PFT- Asked by Talk of Fame Network whether he’d pick Owens or Moss when both are on the Hall of Fame ballot next year, Polian said he’d leave them both off.
“I take neither,” Polian said. “First of all, here’s my position: [I want players who] contribute both individually and to the team. T.O.’s situation, T.O.’s temperament, his ability to contribute to the team was well known up front. He was going to be a problem. We did not want to deal with problem children. Others may. We didn’t. That’s number one. Number two, every year in Indianapolis we said the following: ‘The price of admission is 100 percent effort all the time in everything we do.’ Well, how can we take Randy Moss when we make that statement? It’s that simple.” Polian believes both Moss and Owens will end up with busts in Canton, even though Polian doesn’t think they belong. “I think they will, unfortunately in my view,” said Polian, “because whether you like it or not. these ‘electoral campaigns’ have a way of swinging people. In my view, and I said this publicly last year, I think the Hall of Fames are for people who make their teams better, not who detract from them. Now, T.O. was a bigger detractor over his career than Moss, but you certainly wouldn’t call [Moss’ attitude] any harbinger or example of what you want in a football player other than when he decided to play. ‘I play when I play.’ I don’t buy it.” ---- Before we go criticizing Bill Polian for being a holier-than-thou, self-appointed barren of righteousness, let's dissect this claim a little bit. Obviously it seems like the stuffiest of half-dead white guy takes to reference questionable on-field character in wanting to exclude the second AND third most statistically accomplished wideouts of all time from consideration for a personal honor that's historically bestowed upon the athletes that had the biggest impact on the sport. The 'Hall Of Fame' - semantically speaking - isn't some collection of the world's greatest teammates, but let's think outside of the box for a minute. I mean, is it really fair to say that Randy Moss and Terrell Owens should definitely get in because of their astronomical numbers and otherworldly talent when that would ultimately delay the nominations of harder-working, morally superior champions like Reggie Wayne and Brandon Stokley? Sure, Bill Polian celebrated Marvin Harrison's induction after his 'Hall Of Fame' career ended with multiple gun fights, but he never shot down his team's chances at victory by becoming a distraction in the locker room! As long as you finish your routes and keep your fucking mouth shut then you can be a criminal and/or a cocksucker off the field. Just don't you dare let it translate to the sidelines or the man with the two year old gold jacket (that might as well be viewed as a parting gift from Peyton Manning) will use the power vested in him to check you off his list. You can score an eye-popping amount of touchdowns and be widely regarded as a generational superstar, but end up responsible for a handful of negative, football-related headlines and Canton's self-proclaimed General Manager will keep you off his all-time roster of gridiron mutes and choir boys! P.S. Don't worry, T.O. is totally not rattled. Seriously guys, he's fine. God, will you stop asking? HE ALREADY TOLD YOU HE'S OKAY!!!
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