The Pro Football Hall of Fame Class for 2018 will be decided next February in Minneapolis – and in an interesting twist of irony Randy Moss becomes eligible for it at the same time.
Moss is regarded by many as one of the top receivers to ever play the game, but is he a first ballot Hall of Famer?
Statistically there is no question that Moss is one of the elites. He is 15th all-time in catches (982), third all-time in receiving yards (15,292) and second in career receiving touchdowns (156).
While the stats make a strong argument for Moss to get in on the first ballot, recent history would suggest that the Hall of Fame Committee hasn’t been easy on some great receivers.
Terrell Owens – whose career numbers are very similar to Moss’ – was snubbed for inclusion for the second straight year this year. ESPN’s Ben Goessling points out that other greats like Tim Brown, Andre Reed and even Cris Carter had to wait years before they were enshrined.
According to the Star Tribune, one of the reasons Owens has been left out is because of his reputation as a bad teammate. Similar concerns have existed for years about Moss, who has openly admitted that he played when he wanted to.
There is also a very competitive first-year class in 2018.
1st Time HOF Eligibles for Class of 2018:
LB Ray Lewis
WR Randy Moss
G Steve Hutchison
DE Richard Seymour
LB Brian Urlacher
CB Ronde Barber— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 5, 2017
Moss had two stints with the Vikings. He played the first seven years of his career in Minnesota and returned for a short stay in 2010. In that time he amassed more than 9,300 receiving yards and caught 92 touchdowns. So Minneapolis could provide the perfect backdrop for his inclusion into the hall.
On the other hand, Vikings fans may also need to prepare themselves for the possibility their beloved former receiver could be left out in the cold – even in his hometown.
