I just had a very disturbing thought. For my whole life I was able to look forward to future happy events. For the Rams, I saw Marshall Faulk and thought, "I can't wait to see him inducted into the Hall of Fame." I hoped that for Kurt Warner, Torry Holy, Isaac Bruce, and Big O.
I see Aaron Donald as a once in a generation player. Although different positional players, I saw Gayle Sayers as a HOF player, even though he had such a short career. He was head and shoulders above every player at his position, just as Aaron Donald is as Defensive Tackle. He is changing the requirements of a 3Tech. DT. Literally, there has never been a DT with as much natural talent, fierceness, and work ethic. Chris Long recently said that they jokingly called AD a HOFer in his first training camp in St Louis, but he really wasn't kidding.
So no hedging. Aaron Donald is a Hall of Famer right now if he never played another snap in the NFL.
But, my personal problem is that AD shows no signs of slowing down and he is healthy/strong as a bull. I bet he plays at least 5-7 years more at a high level. If he retired after 7 years, it would take an additional 5 years for him to enter 1st ballot into the Hall of Fame. Twelve years from now, I'd be 67 years old. This is older than any male direct ancestor of mine since 1800, so it's not likely I will be around to see him don the Gold jacket, and that makes me a little sad, and feeling very mortal. :death:
I see Aaron Donald as a once in a generation player. Although different positional players, I saw Gayle Sayers as a HOF player, even though he had such a short career. He was head and shoulders above every player at his position, just as Aaron Donald is as Defensive Tackle. He is changing the requirements of a 3Tech. DT. Literally, there has never been a DT with as much natural talent, fierceness, and work ethic. Chris Long recently said that they jokingly called AD a HOFer in his first training camp in St Louis, but he really wasn't kidding.
So no hedging. Aaron Donald is a Hall of Famer right now if he never played another snap in the NFL.
But, my personal problem is that AD shows no signs of slowing down and he is healthy/strong as a bull. I bet he plays at least 5-7 years more at a high level. If he retired after 7 years, it would take an additional 5 years for him to enter 1st ballot into the Hall of Fame. Twelve years from now, I'd be 67 years old. This is older than any male direct ancestor of mine since 1800, so it's not likely I will be around to see him don the Gold jacket, and that makes me a little sad, and feeling very mortal. :death:
