Hall of Fame Makes Significant Changes

[Atlasffa]

[Attyla]

I never fully understood the particulars of the situation but I seemed bush league that Tatum would use an opportunity to reconcile with Stingley to promote his last book.

Tatum did not "set up" that HBO interview, that was the network. Stingley was the one who saw it as a cash grab. We will never know Tatum's motivation, he never spoke about it. Stingley heard about the title of Tatum's third book, "Final Confessions of NFL Assassin Jack Tatum" and that is when he backed out. Funny thing is, the first two books had that same title. It was for the 25th anniversary of the injury. It would have made for really good TV. While Stingley said on multiple occasions that he had forgiven Tatum, I think that may have been more mouth service that sincere. I do know that Jack reveled in is reputation as one of the hardest hitting safeties in league history. So I am of the opinion that he would have been gracious had they met but he would have clung to his reputation. Ultimately, I think the HBO thing, while fascinating, would have been awkward as hell.

[Raidernation1979]

I had read somewhere that Tatum was sorry for the outcome but would never apologize for the hit. The hit was legal and didn’t draw a flag. He wasn’t going to apologize for playing the game but he was truly sorry that Stingley was paralyzed

[Attyla]

I had read somewhere that Tatum was sorry for the outcome but would never apologize for the hit. The hit was legal and didn’t draw a flag. He wasn’t going to apologize for playing the game but he was truly sorry that Stingley was paralyzed

He said as much in his books.

[Willmark]

Wiz? Maybe
The Judge? One word: stickum
The Assassin: The hit on Stingley.

In the case of Hayes or Tatum neither are getting in. Unfortunate from the football perspective but it is what it is.

[Attyla]

Wiz? Maybe
The Judge? One word: stickum
The Assassin: The hit on Stingley.

In the case of Hayes or Tatum neither are getting in. Unfortunate from the football perspective but it is what it is.

Wiz would be in the hall of very good.
Lester should have made it by now, but Mike out shown him, so he pales by comparison, even though he is credited with elevating Mike's game
Tatum, he even did it right in that moment. If you watch the tape, and I have only been able to do it a couple times, Stingley lowered his head. That is why he got injured. It was not helmet to helmet and Jack did not do anything he had not done hundreds of times. He hit a player with his shoulder pad. It was not even that hard a hit. It was just a lowered head that did the damage. I feel for Stingley, he suffered for it and died young as a result. I feel for Tatum as well. By all accounts, it greatly affected him. But even in today's NFL, that hit would not get a flag. The game is violent and accidents do happen. I even think it shortened his career. Hell, the hit on Sammy White was way harder and that did not get a flag either.

[raidersince63]

Yeah, I've always felt that the crucification of Tatum was unjust because people need to realize that the hit that hurt Stingley was perfectly legal back then and that's how the game was played during that era.

And receivers knew back then that if they were brave enough to come across the middle of the field, they were often leaving themselves open to get hammered...It was simply a way of life in those days.

[raider_kin]

Tatum did not "set up" that HBO interview, that was the network. Stingley was the one who saw it as a cash grab. We will never know Tatum's motivation, he never spoke about it. Stingley heard about the title of Tatum's third book, "Final Confessions of NFL Assassin Jack Tatum" and that is when he backed out. Funny thing is, the first two books had that same title. It was for the 25th anniversary of the injury. It would have made for really good TV. While Stingley said on multiple occasions that he had forgiven Tatum, I think that may have been more mouth service that sincere. I do know that Jack reveled in is reputation as one of the hardest hitting safeties in league history. So I am of the opinion that he would have been gracious had they met but he would have clung to his reputation. Ultimately, I think the HBO thing, while fascinating, would have been awkward as hell.

First book title: "They Call Me Assassin"

[Attyla]

First book title: "They Call Me Assassin"

yes, and the second was they still call me.....assassin. It was that word that triggered Stingley.

[Reno Hightower]

Tatum did not "set up" that HBO interview, that was the network. Stingley was the one who saw it as a cash grab. We will never know Tatum's motivation, he never spoke about it. Stingley heard about the title of Tatum's third book, "Final Confessions of NFL Assassin Jack Tatum" and that is when he backed out. Funny thing is, the first two books had that same title. It was for the 25th anniversary of the injury. It would have made for really good TV. While Stingley said on multiple occasions that he had forgiven Tatum, I think that may have been more mouth service that sincere. I do know that Jack reveled in is reputation as one of the hardest hitting safeties in league history. So I am of the opinion that he would have been gracious had they met but he would have clung to his reputation. Ultimately, I think the HBO thing, while fascinating, would have been awkward as hell.

Tatums first book was a very good read. I haven't read his last two. Jack has always maintained while he regrets what happened to Stingley he wasn't about to apologize about how he played, which I always thought was reasonable.

I heard he tried to visit Daryl in the hospital and was turned away by Stingley's family and I really don't know the details of any attempts to reconcile. Either way it sucked for all involved but I have enjoyed hearing about Madden's relationship with Daryl and his family. I also imagine Al probably helped behind the scenes like he always did, and kept in on the down low, like he always did.

[raider_kin]

It seems like Tatum was trying to do the right thing but just didn't know what that was (not sure I know either)

[Reno Hightower]

Yeah, I've always felt that the crucification of Tatum was unjust because people need to realize that the hit that hurt Stingley was perfectly legal back then and that's how the game was played during that era.

And receivers knew back then that if they were brave enough to come across the middle of the field, they were often leaving themselves open to get hammered...It was simply a way of life in those days.

If Grogan is on target with the ball Stingley more than likely walks it off. Grogan is as much to blame as anyone though I never thought the situation warranted any blame, football is a collision sport much more back then.

[Attyla]

Tatums first book was a very good read. I haven't read his last two. Jack has always maintained while he regrets what happened to Stingley he wasn't about to apologize about how he played, which I always thought was reasonable.

I heard he tried to visit Daryl in the hospital and was turned away by Stingley's family and I really don't know the details of any attempts to reconcile. Either way it sucked for all involved but I have enjoyed hearing about Madden's relationship with Daryl and his family. I also imagine Al probably helped behind the scenes like he always did, and kept in on the down low, like he always did.

This was different. There were professional considerations. His own team paid all his medical, all his living expenses and provided education and financial support to his family. Davis would not have wanted to take that charitable action on the part of the Patriots away from the organization. He knew his place and his place was to say the right things and let the Patriots provide for their own. Madden was different. It was Madden's final season and he knew it. He had already told Davis this so he could get to be his usual self without stepping on toes.

There are charitable actions on the part of certain players I know about that are not common knowledge, and that is because I did do a bit of writing back in the day and was privately told about it. And I know our team can be very generous. The Steve Smith stuff is one perfect example. Bo alone helped out the Smith family quite a bit. And yea, Davis was uncommonly generous in that regard. For all his flaws and they were many, compassion was not one he possessed. He was very much compassionate unless you crossed him.

[Sold My Soul]

If you had read the articles, you would have understood that the changes enacted had been in review for a couple years. Belichick gets the blame for the changes but that was long after they had begun to fix what they thought was broken. Dropping the voters to 25? I think the number is not that relevant. But I have no problem with any random number. They could have said 37 and made some justification. Limiting the class to 7? Well, artificially that had essentially been the case as you need 80% to get in. Removing the seniors category? While I think there is a good reason to keep it, ultimately let's get the best players in. I go back and forth on Anderson and Plunkett. I can make a case for both but neither case is strong enough to get them in, most days. I am a fan of the Raiders so biased toward my guys and Plunkett won 2 so there is that. If Eli gets in, god forbid, I will be more vocal about Plunkett. Anderson? His case is tricky. He played in an era where completion percentage was not great, but he falls below that. His average of a single TD per game (well, just over that) is not stellar. His INT rate was high, and particularly when it mattered most. But the guy took a lot of sacks, and had 9 in one playoff year. That is really not getting it done when it mattered most. He never really dominated. He was more of an also ran guy. HIs best year was 1981 and it was a good year. No doubt. But most his other years paled in comparison.

Now, that all said, Lester to me, that guy got jobbed because he used stickum and at times played a bit dirty. And Tatum, he got jobbed because of a legal hit and the aftermath. Madden should have let him go into that room to talk to Stingley.

When it comes to the HOF voting and all the other nonsense associated with it...I tuned out long ago. None of it made sense and it was subjective. ..Just like every other sport...I just got a kick out of the HORRA that the cheat didn't get nominated.

Won't matter if there is 1 guy or 50 picking..always going to be disgruntled fans bitching about it.