AFC West: Ray Guy
Tavich Gerst from Sherwood, Ark., wants to know if I think the Raiders could feature Darren McFadden and Taiwan Jones in the Wildcat formation this season.
Bill Williamson: McFadden was a Wildcat star in college and he has occasionally ran out of it in Oakland. Jones would also be perfect to run the Wildcat because of his speed. The Raiders have a chance to create some special packages because of their unique speed and the Wildcat could be part of that plan.
Josh H. from Kansas City wants to know if I think analysts are being too critical of Denver quarterback Tim Tebow.
BW: Tebow is a polarizing figure and everyone has an opinion. But I think the most important thing is being overlooked. It doesn’t matter what anyone outside of the Broncos organization thinks about Tebow. Because he got most of the third-string snaps this summer and he did not make strides toward becoming the starter, it means the Denver brass is currently not really high on Tebow. That is all that matters.
Kyle from Norcal wants to know if I think Oakland punter Shane Lechler and Oakland kicker Sebastian Janikowski have a chance to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
BW: In short, Kyle, no. There is a huge logjam of Hall of Fame-worthy players who are still waiting to get in. And these are at premium positions like receiver, tackle and pass-rushers. There are also many great punters and kickers who are not in Canton and who may never get in. If Ray Guy never gets in, neither will Lechler or Janikowski.
Raider great forced to sell rings
Great memento for a Raiders' fan, yes, but it’s a sad tale for a legend.
The rings were from Oakland’s three Super Bowl championships, Super Bowl XI, XV and XVIII.
Guy is widely considered one of the best, if not the best, punters to play in the NFL. He was with the Raiders from 1973-86. The strong-legged Guy was changed the game with his ability to boot the ball for long distances but also with precision.
We’ve all heard these type of stories before and it’s sad to see a former great player endure woe and be forced to give up his most cherished possessions from a great career, which many people think should be recognized with a Pro Football Hall of Fame election.
Just three players with AFC West ties are on the list, while four people with AFC West ties were eliminated.
Here are the finalists who spent to a big portion of their careers in the AFC West:
Tim Brown, wide receiver: Raiders, 1988-2003
Willie Roaf, tackle: Chiefs, 2002-05
Shannon Sharpe, tight end: 1990-99, 2002-03 Broncos
Oakland punter Ray Guy, Oakland cornerback Lester Hayes, former San Diego coach Don Coryell and Denver running back Terrell Davis did not make the cut from the semifinalist list of 26.
I wouldn’t be surprised if any of the three AFC West players get enshrined, with perhaps Sharpe having the best chance in his third year of eligibility. The candidacy of the four AFC West men who were eliminated took a big hit. All four will have difficulty getting elected.
Here are the semifinalists who spent to a big portion of their careers in the AFC West:
Tim Brown, wide receiver: Raiders, 1988-2003
Don Coryell, coach: Chargers, 1978-86
Terrell Davis, running back: 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
Ray Guy, punter: 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Lester Hayes, cornerback: 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Willie Roaf, tackle: Chiefs, 2002-05
Shannon Sharpe, tight end: 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Bronco
Brown, Coryell and Sharpe made big runs last year. I wouldn’t be shocked if one of the three, perhaps Sharpe, is enshrined this year. Sharpe and Brown will eventually get in at some point, and both probably should be in now. Roaf is also a real possibility.
Davis and Guy also might get in, but it could take a while. Guy has a lot of support because he was a dominant player, but still some people have been reluctant to vote for a punter. I think that is an outdated opinion. Guy changed games. He was a major contributor to the NFL and he deserves recognition.
AP PhotoJohn Madden's 1976 season was nearly perfect -- culminating in a Super Bowl win over the Vikings.The Raiders didn’t have the titles that Miami, Dallas and Pittsburgh had, but they were a dominant team in the 1970s. If you were going to win the Super Bowl, you probably had to go through the madcap marauders of the East Bay.
Wild, free-spirited and wickedly clutch on the field, the Silver and Black was a special fabric of the NFL in the 1970s. They were always known for close calls, but in the end not having enough to be complete the championship journey.
That all changed in 1976. The Raiders had plenty. They were, by far, the class of the NFL and they have the hardware to prove it.
Led by a stunning group of players, this team had depth on offense and defense. Stabler was the engineer, as he seemingly rolled out of bed and led the Raiders to one last-minute win after another. He had great receivers in Biletnikoff, Branch and Casper. The offensive line was anchored by future Pro Football Hall of Famers Shell and Upshaw.
Defensively, the Raiders were nasty with first-year Raider Matuszak and Sistrunk up front, Hendricks in the middle and Brown and Tatum anchoring the unit.
It was enough for Oakland to nearly go unbeaten. After New England thrashed the Raiders in Week 4, Oakland didn’t lose another game. Oakland went 13-1 in the regular season (despite having a five-game trip spanning Weeks 2-6) and then won home playoff games against New England and Pittsburgh before toying with Minnesota in Super Bowl in XI.
It was a culmination of a great run in Oakland. In the end, this team will be remembered as one of the NFL’s great all-time teams.
Most impressive win: A 32-14 victory over Minnesota in Super Bowl XI. The Raiders showed their dominance on offense and defense by completely suffocating the Vikings. It was a fitting day to end a near-perfect season. No one in Oakland will forget the sight of a jubilant Madden being carried off the Rose Bowl field by his victorious Raiders. Davis surely never will.
Crazy start: The Raiders had some memorable battles with Pittsburgh. This special season started with a classic battle between the two 1970s powerhouses in Oakland.
The Steelers led 28-14 with five minutes to go. However, Oakland made a furious comeback to tie the score. Oakland then got the ball back and won it with a short field goal with 18 seconds remaining, sending the home crowd into a wild celebration.
Nothing like beating the hated Steelers on opening day. It set the tone for Oakland’s best season of all time.
Honorable mention:
1967: The Daryle Lamonica-led Raiders were 13-1 in the regular season before being worn down by Green Bay in Super Bowl II.
1980: The Raiders became the first wild-card team to win a Super Bowl. The 11-5 Raiders were led by coach Tom Flores and spunky, resurgent quarterback Jim Plunkett.
1983: The Raiders’ third Super Bowl champion was a dominant unit. Led by a great defense and young running back Marcus Allen (1,014 yards rushing, 11 TDs), this was a special team.
AFC West well represented on HOF final list
Here are the new finalists:
Tim Brown, WR: 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
Will he get in? Brown should be a first-ballot shoo-in.
Don Coryell, coach: 1978-86 San Diego Chargers
Will he get in? The passing-game genius will have a lot of support. He’s the only coach in the final round.
Shannon Sharpe, TE: 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos
Will he get in? The voting committee needs to correct its mistake from last year and get this guy into Canton.
Notable: Former Denver running back Floyd Little is a senior committee finalist. Denver’s Terrell Davis and Oakland’s Cliff Branch, Ray Guy and Lester Hayes were all among the 25 semifinalists named in November, yet they did not make the cut to the final round. The new inductees will be named next month.
Hall of Fame list has strong AFC West influence
Here they are:
Cliff Branch, WR: 1972-85 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Will he get in? Branch did not get this far last year. He is a favorite of Oakland owner Al Davis. But it is a loaded receiver group this year.
Tim Brown, WR: 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
Will he get in? Brown should be a first-ballot shoo-in.
Don Coryell, coach: 1978-86 San Diego Chargers
Will he get in? The passing-game genius will have a lot of support. He’s the only coach in the final 25.
Terrell Davis, RB: 1995-2001 Denver Broncos.
Will he get in? Davis will eventually get in, but it may be a while.
Ray Guy, P: 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.
Will he get in? Guy is the center of much contention. Many believe he shouldn't even be a finalist and many think he should already be in the Hall.
Lester Hayes, CB: 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Will he get in? He was a game changer, and you can make a strong argument for him.
Shannon Sharpe, TE: 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos
Will he get in? The voting committee needs to correct its mistake from last year and get this guy into Canton.
Notable: Former Oakland quarterback Ken Stabler made the final 25 last year, but did not this year. Receiver Jerry Rice spent four years in Oakland and will waltz into the Hall on his first ballot. Former Denver running back Floyd Little is a senior committee finalist.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
DANA POINT, Calif. -- One of the great treats in the NFL is to spend some time with Raiders' owner Al Davis.
But it can be rare. The best time to catch up with Davis is at the annual NFL owners' meeting. Like Davis said Monday: "I love talking football."
Davis was in a jovial mood Monday. For all of the negative things said about Davis, he has always been pleasant and humorous when I've been around him.
Of course, a primary subject Monday was Davis' passion: Raiders greats of yesteryear.
He talked about how he thought Willie Brown was the greatest cornerback ever to play and noted how amazing it was that the highest contract Brown ever received during his playing days, that spanned 1963-78, was about $100,000 a year. In contrast, Davis just re-signed cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha to a $45.3 million, three-year deal making him the richest cornerback in NFL history.
Davis also said he believes former Raiders quarterback Jim Plunkett and punter Ray Guy deserve to be in the Hall of Fame.
As far today's NFL world, Davis smiled and said he was going to stay away when asked about the Jay Cutler mess in Denver.
Kickers and punters, AFC West style
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
The kicking specialist is getting some love on the NFL Blog Network Tuesday.
After the recent Pro Football Hall Of Fame voting, there remains just one player who was strictly a kicker among the inductees. We're appreciating some of the best kickers and punters in the history of AFC West teams. (That Hall Of Fame kicker, by the way, is from this division.) We are highlighting one kicking specialist per team.
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| Doug Pensinger/Getty Images | |
| Jason Elam shares the NFL record for the longest field goal in history. |
Denver: Jason Elam, kicker
The skinny: It was a shock to see Elam leave Denver for Atlanta through free agency last season. He was an institution in the Rocky Mountains and he is still effective after 16 NFL seasons. Even though Elam is no longer a Bronco, he is part for the team's lore. He shares the NFL record for the longest field goal in history (63 yards). He was cold-blooded with the game on the line. In his final season in Denver, Elam won four of the team's seven games in the final seconds.
Kansas City: Jan Stenerud, kicker
The skinny: Stenerud is the only kicking specialist in the Hall of Fame. He spent the first 13 of his 19-season NFL career with the Chiefs. He was a key member of the team's Super Bowl winning team. An excellent athlete, the Norwegian Stenerud was known for both his accuracy and strong leg. He's a kicking pioneer and he may be lonely in the Hall of Fame for a while.
Oakland: Ray Guy, punter
The skinny: He is one of the main reasons why the kicking and punting Hall of Fame was formed. It may be the last Hall of Fame Guy ever gets voted into. He has been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the past, but his candidacy has stalled some. Many consider Guy the best punter of all time.
San Diego: Mike Scifres, punter
The skinny: The Chargers' current punter is vastly underrated. The Chargers think he is one of the best punters to play in the NFL in several years. He is very accurate and he put himself in the spotlight last month. A master of placing the ball inside opponents' 20-yard line, Scifres pinned all six of his punts against the Colts inside the 20-yard line in the Chargers' win in the wild-card game. It was the first time in the history of the postseason that had happened. Many in the San Diego organization said Scifres' effort was the key to the win.
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
Denver
Longtime assistant Rick Dennison gets his chance to be the man in Denver.
My take: The Broncos respect Dennison, the run game coordinator and offensive line coach under Mike Shanahan, enough to give him an interview to replace Shanahan. It would still be a surprise if Dennison emerged as the hire. Still, it wouldn't be a shock if Dennison, with long Colorado ties, sticks around the team in some form.
Kansas City
Carl Peterson was defiant in his final press conference in Kansas City.
My take: This is just another example that it was time for Peterson to move on. After 20 years in Kansas City, it was clear both the Chiefs and Peterson need to go in a new direction. Peterson had his good times in Kansas City but this switch is the best for everyone involved.
Oakland
The Raiders will not have any new hall of famers this year.
My take: Ray Guy, Lester Hayes and Ken Stabler were among the 25 semifinalists but when the final list of 17 candidates was announced Tuesday, none had advanced. The Raiders are well represented in Canton but these players are having difficulty making the final step. It is particularly interesting that Stabler can't get enough steam for induction.
San Diego
Darren Sproles is coming out of his media-shy shell.
My take: The diminutive Sproles may be explosive on the field but he is shy and reserved off it. I found him to be a very nice person in my limited dealings with him, but he seems uncomfortable in the spotlight. But he better get used to it because if he continues to play so well, the spotlight will shine even brighter than it has.
Final HOF list includes two from AFC West
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its 17 finalists for enshrinement in 2009. The vote will be Jan. 31. Two players who spent a significant part of their careers in the AFC West are among the finalists while four players from the division didn't make the final cut.
Here are the finalists:
Shannon Sharpe, tight end: 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos; 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens
Will he get in? He is considered one of the best players ever to play his position but because there is a logjam at other positions and tight end is not considered a glamor position by many voters, Sharpe may have to wait a year or two.
Derrick Thomas, linebacker: 1989-99 Kansas City Chiefs
Will he get in? It says here he gets in either in 2009 or 2010.
Here is a list of semifinalists who spent most of their careers in the AFC West but did not make the cut to the finalists list:
- Terrell Davis, running back: 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
- Ray Guy, punter: 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
- Lester Hayes, cornerback: 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
- Ken Stabler, quarterback: 1970-79 Oakland Raiders; 1980-1981 Houston Oilers; 1982-1984 New Orleans Saints
AFC West well represented in Hall semifinalist list
Posted by ESPN.com's Bill Williamson
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its 25 semifinalists for enshrinement in 2009. The vote will be in February. Six players who spent a significant part of their career in the AFC West are among the 25 finalists.
Here they are:
Terrell Davis, RB: 1995-2001 Denver Broncos.
- Will he get in? Davis will eventually get in, but it may be a while.
Ray Guy, P: 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.
- Will he get in? Guy is the center of much contention. Many believe he shouldn't even be a finalist and many think he should already be in the Hall.
Lester Hayes, CB: 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
- Will he get in? He was a game changer and you can make a strong argument for him.
Derrick Thomas, LB: 1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs
- Will he get in? It says here he gets in either in 2009 or 2010.
Ken Stabler, QB: 1970-79 Oakland Raiders; 1980-1981 Houston Oilers; 1982-1984 New Orleans Saints.
- Will he get in? Many can't believe Stabler isn't in yet but it still may be a while.
Shannon Sharpe, TE: 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos,; 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens
- Will he get in? He should waltz in on his first ballot.
Meanwhile, it is being reported that Denver is on the verge of signing former San Diego fullback Andrew Pinnock. He was set to be San Diego's starting fullback this year but he had a knee injury and was beaten out by rookie Mike Tolbert.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Bill Williamson
Williamson joined ESPN.com in 2008 after four seasons covering the Denver Broncos for the Denver Post. He previously covered the Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks.
