Another Reminder That Ken Anderson Isn't In The Hall Of Fame
by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 9, 2010 10:59 AM EST
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Note: This post was originally about announcing Peyton Manning joining an elite club of quarterbacks that included Ken Anderson. However, that club, provided by the NFL in weekly previews to yours truly, ended up having several (and MAJOR) statistical inaccuracies and we've since had to take down that portion of the posting. However, that doesn't mean we can't debate the merits of whether or not Ken Anderson deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame.
Ken Anderson is a four-time Pro Bowl player and the league's MVP in 1981. Before Drew Brees completed 70.623% of his passes in 2009, his 70.55% completion percentage was the league record during a single season... for 27 years! His career passer rating is better than Bart Starr, Fran Tarkenton, Dan Fouts, John Elway, Johnny Unitas, Bob Griese, Norm Van Bocklin, Sid Luckman, Y.A. Tittle, Baugh, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Namath, Bobby Layne, Bob Waterfield and George Blanda -- all Hall of Fame quarterbacks.
His Super Bowl XVI performance in 1981 was solid, completing 25 of 34 passes for 300 yards passing and two touchdowns. He also ran in a touchdown in the third quarter. Even though the Bengals fell 20-0 in the first half, Bengals quarterback Ken Anderson led the Bengals into a 21-point second half that nearly generated one of the greatest Super Bowl comebacks at the time. We'd be remise if we didn't mention Dan Ross' 11 reception performance for 104 yards receiving and the recipient of both of Anderson's touchdowns.
Many argue that the only reason Anderson isn't in the Hall of Fame is because he never won a Super Bowl. And I suppose it's a valid argument. Making the Hall of Fame means one of two things. You're awesome and you win the big game or you're absolutely exceptional at your position like Dan Marino or Dan Fouts. There's no middle ground. It's not like there's a conspiracy to keep Bengals players out or anything (uh hum, Ken Riley).
Should Anderson be in the Hall of Fame?
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both Riley and Anderson are or were probably boarderline HoF at one time
And from not living or remembering their era, and only seeing replays or highlights. I would have to say that’s where they belong. In the discussion as borderline HoF players. And Josh gave the best reason for why they aren’t in the hall. You either have to be great and win a Superbowl, or be one of the greatest players of not only your era but of all time.
NFL network just did the list of the 100 greatest players of all time. Number 100 was Kurt Warner and 99 was Joe Namath. That shows you how hard it is to.make that list. Dan Fouts didn’t make the top 100 if i remember correctly. Tough list and 19 QBs made the top 100. So if they did a top 150 or 200 we might see Anderson an Riley. But until then, Anderson and Riley will always be mentioned as great franchise players that are borderline HoF players. Much like Steve Tasker, ken Stabler, ricky Waters, Jim Marshall, Jerry KramerKramer
www.fantasydaddy.com
Joe Namath makes the list for his arm and his off-field stuff
Namath’s talent only briefly translated to performance.
Heck, his record as a starting QB is pretty terrible.
Put Joe Namath on the Bengals and Anderson in New York, and the roles are reversed.
If I am correct (and I usually am)...
Joe Namath is the only HOFQB with more career INT’s than TD’s thrown.
(Allowing someone to verify, it won’t hurt my feelings).
by david in upstate SC on Dec 9, 2010 1:42 PM EST up reply actions
but what he meant to the game of football is far more than Ken Andersons legacy
Wrong?
www.fantasydaddy.com
by Joe Goodberry on Dec 9, 2010 5:59 PM EST up reply actions
Namath got a LOT of mileage out of the "guarantee"
And was the first guy to ever throw for 4000 yards in a season (in a 14 game season and with much less pass-friendly rules than today no less).
Both pretty iconic things in NFL history.
He’s a legitimate HoFer for that.
But, I’m a “stat geek”. I really don’t pay attention to off the field stuff, and other than the 4000 yard season, Namath’s stats are pretty pedestrian, if not outright lame.
what?
borderline? riley is the only retired player in the top 10 int leaders not in the hall of fame. and riley was #2 when he retired.
" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe
1 Paul Krause 81 (HOF)
2 Emlen Tunnell 79 (HOF)
3 Rod Woodson 71 (HOF)
4 Dick Lane 68 (HOF)
5 Ken Riley 65
6 DARREN SHARPER 63 (not eligible)
Ronnie Lott 63 (HOF)
8 Dave Brown 62
Dick LeBeau 62 (HOF)
10 Emmitt Thomas 58 (HOF)
11 Mel Blount 57 (HOF)
Of the top 11, 3 aren’t in the hall, 1 of those 3 is still playing, therefor currently ineligible.
" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe
Kenny-Yes, but only Kenny Anderson
There’s no question that #14 has all the credentials or stats to be a HOFer. However, it’s not a conspiracy that keeps certain players from certain teams from being rewarded with the recognition that they deserve. Politics is more likely the reason, or i should say lack of clout. The Bengals’ organization has almost no respect from the league since the passing of Paul Brown, and that probably shouldn’t come as a surprise to any Bengals’ fans.
Regarding “the rattler”, i’m sorry to say that he never was HOF material. Lamar Parrish made Ken Riley the statistical icon that he has become among members of Bengal Nation. He compiled those stats primarily during the years that Parrish (the only true shutdown corner in Bengal history) was complementing Riley as the other CB, on the team. The other players in the NFL, at that time, realized who it was that actually made “the rattler” the celebrity that he is today, in Cincinnati.
It never fails to amuse me that so many fans that have never seen these two in the same backfield together are so quick to proclaim the greatness of one, Ken Riley.
by Fair weather fan on Dec 9, 2010 11:38 AM EST reply actions
It amuses me so greatly that a fair weather fan is trying to talk down to us.
why are you even here, weather’s nothing but storms and blizzards here!
Joe Reedy: "Supposedly Marvin could not find his flag to challenge the call. I am not kidding. #bengals"
Incorrect from FWF
Remember that when Riley retired he was ranked fourth all time in INT’s (only Krause, Lane and Tunnell were ahead of him) and he played less than half his career with Parrish on the other side.
He led the league at age 32 with 9 picks. He is the only eligible player in INT Top 25 not enshrined. (BTW — covered and played run much better than Deion Sanders. Just sayin’.)
The glitch to his nomination? No SB ring, but he somehow never even went to one Pro Bowl, which I find amazing.
by david in upstate SC on Dec 9, 2010 1:45 PM EST up reply actions
You say that only Super Bowl winners and absolutely exceptional players belong.
Wouldn’t holding the completion percentage record for seventeen years count as being absolutely exceptional? And this wasn’t in the pass-happy era of today either.
Joe Reedy: "Supposedly Marvin could not find his flag to challenge the call. I am not kidding. #bengals"
i think you meant to reply to me
Well do you know who held the record for highest career completion percentage when he retired?
Brad Johnson. he has a ring. But he’s not going to the HoF
www.fantasydaddy.com
by Joe Goodberry on Dec 9, 2010 6:02 PM EST up reply actions
I hate to be the guy who pees in your cheerios, but....
Ken Anderson did NOT lead the league in passing YARDS 4 times. He led the league in PASSER RATING 4 times. He did lead the league in yards twice.
Baugh, Young, Dawson, and Staubach also were 4-time RATING champions, not yardage champions. In fact, Young, Dawson, and Staubach have exactly zero passing yardage titles between them.
Also, Ken Anderson held the completion % record for 27 years, not 17. (1982-2009).
And I have always thought that both #13 and #14 deserved to be in the HoF.
RE:
Interesting. Because this is the email I got from the NFL!
MANNING ON THE MOVE: Indianapolis quarterback PEYTON MANNING leads the NFL in passing with 3,709 yards in 2010. If he finishes as this season’s passing yardage leader, Manning would become the sixth quarterback in NFL history to accomplish the feat at least four times.
Manning, who led the NFL in passing yards in three consecutive seasons from 2004 through 2006, would join Pro Football Hall of Famers SAMMY BAUGH (six), STEVE YOUNG (six), LEN DAWSON (four) and ROGER STAUBACH (four) and KEN ANDERSON (four) as the only players with at least four such seasons in their careers.
Managing Editor at CincyJungle.com -- SB Nation Cincinnati Bengals blog.
by Josh Kirkendall on Dec 9, 2010 1:25 PM EST up reply actions
Someone at the NFL was smoking pot
If Manning won the passer rating title this year, and they changed every mention of passing yards to passer rating, the e-mail would be correct.
But, Manning is not going to challenge for the paser rating title this year. If he wins the passing yardage title, it would be his third such title.
If you changed the original post by replacing passing yards with passer rating, and eliminated any reference that Manning might join the club THIS year, it would have been correct.
The fact is, only 5 QBs have ever led the league in passer rating at least 4 times, and all but Ken Anderson are in the HoF. THAT IS a compelling argument as to why Anderson should be in the HoF.
Damn. Can I get a job working for the NFL and submitting incorrect press releases??
Nor is the #5 all time interception leader
Ken Riley with 65 ints. When Riley retired he was #2 all time and still couldn’t get in the hall of fame.
Until the hall of fame inducts Riley, I’ll never go to the HoF.
" I for one, welcome our new Buffalo overlords. " - Whokebe
David in SC-for the record
Parrish and Riley played together from ‘70-’77. Riley had 29 of his 65 career pics in ‘69 and ’78 -’83 while playing alongside of some other CBs. He did have an impressive 8 ints. in ‘83, which was his last season with the Bengals.
You correctly pointed out that Riley had never been a pro-bowler, and it should be pointed out that Parrish made it to the Pro Bowl 8 times. He did it 6 times as a Bengal and twice as a Redskin.
My question would be how a guy could play the way Parrish did and receive the recognition from others in the league that Riley didn’t, in spite of “the rattler’s” stats, and not be in the HOF.
by Fair weather fan on Dec 9, 2010 3:39 PM EST reply actions
kenny anderson is in my hall of fame
my mom still has the clay statue i made of him in grade school. that super bowl and the goal line fail was heart break. my all time sports heart break.
kenny anderson got no big time qb respect. see his unceremonious benching as boomer esiason and sam wyche took over. compare to the favre scenario where even clear injury and selfish insanity does not give a coach the right to make the change. a coach who has replaced another largely because he was fired about this issue.
kenny anderson set my template for favorite players. i root for smart aging qb’s who have been passed over. who deserve to start but are benched for the next ryan leaf. who don’t get their due.
by andyfrombrooklyn on Dec 10, 2010 7:15 AM EST reply actions
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