Every year the New England Patriots’ Hall of Fame committee selects three finalists to be up for a fan vote to make the team’s Hall of Fame. New England, obviously, is starting to get backlogged with players who deserve to be in from the first three Super Bowls. Last year, the fans inducted LT Matt Light over LB (and current Titans HC) Mike Vrabel and DT Richard Seymour.
It would make sense, as a player can be nominated as a finalist endless times, that either Vrabel or Seymour would see their way in this year. They were both named finalists again, this time with S Rodney Harrison joining them. As a surprise to me, Rodney made the leap over the other two and won the fan vote. Harrison had a great career that included two Super Bowl victories with New England. He was, along with Willie McGinest and Tedy Bruschi, the heart of two GREAT defenses. He’s absolutely deserving of the Patriots Hall of Fame nod, but there was someone who deserved to get in first.
This is where Patriots fans messed up.
Last year, Richard Seymour was a finalist for the PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME. While, yes, his career was split between New England and Oakland, he was at his peak in Foxboro. Seymour was the prototypical 3-4 DL. He had the perfect combination of size, speed, and technique to allow him to be great in the pass-rush and the run-stop. In New England, he won three Super Bowls, received three First-Team All-Pro nominations, made five Pro Bowls, and recorded 39 of his 57.5 career sacks.
As one of the best defensive linemen of the 2000s, Seymour will get into the NFL Hall of Fame in the near future. What I fear is that he gets into Canton before he gets into Foxboro. That’s a problem. It’s nice to give the prestige to guys like Rodney Harrison (2019), Matt Light (2018), and Raymond Clayborn (2017) who might not get to wear the gold jacket. At the same time, it should be a given that you get a red one before the gold. What’s wrong with giving it to these guys the next year?
People in New England still have differing opinions on Seymour because of basically one decision. That’s not how it should be. Richard Seymour held out for some time in 2005, although he didn’t miss any games. Then, in 2009, he was traded to Oakland for a first-round pick that became OT Nate Solder. Some were upset because he originally refused to report to the team. This type of souring on a player for a decision shouldn’t hold him out of the team Hall of Fame. This could also be foresight for when Wes Welker comes up for discussion. He’s a clear Patriots’ Hall of Famer, but because of one play, people don’t remember him as fondly as they should.
I digress.
The point is: Seymour should get into the Patriots HOF before he gets into Canton. It’s just common sense. And, by putting him off at least another year, fans are putting that at risk. Fans better hope Seymour gets pushed back another year, or it’s going to reflect poorly on the fanbase. GET HIM IN.