The Pro Football Hall of Fame unveiled its 2019 class and yet another year
passes that Roger Craig is not getting enshrined.
passes that Roger Craig is not getting enshrined.
The 2019 class was announced Saturday night on the eve of Super Bowl XLIII
in Atlanta between the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots. The
latest edition of inductees are Ed Reid, Champ Bailey, Tony Gonzalez, Ty Law,
Kevin Mawae, Johnny Robinson, Gil Brandt and Pat Bowlen. Reid, Bailey and
Gonzalez made the cut in their first year of eligibility. Brandt and Bowlen made
the cut in the executive category for their work as Vice President of Player
Personnel with the Dallas Cowboys and owner of the Denver Broncos
respectively. The eight members will be enshrined in August.
in Atlanta between the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots. The
latest edition of inductees are Ed Reid, Champ Bailey, Tony Gonzalez, Ty Law,
Kevin Mawae, Johnny Robinson, Gil Brandt and Pat Bowlen. Reid, Bailey and
Gonzalez made the cut in their first year of eligibility. Brandt and Bowlen made
the cut in the executive category for their work as Vice President of Player
Personnel with the Dallas Cowboys and owner of the Denver Broncos
respectively. The eight members will be enshrined in August.
Before I get into Craig being deserving of enshrinement, I’d like to point out
that I have no issue with anyone in the current class being inducted. They are
all deserving. I can also make a point that several others who are not in the
Hall of Fame should be there. With Craig, however, the issue is personal to me.
that I have no issue with anyone in the current class being inducted. They are
all deserving. I can also make a point that several others who are not in the
Hall of Fame should be there. With Craig, however, the issue is personal to me.
I grew up in Northern California (Napa, CA to be exact) as a San Francisco 49er
fan and am a 1997 University of Nebraska graduate. The 49ers became the
revered dynasty that most people know them as today when I became old enough
to understand football. Keep in mind, I was born in 1972.
fan and am a 1997 University of Nebraska graduate. The 49ers became the
revered dynasty that most people know them as today when I became old enough
to understand football. Keep in mind, I was born in 1972.
The 49ers drafted Craig in the second round in 1983 from the University of
Nebraska. Three years later in 1986, the 49ers drafted Craig’s Cornhusker
teammate, Tom Rathman. Craig and Rathman are one of the most underrated
running back tandems in NFL history. I became a Nebraska fan and later earned
my Bachelor’s degree at NU, which is another story for another time.
Nebraska. Three years later in 1986, the 49ers drafted Craig’s Cornhusker
teammate, Tom Rathman. Craig and Rathman are one of the most underrated
running back tandems in NFL history. I became a Nebraska fan and later earned
my Bachelor’s degree at NU, which is another story for another time.
I had a great NFL team to root for in the 49ers, they have only been relevant for
three years (2011-2013) since 2002 but I digress. I just needed a good college
team to root for – but Cal and Stanford just didn’t do it for me. They still don’t.
USC has a great tradition in football. So does UCLA in basketball – but rooting
for a Southern California team was a hard sell for me. Well, it still is as much as
I respect their tradition.
three years (2011-2013) since 2002 but I digress. I just needed a good college
team to root for – but Cal and Stanford just didn’t do it for me. They still don’t.
USC has a great tradition in football. So does UCLA in basketball – but rooting
for a Southern California team was a hard sell for me. Well, it still is as much as
I respect their tradition.
I moved back to Northern California in 1998. Sorry, I can’t bring myself to saying
“NoCal” or “SoCal.” That sounds way too damn dorky. When I hear people those
terms, it sounds like a pipsqueak that has not reached puberty yet.
“NoCal” or “SoCal.” That sounds way too damn dorky. When I hear people those
terms, it sounds like a pipsqueak that has not reached puberty yet.
Back to Craig for the rest of this commentary. Craig was the first player in NFL
history to run and receive for at least 1,000 yards in the same season. He ran for
1,050 yards on 214 carries and led the NFL with 92 catches for 1,016 yards in
1985. He scored a team high 15 touchdowns.
history to run and receive for at least 1,000 yards in the same season. He ran for
1,050 yards on 214 carries and led the NFL with 92 catches for 1,016 yards in
1985. He scored a team high 15 touchdowns.
In 1988, Craig was named NFL Offensive Player of the Year by the Associated
Press. He ran for a career high 1,502 yards and caught an additional 76 passes
for 534 yards.
Press. He ran for a career high 1,502 yards and caught an additional 76 passes
for 534 yards.
Marshall Faulk achieved the 1,000-1,000 club status as a member of the St. Louis
Rams in 1999 and was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Faulk was received as a slam dunk choice mostly because he totaled 12,279
rushing yards in his 13 year career. Keep in mind; rushing for 10,000 yards is
normally viewed as a right of passage to the Hall-of-Fame. Craig, however, had
to run on muddy fields at Candlestick Park in December while Faulk played his
entire career in a dome-stadium on the Astroturf in St. Louis and Indianapolis.
Rams in 1999 and was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Faulk was received as a slam dunk choice mostly because he totaled 12,279
rushing yards in his 13 year career. Keep in mind; rushing for 10,000 yards is
normally viewed as a right of passage to the Hall-of-Fame. Craig, however, had
to run on muddy fields at Candlestick Park in December while Faulk played his
entire career in a dome-stadium on the Astroturf in St. Louis and Indianapolis.
Craig rushed for 8,189 yards but had just two 1,000 yard rushing seasons. He also
added 4,911 more yards as a receiver on 566 catches, scoring 73 touchdowns (56
\running, 17 receiving) in the process while playing both fullback and running back.
He also had to share carries with Wendell Tyler and Rathman.
added 4,911 more yards as a receiver on 566 catches, scoring 73 touchdowns (56
\running, 17 receiving) in the process while playing both fullback and running back.
He also had to share carries with Wendell Tyler and Rathman.
His final memory to some 49er fans is a costly fumble that enabled the New York
Giants to beat San Francisco 15-13 in the 1991 NFC Championship game. Some
49er fans I have spoken to have said, “Well, if Craig didn’t fumble the 49ers would
have Threepeated as Super Bowl Champs.” I’m not so certain of that.
Giants to beat San Francisco 15-13 in the 1991 NFC Championship game. Some
49er fans I have spoken to have said, “Well, if Craig didn’t fumble the 49ers would
have Threepeated as Super Bowl Champs.” I’m not so certain of that.
Keep in mind, quarterback Joe Montana got knocked out of that game thanks to
Giants defensive Leonard Marshall’s crushing sack. Steve Young, who later went
on to have a Hall-of-Fame career replaced Montana. Let’s face it, Young could
not have been trusted in a big game at that point. Heck, he was a hit or miss
proposition in a big game after he became an All-Pro and NFL MVP in 1992.
Giants defensive Leonard Marshall’s crushing sack. Steve Young, who later went
on to have a Hall-of-Fame career replaced Montana. Let’s face it, Young could
not have been trusted in a big game at that point. Heck, he was a hit or miss
proposition in a big game after he became an All-Pro and NFL MVP in 1992.
Again, Craig might not have the gaudy rushing stats of say Faulk or Tiki Barber.
However, with Craig’s hybrid style of playing running back, you have to look
beyond numbers and see how he revolutionized the game as we know it today.
Please spare me the “it’s the system” argument. Granted 49ers head coach Bill
Walsh’s West Coast offense revolutionized pro football but it also takes talent to
produce at the NFL level.
However, with Craig’s hybrid style of playing running back, you have to look
beyond numbers and see how he revolutionized the game as we know it today.
Please spare me the “it’s the system” argument. Granted 49ers head coach Bill
Walsh’s West Coast offense revolutionized pro football but it also takes talent to
produce at the NFL level.
When you watch NFL running backs like say Bryan Westbrook, LaDainian
Tomlinson or Reggie Bush operate as dual threats – just remember, they owe a
debt of gratitude to Craig because he started the change of a trend where the
running back primarily carried the ball. As opposed to carry, catch AND pick
up blitzes.
Tomlinson or Reggie Bush operate as dual threats – just remember, they owe a
debt of gratitude to Craig because he started the change of a trend where the
running back primarily carried the ball. As opposed to carry, catch AND pick
up blitzes.
And oh, by the way, Craig has three Super Bowl rings, one more than Faulk,
Westbrook, Barber, Tomlinson and Bush combined.
Westbrook, Barber, Tomlinson and Bush combined.
Craig’s best chance of enshrinement might be the Senior Committee like the
aforementioned Robinson, who starred as a safety for the Dallas Texans, who
later became the Kansas City Chiefs. Robinson, who retired in 1972, started
his career as a running back before becoming a full-time defensive player
recorded 57 career interceptions, including 10 in a single season on two twice.
aforementioned Robinson, who starred as a safety for the Dallas Texans, who
later became the Kansas City Chiefs. Robinson, who retired in 1972, started
his career as a running back before becoming a full-time defensive player
recorded 57 career interceptions, including 10 in a single season on two twice.
Count me among those who believe Craig is deserving of a bust in Canton,
Ohio.
Ohio.
No comments:
Post a Comment