Hall of Fame weekend is a reminder of how criminally underrated Isaac Bruce is

[JKBOGEN]

Hall of Fame weekend is a reminder of how criminally underrated Isaac Bruce is

February 3, 2018
By:
Jake Ellenbogen

The Hall of Fame is here once again and it's just about the time for the Rams legendary WR Isaac Bruce to be snubbed once again. When you talk about the Hall of Fame and you talk about Wide receivers, the two just don't go together. It took former leading receiver Art Monk forever to finally get in the Hall. Bruce retired as the second all-time in receiving, only behind the Greatest of All Time, Jerry Rice. So, Bruce has been snubbed consistently since his eligibility in 2015. Why should we believe today won't be any different?

Bruce has remained humble throughout this whole process but lately, you can tell it's starting to get ridiculous to him. Bruce has recently gone on NFL Network and talked about how he checks all of the boxes of being a Hall of Fame receiver and of course, he said he's been a Hall of Famer since 1994, his rookie year. This is not even going to be about Terrell Owens or Randy Moss. Quite honestly, Moss is probably better than both but the overall issue is how much higher Owens and Moss are placed above Bruce. It's easy to forget that Bruce is one of the greatest route runners of all time and the greatest one of all, everyone puts such a premium on Super Bowl rings but are we going to look away from the fact Bruce stepped up to the plate and helped his team win a Super Bowl while Owens and Moss could not do enough to win one?

The comedy of this whole thing is that you have media like ESPN who had their own Hall of Fame vote and Bruce amounted just nine votes out of 675. That's just absolutely appalling. If you need a reminder,

Bruce...

- Averaged more yards per reception than Terrell Owens

- Had the most dominant single-season out of all three of the WR finalists back in 1995 with minimal QB talent (Chris Miller & Mark Rypien)

- Proved before the Greatest Show on Turf he was a dominant receiver putting together good seasons with Tony Banks at QB

- Was only 54 receptions away from Terrell Owens career total and had 42 more receptions than Randy Moss

- Only had 104 less yards from scrimmage than Randy Moss

- Had to share opportunities/targets with Marshall Faulk (470 receptions, 4,071 receiving yards & 85 total touchdowns) and Torry Holt (805 receptions, 11,864 receiving yards & 71 receiving TD's)

Perhaps, maybe Bruce was in the wrong because he didn't do flashy celebrations of taking a pen out of his sock, pouring popcorn into his face-mask or pretending to moon the audience. Perhaps, being a humble and quiet receiver and a non-diva like Bruce was, doesn't get you enough pull with the voters. Look, the most obnoxious argument anyone can make against Bruce is when you penalize him for being in the Greatest Show on Turf. If anything, all the Greatest Show on Turf did for his stats was suppress them. Just between Holt and Faulk, they had a total of 1,275 receptions, 15,935 receiving yards and 156 total touchdowns. That isn't even including the 6,959 yards rushing by Faulk either. Clearly, Bruce is not far off from Owens and Moss even with the massive production split among future Hall of Fame WR Torry Holt and Hall of Fame RB Marshall Faulk. You also can't forget Steven Jackson's 5,000-plus total yards and 36 total touchdowns.

Owens, during his best single-season in 2001 had Garrison Hearst to split production with. After that, J.J. Stokes, who only had 585 receiving yards. Moss' best season with the Vikings he split production with Moe Williams, Kelly Campbell and Nate Burleson. Certainly, not anyone like the Greatest Show on Turf. Moss' best season with 23 touchdowns in New England, he only really had to split production with Wes Welker and Brady ended up throwing 50 touchdowns that season. Sure, being the guy with only a supporting cast around you makes it harder with constant double-teams but when we are talking Hall of Fame caliber players, that should be no problem and they should end up being force-fed the ball. It's quite honestly why Bruce fell short of 100 touchdowns while Owens and Moss had over 150. Impressive, yes, but Bruce also proved he could dominate with lesser talent at the QB spot and no supporting cast around him.

Regardless, when the Hall of Fame class of 2018 is announced tonight it will not be a shock to once again hear more players being put in front of Bruce, who has now waited his turn and will watch as players who have retired in 2012-2013 walk across the stage and be officially enshrined in Canton. Something about that should leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth, but the media's total disregard for Isaac Bruce has been the catalyst to the blatant disrespect he has received from the Hall of Fame. It's easy to say "Oh he will make it someday" it's also easy to look up and see the next wave of receivers that will take priority over him like Calvin Johnson & Larry Fitzgerald, that's not even mentioning the players, in general, that will take priority over Bruce such as Ed Reed, Champ Bailey & Tony Gonzalez. It's not going to be easy and it definitely isn't fair that Bruce will have to continue to wait but that's why he's one of the most criminally underrated players to ever play the game.

 

[Memento]

Damn straight. Bruce, Holt, and Jackson should all be in the Hall.

 

[DaveFan'51]

Hall of Fame weekend is a reminder of how criminally underrated Isaac Bruce is

February 3, 2018
By:
Jake Ellenbogen

The Hall of Fame is here once again and it's just about the time for the Rams legendary WR Isaac Bruce to be snubbed once again. When you talk about the Hall of Fame and you talk about Wide receivers, the two just don't go together. It took former leading receiver Art Monk forever to finally get in the Hall. Bruce retired as the second all-time in receiving, only behind the Greatest of All Time, Jerry Rice. So, Bruce has been snubbed consistently since his eligibility in 2015. Why should we believe today won't be any different?

Bruce has remained humble throughout this whole process but lately, you can tell it's starting to get ridiculous to him. Bruce has recently gone on NFL Network and talked about how he checks all of the boxes of being a Hall of Fame receiver and of course, he said he's been a Hall of Famer since 1994, his rookie year. This is not even going to be about Terrell Owens or Randy Moss. Quite honestly, Moss is probably better than both but the overall issue is how much higher Owens and Moss are placed above Bruce. It's easy to forget that Bruce is one of the greatest route runners of all time and the greatest one of all, everyone puts such a premium on Super Bowl rings but are we going to look away from the fact Bruce stepped up to the plate and helped his team win a Super Bowl while Owens and Moss could not do enough to win one?

The comedy of this whole thing is that you have media like ESPN who had their own Hall of Fame vote and Bruce amounted just nine votes out of 675. That's just absolutely appalling. If you need a reminder,

Bruce...

- Averaged more yards per reception than Terrell Owens

- Had the most dominant single-season out of all three of the WR finalists back in 1995 with minimal QB talent (Chris Miller & Mark Rypien)

- Proved before the Greatest Show on Turf he was a dominant receiver putting together good seasons with Tony Banks at QB

- Was only 54 receptions away from Terrell Owens career total and had 42 more receptions than Randy Moss

- Only had 104 less yards from scrimmage than Randy Moss

- Had to share opportunities/targets with Marshall Faulk (470 receptions, 4,071 receiving yards & 85 total touchdowns) and Torry Holt (805 receptions, 11,864 receiving yards & 71 receiving TD's)

Perhaps, maybe Bruce was in the wrong because he didn't do flashy celebrations of taking a pen out of his sock, pouring popcorn into his face-mask or pretending to moon the audience. Perhaps, being a humble and quiet receiver and a non-diva like Bruce was, doesn't get you enough pull with the voters. Look, the most obnoxious argument anyone can make against Bruce is when you penalize him for being in the Greatest Show on Turf. If anything, all the Greatest Show on Turf did for his stats was suppress them. Just between Holt and Faulk, they had a total of 1,275 receptions, 15,935 receiving yards and 156 total touchdowns. That isn't even including the 6,959 yards rushing by Faulk either. Clearly, Bruce is not far off from Owens and Moss even with the massive production split among future Hall of Fame WR Torry Holt and Hall of Fame RB Marshall Faulk. You also can't forget Steven Jackson's 5,000-plus total yards and 36 total touchdowns.

Owens, during his best single-season in 2001 had Garrison Hearst to split production with. After that, J.J. Stokes, who only had 585 receiving yards. Moss' best season with the Vikings he split production with Moe Williams, Kelly Campbell and Nate Burleson. Certainly, not anyone like the Greatest Show on Turf. Moss' best season with 23 touchdowns in New England, he only really had to split production with Wes Welker and Brady ended up throwing 50 touchdowns that season. Sure, being the guy with only a supporting cast around you makes it harder with constant double-teams but when we are talking Hall of Fame caliber players, that should be no problem and they should end up being force-fed the ball. It's quite honestly why Bruce fell short of 100 touchdowns while Owens and Moss had over 150. Impressive, yes, but Bruce also proved he could dominate with lesser talent at the QB spot and no supporting cast around him.

Regardless, when the Hall of Fame class of 2018 is announced tonight it will not be a shock to once again hear more players being put in front of Bruce, who has now waited his turn and will watch as players who have retired in 2012-2013 walk across the stage and be officially enshrined in Canton. Something about that should leave a bad taste in everyone's mouth, but the media's total disregard for Isaac Bruce has been the catalyst to the blatant disrespect he has received from the Hall of Fame. It's easy to say "Oh he will make it someday" it's also easy to look up and see the next wave of receivers that will take priority over him like Calvin Johnson & Larry Fitzgerald, that's not even mentioning the players, in general, that will take priority over Bruce such as Ed Reed, Champ Bailey & Tony Gonzalez. It's not going to be easy and it definitely isn't fair that Bruce will have to continue to wait but that's why he's one of the most criminally underrated players to ever play the game.

I would love to see the Hall of Fame Snub T.O. and Moss, and Put B-R-U-U-U-C-E in!!! But you know it won't happen! But a guy can wish!!

 

[lockdnram21]

Ive said it time and time again no way should be go in before either of the 2.... Looks like both Moss and T.o finally get in.... Bruce will probably get in next year

 

[Loyal]

Per Downtown Rams (Jake Ellenbogan), Bruce got shafted this year. Keep showing them your ring, Rev Ike!

 

[Memento]

Ive said it time and time again no way should be go in before either of the 2.... Looks like both Moss and T.o finally get in.... Bruce will probably get in next year

Hey, long time, no see! How's life treating you?

 

[RamDino]

One of the problems might be that when we think of the GSOT, we think of Faulk and Warner, not Ike. But the facts are that Bruce deserves just as much credit for that greatest show on offense as anyone else does.

 

[lockdnram21]

Hey, long time, no see! How's life treating you?

Fine.... This time of year I'm glued to NBA. lol

Basketballs my first love....footballs .y mistress lmao

 

[lockdnram21]

View: https://twitter.com/LeadingNFL/status/959927673576349696?ref_src=twcamp%5Ecopy%7Ctwsrc%5Eandroid%7Ctwgr%5Ecopy%7Ctwcon%5E7090%7Ctwterm%5E3

 

[lockdnram21]

lol

 

[JKBOGEN]

Yeah I wrote this article the way I did because I knew Bruce had zero chance. He will hopefully get in next year.

 

[Loyal]

Yeah I wrote this article the way I did because I knew Bruce had zero chance. He will hopefully get in next year.

or is he the next Art Monk? Monk retired after the 1995 season and didn't get inducted until 2008.

 

[OldSchool]

A quivering chunk of S*&* like TO gets in and Ike gets the shaft. Faith in the NFL falling.

 

[Loyal]

A quivering chunk of S*&* like TO gets in and Ike gets the shaft. Faith in the NFL falling.

HOMER! ~ LACHAMP46

 

[Prime Time]

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/02/03/full-list-and-details-of-hall-of-fame-class-of-2018/

Full list and details of Hall of Fame Class of 2018
Posted by Charean Williams on February 3, 2018

It took Terrell Owens three years for his gold jacket. Randy Moss is in on the first ballot. The wide receivers will go into the Pro Football Hall of Fame together as part of the Class of 2018.

Owens and Moss are joined by safety Brian Dawkins, linebacker Ray Lewis, linebacker Brian Urlacher, seniors candidates Robert Brazile and Jerry Kramer and contributor Bobby Beathard in earning selection Saturday.

Lewis was the only lock on the list of 15 modern-era candidates, and selectors spent only six minutes discussing him. His 17 seasons, 31 interceptions, eight All-Pro selections, 13 Pro Bowls and two Super Bowl rings made his case.

Not surprisingly, the wide receivers elicited the most debate, with Owens the longest discussion of the day at 45 minutes, 23 seconds and Moss second at 34:42.

Both ended up making it, with comparable stats and comparable careers. It just took Owens a little longer, though some, including Owens, would argue it took two years longer than it should have.

Owens caught 1,078 passes for 15,934 yards and 153 touchdowns in 16 seasons, while Moss made 982 catches for 15,292 yards and 156 touchdowns.

Moss became the first receiver elected on the first ballot since Jerry Rice, who earned enshrinement in 2010.

Urlacher joined Moss and Lewis as a first-ballot Hall of Famer. Dawkins was in his second year of eligibility.

The 47 selectors took eight hours to debate the class, with the inductees getting at least 80 percent positive votes. Isaac Bruce, Joe Jacoby, Edgerrin James, John Lynch and Everson Walls failed to make the cut to 10, and Tony Boselli, Alan Faneca, Steve Hutchinson, Ty Law and Kevin Mawae were eliminated in the cutdown to five.

It was the 20th and final year of eligibility for Walls and Jacoby, with both now going to the seniors pool.

 

[HellRam]

I'd take Bruce over Owens any day of the week. Moss....that's a tougher choice. Owens remains one of the most overrated players ever, in my opinion.

 

[Angry Ram]

Too Overrated whined and complained on the field and whined and complained his way into the Hall of Fame.

Inflated stats because of playing on so many teams, many of those irrelevant.

Issac Bruce was on legit winning teams. Oh and he has a Super Bowl ring, too.

 

[tempests]

Lot of obnoxious, cancerous personalities already in the Hall, not to mention the felons and outright murderers.

TO was a diva, big deal. His numbers are as good as anybody's, there never was any basis to keep him out.

With him and Moss in, Bruce is the next WR in line. His wait is nearing an end.

 

[1maGoh]

Lot of obnoxious, cancerous personalities already in the Hall, not to mention the felons and outright murderers.

TO was a diva, big deal. His numbers are as good as anybody's, there never was any basis to keep him out.

With him and Moss in, Bruce is the next WR in line. His wait is nearing an end.

I believe Bruce retired the year before TO, so he was already the next wide receiver in line. He may be the next WR but still waiting until Calvin Johnson or some other big name comes along and becomes the next in line and he's waiting again.