LogFAQs > #976901488

As always, I publicize my ballot for informational purposes, and because I love talking about their contextual histories.

Keller - Yes

While his stats may not quite match up to his contemporaries in real life, I think there's a strong argument that he would have with his accolades and 3 SB rings (not to mention 7 total SB appearances). In the context of B8NFLL though, he will almost certainly go down as the best passer by a decent margin. There are QBs who have and will enter the draft who will not finish their careers in this project, so Gardner Minshew is the only one right now who can really have a remote chance.

Anyway, Keller was the fifth QB taken in the famed S3 draft that included Vince Young and Chris Leak, and he will join them as the only three QBs to enter the Hall of Fame (pending Tyrod Taylor). Unlike Young and Leak, Keller didn't become a starter until his third season, backing up Trent Dilfer and Kerry Collins his first two seasons. He also wasn't supposed to start his third season, but two failed trades (one to bring in Matt Hasselbeck and another to send Keller out to the Chiefs) result in him getting the starting job in a historical run with the Dolphins.

Taylor - No

Scrambling QBs have come in two noticeable molds. There a true dual-threats like Josh Portis and Vince Young. Then there were those who were less productive and more frustrating as passers but absolute burners who really boosted the OL, such as Michael Vick and Bobby Reid. Taylor clearly fit into the latter, but he was surprisingly consistent with passing efficiency.

His 71.8 is pretty good for a true scrambler, and he was between 64.7 and 78.2 every season, only twice dipping below 70 in his 11 seasons playing (a 12th was wiped out due to injury). Taylor had 5 seasons of 1000 yard rushing yards, he helmed four teams that had double digit wins, and he was the recipient of two MVPs, joining Edgerrin James, Donovan McNabb, Sam Keller, Vince Young, and Jacquizz Rodgers as the "only" multi-time MVP winners. A lot of people can't handle having a true scrambler on the team, but Kora and Tangicide were both patient and were often rewarded. It may not have resulted in a SB appearance, but Taylor did have an excellent run with the team. We are never going to see another QB run like him, but I do think he falls a little short of being a Hall of Famer in my book.

Rodgers - Yes

Another no-brainer. Rodgers, nee Jamal Redd, was a BPA pick by the Eagles way back in S5. He sat behind Cornell Brockington and had more fumbles than TDs. The Dolphins needed a new HB, and the Eagles needed a new SS, so the teams swapped Rodgers and Michael Huff, both blossoming with their new teams. Huff gave the Eagles a much-needed facelift in the secondary, and the future DB of the Year and Hall of Fame Finalist helped bring the secondary out of the gutter while also helping eventual rookie starters in FS James Riley, CB Trumaine Johnson, and CB Marcus Peters as the Eagles have boasted one of the better secondaries in recent seasons.

Getting back to Rodgers though, he and Keller were electric together even if they didn't connect through the air as much as other QB/HB combos. He and Keller actually led the league in rushing and passing yards in S13. They went 3-2 in Super Bowls together, which is excellent anyway you look at it. Rodgers, the two-time rushing yards leader, was on pace to eclipse Emmit Smith's real life rushing record, but the HB who played in all 16 games in seven of the previous eight seasons was only able to play eight games, and fell roughly 700 yards short (with his 770 yards in eight games, he was on pace to do so). While it's a bummer he wasn't able to set a record not expected to ever fall, he does finish as the most prolific HB in B8NFLL history and with similar accolades to Keller, he is certainly in the argument for best HB in our project's history.

Forte - Yes

Madden 06 is a game that is geared toward rushing, but somehow, the Bucs were unable to produce a 1000 yard rusher from S2 until Forte broke the barrier in S11. Part of that was because of Tom Brady and the duo of David Givens and Nate Burleson putting more of a focus on the passing game. Part of that was also injuries plaguing the position, including Forte himself who was close in three of his first four seasons in spite of injuries thanks to high YPC, including a 5.2 mark in S9.

Forte carried the ball just 2462 times in his career and only once eclipsed 300 (311 in S16, his last season in Tampa), but he really was a special back despite not being a bell cow. Even though he didn't always qualify as a runner, he still managed to lead the league in rushing YPC three times in his 12 seasons, and has the two most recent seasons of a qualified HB with a 5.0+ YPC. He was truly one of a kind, and I think his body of work is worthy enough for the Hall of Fame.

Massey - Yes

Gonzie was actually based on (a much bigger and better) version of me. I was a WR/DB, and my cousin, who Brick was based on, was a DE/TE who ended up being his division's player of the year. I kind of feel bad that I cut Brick for Hall of Fame consideration, but it can't be helped.

Gonzie began his career as the #2 WR behind Larry Fitzgerald with Michael Vick being the primary passer. He put up pretty good numbers all things considered, averaging over 600 yards a season and 5 TDs his first four years. Then Vick became a free agent and Larry Fitzgerald was traded to the Patriots. The passers for the Wildcats ended up being a combo of Colin Kaepernick, 2nd-4th rounders like Jimmy Clausen, Aaron Murray, and Ryan Lindley. Some great passers among them sure, but not a murderer's row. Still Gonzie exploded with the #1 role. He had nine seasons of 900+ rec yards in his final 10 seasons, including 1300+ in each S14-S17. He became the second player to eclipse 1000 career receptions in B8NFLL, and actually did set the record getting two more than Mark Clayton, albeit playing in one more season. In a game where the passing game isn't as prolific, finding QBs/WRs who would actually be enshrined is tough, but Massey's yards and TD totals (plus you know he would make probably four All-Pros if that were a thing here) would almost certainly get him there. He's obviously a shoo-in here.