Uphill Climb
November 26th, 2019
Yes, the Bucs used to be a team loaded with truly extraordinary football players.
Three of them are among the newly-named 25 Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalists. Voters soon will pare the list down to the 15 to be presented — and debated — for a vote the day before the Super Bowl.
Tampa Bay’s only Hall of Fame voter, JoeBucsFan.com columnist Ira Kaufman is fired up to have three Bucs in the mix. And he wrote all about it here.
Rondé Barber, Simeon Rice and John Lynch all made the semifinalist cut. Rice didn’t last year but he’s back in the game. Barber has yet to advance to the finalist stage. And Lynch keeps striking out once he gets to the coveted final-15. As many as five of those 15 players are voted to become Hall of Famer.
Competition, as always, is steep.
Newcomers to Hall eligibility, S Troy Polamalu, WR Reggie Wayne and LB Patrick Willis join first-time semifinalists linebacker Carl Banks, defensive tackle Bryant Young and running backs Fred Taylor and Ricky Watters.
Edgerrin James is back as a semifinalist with offensive linemen Tony Boselli, Alan Faneca, and Steve Hutchinson, along with wide receivers Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, and Hines Ward.
Rice and Barber will have to compete for votes with DE/DT Richard Seymour, along with linebackers Clay Matthews, Sam Mills and Zach Thomas, plus defensive backs Steve Atwater, Darren Woodson, LeRoy Butler and special teams ace Steve Tasker.
Sadly, Joe wouldn’t be surprised if the glory days Bucs get shut out again.
November 26th, 2019 at 1:31 pm
Don’t tell Tampax those players were any good.
November 26th, 2019 at 1:45 pm
If the 49ers win a Super Bowl, Lynch gets in this year or next. Hard to deny guy who went to 9 Pro Bowls, won a Super Bowl as a player AND now as a GM. I hate the 9ers but if they make it I hope they win it for John’s sake. Congrats to all these guys. Go Bucs!
November 26th, 2019 at 1:47 pm
When I watch old panther highlights, it’s hard for me to see how Barber is a hof candidate after watching Steve Smith consistently burn and embarrassing him.
I wonder if the one pick in philly and that beautiful non threatening smile is motivating some to push for him? Next thing you know they be will throwing McIceCream’s name around for the hof too. Who’s next Dotson?
Rice should have been inducted with Sapp and Brooks.
Lynch shouldn’t even be considered until Atwater is inducted but wtfdik
November 26th, 2019 at 1:49 pm
I’d love for the 49ers to win the SB……
It’d be a refreshing break from the stench of the Patriots
November 26th, 2019 at 1:54 pm
“A new scientific truth does not triumph by convincing its opponents and making them see the light, but rather because its opponents eventually die, and a new generation grows up that is familiar with it.” Max Planck
I’m not wishing death on anyone, but I feel the above holds true for Peter King and his cadre of morons from the Northeast and the chances of them supporting Lynch, Barber, and especially Rice for the hall. Hell, I can see Alstott getting in as an old timer once those bozos are gone. (Maybe there’s a chance one of our guys gets in since it’s a special committee this year).
November 26th, 2019 at 2:05 pm
“Rice and Barber will have to compete for votes with DE/DT Richard Seymour, along with linebackers Clay Matthews”…..wait, did Clay Matthews retire like in the last couple weeks? As far as I recall, he’s still playing (on the Rams), and players are not even eligible for HoF while they remain an active player in the league. They have to be retired for at least 5 years.
November 26th, 2019 at 2:23 pm
How could the owners Glazers not have vetted John Lynch as a GM?
He has turned that team around very quickly. He needs to be here up in the box instead of that cowturd Light.
God, they sure draft, hire, not draft, not hire all the wrong and wrong people consistently.
November 26th, 2019 at 2:25 pm
rice was the only “top” shelf talent.
lynch and barber were not elite athletes. they were craftsmen of their trade.
something that is lost on this team, and the NFL as a whole TBH.
i
November 26th, 2019 at 2:39 pm
Lmao Joe are you gonna say something funny to this Matthew fifer guy please please please lol as if he didn’t know the Matthews football family
November 26th, 2019 at 2:51 pm
@SammyRebel
So I take it that there was another player named Clay prior to the one playing today based on your response? I admit, I don’t love love love football. I don’t know all the stats/players/big names from the past. I didn’t really get into the game at all until I was 12 which was in 92, but back then I was limited to whatever games/teams were covered on my local channels which basically only meant the Colts and Bears. I don’t really follow the college games (outside of Ohio State because my wife), and professionally I mainly only follow the Bucs, if I can’t see their game on tv, I pretty much don’t even watch games on Sunday.
So yes, I legitimately do not know the Matthews football family. If the reference in the article is not in fact to the player I mentioned, so be it, a mistake was made.
November 26th, 2019 at 2:51 pm
I didn’t know Clay Matthews dad played football either. Whoops…
November 26th, 2019 at 3:06 pm
Reading that list of names tells me that none of these Buc players from the past are going in soon.
November 26th, 2019 at 3:52 pm
@ Matthew Fifer as if the nfl today or any other pregame show never talked about other players…..Clay Matthews Jr played in that 92’ era btw…
November 26th, 2019 at 4:38 pm
Lynchs resume isnt fully filled out yet, neither is barbers. The voters know this amd are going to wait until the time is right.
Watch barber end up as the next bucs gm. He is already one of lichts go to guys.
November 26th, 2019 at 5:49 pm
Palamalu is a name that catches my eye but not sure if he going to get in on his first vote. Man there is a lot of talent on the defensive side of the ball; Atwater (who I guess will be represented by the Denver voter along with Lynch), Woodson, Sam Mills, etc….. Joe is right, Ira is going to have a tough job ahead of him but hopefully he brings home one or more gold jackets back to Tampa so good luck to him! It would be amazing if NFL TV could broadcast the presentations or at least publish the transcripts just to see what these 48 voters have to say about the elite 15 they are about to vote on. Good luck to Ira!
November 26th, 2019 at 6:07 pm
DB55,
You must have been too young or too stoned to remember the greatest play in the history of this struggling franchise. Look at a few more highlights while you are straight!
November 26th, 2019 at 9:08 pm
@DB55 you are right wtfdyk!!!
November 27th, 2019 at 8:47 am
Stonedbuc
If that’s the case then no thanks Ronde…
November 27th, 2019 at 10:43 am
I can remember the games that we fans were more excited to watch the defense than we did the offense. John Lynch knocking his Bro-in-law out is still one of my favorite memories.
November 27th, 2019 at 10:45 am
Ronde should be in ahead of any one of them.
He completely changed the cornerback position, won a super bowl playing on one of the greatest defenses ever, AND has stats that no one else in the history of the league can match. Plus he is a complete class act.
Get Ronde in the HOF Ira!