Is Jerome Bettis a Hall of Fame Running Back? (old debate 2yr old thread)

wilheim · Mar 1, 2004

Bill Cowher says he is. This story is at ESPN.com today.

Jerome Bettis accepted a pay cut to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2004 season.

The running back's agent, Lamont Smith, worked out a deal with Pittsburgh on Monday that will pay Bettis a $1 million base salary and the chance to earn $1 million in incentives.

Bettis' deal does not include a signing bonus. He was scheduled to make $3.75 million for the coming season.

The Steelers asked Bettis to take a pay cut after he failed to rush for more than 1,000 yards the last two seasons. The deal increases the team's number under the league's salary cap to $2.75 million.

Bettis has two more years remaining on his contract after the 2004 season.

During Pittsburgh's 6-10 2003 season, he moved past Marcus Allen, and then Jim Brown, into sixth place on the NFL's career rushing list. Bettis, who finished the season with 811 yards, has 12,353 career rushing yards.

"He's a Hall of Fame running back, there's no question about it," Steelers coach Bill Cowher said during the season

Tony Dorsett ranks fifth all-time with 12,739 yards.

wil.

Dante · Mar 1, 2004

Y E S he is

I think Judge Wapner will agree

packer2012 · Mar 1, 2004

When they open up the "Fat Guys Who are Really ?Not Even Backs" Hall, he and the Fridge will be charter members.

BoratSagdiyev · Mar 1, 2004

absolutely not

maxdemo · Mar 1, 2004

No way!!!

JudgeWapner · Mar 1, 2004

The man plays hard evry play,and has heart.I think he may be good enough,but lets see how much longer he plays and how well he does.I still think he has another 3 productive years.

Journeyman · Mar 1, 2004

I don`t think the next three years will make him or break him (if he even made it 3 more)
I think people forget how good Bettis was, he actually had speed to go with his power and size....What hurts The Bus is no rings on his fingers, I think he gets in someday....

He has to be very similar statistically to NFL Legend (and my all time favorite player Franco Harris) but no one will mistake the two in NFL folklore...

Also the NFL HOF seems to have a totally different criteria for its enshrined players, numbers alone don`t get you in...

Look at Joe Namath's numbers lol...they are not pretty , but Namath is thought of as one of the very best QB`s mainly because of one game...

Bettis should get in but I doubt it will be anytime soon after he retires , look how long it took Carl Eller (just made it this year) and Alan Page two greats who never won anything...

I`d like to see The Bus and Franco`s numbers side by side....BTW, I am Pro Franco all the way baby!

1cheater · Mar 1, 2004

The only time you should ever see Jerome Bettis's name associated with the Hall of Fame is if you see this..

Jerome Bettis mops the floors at the Hall of Fame..

1cheater · Mar 1, 2004

That's like putting Icky Woods in..

JudgeWapner · Mar 1, 2004

Cheater Icky had a good year or two.Bettis has been productive for a number of years.I agree with JM,the guys had an amazing combo of speed and power.

wilheim · Mar 1, 2004

I don't want to start a separate thread so I will mention this here. I see Kordell Stewart was released by The Bears today. Anyone think he has any future in the NFL?

wil.

kerry · Mar 1, 2004

There is a strong Steeler bias in the HOF (and an anti Dallas bias). If Pearson, Hayes, Rayfield Wright, the safety (Harris ? name slips my mind) cannot get in, Bettis goes to the back of that line!

Journeyman · Mar 1, 2004

I think so Wil....Kordell is too athletic to not land somewhere...He should have never switched back to QB....I know he cashed in from it though...But he was a great 'slash'

I know he had that one near MVP year (as QB) but he was very talented as a receiver/option/runner/thrower....he never did much after that breakout year...its a shame he didn`t stay as 'slash', who knows where he would have ended up..

RPM · Mar 1, 2004

probably wont make it on the first try, but he should get in eventually.

Journeyman · Mar 1, 2004

I think Drew�Pearson should be in, Cliff Harris I don`t think so...its hard for safety`s to get in...

I thought Bob Hayes was in though...maybe I`m thinking of the Cowboys ring of honor.

wilheim · Mar 1, 2004

Kordel could compete for a roster spot in a couple of spots like Miami, NY Jets, even Baltimore or New Orleans.

wil.

Journeyman · Mar 1, 2004

there already has been talk that the Ravens would be interested....I hope not though, for their sake...

wilheim · Mar 1, 2004

Just mentioned on Sportcenter that Terrell Owens could end up a Raven. Hmmmm.

wil.

Birdman · Mar 1, 2004

If the Bus gets in, then a whole corral of RBs must get in. He was very good, very productive for 7-8 years, never the best and probably never in top three for more than 2 years--not HOF characteristics except in our new feel good society where being good considers inclusion to HOFs that recognize the greatest of the greats.. a long solid career is not a HOF career. my .02

soccerbob · Mar 1, 2004

Jerome Bettis has had a nice NFL career but the only way he'll get into the Hall of Fame is if he pays the admission fee.

Having Bill (I've tanked two AFC Championship games as a double digit favorite) Cowher as a coach and penny pinching ownership haven't exactly helped him.