The greatest individual accomplishment in pro football is linked heavily to the greatest team accomplishment the sport has to offer. You want to be enshrined in the Hall of Fame in Canton? It'll help if you have a Super Bowl victory on your résumé.
Of the 170 Super Bowl-era players who have been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 87 of them have won Super Bowls. Soon, Super Bowl winners Marvin Harrison, Orlando Pace, Kurt Warner, Brett Favre and Ray Lewis, among others, will join them.
And eventually, active champs like Peyton and Eli Manning, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, Darrelle Revis, Charles Woodson, Terrell Suggs, Dwight Freeney, Reggie Wayne, Adam Vinatieri, Vince Wilfork and Troy Polamalu will/should get in.
But what about those who are getting up there in age and haven't won a ring? It's too early to assess relatively young guys like J.J. Watt, Calvin Johnson, Andrew Luck, Von Miller, Ndamukong Suh, Dez Bryant, Jimmy Graham, Justin Houston, Matt Ryan, LeSean McCoy and Jamaal Charles (all of whom are in their 20s), but here's a breakdown of the Hall of Fame chances for 30 non-champions over the age of 30:
1. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota VikingsHall of Fame odds: Shoo-in He's a three-time first-team All-Pro with the second-highest single-season rushing yards total in NFL history and is one of 29 backs with over 10,000 yards.
Championship odds: Slim
This could change if Peterson gets traded, which remains a possibility, but the Vikings -- who have won 12 games the last two years -- are still in rebuilding mode.
2. Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals
Hall of Fame odds: Shoo-in Despite playing for bad teams more often than not, he ranks 12th all time with 89 touchdown catches and he should easily retire as part of the exclusive 1,000-catch club. He's also been to more Pro Bowls (eight) than any active receiver.
Championship odds: Toss-up
If Carson Palmer can stay healthy, the Cardinals are good enough to make a run. We're talking about one of the best teams in football from the first half of the 2014 season. Plus, Fitzgeralnd is only 31 and could be a trade candidate.
3. Andre Johnson, WR, Indianapolis ColtsHall of Fame odds: Very strong
He's been an All-Pro twice, which is once more than Fitzgerald, and is also a seven-time Pro Bowler. Plus, he's 180 yards and a touchdown away from ranking in the top 10 all time in catches, yards and touchdowns.
Championship odds: Toss-up
He's 33 and appears to be fading fast, but the Colts should be contenders the next few years.