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Forbes #1
- Joined
- Apr 7, 2013
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- 50,531
Stafford falls into that grouping with Rivers, Romo, Matt Ryan.
Had any of these four QBs played on the Belichick Patriots, you could argue all would have better playoff results and a much better shot at being HOFers. Conversely, put Tom Brady on the Lions and he’s probably not a HOFer.
But, playing ‘what if’ can’t make a HOF career. You still gotta predominantly go with the results and Stafford’s one SB on an all-in, supersquad isn’t enough. The “Detroit-factor” can only roundup your HOF qualifications so much.
Argument for Stafford is his lofty passing stats in Detroit. They’re lofty, but they’re not distinguishing. For non-SB winners, Dan Fouts led league in passing four times and DanMarino led five times and they were far and away higher than #2. Like, 100s of passing yards above #2. Matt Stafford has never led league in passing yards. The year Stafford had 5,000 yards was the year three QBs (almost four with Eli at 4,933) were 5000+ and Drew Brees had almost 5,500.
However, if Stafford even just gets to a second Super Bowl (assuming the supersquad returns to normal), I could round up his Detroit career into an arguable HOF career.
Stafford has a Super Bowl ring. Great. Love the story, but Not every story has to be enshrined into the HOF. His name is in the books. It won’t be erased. He’s forever a champion. The SB ring stands alone as the crowning achievement. No need to further memorialize it with HOF.
Had any of these four QBs played on the Belichick Patriots, you could argue all would have better playoff results and a much better shot at being HOFers. Conversely, put Tom Brady on the Lions and he’s probably not a HOFer.
But, playing ‘what if’ can’t make a HOF career. You still gotta predominantly go with the results and Stafford’s one SB on an all-in, supersquad isn’t enough. The “Detroit-factor” can only roundup your HOF qualifications so much.
Argument for Stafford is his lofty passing stats in Detroit. They’re lofty, but they’re not distinguishing. For non-SB winners, Dan Fouts led league in passing four times and DanMarino led five times and they were far and away higher than #2. Like, 100s of passing yards above #2. Matt Stafford has never led league in passing yards. The year Stafford had 5,000 yards was the year three QBs (almost four with Eli at 4,933) were 5000+ and Drew Brees had almost 5,500.
However, if Stafford even just gets to a second Super Bowl (assuming the supersquad returns to normal), I could round up his Detroit career into an arguable HOF career.
Stafford has a Super Bowl ring. Great. Love the story, but Not every story has to be enshrined into the HOF. His name is in the books. It won’t be erased. He’s forever a champion. The SB ring stands alone as the crowning achievement. No need to further memorialize it with HOF.
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