Thread by @TundraVision

My #Packers LeRoy Butler for NFL Hall of Fame deep dive:

According to Pro Football Reference's Hall of Fame Monitor Algorithm, here is the top player at every position eligible for the HOF but not in yet.

@pfref #NFLHOF

Quarterback

Kenny Anderson 21st overall (98.06)

QB HOF Average Score: 109

Just ahead of HOFers Joe Namath and Kenny Stabler.

pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_QB.htm

Running Back

LeShon McCoy 20th overall (82.8)

RB HOF Average Score: 107

Just ahead of HOFers Curtis Martin and Tony Dorsett.

pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_RB.htm

Wide Receiver

Reggie Wayne 11th overall (108.1)
Torry Holt 12th overall (106.2)

WR HOF Average Score: 105

Just ahead of HOFers Paul Warfield and Issac Bruce

pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_WR.htm

Tight End

Pete Retzlaff 12th overall (71.5)

TE HOF Average Score: 97

Just ahead of HOFers Mike Ditka and Charlie Sanders

pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_TE.htm

Offensive Guard

Logan Mankins 17th overall (79.1)
Steve Wisniewski 18th overall (76.0)

OG HOF Average Score: 106

Just ahead of HOFers Billy Shaw and Mike Munchak.

pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_G.htm

Offensive Tackle

Jim Tyrer 17th overall (105.3)

OT HOF Average Score: 95

Just ahead of HOFers Ron Yary and Gary Zimmerman

pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_T.htm

Center

Jeff Saturday 8th overall (75)

C HOF Average Score: 103

Just ahead of HOFer Mick Tingelhoff

pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_C.htm

Defensive Tackle

Kevin Williams 9th overall (105)

DT HOF Average Score: 114

Just ahead of HOFers Cortez Kennedy and Henry Jordan

pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_DT.htm

Defensive End

Richard Seymour 11th overall (98.8)

DE HOF Average Score: 105

Just ahead of HOFers Howie Long and Chris Doleman

pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_DE.htm

Inside Linebacker

Zach Thomas 7th overall (113.8)
Patrick Willis 8th overall (109.1)

ILB HOF Average Score: 114

Just ahead of HOFers Nick Buoniconti and Ray Nitchske

pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_ILB.h…

Outside Linebacker

Larry Grantham 12th overall (85.5))

OLB HOF Average Score: 106

Just ahead of HOFers Ricky Jackson and Dave Robinson

pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_OLB.h…

Defensive Back

LeRoy Butler 20th overall (90.5)

DB HOF Average Score: 100

Just ahead of HOFers Jimmy Johnson and Steve Atwater

pro-football-reference.com/hof/hofm_DB.htm

As you can guess, I did this deep dive to justify LeRoy Butler's need to be in the Hall of Fame. It is interesting to use @pfref's algorithm to determine how "deserving" a player truly is. Initial look would indicate that he's "down the list".

But, this algorithm only measures DB as a position...partially because so many corners eventually migrate to the safety position later in their career (Woodson, Woodson, Lott)

So, by breaking the same list down but only looking at career safeties, we get....

1) Reed (148.5)
2) Wilson (121.1)
3) Easley (107.4)
4) Dawkins (97.9)
5) Robinson (97.3)
6) Wood (97.1)
7) Polamalu (96.5)
8) Krause (91.9)
9) Houston (90.7)
10) Butler (90.5)

The average HOF score for career safeties falls from 100 to 96.3 when you take the Deions/Woodsons out.

Safeties aren't the sexy position amongst the defensive backs, and corner play as what gets you noticed.

Yet career safety John Lynch is in the HOF with a Monitor score of only 64.2.

Or that 5/9 career safeties in the HOF ahead of Butler played are Lombardi contemporaries.

Like Jerry Kramer at guard, it will take a push by fans to get a deserving player like LeRoy Butler into the Hall of Fame. It's not a sexy position.

But if John Lynch is in the HOF, Leroy Butler more than deserves to be in the HOF.

Let's go #Packers fans.

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