you're looking at it through texans tinted glasses. it was aj v fitz debate for 2008. aj generally got a little more yds but fitz used to get alot more tds so it just depended on what you were looking for.
when the cards went on their SB run in 09, fitz became the popular #1 wr in the nfl after what he did in the playoffs.
also, those other guys were just guys that were at some stage in the 'best' discussion from aj's rookie year to today, not that they were in the discussion in 08/09...
but i looked it up and they ALL still outperformed aj (td wise) in 08 & 09 (aj's best seasons). thought it was a bit ironic with the way you dismissed them out of hand...
it also shows the difficulty he will face when it comes time to see if he gets in. i think you're putting alot of stock in aj being in the ''best' discussion for a year or two. i hope he does but its doubtful in my eyes
The realist in me tends to agree. A.J. will have tough sledding getting into the Hall of Fame.
IMHO, one or more of these three things get guys into the Hall:
1) They re-wrote the "book" for how their position is played / perceived. Lawrence Taylor comes to mind for LBs as does Tony Gonzalez for TEs. Raymond Berry for WRs.
OR the guy personifies how his position should be played. Love him or hate him, when you think MLB in the 2000's you think Ray Lewis first. Back in the day, you thought Butkis. The "conversation" about their particular position started with those names.
2) They were perceived to have carried their respective team into the playoffs and championships ...repeatedly.
Lynn Swann comes to mind for me. His stats, when looked at on their own, are kind of lacking. But come playoff time, he left highlight memories that carried him into the Hall.
3) Re-write the record book. Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Peyton Manning are obvious examples here (I know Manning isn't in, but do you actually think he won't be a first-ballot choice??) I could add that Rice, Smith, Payton also qualify under item 2. That's why they're shoe-ins.
My question is which of those things can best be used to "argue" A.J.'s case for getting into the Hall?
While A.J., without question, personifies class and is the embodiment of a non-diva, hard-working, team player; outside of Houston, he's
not the first name that pops up when the discussion of who's the best, current-generation, WR comes up. Of course, he's in the discussion but he's not the "icon" for the position that Ray Lewis or Tony G. became for their position. And can we really argue that A.J. "redefined" the WR position like, say, L.T. did for LB? ehh, maybe, I dunno...
As we've been to the playoffs the last two years was A.J.the one who actually carried the team to repeated playoff success. Some would argue Foster did it. ...or our defense... For example, in our four post-season appearances he has just the one TD.
(that really surprised me!)
A.J. has achieved some recordbook milestones and the "quickest to this" or second fasted to that... but his best career stat is yds/game where he's second to Megatron.
- career rcptns - - - 818 (22nd)
- career yds - - - - 11,254 (27th)
- career TDs - - - - 56 (82nd)
- career Yd/catch - 13.8 (not sure where he stands; list ends at 15.1 and that's 230-something
- career yds/game - 81.6 (2nd)
Good numbers but not what non-Texan fans would call outstanding.
As much as I hate to say this, I don't see a real strong case.