[EmpireWF]

Now that he's retired, is he a hall of famer? I wouldn't vote for him.

Here are all his #s:

192 career games
13,662 rushing yards on 3,479 attempts, 3.9 AVG
91 rushing TDs
200 receptions
1449 receiving yards, 3 TDs

Never led the league in rushing.
Is 5th on the all-time rushing list.

My main thinking in not voting for him is that he was never considered to be one of the best backs in the league over an extended period of time.

[rmjvol]

So you'd suggest maybe a lifetime achievement award?

[Lefty Noob]

Well, I'm a big fan of the Bus, but he was just a 6 time Pro Bowler in 13 seasons. Think about what that means. More often than not during his playing days, he was considered not one of the three best RBs in his own conference. Can a guy be a Hall of Famer when he doesn't make the Pro Bowl more often than he does make it?

[Lefty Noob]

Looks like I'll answer my question here. I was against Bettis for the HOF at first, mainly because of his lack of Pro Bowl seasons. But in another forum we were discussing Art Monk, and whether or not he should be in the Hall. I've always thought so, but his crednetials in terms of Pro Bowl trips is actually worse than The Bus's. So in a weird way, I think Monk has sold me on Bettis as a Hall of Famer.

[BigBadBuc]

Jerome Bettis is a different kind of running back. He is a very big man with quick feet. He is not the Jim Brown kind of speed fullback. He is definitely not a Barry Sanders scat back either. He is known for bulldozing over secondaries all around the league. I don't think that part of his game makes him unique. I am amazed at how quickly he can change directions and cut back for a man his size. I've watched his career in Pittsburgh and he is very different from any big man runner that I have ever seen. He gets in because of those qualities more than anything else. He also made himself a legend with his heart and compassion for his teammates and the city.

BBB

[ThePundit]

(See my argument for Art Monk.) Bettis was an outstanding player but not a GREAT player. To me, a player has to be GREAT to get into the Hall. Look at some of the great backs of all time. Jim Brown, Eric Dickerson, OJ, Tony Dorsett, Earl Campbell, Franco Harris, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, etc.....To me You can't put Bettis in company like this. But I do believe, Terrell Davis should get in because he was so dominant for about a 4-5 year period. He was truly a GREAT back. I'll take the guy who dominated for a short period over the guy who had a longer career but who was just very good instead of great.

[wvuauthor]

I have been watching the Bus play for years, and for some reason I still cannot say either way. I agree that he has not been a great running back, but at the same time he has put up some big numbers over the years.

My main concern is just that; he put up the big numbers because of the length of his career. And like Lefty mentioned, he only made the Pro Bowl 6 of 13 seasons. This does not mean he is not a solid back, but it does mean that in 7 of those season there were 3 guys that were better.

It is a debate that we will likely have to wait on. It should be an interesting vote to say the least.