Lib Attacks Lynn Swann's Football Credentials

MyDD.com ^ | April 3, 2006 | Chris Bowers

[TheDoctorNoh]

Lynn Swann Does Not Deserve To Be In the Hall of Fame by Chris Bowers, Mon Apr 03, 2006 at 02:30:42 PM EST

Does Lynn Swann, Republican candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania and retired wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, deserve to be in the pro football Hall of Fame? When hearing this question for the first time, I imagine that most fans of professional football will probably say yes. The first thing that will probably come to their minds are the endlessly repeated replays of two or three spectacular catches he made during a Super Bowl game. However, a player's worthiness for inclusion in the Hall of Fame should not be based upon two or three spectacular catches. If that was the case, then journeyman wide receiver Joe Jurevicius would be a lock for the Hall considering his remarkable Monday Night Football reception against the Eagles three years ago. Few doubt that catch was one of the ten most spectacular of all-time, but I also seriously doubt that anyone will argue that Joe Jurevicius deserves to be included in the Hall of Fame upon his eventual retirement from the NFL. Also, in his nine years in the NFL, Jurevicius has been on three Super Bowl teams, including the championship Tampa Bay team. That total is only one short of Lynn Swann's four Super Bowls in nine years, yet once again I don't imagine that there will be a major outcry for Jurevicius to be in the Hall upon his retirement.

[Echo Talon]

Aww man you must not have seen some of Lynch's head shots! LOL

[xcullen]

Gary Clark is right on top of Mike Irvin's stats and he played 2 yrs in the USFL. 699 catches , 856 yds and 65 TDS

[xcullen]

I mean 10,856 yds

[Ditto]

I don't know how old you are Echo, or how long you have followed football, but the shots receivers get today are nothing like the past. And receivers got open across the middle years ago and got creamed by people like Butkus, Huff and Lambert. It sure as hell was not pretty then.

[MarineBrat]

When you talk smack about Swannie, don't be surprised if this man knocks on your door!

[Echo Talon]

Gary Clark 11 years, 699receptions 10856yards 65td's
Michael Irvin 12 years, 750recpetions 11904yards 65td's

[Echo Talon]

im 31 been watching football as long as I can remember.

[Ditto]

I have to admit that I havn't seen every game Lynch has played, but I never thought of him as a cheep shot artist. Jack Tatum was. He wanted to hurt people and hurt them badly. Frankly, I don't see any like him in the game today and there were bunches of them in years past.

I think you are confusing hard hitting with intentional dirty play. The NFL has pretty much eliminated the latter from what I can see.

[Echo Talon]

watch that Taylor kid from Washington hes a little firecracker! :)
Sean Taylor 6'2" 232lbs

[Ditto]

31. That means you were born in Lynn Swann's rookie season. I had already been a Steeler's season ticket holder for 3 years then and saw just about every game Swann played. He was HoF material from the start. He was one of those very rare players who could make 60,000 people jump up and say "WOW! How in the hell did he ever do that?" in unison. Just amazing talent. He did the impossible on the field and did it regularly.

As a fan, you would have been amazed of what that guy did nearly every time he stepped on the field.

[Echo Talon]

Oh, Swann was my favorite reciever growing up and when we played football I would always act like i was him. :) I just think the players of today are bigger and faster and heres my proof Jack Lambert a Line Backer Height: 6' 4'' Weight: 219 look at Sean Taylor a DB at 6'2" 230lbs

[Echo Talon]

Dick Butkus Height: 6' 3" Weight: 244 LB
Sean Taylor Height: 6' 2" Weight: 232 DB

[Ditto]

I don't disagree with the size, speed and conditioning of players today. The 300+ pound linemen who can run down tailbacks never ceases to amaze me. 30 years ago, there were a couple of really big linemen like that, but none of them could run. Now, they all can.

It is a different game today. No doubt about it. But I think a Swann or a Lambert could play today and play at a very high level. Especially Swann with the rule changes that favor the receivers.

|And don't mistake Lambert as being "undersized" which he was always considered to be even in his day. The guy was one of the hardest hitters ever to play. When it comes to tackling, size is only one factor involved. Good technique and desire to make the play can make up for a whole lot of pounds.

[Echo Talon]

if Lambert played today he would be a Safety not a LB unless he could gain some weight most LB today are 240-250lbs. Urlacher 6'4" 258 lbs, Mike Vrabel 6'4" 261 lbs.
Was Swann considered "fast"? i wonder how fast his 40 time was. I know he had some great hands, just not sure about the speed.

[Echo Talon]

even a young LB today David Pollack Position: LB Height: 6-2
Weight: 255

[xcullen]

I think they ran the hundred yard dash back then

[Ditto]

Lambert wasn't fast enough for saftey. As to size, most MLBs then were 230 - 250. Lambert was way undersized then and he would be today as well. He probably played at 200 even though they listed him as 220. The guy was a bean pole. But you couldn't block him and he simply didn't miss tackles --- ever.

Swann was fast --- not Olympic fast, but fast enough. But more than fast, he was "quick". Receiving is all about gaining separation. That does not require world class speed.

[Echo Talon]

yea, not sure how they measured the speed back then or where to even find the numbers.

[Echo Talon]

could you imagine Lambert trying to tackle the FB from the Rams? Madison Hedgecock 6'3" 266 lbs... LOL

[Ditto]

He takled guys like Earl Campbell with no problem.