullback. He'd shown great running ability, had big games and was part of a national championship team. But scouts then weren't convinced that he could be a feature back.

All that changed, however, when he ran a 4.29 40 at the 1998 Pro Day at Gainesville, wowing the scouts and coaches there.

"If I had trained," Taylor said, "I would have run faster. That's my time of record for the NFL. I had run as fast as 4.22."

Jacksonville then chose him in the first round of the draft, and you know the rest: Taylor epitomized what a featured back looks like. In his first season, he ran for over 1,200 yards and scored 14 rushing touchdowns to make the All-Rookie team. It was the only kind of "all" he gained until 2007, his last healthy year when he made second-team All-Pro and was named to his only Pro Bowl.  

That's right, though his 10,000 yards rushing in 10 years were more than all backs during that period but Hall-of-Famer Edgerrin James, Taylor had just two postseason selections of any kind. If that were brought up when voters met earlier this month, rest assured that Kouvaris would've had answers for the doubters.

Because there are plenty.

Now we find out if Kouvaris was heard. On Feb. 6 the Hall's Class of 2025 will be announced at the NFL Honors show from New Orleans, with Taylor a longshot. But his case is unlike most others. It's one of an elite running back who excelled in a small market for a team that was often mediocre and overlooked.

Hopefully, voters pay attention. Because they should.

Ravens' Jackson a Virtual Lock as League MVP

By John Turney 

Lamar Jackson

When the Associated Press (AP) announces its postseason awards in two weeks at the NFL Honors show, Ravens' quarterback Lamar Jackson will win the Most Valuable Player Award (MVP).

Bank on it.

How do I know? Easy. The Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA) just tipped me off.

Last week that organization named its MVP for the 2024 season, and it wasn't Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen, widely considered one of the leading contenders. It was Jackson, and that's more than significant. It seals the deal in my book.

That's because the AP and PFWA agree on their MVP choices nearly every year. In fact, over the 49 years that the two simultaneously released awards, they disagreed only five times ... and not once in the last 20 years. One of those disagreements was 1997 when AP voters had Barry Sanders and Brett Favre tied, while the PFWA's poll chose Sanders alone. 

But the last time they disagreed was 21 years ago when, in 2003, PFWA voters picked Ravens' running back Jamal Lewis, and the AP panel forwarded a tie between Peyton Manning and Steve McNair.

Art Credit: Mark Adair (McNair), Don Chickinelli (Manning), Mike Schroeder (Lewis)

And the others?

-- In 1987, the AP went with John Elway in 1987, while the PFWA chose Jerry Rice.

Art credit: Merv Corning

-- In the strike-shortened 1982 season, the AP favored kicker Mark Mosely in 1982, and the PFWA went with Dan Fouts.

Art credit: Merv Corning (right)

-- In 1978, the AP picked Terry Bradshaw, while the PFWA selected Earl Campbell. 

Art credit: Merv Corning

For the most part, however, they’re in lockstep. If and when that happens again on Feb. 6, Jackson will become just the seventh player to win at least three AP MVP awards -- joining Jim Brown, Johnny Unitas, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers.

OK, but what about Defensive Player of the Year? That's a bit less certain. While it’s likely the two organizations will agree, it’s not a lock. The PFWA selected Patrick Surtain II, the Broncos' elite cornerback as its Defensive Player of the Year, and, given the history of these awards, it’s reasonably safe to assume that the AP will follow. It's broken from the PFWA only four times since 1992.

However, three of those disagreements happened since 2010. So, there’s still a chance -- albeit a small one -- that the AP could select someone else. 

Then there's the Offensive Player of the Year. The PFWA on Wednesday chose Philadelphia's Saquon Barkley as its recipient, and, while this one feels like another AP/PFWA accord, it's the one award where there's been the most divergence. Nine times in 32 years different players took home the OPOY.

So why does all this matter? Because PFWA awards are officially recognized in the annual "NFL Record and Fact Book," They’re also referenced in the NFL-NFLPA collective bargaining agreement and count toward player incentive bonuses. Additionally, these awards play a role in determining compensatory draft picks for teams that lose unrestricted free agents.

Earlier this week,  the PFWA announced Jayden Daniels as its Rookie of the Year and Offensive Rookie of the Year (it has both awards), while Rams' edge rusher Jared Verse was named Defensive Rookie of the Year. Then, on Thursday afternoon, the PFWA announced Kevin O'Connell as its Coach of the Year, Detroit executive VP and general manager Brad Holmes its Executive of the Year and Detroit offensive coordinator (and now Chicago Bears' head coach) Ben Johnson its Assistant Coach of the Year. The PFWA's Comeback Player of the Year and Most Improved Player of the Year will be revealed Friday.

After that, we can all sit back and wait for Thursday, Feb. 6, when the 14th annual NFL Honors show airs. Then we can compare notes. 

Terrell Suggs - Hall Induction Soon? Or Will he Wait a While?

By John Turney 

We've all heard the cautionary tale about 40-yard dash times, with Hall-of-Famer Jerry Rice the go-to example for fans and media. His draft stock fell in 1985 because he ran a 4.7-second 40 ... and we all know what happened. If a coin were minted for cautionary tales, Rice would be on the "heads" side.

But on the flip side, you could make a case for Terrell Suggs, the Ravens' edge rusher who's among 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall-of-Fame's Class of 2025. After a stellar career at Arizona State, there was talk that he might be the second or third overall pick because he was what everyone wanted as an outside rusher.

Until, that is, he started to run 40-yard dashes.

Coaches like their edge guys to run 4.6 or faster, though a 4.7 time is acceptable. But going into the 2003 NFL draft, Suggs was struggling to break 4.8. He was running anywhere from the mid- 4.7s to high-4.8s, and, as a result, his stock fell.

Out of the top three. Out of the top five. Almost out of the top ten. 

But then-Ravens' general manager Ozzie Newsome wasn't buying that nonsense. He saw the talent of a player who was a unanimous All-American and won the Bill Willis Trophy (the Nation's top defensive lineman), the Nagurski (top defensive player) and Lombardi (best collegiate player) Awards and who set an NCAA record for sacks with 24.

That's what Suggs achieved as a senior at Arizona State in 2002.

So, when it was time for Baltimore to pick, Ozzie grabbed the man called "T-Sizzle" with the 10th overall choice and never regretted his decision. With 12 sacks in his first season, Suggs was the league's Defensive Rookie of the Year. He later would become one of the elite pass rushers of his -- or any -- era and one-third of what may be the best edge rusher-linebacker-defensive back trios in the history of the game. joining Ed Reed and Ray Lewis.

Both are Hall of Famers, and Suggs will be one, too --probably sooner rather than later.

Over the course of 17 seasons, 16 with the Ravens, he was part of one of the NFL's top defenses. When he was drafted, Suggs called Baltimore a "defensive kingdom," and the description fit. In his 16 years with the Ravens, the defense allowed the NFL's second-fewest points, second-fewest rushing yards, third-fewest passing yards and second-fewest total yards.

In short, we're talking about one of the NFL's greatest sustained defenses.

In addition, the Ravens racked up the fourth-most sacks in the league, with Suggs producing a franchise-best 132-1/2. He had another 6-1/2 after leaving the team in 2019, upping his total to 139 -- a figure that places him eighth all-time since sacks became an official statistic in 1982. Seven times he recorded double-digit sack seasons, with nine-and-a-half in another year.

But it wasn't just pressures and sacks that made Suggs so valuable. He was more than a pass rusher. He was a complete player who was a force against the run, too. Consider that, of all the pure edge players (defensive ends and rushing outside linebackers) who played since 1993, none had more tackles (895) than Suggs. Michael Strahan had 854; Jason Taylor had 778 and Julius Peppers, 719.

All of them are Hall of Famers.

But the more telling figure is the number of tackles Suggs had behind the line of scrimmage. It was a lot. Now, remember: These are tackles for losses other than sacks. Per PFJ research Suggs finished his career with 100-1/2 of these "stuffs" - the name (then) Stats, Inc. game them.

In fact, a quick look at recent edge players inducted into the Hall reveals just how far Suggs was ahead of the field: 

--Michael Strahan had 88.

-- Jason Taylor had 76.

-- DeMarcus Ware had 67-1/2.

-- Julius Peppers had 62-1/2.

-- Dwight Freeney had just 39.

All those players were either first-or-second-ballot Hall of Famers. 

As you might guess, when you add career sacks and stuffs, Suggs is first among all post-1993 edge rushers with a combined 239-1/2. Strahan is next with 229-1/2, followed by Peppers (222-1/2) and Taylor (215-1/2). DeMarcus Ware 's total was 2006 and Dwight Freeney had 164-1/2. So the numbers prove that Suggs' productivity stacks up with the best of the best -- players with busts in Canton. 

But there's more. He played 244 games, starting 226. He forced 37 fumbles, intercepted seven passes and was credited with defensing 68 more. He also scored three defensive touchdowns and recorded a safety. 

"He's been a great player for as long as he's been in the league," Tom Brady said of Suggs. "He just does a lot of things really well. He's got all the rush moves, he drops into coverage, he bats down balls, he [crushes] the tight ends coming off the line of scrimmage. It's not just sacking the quarterback like most defensive ends; he makes plays in a lot of ways."

But numbers are one thing; winning is another. And winning was Suggs' passion and goal. 

In 2012, he was part of the Ravens' Super Bowl XLVII victory over the San Francisco 49ers, which earned him his first ring. Seven years later, Kansas City acquired him late in his final season to bolster the Chiefs' pass rush for a playoff run. He responded with 13 pressures in five games (including a sack), with a team-leading four in a Super Bowl LIV defeat of the 49ers. In 21 playoff games, Suggs produced 12-1/2 postseason sacks, tying him for fifth all-time since 1951 (per Pro Football Reference). 

As we're on the topic of playoff statistics, I will also mention that -- since 1994 -- only two players forced more fumbles than Suggs' four. Furthermore, his "splash" plays mattered. For example, in the 2014 AFC playoffs, he picked off a pass by pinning the football between his knees and rolled on the ground. Some call it the "Thighmaster" interception. Then, in a 33-14 wild card thumping of the Patriots, Suggs strip-sacked Tom Brady and fell on the fumble, setting up the Ravens' second touchdown in an unexpected runaway.

While his achievements speak for themselves, they should be considered in a broader context: Twice Suggs missed significant time with torn Achilles tendons, and twice he rebounded. He missed half of the 2012 season after tearing his right Achilles in the offseason. Then, three years later, the left one ruptured in the Ravens’ 2015 season opener. 

With the first, he was ready to go by midseason, far sooner than expected. With the second, he returned the following year to record eight sacks. Then, in 2017, he went on to produce 11 and was named to his seventh Pro Bowl ... at the age of 35.

So what's missing? I'm about to get there. If there's a weakness in his Hall-of-Fame case, it's this: He was a first-team All-Pro only once (2011) and a second-team only once (2008), too. Granted, that's somewhat light compared to his peers, but he does have extra gravitas as the 2011 NFL Defensive Player of the Year. So he can claim not only to have been the best at his position that year but the best defender, regardless of position.

Few can ever say that.

"He's got it all;" former All-Pro tackle Andrew Whitworth once said. " He's ripped-up, he's big, he's fast, he's strong, he is intimidating looking, and he plays the same way ... He's the guy that you wouldn't want to have to square off in a small area with, that's for sure ... he's one of those ultimate talents."

Hall-of-Fame tackle Joe Thomas agreed,

"He is obviously one of the all-time great outside linebackers in our game," he told Ravens.com. "He and I have had a lot of great battles. They have a great defense for even way longer than I have been in the NFL ... The toughness that he shows week-in and week-out out there playing with a torn biceps is pretty amazing."

Thomas was referring to the 2016 season when Suggs missed only one game because of a torn biceps. For some, the injury would have sidelined them a considerable period of time. Not for Suggs.

"I come from an era where this is just a bump in the road," he told ESPN. "It may be season-ending for somebody else. It's not season-ending for a Raven."

So there you have it. A strong Hall case for a strong player. Strong against the pass. Strong vs. the run. Strong in the face of pain. Strong in the eyes of opponents. Terrell Suggs may not be one of this year's inductees to Canton, but it won't be long before he is. That's because there's still a place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame for edge players who were effective in all phases of the game.

Terrell Suggs not only qualifies. He heads the list.

Suggs' career stats—

Comparison Charts of recent selected edge rushers—

TUESDAY TIDBITS: "What's the Secret of Your Success?"

By TJ Troup 

Harry Longabaugh is at the poker table in Wyoming (probably Kaycee), and Mr. Macon asks him the title of this week's saga, and Harry (The Sundance Kid) responds with "prayer". 

Not sure how much prayer is going to be needed for Championship Sunday, yet there are folks that are poised under pressure—The Sundance Kid, and can deliver when called upon. 

Which players deliver under pressure on Championship Sunday? Buffalo has been playing the Texans/Chiefs since 1960, and 64 years later they confront each other with a Silver Trophy berth on the line. 

So many directions we can go with the keys to the game, yet Sunday evening will be compelling drama. Philadelphia and Washington have played 175 times in the regular season, with many of the games being not only entertaining but also key in the division race. 

The only time they played in the postseason Gibbs outcoached Ryan and Buddy was dismissed. Doubtful that either Siriani or Quinn is dismissed after this game. So many great players in this series, yet Sammy Baugh remains for me Mr. Redskin! 

Sammy Baugh in 1937 NFL Championship Game

Since I mentioned his name; will begin a narrative concerning John Keim at ESPN. 

Don't know the man, but can tell you he should be dismissed for the following statement he made: ready? "Jayden Daniels becomes the sixth rookie QB to reach a Championship Game, the other five all lost". 

Possibly Mr. Keim got bit in the butt by a horned frog? Possibly he dislikes the name Sam? Possibly he is not capable of doing research, or sadly he believes football started in 1970? 

Baugh's rookie season and his performance against the Bears in the title game was awesome. Then we have Mr. Bob Waterfield in '45 and the Rams of Cleveland. 

Rookie Bob Waterfield, after 1945 NFL Championship Game

Will John Keim read this article? Will he be employed tomorrow? He is welcome to come to my film room (den) and watch film of Baugh and Waterfield. 

Rather than discuss who has already gotten head coaching positions; will attempt to elicit responses from you folks for Dan Campbell and the soon-to-be-vacant defensive coordinator position in Detroit. 

Philosophically do not trust or respect Aaron Glenn in Detroit, and if he does in fact leave? Who should replace him? Robert Saleh was born in Dearborn, played tight end at Northern Michigan, and believe would be an immediate success with the Lions! Just one man's opinion. 

Finally will end with a stat. Since 1970 the team that scores the first TOUCHDOWN on Sunday wins a very high percentage of the time. 

How high you ask? AFC from 1970 through 1989 15-5, NFC same time period 19-0 (Rams kicked 3 FGs in '79). 

From 1990 through last year AFC 25-9, and NFC 20-14. The total: 79-28, thus a 73.8% chance of winning on Sunday for the team that scores the first touchdown,...the hell with field goals in this game.

See ya 'round campus.

The 2024 'Allmost All-Joe' Team

By John Turney 

Vinny DiTrani (l), Larry Weisman (r)

In 1970, Bergen (N.J.) Record columnist Vinny DiTrani began a unique tradition that would last over 40 years: He initiated the "Allmost All-Pro Team" (yes, with two Ls). His goal? To "give a little recognition to men who, for one reason or another, missed out on the real honors."

By "real honors," DiTrani referred to Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections, accolades that eluded deserving players.

Fast-forward 22 years, and former USA Today writer Larry Weisman started a similar tradition with the "All-Joe Team." His focus was on "players who got lost in the shuffle this season." They were the unsung heroes, players who excelled without fanfare, laboring in the shadows of more celebrated teammates. 

Weisman maintained the tradition for 22 years.

Both concepts are what we might now call teams of Pro Bowl and All-Pro "snubs." So, why does this matter? Because today’s column pays homage to DiTrani and Weisman. Borrowing their ideas, I’ve created a team of 2024’s standout non-Pro Bowlers and non-All-Pros -- what I’m calling the "Allmost All-Joe Team."

Like DiTrani and Weisman, I’m skipping AP first-or-second-team All-Pros and Pro Bowlers. And, just like them, I’m not rigid about roster size. If more players than a starting 11 deserve recognition, they’re in.

Here, then, is my 2024 "Allmost All-Joe" Team —

OFFENSE

WIDE RECEIVERS—Malik Nabers, Giants; Ladd McConkey, Chargers; Tee Higgins, Bengals; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks.

All four of these receivers do special things, with a few playing numerous snaps in the slot. This year three wide receivers were "chalk" picks for All-Pro (Ja'Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown),  but these four had years that should be recognized.

Even though Nabers missed a couple of games, he still recorded 109 receptions for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns, while McConkey, meanwhile, caught 82 passes for 1,149 yards. Both are rookies and remarkable rookies at that.

Tee Higgins missed five games, but when he didn't he made things happen. While people were double-covering Ja'Mar Chase, the 6-foot-4, 219-pound Higgins was getting open and catching 10 touchdown passes. 

Smith-Njigba reached triple digits in receptions with an even 100 for 1,130 yards, and most seemed to come at key times in games. 

TIGHT END—Tucker Kraft, Packers, and Jonnu Smith, Dolphins.

Kraft is an ascending player. It would be no surprise to see him at a Pro Bowl soon. Good hands. Good after the catch. Good overall.

It may surprise some people that Smith caught more passes for more touchdowns than Tyreek Hill. Plus, he trailed Hill by just 75 receiving yards. After Tua Tagovailoa's return from IR, Smith was his go-to guy.

Tua missed six games in which Smith was an afterthought, averaging 2.3 catches a game and scoring only once. But when the star quarterback played, Smith was a highlight reel, scoring seven of his eight touchdowns and averaging 6.7 receptions per game. 

TACKLES—Taylor Decker, Lions; Zach Tom, Packers; Spencer Brown, Bills.

Decker has always been good. Maybe never great, but always good. Nevertheless, he's never gotten postseason mentions in any season except for 2016 when he was All-Rookie. But since then? Crickets. Yet unsung guys like Decker are always part of great teams. Decker may just be the player who ends his career never being an All-Pro or Pro Bowler but who will be fondly remembered by fans, teammates and coaches.

Right tackles Tom and Brown are both young pros with bright futures. Tom is a nimble-type tackle, listed at 6-feet-4, 304 pounds, and Brown, a rangy guy (6-feet-8) who's powerful.

Decker and Brown have teammates who are All-Pro or Pro Bowlers, so they're relegated to the shadows. But they shine on the Allmost All-Joe. Tom may get his due sometime soon, as will Brown. Both are young. 

GUARDS—Peter Skoronski, Titans; Robert Hunt, Panthers; Kevin Dotson, Rams.

In his second season, Skoronski played 100 percent of the Titans' offensive snaps and was one of the few bright spots on a woeful Titans' team. Hunt and Dotson did yeoman's work for their teams.

CENTER—Tyler Biadasz, Commanders.

Biadasz got one AP All-Pro vote, and he may have been the second-best center in the NFL. He's the leader of a veteran offensive line that protects the next Offensive Rookie of the Year, Jayden Daniels.

QUARTERBACK—Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers.

The former number-one overall draft pick threw for 4,500 yards and 41 touchdowns. Not so long ago, that would be an MVP season. Now? It will have to be an Allmost All-Joe year. He led the Buccaneers to the playoffs and is becoming the player the Browns thought they had when they took him at the top of the 2018 draft.

FULLBACK—Scott Matlock, Chargers.

Offense, defense, Matlock does it all. He's new to the fullback position but played it well this year. Because there's only one slot per conference for a Pro Bowl fullback and because the position is highly competitive, some players are automatically left out. Matlock is one of those players.

RUNNING BACKS—Bijan Robinson, Falcons, Kyren Williams, Rams; David Montgomery, Lions

Robinson ran for 1,456 yards, scored 14 touchdowns and caught 61 passes for 431 more yards. Yet he didn't get a Pro Bowl invite. He also didn't get a single All-Pro vote. Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry's historic years sucked the oxygen out of that room. Never fear, Allmost All-Joe is here.

Williams is a grinder. He ran for 1,299 yards and 14 TDs. Plus, he had two more scores on passes from Matthew Stafford. But he didn't get much notice, either.

I'm also picking David Montgomery. No, he didn't get 1,000 yards (he ran for 775), but he split time with the dynamic Jahmyr Gibbs. So his role was different. Gibbs was the breakaway guy; Montgomery was the pounder who protected late-game leads, and he served that role well.

DEFENSE

EDGE—George Karlaftis, Chiefs, and Gregory Rousseau, Bills.

Karlaftis benefits from playing next to Chris Jones, but he creates opportunities for Jones, too. He's a technically proficient pass rusher who seems to make plays when they count. He finished the season with eight sacks and tied for third in the league with 28 quarterback hits.

Solid is what you'd call Rousseau. This year he made 53 tackles and had eight sacks. He also had nine lead-tackles for losses on running backs. He tied for seventh in the NFL in quarterback hits, forced three fumbles, deflected three passes and fell on a loose fumble. In other words, he filled the stat boxes.

INTERIOR—Grover Stewart, Colts; Kobie Turner, Rams; Zach Sieler, Dolphins.

Stewart is a run-plugging nose tackle who had nine lead-tackles for losses on run plays and 74 total stops. Among all defensive tackles, Turner was among the best at generating pressure while being double-teamed. Yet, despite the extra attention, he had eight sacks.

Seiler just made plays. He played defensive end in Miami's 3-4 base defense and tackle in its nickel. But he was in the middle of most plays, getting one of his 10 sacks or batting down a pass. The Dolphins had a down year, but Sieler didn't.

LINEBACKERS—Robert Spillane, Raiders; Daiyan Henley, Chargers; Kyle Van Noy, Ravens.

Spillane was third in the NFL in tackles, had a pair of sacks and two interceptions. After Maxx Crosby, he was a man alone in the middle of the Raiders' defense.'

The Chargers appreciated the emergence of Henley, who became a starter in his second season, and so did their fans. He was noticeable in all of his games.

The edge linebacker on the Allmost All-Joe is Van Noy. In his career, he often played both inside and outside linebacker. These days, he's mostly getting after quarterbacks as an edge 'backer for the Ravens, and the results speak for themselves: He had a career-high 12-1/2 sacks

CORNERBACKS—Darius Slay, Eagles, Deommodore Lenoir, 49ers; Mike Hilton, Bengals.

Slay may not be as young as he once was, but he can still play. As a slot corner, Hilton made 12 tackles for losses, nine on run plays and three on pass plays. The Bengals' defense really struggled but Hilton didn't. He had a good year.

SAFETIES—Josh Metellus, Minnesota; C.J. Gardner-Johnson;  Jaylen McCollough, Rams.

Metellus is a game-wrecker. A key cog in Brian Flores' defense, he plays safety, slot and linebacker. So he covers and blitzes. In short, he does it all.

What you want in a ball-hawking safety is a guy like C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who tied his career high with six interceptions. After playing in Detroit last year (an injury-shortened season), he returned to Philadelphia and led Vic Fangio's elite defense.

McCollough's name here might raise a few eyebrows, but he plays a vital role in the Rams' dime defense -- a package that was successful this year. In limited snaps, he made 43 tackles and picked off four passes -- taking one to the house -- and served as a safety when he was called on. The guy was a menace to offenses.

SPECIAL TEAMS

KICKER—Cameron Dicker, Chargers.

He could've been All-Pro in another year, but with the seasons that Pro Bowlers Chris Boswell (Steelers) and Brandon Aubrey (Cowboys) had, it was easy to get lost in the shuffle.

PUNTER—Tress Way, Commanders.

As steady as the monuments in Washington. He's been a Pro Bowler twice before, but it's been a couple of years. When you look at his net punting numbers year after year, he's always among the leaders. One problem: There always seems to be one or two guys ahead of him. So they got the glory. He did not.

RETURNER—DeAndre Carter, Chicago.

He's always been good, but he went largely unnoticed this season when postseason honors were handed out.

SPECIAL TEAMS—Feleipe Franks, Carolina.

What could be better than to mention a quarterback who covers kicks and punts? That's what Franks now does for a living. A perfect guy for Allmost All-Joe.

Pro Football Journal 2024 NFL Awards

 By John Turney 

Lamar Jackson (l) and Myles Garrett (r)

Two thousand and twenty-four was not an easy year to pick NFL awards, as there were no clear winners in many categories. Most had at least two strong candidates and reasonable people could have picked either one.

But here our best effort:

Most Valuable Player—Lamar Jackson, QB, Ravens

Offensive Player of the Year—Saquon Barkley, RB, Eagles

Defensive Player of the Year—Myles Garrett, DE, Browns

Offensive Rookie of the Year—Jayden Daniels, QB, Commanders

Defensive Rookie of the Year—Jared Verse, Edge, Rams

Comeback Player of the Year—J.K. Dobbins, RB, Chargers

Most Improved Player of the Year—Zack Baun, LB, Eagles

Coach of the Year—Dan Quinn, Commanders

***************************************

The MVP race came down to Lamar Jackson and Josh Allen of the Bills—a near coin toss. Ultimately, Jackson’s late-season surge gave him the edge in our view. Now, it’s up to the AP and PFWA voters to decide if they see it the same way.

The Offensive Player of the Year was another tight contest, this time between Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry of the Ravens. Both were deserving, but we gave the nod to Barkley by the narrowest of margins. Barkley was the better receiver and hitting a magical number like "2,000" in rushing yards while sitting the last game of the season does catch the eye.

For Defensive Player of the Year, Myles Garrett's consistent dominance and impact sealed the decision. According to Trench Warfare, Garrett led the league in "Quality Pressures," a metric analyzing pressures based on their game-changing value. He also ranked second in "Quality Sacks," following the same methodology for sacks. 

Watching Garrett play, it was evident that he disrupted offenses week after week, often facing double teams and still delivering. 

Though Patrick Surtain was a strong contender, Garrett’s influence was undeniable, earning him our award. Zack Baun also received consideration. Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals' edge rusher had another terrific year and we took a close look. 

The Offensive Rookie of the Year came down to Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix. Both led their teams to the playoffs, but Daniels’ consistency throughout the season gave him the edge, while Nix’s late-season surge made it a closer call than people might have thought in November.

Defensively, Quinyon Mitchell was a standout, but Rams edge rusher Jared Verse took the honor. While his sack totals weren’t eye-popping, Verse generated an impressive volume of pressures, ranking third in the league in "Quality Pressures." Moreover, HOW the pressures looked was often stunning. It had to be stunning for some offensive tackles whose knees he bucked with his bull rush. 

For Comeback Player of the Year, Joe Burrow made a strong case, but J.K. Dobbins’ return from an Achilles tear—after playing just one game last season—stood out. Dobbins’ return to form was a more compelling comeback story than Burrow's. Aaron Rodgers was also considered but didn’t perform at the same level post-injury. He came back but came back average --for him. 

The Most Improved Player, an award recognized by the PFWA but not the AP, was an easy choice: Zach Baun. After being a part-time role player with the Saints, Baun transformed with his new team into a versatile, all-around force on defense.

Finally, the Coach of the Year decision came down to Jim Harbaugh of the Chargers and Dan Quinn of the Commanders. Both led remarkable comeback seasons for their respective teams, but Quinn dug his out of a bigger hole.

Will Marshal Yanda Get His Gold Jacket Right Away?

By John Turney 

It's not surprising that Baltimore Ravens' All-Pro guard Marshal Yanda is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. But when the Hall's board of selectors meets this month, it would be surprising if he's inducted ... and not because he's doesn't have a good case.

No, it may because of the position he plays -- guard.

Of the 13 modern-era offensive linemen enshrined on their first attempt, only three primarily have been guards -- Gene Upshaw, John Hannah and Larry Allen. One other -- Bruce Matthews -- played a significant part of his career as a guard but played eight of his 17 seasons at center or tackle.

If you count him, that's four.

Now compare that to the seven tackles who've been first-ballot Hall-of-Famers. Theoretically, the two should be equal. There are as many guards as tackles on a football field. But, as the numbers indicate, equal they're not. Yet, when Yanda retired, his coach called him a "first-ballot player." Others at the time did, too.

So can he beat the odds and become the fourth pure guard to reach Canton on his first try?

Let's explore.

First, Yanda did play some at tackle. So did Larry Allen. But it wasn't enough time not to consider him a guard. Plus, there were others who played guard but spent the majority of their careers at other positions, such as Hall-of-Famers Jim Parker and Forrest Gregg. So Yanda is ... and should be considered ... a guard, and, as such, he was voted to the NFL's all-decade team for the 2010s.

That's a good start when looking at a player's dominance. It means when Hall voters submitted their all-decade ballots, Yanda's name was on the majority of them ... as in one of the best.

Yanda was an All-Pro five times (twice by consensus) and went to eight Pro Bowls—the same number as Upshaw. And, like Upshaw, he played on a Super Bowl championship team.

Hmmm, All-Pro and a winner ... as in one of the best.

But Pro Bowls are not always an indication of the best players. After all, each conference selects three guards, so it's more a list of the top six -- or eight, if someone is hurt and replaced. Consensus All-Pros are a better barometer. They traditionally mean a player is one of the top two guards on at least two of the three recognized teams. Twice Yanda reached that level, and in three other seasons he made at least one of them.

This translates into Yanda being one of the very best.

But there is more. Consider what his opponents and teammates think. In the NFL's annual poll of players for its "NFL's Top 100" program, Yanda four times was named the NFL's highest-ranking guard.

Highest-ranking ... as in the best.

"He's technical, he's tough, he's strong and he's a monster," said the Packers' Pro Bowl defensive lineman, Mike Daniels.

Rams' defensive tackle Michael Brockers, on the other hand, was more impressed with his Yanda's intelligence.

"It's a mind game with him," he said. "You're playing checkers. and he's playing chess."

Then there's Packers' Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton, who talked about Yanda's grit.

"Toughness is the first word when you think about Marshal," he said. "He just doesn't get beat."

However, it was future Hall-of-Famer Cam Heyward of the Steelers who had the highest praise of the Ravens' star guard, saying, "Hands down, he's THE best guard in the NFL."

As in the best.

Yanda was someone who could be counted on. He would play hurt and do what coaches asked of him. When one of the Ravens' tackles was sidelined by injury, for instance, he moved over to replace him. Without complaint.

Then there was the year when he injured a shoulder and switched from the right to the left side of the line so he could get on the field. The move allowed him to protect his injured shoulder and still perform at a high level. 

"The way he can play every position," said Heward, "there is no dropoff (in play)." 

But, toughness was what was expected when the Ravens chose the Iowa lineman in the third round (86th overall) of the 2007 NFL draft, and that's what they got. But if that's not enough for you. Maybe you're into analytics and internet sites like Pro Football Focus (PFF). If you are ... and Marshal Yanda is your guy .. you'll be pleased.

"Yanda spent his entire 13-year career in Baltimore," PFF said,"and produced a PFF grade above 80.0 in every one of those seasons. While he was a guard for most of his career, he started at right tackle as a rookie and was one of the best in the league, so he very well could have been a Hall of Fame-caliber tackle, too."

The PFF grade for his career was 93.0 on 12,257 snaps -- the second highest for any Ravens' player since the organization was established. Five times he made their All-Pro team, while he reached the second-team a sixth year and twice was named PFF's top offensive lineman. Guard, center, tackle. It didn't matter. 

As in the best.

OK, so maybe PFF is not your cup of tea. Then let's check out Proscout, Inc., the independent scouting firm that graded all NFL players since the mid-1970s. Yanda received a grade of "blue" (their highest) in nine of 13 seasons. 

"Best offensive guard technician," founder Mike Giddings said of the 6-3, 315-pounder. "Angles won most run blocks. Pass-protection is an elite combination of 'slide and hand pop.' Sound plus quick plus tough. Twice No. 1 (in their evaluations)"

Number one. As in the best. 

When he retired, Hall-of-Fame linebacker Ray Lewis told the media, "When you think about who you would want as a teammate, Marshal is at the top of the list. His effort every day to be the best at his craft was amazing to watch. Every time he stepped on the field, you knew you were getting everything he had." 

"Top of the list," as in the best.

Again.

It's clear that Marshal Yanda will have a bust in Canton someday. The only question is when. When you look closely at his career, first-ballot doesn't seem out of the question. However, history tells us to beware. He was a guard, and voters are slow to act on them.

So stay tuned. We'll all find out Thursday, February 13, when the Hall's Class of 2025 is revealed. 

State Your Case: Is Bucs' Mike Evans a First-Ballot Hall of Famer Waiting to Happen?

By John Turney 

A few weeks agi, after a nine-catch, two-touchdown, 159-yard performance two weekends ago, Tampa Bay wide receiver Mike Evans received the highest praise from coach Todd Bowles, and it had nothing to do with Evans' play that afternoon.

It had to do with his career.

"I think he's a guaranteed Hall of Famer," Bowles said. "He steps up and plays big. You can't put a price on what he does for this team from a mental standpoint, from a physical standpoint and from a team standpoint.

"He is everything that a player aspires to be from a mental aspect. He's tough. He does great in the community. He takes care of his body. He comes up big with plays, whether they're singling him or doubling him, and he blocks. We can't ask for anything more than what he is giving us right now."

Bowles' comments didn't go unnoticed, especially on social media. Among those who responded was Brett Kollmann, who's familiar to those who frequent YouTube or X. He has over 400,000 on the former and nearly 160,000 on X. So, his opinion matters.

Anyway, he didn't question what Bowles had to say; he simply took things a step farther.

"I don't think the question is: Is Mike Evans is a first-ballot Hall of Famer?" he said. "I think the question is: How many receivers in NFL history are in front of him? It ain't many." 

Some of his followers agreed, while there was pushback from others -- most notably, NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal, who pointed to a glaring hole in Evans' career bound to provoke debate when he becomes a Hall-of-Fame candidate.

"Never been a first team All Pro," Rosenthal said, "and only second team twice. I love Mike Evans and think he'll make the HOF as a far more exciting section of the Art Monk/Tim Brown compiler wing. But if he's never been top-2 in a given year, I'm going 'many' "

So, which is it?  Or is it even an "either-or?" Or maybe something more nuanced than that? 

Let's take a look.

Since entering the NFL as the seventh overall pick in the 2014 draft, Evans has been a model of durability and consistency. To wit, last year he became the first player in NFL history to start his career with eleven consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, a feat unmatched by the greatest receivers with names like Rice, Alworth, Moss, Owens, Harrison, etc.

Not only that, but he had his sixth double-digit season in that category, too. And if he does, he joins Randy Moss, Jerry Rice (both with nine), Marvin Harrison, Terrell Owens (eight), Cris Carter and Davante Adams (six) as the only receivers to reach that pinnacle.

In his 11 seasons, Evans has already surpassed 100 career touchdowns -- a milestone only a dozen receivers (including tight ends) reached in the NFL's 100-plus-year history. In fact, only seven of the 35 Hall-of-Fame wide receivers have that many.

Taken together, those all seem like Hall-of-Fame numbers.

But then there's the question of the "1,000" season not being what it used to be. Since the NFL expanded games from 14 to 16 in 1978, it made it easier to get there. The same was true when the NFL went from 12 to 14 games in 1961. The "1,000-yard" threshold was notable then because it was rare.

Now it's almost routine. 

From 1920-60, only 17 players did it a total of 21 times. Through 1977, the last year there was a 14-game schedule, it happened 105 times. But since 1978, 839 players produced 1,000-yard receiving seasons (including tight ends and running backs) ... and, keep in mind, that includes 87 since 2021 -- the 17-game era. With two games left this season, that number will grow, as a dozen or more players are within striking distance.

The point? Perhaps Evans' streak shows more about consistency than anything else as in being there ... answering the bell ... reliability. No question, four of his seasons featured 1,200 or more yards, or what might be considered an All-Pro level. But a couple just inched over the 1,000 barrier, and while those might considered good seasons, they're not elite.

What can be seen now is that Evans' blend of size and exceptional ball-tracking ability has made him a nightmare matchup for opposing defenses. If you go strictly by "the eye test," one has to conclude that Evans is special; someone's defenses must target.

And they should.

His height (6-feet-5) is rare for a wideout. Only two others (Hall-of-Famer Calvin Johnson and Brandon Marshall) have been that tall and produce 10,000 or more yards receiving in their careers. However, Evans is the only wide receiver at that height with 100 TD catches.

But he's not just big; he also has excellent speed for someone his size, turning in a 4.53-second 40 at the 2014 NFL combine. That makes him a deceptively effective deep receiver, as the numbers illustrate: He has a career yards-per-catch average of 15.3.

Is that good? Well, Moss's career average was 15.6, and Megatron's was 15.9. For this era, it absolutely is. He's also a smooth route runner and physical receiver. Few, if any, are better at getting the ball -- winning the "50-50" throws.

But there's more.

Evans also has the jewelry. He was Tom Brady's top target for the Super Bowl-winning Bucs in 2020 ... and what a relief for someone who spent a half-dozen years slogging away with the wildly inconsistent Jameis Winston. Once the G.O.A.T. arrived, it was right to the playoffs ... and beyond. 

The Buccaneers went on to trounce Kansas City, 31-9, in Super Bowl LV. 

But what about Rosenthal's point that Evans never made first-team All-Pro a single time and was a second-teamer just twice? It's a strong rebuttal to a first-ballot claim. On All-Pro teams recognized by the Hall of Fame, first-ballot wide receivers average just over five first-team All-Pro years each. 

That's a lot more than none. 

On the other hand, it wouldn't affect his eventually being inducted because it hasn't hurt others. Andre Reed was never a first-team All-Pro, and nine other Gold Jacket recipients were first-team All-Pro just once. So Evans would have plenty of company.

Additionally, Evans had five Pro Bowl invitations, or more than these post-1960 Hall of Famers: Cliff Branch, Bobby Mitchell, Don Maynard, Harold Carmichael, Isaac Bruce, Lynn Swann, Art Monk, Bob Hayes, John Stallworth and Charlie Joiner. If it was enough for them, it should be enough for Evans.

But it wouldn't be enough for the first ballot. At least not now. But that could change.

Here's how: For one, next year Larry Fitzgerald will be eligible for the Hall of Fame for the first time. He went to a pile of Pro Bowls (11) but was a first-team All-Pro once and second-team twice when you count just AP teams -- although you can bump that up to two All-Pros if you include the Sporting News (which the Hall of Fame recognizes). 

In either case, it's not to the level of what stars like Rice, Alworth, et. al., accomplished. Nonetheless, Fitzgerald just might make it right away and be part of the Class of 2026. He's not a lock, but it's possible because of the numbers he amassed -- 1,432 receptions, 17,492 yards and 121 touchdowns. That's above and beyond and likely will mitigate the lack of multiple first-team nominations.

So how would that relate to Mike Evans? Easy: Fitzgerald caught over 500 passes for over 5,000 yards and 32 touchdowns from the time he was 32 through the end of his career, a total of six seasons. Evans turns 32 next year, and if he were to play as long as and be as productive as Fitzgerald, his career numbers would be nearly identical.

If we "ballpark" them," we might come up with something around 1,300-1,400 receptions and over 17,000 yards and 120-130 TD grabs for Evans.  With those numbers, Hall voters would have to give him first-ballot consideration -- if, indeed, they do the same with Larry Fitzgerald.

I know, we're way out in the world of "what if," but that scenario would fulfill Kollaman's opinion/prediction. Barring that, though, it seems Rosenthal's thinking would prevail. Until then, we can enjoy watching Mike Evans play and hope that what we see is what we continue to get for years ... because Mike Evans is special.

That's one opinion that isn't debatable. 

State Your Case: Remember Rams' Strongman Duane Putnam? Someone Should.

By John Turney 

Duane Putnam (61)

There are multiple tiers to becoming an NFL all-star, from all-conference to Pro Bowl to first-team All-Pro, a pinnacle reserved for the absolute best at each position. And if an individual is named to most ... or all ... recognized All-Pro teams, he can circle the bases.

And become a consensus All-Pro. 

Each level is increasingly difficult to achieve, demanding near-universal recognition of a player's talent -- which brings us to former Los Angeles Rams' guard Duane Putnam.  He played in the 1950s and not only was a first-team All-Pro five times; he was also a consensus All-Pro in three of those seasons. 

So why does that matter? Because his accolades match or exceed those of Hall-of-Fame guards Gene Upshaw, Gene Hickerson, Mike Munchak, Will Shields, Stan Jones and Tom Mack. In fact, he trails only Billy Shaw, Jerry Kramer and Russ Grimm by one consensus All-Pro nod. 

But wait. Duane Putnam? Who's he?

It's a fair question. A dominant player of his era, his name isn't widely known nor remembered. Yet, he was one of the premier guards of the 1950s, and his story deserves recognition. 

So let's hear it.

After graduating from Antioch High School in 1946, Putnam enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in the First Cavalry for two years before enrolling the College of the Pacific (now the University of the Pacific). As a senior, he was an honorable mention All-American and earned AP's All-Coast honors, along with some players you might know -- Frank Gifford, Ollie Matson, Hugh McElhenny, Gino Marchetti and Les Richter. 

Chosen by Pittsburgh in the sixth round of the 1952 NFL draft, Putnam was traded to the Rams where he initially served as a backup. But at 6 feet tall and 217 pounds, he wasn’t physically imposing by NFL standards. So something had to give ... and something did.

Through hard work. 

While doing graduate work at UCLA, he trained with one of the school's shot putters (something Putnam did in high school and college). Convinced that weight training wouldn't "tie him up" nor make him musclebound, he learned he could hoist barbells and still retain his running ability. As such, he became one of the first NFL players to adopt weight training as part of his regimen, defying the conventional coaching wisdom of that time.

Duane Putnam (61)

Alongside a pair of other NFL weightlifting pioneers of the 1950s -- Stan Jones of the Bears and Jack Stroud of the Giants -- Putnam proved that strength training could enhance performance rather than hinder it. Adding 20 pounds of muscle for his second season, he not only earned a starting spot with the Rams; he held it for the next seven seasons. 

 Putnam's unique combination of speed and newfound strength made him an ideal pulling guard. He excelled at leading sweeps, clearing paths for running backs Dan Towler, Tank Younger, Ron Waller, Jon Arnett and Ollie Matson and earning the praise of legendary coach Sid Gillman.

"Putnam has no peer playing offensive guard," Gillman said. "I have not seen any guards his equal." 

During Putnam's eight seasons with the Rams, the team led the NFL in numerous offensive categories. No team scored more points. No team ran for more yards. No team had a higher average per rush. No team passed for more yards or had more total yards. And only one allowed fewer sack yards. 

The Rams ran the ball effectively and efficiently and threw it without putting their quarterbacks at risk, and Putnam was one reason why. On a team with numerous stars, he was its only offensive lineman chosen as an All-Pro.

But why, then, isn’t he ever mentioned as a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame? He's never been a finalist and never made it beyond the preliminary lists as a modern-era or senior candidate. Yet his accolades speak for themselves.

What are voters missing?

One possible explanation is that he wasn't named to the 1950s' all-decade team, though that may be an anomaly. When the Hall of Fame announced all-decade teams, the format was different than it is now. Despite having three quarterbacks, three halfbacks and five receivers (three ends and two flankers), only two guards, two tackles and one center were named.

Basically, blockers got the short shrift. It was easier to be recognized if you threw, ran or caught the ball.

Nevertheless, when legendary writer Paul Zimmerman revisited all-decade selections decades later, he included Putnam on his revised team for Sports Illustrated, as did Pro Football Reference -- arguably the top sports statistical site on the internet. Both recognized that, while the Hall's all-decade teams have value, they're not without flaws and could ... .and should ... be corrected, with Putnam one of the most prominent omissions.

But there may have been other reasons he was given the cold shoulder by past Hall voters. An independent thinker who often prioritized personal commitments over rigid football schedules, he opted to play in the 1957 Hula Bowl— which, at that time, featured a team with Hawaiian college players, military players and NFL stars vs. one of college stars. 

No problem there. Over the years, NFL players accepted the Hula Bowl invitation, took the free trip to Hawaii, earned a paycheck, then returned to  Los Angeles for the Pro Bowl. But in 1957, Putnam did not return ... at least not immediately. Staying in Hawaii to spend time with his wife and family, he missed his first Pro Bowl practice .

That was a problem. 

In fact, it angered NFL officials so much they declined to let him play in the Pro Bowl -- and incident marked the beginning of the end for a junket valued by NFL players. When Gifford went through the same ordeal the following year, the Hula Bowl by 1960 became more like other all-star games that fielded only college players (Hall-of-Famer Bobby Layne threw five touchdowns in the final game under that format in 1959).

Another example of Putnam's independence was his refusal to abide by Gillman's training rules that, among other things, forbid drinking in training camp. Putnam did it anyway, as did others. The difference was that Putnam wasn't discreet. He did it openly.

Then, In his final year in Los Angeles, Putnam was found by young Rams' executive Pete Rozelle in the team's hotel lobby after curfew. Told by the future NFL commissioner to retire to his room, Putnam refused. Rozelle wasn't amused, and so -- without consulting Gillman -- sent him home.

With that as a background, it was no surprise that the Rams left Putnam unprotected in the 1960 expansion pool of players available to the newly-former Dallas Cowboys. The club quickly grabbed him and made him the franchise's first starting left guard, with Putnam playing so well that he made UPI honorable mention All-Pro for a winless team.

He was the only Cowboys' player to earn All-Pro votes and one of only two to gain any recognition. 

But Putnam's independence continued to clash with team structures, with the Cowboys in 1961 refusing to accommodate his annual football camp for kids in Susanville, Cal. They wanted him in camp; he wanted to help the children. All got a reprieve when future Cleveland's Hall-of-Fame guard, Gene Hickerson, broke his leg in preseason, and the Browns acquired Putnam in a trade for a third-round draft pick.

In Cleveland, Putnam played the role of the famed messenger guard, helping Jim Brown secure another rushing title. But, by the next summer, it was deja vue all over again. He wanted to report to the Browns after his youth football camp ended (the camp was his passion), and the Browns, like the Cowboys, weren't about to go for it. 

So they released the 11-year veteran, allowing Putnam to finish his career with the Rams under his former teammates, Bob Waterfield (coach) and Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch (GM). Gillman and Rozelle were gone, with Gillman coaching the AFL Chargers and Rozelle moving to the league office in New York. But that wasn't the only change. The Rams were a disaster, with Waterfield fired after eight games and the team finishing an NFL-worst 1-12-1.

The following summer. Putnam retired.

He then went on to coach offensive lines at Los Angeles Valley Junior College, then at three NFL teams (Falcons, Eagles and Cardinals) over 12 years and work briefly with the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League. He even doubled as the Falcons' strength coach in the early 1970s, getting the team's linemen to engage in strength training as he had a generation earlier. 

It was a tremendous, albeit unknown, career. No question, his final seasons were marked by friction with authority figures, but that doesn't diminish his legacy as a player ... and that's what matters.

Was Putnam difficult? Perhaps. Or maybe he was a military veteran who simply refused to let football dictate every aspect of his life.  What isn’t debatable is his talent. Duane Putnam was a five-time first-team All-Pro, key member of one of the NFL’s most dominant offenses -- the 1950s' L.A. Rams --  and a player who helped change how NFL players approached strength training. 

When you watch film of him, you see one of the finest pulling guards in NFL history -- a player who deserves to be remembered among the all-time greats and, at the very least, have his case heard by the Pro Football Hall's seniors committee. 

 But not because I say so. Because his play demands it.

Packers Play From Behind in Philly

 By Eric Goska

(screenshot from NFL Game Pass)

The early bird gets the worm.

On Sunday, that quick-striking fowl hailed from Philadelphia. The Eagles, the No. 2 seed in the NFC, swooped in at the outset, forcing a turnover that led to a touchdown as they soared past the No. 7 Packers 22-10 in a Wild Card game at Lincoln Financial Field.

Every NFL team wants to start fast. The Eagles provided a crash course in how to do that.

Philadelphia linebacker Oren Burks forced Keisean Nixon to fumble when he slammed into the return specialist on the opening kickoff. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. recovered, and the Eagles were in business at the Green Bay 28-yard line.

Saquon Barkley gained 17 on two carries to reach the 11. From there, Jalen Hurts hit Jahan Dotson in the end zone and Philadelphia went up 7-0 after just 99 seconds of play.

The Eagles have played 52 postseasons games since entering the NFL in 1933. Only once before – that in January 2003 on a 20-yard Duce Staley run with 52 seconds elapsed – has Philadelphia scored earlier in a playoff game.

The Packers have played 64 postseason games. Only once previously had they surrendered points so close to the start of a contest.

On Dec. 26, 1965, Colts cornerback Lenny Lyles forced Bill Anderson to fumble after the end had snagged a Bart Starr pass. Don Shinnick scooped up the loose ball and reached paydirt with just 21 seconds having come off the clock.

Green Bay rallied to win that game, 13-10 in overtime. No such comeback took place in Philadelphia.

The Packers, unable to get their offense in gear, trailed for 58 minutes, 21 seconds. Never have they floundered longer in a playoff game, coming closest on Jan. 9, 2005 when they played from behind for 58:20 in a 31-17 loss to the Vikings.

Those early birds from the City of Brotherly Love got their initial first down on their first offensive play. They scored a touchdown two plays later.

The Packers, meanwhile, went scoreless in the first half for only the fifth time in the playoffs. They notched their first points – a third-quarter field goal by Brandon McManus – with 39:14 already  in the books.

That’s a long wait. The longest in franchise history. The previous mark had been 36:16 when the 49ers drubbed them 37-20 behind Raheem Mostert’s 220 rushing yards on Jan. 19, 2020.

Jordan Love
(photo by Eric Goska)

The reasons the Pack failed in Philly are many. One shortcoming: a passing game that established an all-time low.

Jordan Love completed 20 of 33 passes for 212 yards. He failed to throw a touchdown pass while pitching three interceptions to earn a passer rating of 41.5.

No passer in Packers playoff history (minimum 15 attempts) had ever sunk so low. Scott Hunter had come the closest with a 52.4 in a 16-3 loss to the Redskins in 1972.

Since 2000, 50 quarterbacks have earned a passer rating below 50 in a playoff game per Stathead at Pro Football Reference. Their combined record in those games was a dismal 7-43.

Love, it appears, was at a loss when his team crossed midfield. In plays run on Green Bay’s side of the field, he completed 17 of 21 throws for 201 yards and one pick (89.6 rating). In Eagles territory, No. 10 completed just 3 of 12 passes for 11 yards with two picks (0.0 rating).

This isn’t to say Love lost the game for Green Bay. Anyone who saw what transpired can recite the litany of errors the Packers made in all three phases of the game.

But Love and the offense needed to play better, even after losing receivers Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed to injury in the third quarter. Because they did not, Green Bay spent what seemed like an eternity in football purgatory.

Extra point: Hurts became the first quarterback to throw a touchdown pass on his initial pass attempt against Green Bay in a playoff game. Two non-quarterbacks – running back Dan Reeves in the Ice Bowl and punter Jon Ryan in Seattle – reached the end zone on their first and only throws in 1967 and 2015, respectively.

Behind the 8 Ball
The four playoff games in which the Packers trailed for more than 55 minutes.

Trail	Date	Opponent	Result
58:21	Jan. 12, 2025	Eagles	GB lost, 10-22
58:20	Jan. 9, 2005	Vikings	GB lost, 17-31
57:41	Dec. 26, 1965	Colts	GB won, 13-10 (OT)
56:07	Jan. 8, 1995	Cowboys	GB lost, 9-35