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Does Shell belong in the Hall of fame? My case for him

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Coach

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Does Shell belong in the Hall of fame?

Let's do this scientifically by comparing Shell vs the Modern Hall of fameDB's. The best way to decide if a player is worthy for the Hall of Fame is to compare him with those who are in there. Do we agree?

Ok,let's Compare Shell's INT's, Fumble recoveries, Years Played,Championships, and Pro Bowls to the 16 modern DB's in the Hall of Fame members

The players are and their stats can be found at:

www.profootballhof.com/ho...tions.html

DEFENSIVE BACKS ( 24 )

Herb Adderley (CB) 1961-1972 Lem Barney (CB) 1967-1977 Mel Blount (CB) 1970-1983 Willie Brown (CB) 1963-1978 Jack Butler (CB) 1951-59 Jack Christiansen (S) 1951-1958 Darrell Green (CB) 1983-2002 Mike Haynes (CB) 1976-1989 Ken Houston (S) 1967-1980 Jimmy Johnson (CB) 1961-1976 Paul Krause (S) 1964-1979 Dick (Night Train) Lane (CB) 1952-1965 Yale Lary (S) 1952-1953, 1956-1964 Dick LeBeau (CB) 1959-1972 Ronnie Lott (CB-S) 1981-1994 Mel Renfro (S-CB) 1964-1977 Deion Sanders (CB-KR-PR) 1989-2000, 2004-2005 Emmitt Thomas (CB) 1966-1978 Emlen Tunnell (S) 1948-1961 Roger Wehrli 1969-1982 Aeneas Williams (CB/S) 1991-2004 Larry Wilson (S) 1960-1972 Willie Wood (S) 1960-1971 Rod Woodson 1987-2003 -

INT's: Shell had 51. This is more than 8 men on the list. If an interceptions most important stat for DB's Shell is near the middle of the pack vs. hall of fame players.

Fumble recoveries: Shell had 19. Shell is a man among men here, as only Ken Houston has recovered more fumbles than Shell did. Getting a fumble recovery isa turn over, and perhaps the second most important stat for any defensive player. In fairness, a few ( 4-5 ) players listed do not have stats listed for fumble recoveries, but judging on their style of play and games played, it likely that Shell has more fumble recoveries than they do.

Years played: Shell played 14 seasons, 201 games (regular season ) plus tons of playoff games. He was durable. Being durable is part of the hall of fame selection process. Not the most important, or second most important, but part of the process for sure. Shell is an iron man. Only Brown, Johnson, Woodson, and Krause played more seasons...I think.

Championships: Shell has 4 champions rings. Only Lott ties him with 4! If I missed some player in the 40-60's who had more rings, this is my mistake. Shell was on a winning team. Winning Rings matters for the hall of fame selection process. More so for QB andCoaches, then DB's.

Pro Bowls. Shell has 5 pro Bowls. This greater then or tied with the following Hall of fame players.

Adderely
Blount
Christensen
Johnson

Those are the stats. But players aren't all about stats. Certain positions are remembered for certain things. Shell was a Strong Safety. Few hit harder, produce more turnovers or tackled better. This is what his position demanded. Shell delivered.

Bottom line:

**Interceptions** : Below average among Hall of fame DB's.

**Fumble recoveries**: 2nd All time among Hall of Fame DB's!

**Games played**: 5th All time among Hall of Fame DB's. Only 4 Hall of Fame DB's played more!

**Championship Rings**: Tied for first among the hall of fame DB's..... I think!

**Pro Bowls**: Bottom tier level, but as good as 4 other players.
 
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You can stick LC GREENWOOD right in with him!
 
He was one hellova hitter.
 
He and LC should Both be in the hall no question at all in my mind. You state a very compelling case. One other thing to consider was the level of competition for stats on his own team. There were so many great players on the team that also made plays his chances to make plays were likely reduced because the other players made lots of plays as well.
 
He totally belongs...and that would bring that 1974 draft HoF list to 5 baby...eat it *******.
 
Best safety in Steeler history and its not close. Much better pass defender than Troy and he was the best safety against the run in NFL history, hell yes he should be in the Hall. Ask Earl Campbell how good Shell was when he gutted Earl and broke his ribs on the most vicious open field hit I have ever seen
 
Shell IMO should have been a first ballot HoF'er. He was as important in that Defense as Mel Blount was to the Steel Curtain.

Tremendous career the guy should definitely be in the HoF....and you can add Shell as part of the 1974 rookie class......Swann, Lambert, Stallworth, Webster.....add Shell into that mix also....a walk on Free Agent but a true Steeler!
 
I think of the list of DBs, only one HOFer was a safety his entire career. I believe Lott even started as a corner. There is a safety bias in HOF voting, it's not just an anti steeler thing. There's a good argument for 3 recent safeties to be HOF eligible, and I believe all 3 are locks. Polamalu, Reed, and Dawkins. Perhaps when they go in, some of the older safeties will get in as well.

Personally though, Shell has the credentials to be a HOFer in my book. As a safety, he separates himself from all the CBs in the HOF.
 
Steelbar said:
Best safety in Steeler history and its not close. Much better pass defender than Troy and he was the best safety against the run in NFL history, hell yes he should be in the Hall. Ask Earl Campbell how good Shell was when he gutted Earl and broke his ribs on the most vicious open field hit I have ever seen
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Having seen both guys play I guess maybe I can agree that as just a pure safety Shell may have been a bit better than Troy..but as a player and game changer Troy is Head & Shoulders above anyone we have had at that spot..Troy made up for some lack of talent around him..Shell only had to worry about doing his job with all the talent around him..but to answer the question...yes he does belong in the hall just as LC does..they are caught in a "how many players from that damn team can we put in the hall game" which is truly unfortunate.
 
Interesting that Troy is considered a lock for the hall and has 32 interceptions but shell has over 50.
 
Max Power said:
Is there an argument for No? Like to hear it.
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I loved She'll as a player but he was considered very good, not great. He wouldn't be the first very good player not to make the Hall. If he did, he would be in the Art Monk type category of players.
 
Troglodyte said:
I loved She'll as a player but he was considered very good, not great. He wouldn't be the first very good player not to make the Hall. If he did, he would be in the Art Monk type category of players.
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Good try but no. Shell was better than Very Good. Too many others wearing Black and Gold entered the Hall from that era. A numbers thing. When you look at his body of work he is Hall worthy. If you never watched him play then maybe I get it, There was just something about his hits alone that make him Hall of Fame Material.
 
the hit on Big Earl maybe the best form tackle ever.

he belongs in the HOF, but the anti - 70's Steeler bias will keep him out....non Steeler fans/ writers lose their minds over the amount of guys already in.
 
Shell was without a doubt the best Steelers SS of all-time. I watched him play and he meant more to our defensive backfield than Troy, IMO. He hit harder than almost all of them in the hall including Lott. He had 51 career INTs and played forever. Mike Wagner was a good safety and valuable to our team BUT Shell played much better. We just can't put everyone in from those teams. The question is, "who played opposite Mel Blount for the Steelers?" Who played opposite Donnie Shell for the Steelers? Shell also garnered team MVP in 1980 when a lot of future HOFers were still playing.
 
I will say Shell is more deserving tha Greenwood, IMO and the only thing separating Swann from Shell for HOF worthiness are his unbelievable Super Bowl highlights.
 
Coach said:
Does Shell belong in the Hall of fame?..INT's: Shell had 51. This is more than 8 men on the list...Shell was a Strong Safety..
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As a strong safety, you're not likely to get as many INTs as a free safety or cornerback.

When he retired, Shell was No. 1 in INTs for players at his position. He's still right up there.
 
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