Is T.O. a First-Ballot Hall of Famer?

CC. Photo By Tammy Ferrufino, via Wikimedia Commons

As the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2015 is forever enshrined into the hall of fame in Canton, Ohio, many look on to next year’s class, which includes many notable first-time eligible candidates such as Brett Favre, Clinton Portis, Alan Faneca, and that popcorn-eating, sit-ups in the driveway doing Terrell Owens. Now the T.O. that everyone remembers was a great player on the field as well as a huge distraction for just about every NFL team he ever played for. There is no question that he will be headed to Canton one day, but the question is how soon?

First things first, here are the stats of T.O. (that really matter):

• 2nd all time in career receiving yards (15,934)
• 3rd all time in TD receptions (153)
• 5th all time in total TDs (156)
• 6th all time in career receptions (1,078)
• 6-time Pro Bowler
• 5-time 1st-team All-Pro

What Could Keep T.O. Out Year One

 Besides the fact that there are many other players/coaches/etc. that have been waiting for years, there is this one great player that also played wide receiver named Marvin Harrison. Statistically, T.O. has Harrison beat in just about all the major categories for a wide receiver except career receptions (1102 to 1078). T.O. also had really good but not great/elite quarterbacks throwing to him like Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb, and Tony Romo to name a few while Harrison had some guy named Peyton Manning throw to him for his whole career. Nonetheless, Harrison has been eligible for years. Maybe the voters will think that it might be time for Harrison to get in.

What Probably Will Keep T.O. Out Year One

It’s no secret that many people in the NFL world hated T.O. While he was never involved in any off-the-field foolishness, he did think there was an “I” in team. He went after his quarterbacks and kept many locker rooms divided, which probably led him from one team to another. In the end, he probably burned too many bridges. Still, he was media-friendly.

I bring that up because many of the voters are members of the media. Apparently, a player has to be in good relations with the media or he will be purposely left off the HOF ballot. Look at 2015 inductee Charles Haley. Haley was never friendly with the media, which probably contributed to him not being voted for a decade because he definitely had the accomplishments to get in. His case is what players probably fear once they become eligible for the HOF: “If I upset the media, I could be left out of the hall of fame because of someone’s emotions instead of my own accomplishments.”

My Conclusion

Personally, I’m undecided about whether or not he is a 1st-ballot hall of famer. His accomplishments say that he is but knowing that emotions can get in the way of facts and the fact that there are so many other people that belong in the hall of fame as well, T.O. may have to wait as long as Haley although he shouldn’t.