1 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:13,960 Speaker 1: Welcome to the ozone Podcast, presented by by Star Credit Union, 2 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:18,520 Speaker 1: featuring Jaguar Senior writer John Osian and executive producer Dave 3 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: to Candice. This week's topic it's it's a little different. 4 00:00:22,239 --> 00:00:25,239 Speaker 1: We're not doing in it own podcast every week. We're 5 00:00:25,239 --> 00:00:28,920 Speaker 1: doing one this week because Hall of Fame finalists voting 6 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: is next Tuesday's earlier this year the news What's January nine? Keee? 7 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:37,080 Speaker 1: Rather than the Super Bowl because of COVID and our format. Today, 8 00:00:37,440 --> 00:00:41,240 Speaker 1: we're gonna talk to four people intimately involved in the 9 00:00:41,400 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: Tony Basselli former Jaguars left tackle Tony Boselli discussion for 10 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: the Hall of Fame. He's in his fifth year as 11 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:53,320 Speaker 1: a finalist. I believe he's been a top ten guy 12 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 1: the last three years. He's been close. I believe he 13 00:00:56,120 --> 00:00:58,840 Speaker 1: still has momentum. But I wanted to get thoughts this 14 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,240 Speaker 1: week from four keep people. One of them is Pete Prisco, 15 00:01:02,880 --> 00:01:06,320 Speaker 1: who doesn't have a vote CBS Sports, but as a 16 00:01:06,400 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: former Florida Times Union writer along with me who covered Bisselli, 17 00:01:11,520 --> 00:01:14,800 Speaker 1: he has been integral in talking to voters over the 18 00:01:14,880 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: years and pushing Tony's candidacy. So I want to get 19 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: his thoughts. Sam Cavaris, who is Tony's presenter in the 20 00:01:21,400 --> 00:01:25,280 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame, Peter King from NBC, and Jim Trotter 21 00:01:25,360 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: from the NFL Network, both of whom had good thoughts. 22 00:01:30,000 --> 00:01:32,920 Speaker 1: The last three are all voters. They all had good 23 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: thoughts on Tony's chances. The dynamics of it. It's a 24 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,319 Speaker 1: story we have covered strongly and closely for three or 25 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: four years now, and some of what you hear is 26 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,280 Speaker 1: going to be a little bit of repetition. We wanted 27 00:01:44,280 --> 00:01:47,160 Speaker 1: to give people the idea or the feel for the 28 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:50,280 Speaker 1: entire process going in. So without further ado, this week 29 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: those own podcast, Tony Basselli's Hall of Fame Chances. All right, 30 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:57,360 Speaker 1: one welcome in Pete Prisco now, and really no introduction 31 00:01:57,400 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: to Jaguars fans is necessary. With Pete. He's the historical, 32 00:02:03,200 --> 00:02:06,760 Speaker 1: current expert on the Jags, knows what's going on with 33 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,960 Speaker 1: his team. But today we're talking about Tony Basselli and Pete. 34 00:02:09,960 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: I know we've had this conversation it seems like a 35 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: million times now, but four or five times leading into this. 36 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:19,120 Speaker 1: I get the feeling, and we said it before, but 37 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:21,359 Speaker 1: I legitimately get the feeling that could be Tony's year 38 00:02:21,440 --> 00:02:24,520 Speaker 1: for a number of reasons, but talk to me first 39 00:02:24,520 --> 00:02:28,760 Speaker 1: about the offensive line dynamic, how that could work for him. Yeah, 40 00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: and I think, you know, I've said it before. I 41 00:02:30,320 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: thought last year. I really felt last year was the year. 42 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: I was hopeful the year before that, but last year 43 00:02:34,440 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: I thought it was going to happen and it didn't. 44 00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:38,760 Speaker 1: And I know he was really disappointed last year because 45 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: he felt it was going to happen. But with the 46 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:43,840 Speaker 1: fact that Hutchinson went in last year, you know, you 47 00:02:43,880 --> 00:02:46,239 Speaker 1: put a center in the year before, you put a 48 00:02:46,280 --> 00:02:48,680 Speaker 1: guard in last year. Now it's time to put the 49 00:02:48,720 --> 00:02:50,239 Speaker 1: tackle that should be in. And by the way, you 50 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: should have gone in before those two anyways. And and 51 00:02:52,480 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 1: they're great players, don't get me wrong. I know Steve 52 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: very well. I thought Steven Tony both should have gone 53 00:02:57,600 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 1: in together last year. But now that you put a 54 00:03:00,320 --> 00:03:02,760 Speaker 1: guard in with Steve Hutchinson, I don't think you come 55 00:03:02,760 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 1: back and put another guard in in Alan Fanica when 56 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 1: you look at the offensive line room, so I think 57 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:11,239 Speaker 1: they cleared the tackle position and Tony will be the 58 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: last tackle to go in for a long time because 59 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: you know who's up next. Joe Thomas it's gonna be 60 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,640 Speaker 1: a while for him. So I think this is a 61 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,840 Speaker 1: good situation for Tony to be in, mainly because he 62 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: deserves to be in, but b because I think they 63 00:03:23,760 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: put a guard in last year. I think people who 64 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:29,440 Speaker 1: follow this, no, you're not a voter, but that's almost 65 00:03:29,480 --> 00:03:32,720 Speaker 1: only in name only, in terms of you know everybody 66 00:03:32,720 --> 00:03:34,480 Speaker 1: on the committee pretty much, or know him as well 67 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:38,440 Speaker 1: as anybody. And you've had probably more conversations about Tony 68 00:03:38,560 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 1: than I would guess anybody who's on the committee vibe 69 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: better this year on that front, or is it hard 70 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:46,800 Speaker 1: to tell? I mean, we've been it because we've been 71 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:50,240 Speaker 1: burned by this conversation before. Yeah, we've been burned. And 72 00:03:50,520 --> 00:03:53,040 Speaker 1: you know, I'm almost to the point now where my 73 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 1: stuff that I've done and I'm gonna reach out to 74 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: a bunch of them again and try and bang them again. 75 00:03:57,560 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: But I'm almost to the point where they're getting tired 76 00:04:00,400 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 1: of me. And and so yeah, well that that's you know, 77 00:04:04,960 --> 00:04:07,520 Speaker 1: that goes without saying, oh, you know that. But you know, 78 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: I'm not so sure I should be doing much more 79 00:04:10,480 --> 00:04:12,600 Speaker 1: than what I've already done, because I think it gets 80 00:04:12,640 --> 00:04:15,800 Speaker 1: to the point where you're annoying, and once you get annoying, 81 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:18,880 Speaker 1: then they start, you know, blocking you out. So I 82 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:22,080 Speaker 1: might hit a couple of guys it's weirdos because this 83 00:04:22,120 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: year it's gonna be virtual, and so I won't see 84 00:04:24,880 --> 00:04:26,520 Speaker 1: a lot of guys at the super Bowl. You know 85 00:04:26,600 --> 00:04:29,960 Speaker 1: we're going, but I imagine the majority of voters are 86 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:32,359 Speaker 1: not gonna go, and so it's gonna be hard to 87 00:04:32,360 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 1: get in contact. You got to do with an email 88 00:04:34,080 --> 00:04:36,800 Speaker 1: and text and that kind of thing. So, uh, it'll 89 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:39,160 Speaker 1: be a little bit different. But I think the fact 90 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: that he's been in that room and been so close 91 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,599 Speaker 1: so many times, I don't think there's any question that 92 00:04:44,640 --> 00:04:46,919 Speaker 1: alignment is going in this year. And I think the 93 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:48,880 Speaker 1: reality is they'll look at and say, hey, we put 94 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,720 Speaker 1: a guard in last year. It's not like this guard 95 00:04:53,040 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 1: is so much head and shoulders above the tackle. So 96 00:04:55,920 --> 00:04:57,600 Speaker 1: put Tony in. And I think, you know, not to 97 00:04:57,640 --> 00:04:58,920 Speaker 1: say he doesn't deserve it, because you know how I 98 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 1: feel about that. I think he's one of the graades 99 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,839 Speaker 1: of all time at that position. But I just think 100 00:05:02,880 --> 00:05:05,360 Speaker 1: that when when smarter minds get in that room and 101 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:06,880 Speaker 1: they realized they put a guard in last year, you're 102 00:05:06,880 --> 00:05:09,279 Speaker 1: not gonna go back to back guards. You're closer to 103 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:11,840 Speaker 1: the process than I am. But we've talked about it 104 00:05:11,960 --> 00:05:13,560 Speaker 1: so much, and we talked to some of the same 105 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 1: people who were in the room a lot. There's an 106 00:05:16,040 --> 00:05:19,040 Speaker 1: education process, and it sounds weird to think, but there 107 00:05:19,120 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 1: is an education process with the Hall of Fame meaning 108 00:05:22,920 --> 00:05:26,160 Speaker 1: guy's play, and then they sort of get forgotten about, 109 00:05:26,320 --> 00:05:29,240 Speaker 1: and the committee goes back and sort of studies them again, 110 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:32,080 Speaker 1: and the and they research it, and that's what the 111 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 1: room is about. It's what the process is about. I 112 00:05:34,839 --> 00:05:38,839 Speaker 1: get the idea that the room is now completely educated 113 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 1: on Tony, whereas maybe four years they weren't. There were 114 00:05:42,040 --> 00:05:46,400 Speaker 1: still some guys who were like, well, how good was he? Uh? 115 00:05:47,520 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: There are times when you hear voters talk about well, 116 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,640 Speaker 1: I wasn't sure last year, but after listening now, I 117 00:05:52,680 --> 00:05:56,440 Speaker 1: am sure on Tony. It feels like this process eventually 118 00:05:56,480 --> 00:05:59,920 Speaker 1: will help him because more guys will understand how good 119 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:02,280 Speaker 1: was it was a long way the way of saying it, 120 00:06:02,320 --> 00:06:04,359 Speaker 1: But I wonder if there's an element of that. No, 121 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:07,159 Speaker 1: there's definitely an element of that. And I think the 122 00:06:07,160 --> 00:06:09,719 Speaker 1: other thing is is the lineman each had cannibalized each 123 00:06:09,720 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: other as you've gone through the process and and so 124 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:13,320 Speaker 1: now it's just a matter of just two of them, 125 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:16,680 Speaker 1: so it won't be as much of a split, because look, 126 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: let's be real about it. A guy in Nashville, you know, 127 00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,280 Speaker 1: paulka Arsk you hows to vote, is gonna vote for 128 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:25,840 Speaker 1: Kevin Mai or Steve Hutchinson as it gets through the 129 00:06:25,880 --> 00:06:28,600 Speaker 1: selection process before he votes for Tony Boselli because he's 130 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 1: their guy. The guys in New York, the voting block 131 00:06:31,720 --> 00:06:34,400 Speaker 1: in New York, they'll vote for Kevin Moi because he's 132 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:37,000 Speaker 1: their guy. And so when you get down to the finals, 133 00:06:37,080 --> 00:06:39,400 Speaker 1: those guys are gonna get their votes and it's gonna 134 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:41,440 Speaker 1: split the split the vote up a little bit. So 135 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:45,160 Speaker 1: now with only two it becomes Okay, you have Pittsburgh 136 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 1: who vote Fanica. You might have Arizona who will vote Fanica. 137 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:51,880 Speaker 1: But then you got Jacksonville will vote Tony. So it's 138 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:54,640 Speaker 1: not as big of a difference. And I think that 139 00:06:54,680 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: will help him in the process because the football guys 140 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:58,840 Speaker 1: in that room know how great he was. And the 141 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: football guys in that room either have lied along the way, 142 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:03,560 Speaker 1: which I doubt they have to me and to him 143 00:07:03,680 --> 00:07:05,159 Speaker 1: because I know a lot of them tell him this 144 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:07,080 Speaker 1: is the year, this is the year. So I do 145 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:09,320 Speaker 1: believe this will be the year for Tony and it 146 00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:12,040 Speaker 1: should be the year for Tony. Well, what the football 147 00:07:12,040 --> 00:07:14,240 Speaker 1: guys don't lie about is I think I think for 148 00:07:14,280 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 1: three straight years he's been top ten. If the reporting 149 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:19,680 Speaker 1: out of that is accurate, and and it usually is, 150 00:07:20,640 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: usually guys who are in the top ten eventually get 151 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:27,880 Speaker 1: in because of what you say, Guys that other people 152 00:07:27,880 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: are voting for sort of fall out. It's a weird process. 153 00:07:30,680 --> 00:07:34,520 Speaker 1: It's not a great process. I respect it because I 154 00:07:34,600 --> 00:07:36,280 Speaker 1: know the people in the room and I know how 155 00:07:36,320 --> 00:07:39,800 Speaker 1: much they care about it. I so I've always thought 156 00:07:39,880 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: there's there's probably no perfect process, but this is probably 157 00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:46,440 Speaker 1: the best process. Do you agree with that or is 158 00:07:46,440 --> 00:07:49,480 Speaker 1: there a better process? No, I think there's a better process. 159 00:07:49,520 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: I think you need more football guys, general managers, that 160 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,080 Speaker 1: type of person in the room. I don't think you 161 00:07:57,080 --> 00:07:59,960 Speaker 1: should have the vote for lifetime. This isn't the Supreme Court. 162 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,040 Speaker 1: This is voting for the Hall of Fame, and I 163 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: think they should open it up to more people. Um, 164 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,200 Speaker 1: you know, you can get blocks of people in there 165 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:08,080 Speaker 1: to block, you know, vote block against the guy or 166 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: with the guy, and help a guy, and you do 167 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: me a favor, and I'll do you a favor. I 168 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: don't like that. And I've heard many a story of 169 00:08:13,360 --> 00:08:15,600 Speaker 1: that going on. You help me get my guy in 170 00:08:15,640 --> 00:08:17,480 Speaker 1: the next year when your guys on, I'll help you 171 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:19,320 Speaker 1: get your guy in. That's not the way it should be. 172 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 1: You should be able to do your work, do your 173 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:24,760 Speaker 1: due diligence, be due diligence, all your due diligence, I 174 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:27,720 Speaker 1: should say, and then come to your conclusion on your own. 175 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 1: You shouldn't have to go in there and make it politics. 176 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,600 Speaker 1: And and uh, you know, I'll trade you this if 177 00:08:32,600 --> 00:08:34,280 Speaker 1: you give me this next year, I'll give you that 178 00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:37,360 Speaker 1: next year. This guy's coming up. That's garbage. And you 179 00:08:37,360 --> 00:08:38,880 Speaker 1: know I used to want to be in that room. 180 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:40,160 Speaker 1: You know that. I used to always want to be 181 00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:42,080 Speaker 1: in the room and probably should have been in the room. 182 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:44,280 Speaker 1: Now I don't want to be in the room. I 183 00:08:44,280 --> 00:08:46,520 Speaker 1: really don't. And and and I don't want to be 184 00:08:46,559 --> 00:08:49,079 Speaker 1: involved in that. I don't like the whole process of 185 00:08:49,240 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: the way it's handled. I'd be the first one to 186 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:53,559 Speaker 1: tell those guys. I've told them all anyways. And It's 187 00:08:53,559 --> 00:08:55,480 Speaker 1: not just because Tony can't get in. It's just I've 188 00:08:55,480 --> 00:08:57,560 Speaker 1: told him I think the process stinks. I think they 189 00:08:57,559 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: need to open it up to more people. They need 190 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:02,600 Speaker 1: to not make it for lifetime lifetime you know, voting 191 00:09:02,640 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: and and go from there. I mean, am I wrong? 192 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:08,079 Speaker 1: Is Vito Stellino still a voter? Yeah? He was last year? 193 00:09:08,120 --> 00:09:10,520 Speaker 1: And and and you know, look, I love Vito. Vito 194 00:09:10,559 --> 00:09:13,480 Speaker 1: was one of the original football guys. But Vito wasn't 195 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:16,680 Speaker 1: really covering the league anymore. I mean he he was 196 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:19,720 Speaker 1: basically retired, and yet he was still going in there 197 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: and voting, and and so I mean I wish Vito 198 00:09:23,120 --> 00:09:24,880 Speaker 1: was still a voting because he votes for Tony, so 199 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:27,120 Speaker 1: it would be a good thing. But but I'm just 200 00:09:27,160 --> 00:09:29,280 Speaker 1: saying that He's not alone. There were other guys. I'm 201 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:31,640 Speaker 1: a miller another. I mean, these guys, look, they've been 202 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:34,880 Speaker 1: longtime football guys, and I get it. But open it up, 203 00:09:35,040 --> 00:09:37,800 Speaker 1: widen it out. Why than that get more votes? Do 204 00:09:37,880 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 1: it in a different way. Uh, don't let politics play 205 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: into it. And I'm a big believer that it does. 206 00:09:44,080 --> 00:09:51,640 Speaker 1: Final question, Uh, handicap Jimmy and Fred. I wasn't angry 207 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 1: last year when Fred Taylor didn't get elected or didn't 208 00:09:54,840 --> 00:09:57,720 Speaker 1: make the final fifteen. I'm not angry this year that 209 00:09:57,760 --> 00:09:59,959 Speaker 1: he's not getting in the Hall, but I think it's 210 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: ludicrous that he's not top fifteen. I know there's gonna 211 00:10:02,400 --> 00:10:06,600 Speaker 1: be a process with Fred because he he's a borderline guy, 212 00:10:06,640 --> 00:10:09,079 Speaker 1: but he should be in the top fifteen. Fred should 213 00:10:09,080 --> 00:10:10,360 Speaker 1: be in the room. And then once you get in 214 00:10:10,360 --> 00:10:12,800 Speaker 1: the room, it becomes a conversation and you can get debated, 215 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:15,280 Speaker 1: and and look, Fred should be in the Hall of Fame. Fred, 216 00:10:15,320 --> 00:10:17,920 Speaker 1: There's there's no doubt in my mind. And Tony goes 217 00:10:17,960 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: in this year, Fred should be become the push. Fred 218 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: should be in the Hall of Fame. There are running backs, 219 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:23,520 Speaker 1: many running backs in the league that are in the 220 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:25,640 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame that weren't better than Fred Taylor. The 221 00:10:25,679 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 1: guy was great. He was phenomenal. I mean, look, if 222 00:10:28,080 --> 00:10:29,959 Speaker 1: Veteran James is a Hall of Famer, Fred Taylor is 223 00:10:29,960 --> 00:10:32,440 Speaker 1: a Hall of Famer, If Jerome Bettis is a Hall 224 00:10:32,480 --> 00:10:34,320 Speaker 1: of Famer, Fred Taylors a Hall of Famer. If Curtis 225 00:10:34,320 --> 00:10:35,920 Speaker 1: Martin's a Hall of Famer, Fred Taylor is a Hall 226 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:39,319 Speaker 1: of Famer. So put him in. But let's get Tony 227 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:41,480 Speaker 1: in this year, and then Fred will come back, and 228 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:44,480 Speaker 1: then Jimmy's case is gonna be tougher because you can 229 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:46,679 Speaker 1: make a real case for Jimmy being in there with 230 00:10:46,720 --> 00:10:49,480 Speaker 1: those same group of guys, the Holtz and the Bruces 231 00:10:49,520 --> 00:10:51,840 Speaker 1: and everybody else, because his numbers were just as good, 232 00:10:51,880 --> 00:10:53,800 Speaker 1: almost as as good as there's and right with them. 233 00:10:54,000 --> 00:10:56,360 Speaker 1: He didn't win a super Bowl, and you know, had 234 00:10:56,400 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: they not blown the game to the Titans and gone 235 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: to the Atlanta and be at the Rams, then maybe 236 00:11:01,559 --> 00:11:03,959 Speaker 1: he's the guy getting pushed rather than those two. So 237 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:07,240 Speaker 1: but Jimmy, I think it first, it goes Tony goes 238 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:10,280 Speaker 1: in this year, Fred gets into the fifteen next year, 239 00:11:10,559 --> 00:11:13,200 Speaker 1: then Fred probably will get in, and then Jimmy becomes 240 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: part of the conversation after that. I agree, the super 241 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:20,160 Speaker 1: Bowl not getting there that year, that ties more to 242 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:23,960 Speaker 1: me into the Hall than anything else. I think Jacksonville, Carolina, Atlanta, 243 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: Tampa teams like that are always gonna struggle a little bit. 244 00:11:27,040 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 1: But if if you make super Bowls, then that sort 245 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:33,040 Speaker 1: of pushes the market thing out of it a little 246 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:35,440 Speaker 1: bit to me, which is weird because like Calvin Johnson's 247 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:37,960 Speaker 1: up this year. John So is he first ballot Hall 248 00:11:37,960 --> 00:11:39,720 Speaker 1: of Famer? You kidding me? He didn't play, only played 249 00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:42,079 Speaker 1: under thirty eight games, and they never won a playoff game. 250 00:11:42,200 --> 00:11:44,960 Speaker 1: He never won a playoff game. And then automatically Calvin 251 00:11:45,040 --> 00:11:47,559 Speaker 1: john look at his numbers compared to Jimmy. Calvin Johnson 252 00:11:47,559 --> 00:11:49,720 Speaker 1: had some great season. Jimmy had some great seasons too. 253 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 1: So yeah, you're right there there there. The market hurts 254 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,280 Speaker 1: not going to Super Bowl, which you know, I get 255 00:11:55,320 --> 00:11:57,760 Speaker 1: tired of that because there's been great players who played 256 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: on bad teams. And and you know, not that Tony 257 00:12:00,640 --> 00:12:03,720 Speaker 1: and Jimmy and and and Fred were because they played 258 00:12:03,720 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: on some good teams. But there have been great players 259 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,880 Speaker 1: who played on bad teams. Should they be penalized because 260 00:12:07,920 --> 00:12:11,559 Speaker 1: their teams stunk but they were great? No? Yeah, it 261 00:12:11,720 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 1: usually when your borderline and Beselli shouldn't have been borderline, 262 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:19,199 Speaker 1: but the longevity sort of made on borderline. And it's 263 00:12:19,240 --> 00:12:23,200 Speaker 1: almost like when there's a reason to not vote, that's 264 00:12:23,240 --> 00:12:25,400 Speaker 1: when the playoffs stuff and the market stuff sort of 265 00:12:25,400 --> 00:12:27,680 Speaker 1: comes into play. If if you follow me, Yeah, and 266 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,840 Speaker 1: here's the other higher standard, and I'll give you another one. Um, 267 00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: you know, if we want to talk about using Super 268 00:12:32,640 --> 00:12:35,440 Speaker 1: bowls and wins and everything else. All right, John Lynch 269 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 1: is up against the Jacksonville kid who I know very well, 270 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:40,920 Speaker 1: Leroy Butler, who's a finalist. Leroy Butler was a better 271 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:43,160 Speaker 1: player than John Lynch in my mind. But not only that. 272 00:12:43,640 --> 00:12:47,800 Speaker 1: Tampa Bay has Warren Sapp and Derek Brooks off that defense, 273 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:51,600 Speaker 1: the Green Bay defense which was really really good. That yeah, yeah, 274 00:12:51,600 --> 00:12:54,520 Speaker 1: everybody remembers far but that defense has Reggie White. We'll 275 00:12:54,559 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: put the next guy in. That's Leroy Butler. You know 276 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 1: he was the first guy. Leroy Butler should be the 277 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:02,920 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame as well. My ideal class this year 278 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,440 Speaker 1: is the way it should be Peyton Manning slam dunk. 279 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:10,720 Speaker 1: It should be Charles Woodson slam dunk. Tony BASSELLI should 280 00:13:10,760 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: be a slam dunk this year. Uh. Then Leroy Butler 281 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: would be my other guy. And then the last guy 282 00:13:16,920 --> 00:13:19,199 Speaker 1: put in, I put in Tory Holt before I put 283 00:13:19,240 --> 00:13:21,840 Speaker 1: in Calvin Johnson, just because I don't think Calvin Johnson's 284 00:13:21,880 --> 00:13:25,600 Speaker 1: the first ballot Hall of Famer. Wow, Tory holder, Calvin Johnson. 285 00:13:25,760 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: I think I think the Calvin Johnson is going to 286 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:29,679 Speaker 1: be less of a slam dunk than people think. It 287 00:13:29,720 --> 00:13:31,680 Speaker 1: wouldn't surprise me if he didn't get in, but we'll see. 288 00:13:32,040 --> 00:13:34,439 Speaker 1: Just some people say, Jared Allen this year, the first 289 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:38,400 Speaker 1: time up in the room. No, no, there's been a 290 00:13:38,400 --> 00:13:44,640 Speaker 1: weird trend towards first ballot guys getting put on first ballot, 291 00:13:44,640 --> 00:13:48,160 Speaker 1: way too quickly for me. But that's that's another point, Pete. 292 00:13:48,200 --> 00:13:50,240 Speaker 1: I won't take up any more your time. I appreciate 293 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 1: you doing this. Hopefully we're talking after Selly gets in 294 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:55,920 Speaker 1: this year, but thank you very much. You gotta take 295 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,840 Speaker 1: care of oh all right. I want to welcome in 296 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:03,319 Speaker 1: Sam Cavars to this week's Ozone podcast, which is completely 297 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 1: Tony Biselli Hall of Fame centric. Obviously most people know 298 00:14:06,720 --> 00:14:09,720 Speaker 1: the reason we have Sam, long time Hall of Fame voter, 299 00:14:10,280 --> 00:14:15,040 Speaker 1: significantly right now, long time Hall of Fame presenter for 300 00:14:15,120 --> 00:14:19,040 Speaker 1: Tony BISSELLI and Sam, I appreciate you doing this, and 301 00:14:19,120 --> 00:14:21,800 Speaker 1: how are you. I'm well, John, and I hope you're 302 00:14:21,840 --> 00:14:24,120 Speaker 1: well if you enjoy the holidays. I had two of 303 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:26,560 Speaker 1: my grandchildren um here at the house that morning, a 304 00:14:26,600 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: two year old and four year old, so they went 305 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:30,880 Speaker 1: through like a buzz saw. I mean, there was wrapping, 306 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:34,840 Speaker 1: paper flying, and you know it was over that its 307 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: but but that was fun. Always great to spend time 308 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:39,600 Speaker 1: with you, John. People don't know you and I have 309 00:14:39,680 --> 00:14:42,480 Speaker 1: known each other in the most forty years now, so yeah, 310 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: it's been a while. It's been a while, A good 311 00:14:44,960 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 1: forty sam, a good forty years, very good. Absolutely. I 312 00:14:49,000 --> 00:14:52,480 Speaker 1: think the main thing right up front is the you know, 313 00:14:52,600 --> 00:14:57,200 Speaker 1: next Tuesday, the nineteen, we're gonna have a Zoom call. Now, 314 00:14:57,640 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: I don't know, I feel like everybody's done either Microsoft 315 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:04,000 Speaker 1: teams or Zoom or or whatever. So you know what 316 00:15:04,080 --> 00:15:08,880 Speaker 1: that's like. You know what that's like. With three, four, five, eight, ten, 317 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:12,920 Speaker 1: We're gonna have forty eight people on this call, plus 318 00:15:13,880 --> 00:15:16,240 Speaker 1: you know the Dave Baker who runs the Hall of Fame, 319 00:15:16,280 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 1: and Salim who is the communications director. So now you're 320 00:15:20,240 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: talking about fifty people on a call. Um, I'll get 321 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: five minutes to present Tony's uh, Tony Tony's case, and 322 00:15:28,480 --> 00:15:30,920 Speaker 1: this will be the fifth consecutive year I've done that, 323 00:15:31,000 --> 00:15:35,440 Speaker 1: and it's important to vary your presentation every year. But 324 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: I think a non skilled player, uh has a bit 325 00:15:40,680 --> 00:15:44,400 Speaker 1: of it dampens their opportunity. This that's one of the reasons, 326 00:15:44,440 --> 00:15:46,840 Speaker 1: I think because you don't have this idea in your 327 00:15:46,880 --> 00:15:48,760 Speaker 1: head of what this guy looked like when he was 328 00:15:49,160 --> 00:15:53,000 Speaker 1: at his best. UM the Jaguars have are sending out 329 00:15:54,040 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 1: video clips of Basselli playing because, believe it or not, 330 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,680 Speaker 1: of the forty eight people, it might be half half 331 00:15:59,720 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: of the committee that didn't see Tony play. So I 332 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:05,520 Speaker 1: do think it dampens his chances. I think, if not 333 00:16:05,640 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: this year next and a variety of reasons that will 334 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:11,080 Speaker 1: that that will continue to talk about. But the zoom 335 00:16:11,080 --> 00:16:14,200 Speaker 1: call is going to be a strange thing. Five minute 336 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:20,480 Speaker 1: presentation followed by UM questions and answers or comments. And 337 00:16:20,680 --> 00:16:23,200 Speaker 1: what's interesting to me was last year we talked about 338 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:27,720 Speaker 1: Bisselli longer than everybody but one other finalists. So so 339 00:16:27,840 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: there's some interest, and there there's some some thought process. 340 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: And I've never heard anybody saying, no, you know, I've 341 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:37,720 Speaker 1: been a numbers game for Tony. Once they let Terrell 342 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,920 Speaker 1: Davis and Kenny easily in. Davis played seventy eight games 343 00:16:40,920 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 1: and easily played Tony played ninety seven games. Once he 344 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:46,600 Speaker 1: let those two guys in, the brevity of his career 345 00:16:47,160 --> 00:16:51,360 Speaker 1: became a non issue, literally because it's no longer. You 346 00:16:51,400 --> 00:16:54,720 Speaker 1: can't really consider that any longer. Just his greatness in 347 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:57,360 Speaker 1: the in the time that he played, and there's not 348 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: anybody who doesn't think that he was the best left 349 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:04,520 Speaker 1: tackle in the game in his era. When studying this, 350 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: I always look for signs, I woulda everybody does. But 351 00:17:08,840 --> 00:17:11,879 Speaker 1: to me, the best sign for Tony to me is 352 00:17:13,040 --> 00:17:16,159 Speaker 1: my understanding is he's been in the top ten I 353 00:17:16,200 --> 00:17:18,320 Speaker 1: guess all four years or three years, but in the 354 00:17:18,359 --> 00:17:21,159 Speaker 1: top ten a lot. And usually guys who get that 355 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 1: many votes that means a lot of people think their 356 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:26,240 Speaker 1: Hall of famers and it's usually a good sign for 357 00:17:26,280 --> 00:17:30,480 Speaker 1: eventually getting in. I would think the long discussion last year, 358 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:33,800 Speaker 1: I'm assuming I've never been in the room, and you 359 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:35,879 Speaker 1: have that A lot of guys who aren't going to 360 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:39,239 Speaker 1: get in never get that sort of discussion. And am 361 00:17:39,240 --> 00:17:42,840 Speaker 1: I reading that right? Absolutely would be seven year on 362 00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 1: the committee and thanks to Wayne we were for appointing 363 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:48,040 Speaker 1: me to that because it's been one of the true 364 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:51,440 Speaker 1: honors of my career and such an eye opening thing. 365 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:54,120 Speaker 1: Um Uh, you know, I take a lot of heat 366 00:17:54,200 --> 00:17:57,679 Speaker 1: on social media for Tony not getting in, which is 367 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: only amusing when when you know it actually happens in 368 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,160 Speaker 1: the room, and then you hear what people say. I mean, 369 00:18:03,240 --> 00:18:05,960 Speaker 1: like like I'm supposed to stand there like a you know, 370 00:18:06,000 --> 00:18:08,840 Speaker 1: a Baptist preacher and with fire and brimstone and convince 371 00:18:08,920 --> 00:18:11,920 Speaker 1: these guys. I mean, this is these are forty seven 372 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:17,320 Speaker 1: now of the real uh qualified people in UM in 373 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:20,880 Speaker 1: football journalism, people who know what they're talking about. You'd 374 00:18:20,880 --> 00:18:23,680 Speaker 1: recognize most of the people in the room. The dynamic 375 00:18:23,680 --> 00:18:25,840 Speaker 1: of the committee has changed. John, It's kind of fascinating. 376 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:28,440 Speaker 1: I mean when when I first went on the committee, 377 00:18:29,200 --> 00:18:33,159 Speaker 1: I used to sit between Firman Bisher and Edwin Pope. 378 00:18:33,320 --> 00:18:37,240 Speaker 1: Tom McEwen would sit there, John Steadman from the Baltimore Sun, 379 00:18:37,600 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 1: Will McDonough from the Boston Globe, Jack Buck from CBS Sports. 380 00:18:42,680 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: I mean, it was it was who's who the pantheon 381 00:18:45,680 --> 00:18:48,560 Speaker 1: of of sports at the time, which which was a 382 00:18:48,880 --> 00:18:51,479 Speaker 1: little different time because there was no social media. So 383 00:18:51,520 --> 00:18:55,320 Speaker 1: these were the real influencers of of what sports thought was. 384 00:18:56,000 --> 00:18:58,399 Speaker 1: The committee at the time had an average age of 385 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:02,359 Speaker 1: about fifty. I think Paul Zimmerman, who of course was 386 00:19:02,400 --> 00:19:05,000 Speaker 1: kind of the godfather of the Hall of Fame. Uh, 387 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,480 Speaker 1: he did a survey and one of my first five 388 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:12,680 Speaker 1: years on the committee, the average as was like fifty eight. Um. 389 00:19:12,720 --> 00:19:16,640 Speaker 1: The committee is skewed now much younger than it used 390 00:19:16,640 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: to be, which means that the emphasis has has gotten 391 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 1: on statistics and what you saw on the ESPN as 392 00:19:26,760 --> 00:19:30,399 Speaker 1: opposed to what you saw in person, uh, the eye 393 00:19:30,400 --> 00:19:33,560 Speaker 1: test that a lot of guys uh kind of use 394 00:19:34,200 --> 00:19:39,200 Speaker 1: and uh and whether or not somebody has in their 395 00:19:39,240 --> 00:19:42,800 Speaker 1: mind Hall of Fame credentials. Now it's a much much 396 00:19:42,880 --> 00:19:46,200 Speaker 1: bigger emphasis on statistics. And one of the reasons is 397 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:48,879 Speaker 1: because there are so many more statistics that are available 398 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:51,920 Speaker 1: these days. So it's a it's a it's a strange 399 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: it's not a strange process. It's a different process, much 400 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:57,720 Speaker 1: different than I think anybody could tell. And when any 401 00:19:57,720 --> 00:19:59,840 Speaker 1: time you get you know, when I first went on 402 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:03,520 Speaker 1: the comittee, there were thirty two members. Now there are 403 00:20:03,560 --> 00:20:06,520 Speaker 1: forty eight. They've expanded it with at large members. As 404 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:09,400 Speaker 1: with any group of people, you can feel the momentum 405 00:20:09,480 --> 00:20:12,360 Speaker 1: shift in a room one way or another. That first 406 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:14,719 Speaker 1: year that Tony was a finalist, it was It's almost 407 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:18,199 Speaker 1: always an introductory year for anybody who's not somebody like 408 00:20:18,240 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 1: Peyton Manning who's gonna get in this year, right, So 409 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:23,200 Speaker 1: it's kind of an introductory year and people do their 410 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:25,199 Speaker 1: homework and they look around and go, huh, you know, 411 00:20:25,200 --> 00:20:28,160 Speaker 1: I didn't realize he was that good or or man, 412 00:20:28,280 --> 00:20:31,640 Speaker 1: I mean that that that's really something else. And then 413 00:20:31,920 --> 00:20:34,840 Speaker 1: then it starts to get you. You hate this phrase, 414 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: but you drill down even further into their career and 415 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:40,120 Speaker 1: what they did, peers said about him, what the coaches 416 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:43,040 Speaker 1: said about him. Um you never bring up, by the way, 417 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: what teammates say about him, because all teammates say they're great. 418 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 1: So it's um uh, it's it's a process. That's interesting 419 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:56,119 Speaker 1: because for some players there is there is negative commentary. 420 00:20:56,560 --> 00:20:59,199 Speaker 1: I mean, guys will say this guy is not a 421 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer, you know, I mean, and and there 422 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: there's some heated discussion in there that that discussion about 423 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:09,520 Speaker 1: basely has never been that early on, it was about 424 00:21:09,560 --> 00:21:13,840 Speaker 1: the brevity of his career. Once Davison easily were admitted 425 00:21:13,880 --> 00:21:16,439 Speaker 1: to the Hall, that went away. Now it's only been 426 00:21:16,480 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 1: a numbers game, and how he compares to guys who 427 00:21:20,680 --> 00:21:24,840 Speaker 1: are now in the Hall, like Steve Hutchinson, Kevin Mauai. 428 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:29,240 Speaker 1: This year, Alan Fanica is on the ballot and and 429 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:33,520 Speaker 1: Tony's on the ballot. UM, So so there's you know 430 00:21:33,560 --> 00:21:37,159 Speaker 1: there there there's been a numbers game. I mean, I 431 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:40,159 Speaker 1: think one year to u terall Owens took his spot. 432 00:21:40,280 --> 00:21:45,439 Speaker 1: I really do. I mean I really believe that and 433 00:21:45,440 --> 00:21:47,360 Speaker 1: and so so you're right, I mean, you can get 434 00:21:47,400 --> 00:21:50,560 Speaker 1: that feel in that room. But there's there's um. There's 435 00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:53,680 Speaker 1: certainly a sentiment that Bissell has Hall of Fame credentials, 436 00:21:54,280 --> 00:21:57,040 Speaker 1: which class he gets into, and if you make it 437 00:21:57,160 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: as a as a finalist one of the fifteen kind 438 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:04,199 Speaker 1: about a chance to eventually get into the Hall. The 439 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: fact that Tony has been a top ten guy for 440 00:22:06,119 --> 00:22:10,800 Speaker 1: the past three years, he has an awful lot of support. 441 00:22:10,840 --> 00:22:13,160 Speaker 1: That first year, I don't think he made the top ten. 442 00:22:14,000 --> 00:22:16,200 Speaker 1: Starting with the second year, he's made the top ten 443 00:22:16,240 --> 00:22:22,840 Speaker 1: every time since. And the the idea ever since the 444 00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:27,720 Speaker 1: four line put another backstory. At one point, the voters 445 00:22:27,720 --> 00:22:32,280 Speaker 1: and many voters I talked to, believe there was four 446 00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:35,400 Speaker 1: linemen who needed to get in, which was Bess, Sally, Hutchinson, 447 00:22:35,440 --> 00:22:39,960 Speaker 1: Fantica and Mawai. And there was always this theory among 448 00:22:40,040 --> 00:22:44,440 Speaker 1: the very respected long time voters I talked to that 449 00:22:44,600 --> 00:22:46,199 Speaker 1: all four of those guys were going to get in. 450 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:48,840 Speaker 1: It was just a matter of how many people were 451 00:22:48,840 --> 00:22:51,720 Speaker 1: going to vote for multiple linemen in one year. So 452 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:53,879 Speaker 1: that's where I agree with you stand. From people I 453 00:22:53,960 --> 00:22:56,440 Speaker 1: talked to, it feels like Tony sometime in the next 454 00:22:56,480 --> 00:23:00,280 Speaker 1: couple of years, him and Fanica will go in at 455 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:02,960 Speaker 1: some point in some order in the next two or 456 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:06,120 Speaker 1: three years. Now, it's not a guarantee, as Tony's quick 457 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: to tell you, Hey, with this process, there's no guarantee, 458 00:23:09,080 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: but to me it bodes well. I've had a feeling, 459 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:17,880 Speaker 1: even though some observers don't feel it, that he's gained momentum, 460 00:23:17,920 --> 00:23:21,000 Speaker 1: and there continues to be each year there's more positive 461 00:23:21,040 --> 00:23:26,240 Speaker 1: talk because his candidate city is so strong. You're right, John, 462 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:30,760 Speaker 1: he has gained momentum, and it's because so many not 463 00:23:30,880 --> 00:23:33,880 Speaker 1: so many, but enough of the committee didn't see him 464 00:23:33,880 --> 00:23:38,479 Speaker 1: play have rightfully leaned on some other older committee members 465 00:23:38,480 --> 00:23:41,399 Speaker 1: to ask and then have done their own homework to 466 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:44,080 Speaker 1: look at it. And when you look at Basselli's career 467 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:47,240 Speaker 1: in comparison to you know, I've called it the Golden 468 00:23:47,240 --> 00:23:50,840 Speaker 1: Age of tackles, and you've got you've got basically five 469 00:23:50,920 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: tackles in in that era, and you can put six 470 00:23:53,840 --> 00:23:57,879 Speaker 1: in there if you add Gary Zimmerman who really were dominant, 471 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:01,800 Speaker 1: dominant players, you know, whether it's Jonathan Ogden or Willie 472 00:24:01,920 --> 00:24:06,879 Speaker 1: roof uh, you know, players like that, Orlando Pace. You know, 473 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:10,760 Speaker 1: all those guys are in the hall. Walter Jones was 474 00:24:10,800 --> 00:24:13,800 Speaker 1: a slam dunk Call of Famer Walter Jones War seventy 475 00:24:13,800 --> 00:24:18,360 Speaker 1: one because Tony Basselli War seventy you know, I mean. 476 00:24:18,880 --> 00:24:21,200 Speaker 1: Willie Roth told me that even though he wasn't even 477 00:24:21,200 --> 00:24:24,359 Speaker 1: in the same conference as Tony, he used to check 478 00:24:24,400 --> 00:24:28,320 Speaker 1: his game against Basselli's against Bosseli's game. Every week. He'd 479 00:24:28,320 --> 00:24:30,879 Speaker 1: have the video guys cut up bassell eclipse so he 480 00:24:30,920 --> 00:24:33,600 Speaker 1: could see what he's doing. All four of those guys 481 00:24:33,840 --> 00:24:36,720 Speaker 1: believe that Posselli was the best of those five. And 482 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:40,879 Speaker 1: Gary's and who I talked to, said he'd never seen anybody, 483 00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:44,359 Speaker 1: uh like Tony who had that kind of athleticism, that 484 00:24:44,440 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 1: kind of footwork, who was as effective and this was 485 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:51,200 Speaker 1: important to him effective run blocking as he was pass blocking. 486 00:24:51,359 --> 00:24:54,199 Speaker 1: That that those that that combination of being able to 487 00:24:54,200 --> 00:24:57,400 Speaker 1: do both is so important at that left tackle position. 488 00:24:57,520 --> 00:25:00,600 Speaker 1: So when you start looking at this golden age of tackles, 489 00:25:00,600 --> 00:25:03,000 Speaker 1: and those guys were in well. Boselli was the best 490 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,840 Speaker 1: of the bunch, and I think because of the brevity 491 00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 1: of his career, he's been shoved behind other offensive lineman, which, 492 00:25:10,800 --> 00:25:13,440 Speaker 1: by the way, John, I think is also completely unfair 493 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:18,119 Speaker 1: anybody who follows football and particularly football affection, Ado's no, 494 00:25:18,960 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: the tackles and guards and centers are completely different positions. 495 00:25:22,560 --> 00:25:27,240 Speaker 1: It be as if we were comparing safeties and cornerbacks 496 00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:32,000 Speaker 1: for the same spot. It's just not the case. Safeties 497 00:25:32,040 --> 00:25:35,200 Speaker 1: were completely underrepresented in the Hall for a long time. 498 00:25:35,240 --> 00:25:38,040 Speaker 1: You know why, because the guys on the committee felt 499 00:25:38,119 --> 00:25:40,880 Speaker 1: like safety is where they put cornerbacks when they couldn't 500 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:44,920 Speaker 1: cover guys right. But it's a it's a different position. 501 00:25:45,359 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 1: Tackles are better athletes than anybody on the offensive line. 502 00:25:48,440 --> 00:25:51,480 Speaker 1: They're the they're the best, They're they're the best athlete 503 00:25:51,560 --> 00:25:52,919 Speaker 1: up there. There're a guy who has to do so 504 00:25:52,960 --> 00:25:55,840 Speaker 1: many different things. And as Bill Polian told me, not 505 00:25:55,920 --> 00:25:57,760 Speaker 1: to be a name dropper, but Bill is a Hall 506 00:25:57,800 --> 00:26:01,240 Speaker 1: of Famer and has joint committee this year. He said 507 00:26:01,280 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 1: to me, you know, Basselli is one of those rare 508 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:10,280 Speaker 1: guys at tackle who could handle Bruce Smith and he 509 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:14,320 Speaker 1: could handle Dwight Freeney. Two different kind of defensive ends. 510 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:17,600 Speaker 1: You know, one guy a real powerful guy with great 511 00:26:17,640 --> 00:26:20,879 Speaker 1: speed and is in the hall. Another guy with unbelievable 512 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,880 Speaker 1: speed and shifting nous who could get things done. So 513 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:26,320 Speaker 1: when you're when you have that ability to do both 514 00:26:26,320 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 1: of those things, you know you're one of the greats. 515 00:26:28,760 --> 00:26:31,520 Speaker 1: And Tony I think really qualifies there. A lot of 516 00:26:31,520 --> 00:26:34,680 Speaker 1: the young voters are sort of hung up on we've 517 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 1: got to get this guy in first ballot, and it's 518 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:40,199 Speaker 1: sort of changed the dynamic. It used to be that 519 00:26:40,280 --> 00:26:42,800 Speaker 1: it was okay, you know, and I think that changed 520 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:45,560 Speaker 1: with Terrell Owens when there was such a stink about 521 00:26:45,640 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 1: when he got in and the reality was if you 522 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: get in, you get in. But we're sort of tangenting here. 523 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:57,000 Speaker 1: But um, Michael, first ballot right, Paul horning A waited 524 00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:00,320 Speaker 1: twenty five years to get into the hall. And an 525 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:02,840 Speaker 1: unbelievable number of people if if you go back and 526 00:27:02,880 --> 00:27:05,000 Speaker 1: look at the list, like you said, Sam, of guys 527 00:27:05,040 --> 00:27:07,880 Speaker 1: who didn't get in first ballot right the walk in 528 00:27:07,920 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 1: guys or guys like Peyton and Tom Brady right back 529 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:16,920 Speaker 1: in the day. Anyway, we're all as much as this year. 530 00:27:17,080 --> 00:27:21,119 Speaker 1: That affects this year because you've got three guys that 531 00:27:21,320 --> 00:27:23,800 Speaker 1: some guys think have to go in in first ballot. 532 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 1: Peyton Manning's gonna get elected, all right, Charles Woodson's probably 533 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:32,719 Speaker 1: gone in, Calvin Johnson, a lot of guys. I can 534 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:36,359 Speaker 1: tell you this. If Calvin Johnson played in Jacksonville and 535 00:27:36,359 --> 00:27:39,240 Speaker 1: he didn't have the nickname Megatron, he might not even 536 00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:41,359 Speaker 1: be on the ballot. But I mean, he is a 537 00:27:41,600 --> 00:27:44,160 Speaker 1: he is a Hall of Famer. In my mind, it's 538 00:27:44,200 --> 00:27:46,960 Speaker 1: not necessary to put Calvin Johnson in first year. He 539 00:27:46,960 --> 00:27:49,560 Speaker 1: played nine years in the league and he was, yes, 540 00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:52,520 Speaker 1: a great player and will get in. But I don't 541 00:27:52,520 --> 00:27:55,360 Speaker 1: think that he needs to immediately jumped to the front 542 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:57,760 Speaker 1: of the line. But what we talked about earlier with 543 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:01,679 Speaker 1: a lot of young guys who see high lights in 544 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:04,919 Speaker 1: the in their mind and skill players making plays, and 545 00:28:05,000 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 1: that influences their decision. Calvin Johnson and Tony Boselli. If 546 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:11,520 Speaker 1: you just look and take the fact that the the receiver 547 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:15,160 Speaker 1: and tackle very similar, Kelvin Johnson was probably the best 548 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:17,680 Speaker 1: of his position when he played, played a very short time, 549 00:28:18,040 --> 00:28:20,360 Speaker 1: played in a small market. The difference between the two 550 00:28:20,400 --> 00:28:23,439 Speaker 1: is that Calvin Johnson has stats and highlights, you make 551 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:27,239 Speaker 1: an argument that was probably as good. Or he's got 552 00:28:27,280 --> 00:28:29,800 Speaker 1: a name. I mean that I'm telling you that I've 553 00:28:29,840 --> 00:28:31,760 Speaker 1: got some nicknames for Tony, but I can't say him 554 00:28:31,800 --> 00:28:35,520 Speaker 1: on the air and they would probably get him in 555 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:40,600 Speaker 1: the hall. Um. What a as much as you can share, 556 00:28:41,360 --> 00:28:44,080 Speaker 1: what will your message be your five minutes? Is there 557 00:28:44,120 --> 00:28:46,200 Speaker 1: a theme to it this year that's different? Is there 558 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:49,360 Speaker 1: anything you're saying different or can you share that because 559 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 1: I know sometimes you can't. I think part part of 560 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,320 Speaker 1: it will be some of the things we've discussed that 561 00:28:56,120 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 1: you know, you look at that golden age of tackles 562 00:28:58,000 --> 00:29:00,160 Speaker 1: and all of those guys have told me that he 563 00:29:00,280 --> 00:29:03,280 Speaker 1: was the best, the best of the bunch. When you 564 00:29:03,400 --> 00:29:05,240 Speaker 1: then then you then you start to look at the 565 00:29:05,280 --> 00:29:08,400 Speaker 1: All Pro teams or the Pro Bowl teams. Pro Bowl 566 00:29:08,480 --> 00:29:11,320 Speaker 1: is is somewhat discounted in the meeting because it's almost 567 00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:14,880 Speaker 1: a popularity contest, and it tends to lag. You know, 568 00:29:14,960 --> 00:29:16,920 Speaker 1: you probably get in a year after you should have 569 00:29:16,920 --> 00:29:19,520 Speaker 1: been in, and you probably stay in a year too long. 570 00:29:20,200 --> 00:29:25,600 Speaker 1: But uh, BASSELLI was five times Pro Bowl tackle. More importantly, 571 00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:29,920 Speaker 1: when all of these guys played together. There's like three 572 00:29:30,000 --> 00:29:34,040 Speaker 1: years where they all played the All Pro team, which 573 00:29:34,080 --> 00:29:38,400 Speaker 1: is what people really pay attention to. Selly was the 574 00:29:38,520 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 1: left tackle three consecutive years. He was the only consistency 575 00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:46,880 Speaker 1: at that position. The other left tackle or the other 576 00:29:46,920 --> 00:29:52,040 Speaker 1: tackle position rotated among the other guys. So so it 577 00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:55,240 Speaker 1: was clear, oh, man, everybody thinks this guy is the best, 578 00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:58,360 Speaker 1: and then these other guys kind of fill in. So 579 00:29:58,520 --> 00:30:01,280 Speaker 1: I think I think that's part of it. I think 580 00:30:01,280 --> 00:30:03,640 Speaker 1: you've got to look at some there is some statistical 581 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,800 Speaker 1: analysis that you can do with left left tackles, rushes 582 00:30:06,840 --> 00:30:10,640 Speaker 1: to his side, yards per carry, sacks allowed. Basselli ranks 583 00:30:10,680 --> 00:30:14,840 Speaker 1: first or second all time, including Anthony Munio's in in 584 00:30:14,880 --> 00:30:18,600 Speaker 1: that category, and certainly among his contemporaries. He was only 585 00:30:18,640 --> 00:30:23,600 Speaker 1: All Decade team in the nineties. Uh he he also, 586 00:30:24,040 --> 00:30:27,320 Speaker 1: And and you know, I don't know that this will 587 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:30,800 Speaker 1: be something different that I'm gonna bring up, John. What 588 00:30:30,840 --> 00:30:34,280 Speaker 1: if we had the NFL draft of this, of this 589 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:37,280 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame class, Okay, and this was your pool 590 00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:41,760 Speaker 1: of players, and you're gonna draft, You're gonna draft out 591 00:30:41,760 --> 00:30:47,120 Speaker 1: of this, the number one pick would be Peyton Manning right, Okay, 592 00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:51,440 Speaker 1: the number two pick would be Tony Boselli. All right, 593 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 1: why because he plays a premium position that's necessary for success. 594 00:30:58,120 --> 00:31:00,200 Speaker 1: None of these teams that are you know, the last 595 00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:02,280 Speaker 1: eight now that are on their way, none of these 596 00:31:02,280 --> 00:31:04,960 Speaker 1: teams don't have a left tackle who can't play. You know, 597 00:31:05,000 --> 00:31:07,200 Speaker 1: they all have somebody up there who can play. And 598 00:31:07,240 --> 00:31:09,760 Speaker 1: they all I mean, look at you know, three or 599 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:15,000 Speaker 1: three of the four teams that are well, most of 600 00:31:15,040 --> 00:31:17,360 Speaker 1: the teams that are left up quarterbacks that are either 601 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:18,960 Speaker 1: going to the Hall of Fame or have a chance 602 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:24,280 Speaker 1: to get there. Breeze, Brady Rogers, Mahomes. I mean, you know, 603 00:31:24,320 --> 00:31:26,959 Speaker 1: you start talking about teams of the court. So all right, 604 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:29,440 Speaker 1: Peyton Manning is the number one pick. The number two 605 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:33,080 Speaker 1: pick out of that class is Tony Baselli. And that's 606 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:36,240 Speaker 1: pretty that's pretty simple. I don't think that you can 607 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:40,880 Speaker 1: you can put guards and centers in the same category 608 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:44,160 Speaker 1: with tackles. And yes, I think Alan Fanaka is a 609 00:31:44,200 --> 00:31:46,760 Speaker 1: Hall of Famer. He was one of the best guards 610 00:31:46,840 --> 00:31:49,400 Speaker 1: of his era. Maybe you know, maybe the best one 611 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:52,120 Speaker 1: of the top two along with Hutch But I don't 612 00:31:52,160 --> 00:31:55,600 Speaker 1: think that you can compare them. And then finally, John, 613 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:59,240 Speaker 1: when you when you look at how everybody else thinks 614 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:01,800 Speaker 1: of these guys, and it's hard to go back, go 615 00:32:01,880 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 1: back all the way back to I mean, we're you know, 616 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:07,400 Speaker 1: we're going. We're going pretty far back now in in 617 00:32:07,480 --> 00:32:10,480 Speaker 1: football history, based on how much football people see and 618 00:32:10,600 --> 00:32:15,400 Speaker 1: is on television. Bill Polian was was running the Carolina Panthers, 619 00:32:15,960 --> 00:32:19,960 Speaker 1: and the Panthers we're also an expansion team, and based 620 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:23,520 Speaker 1: on a coin flip, won the number one pick. Yeah, 621 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:29,560 Speaker 1: and their whole brain trust sat down and it took 622 00:32:29,600 --> 00:32:33,160 Speaker 1: him a couple of weeks and they and this in 623 00:32:33,240 --> 00:32:38,000 Speaker 1: this verbiage, they had to decide. Bill said, we had 624 00:32:38,000 --> 00:32:40,080 Speaker 1: to decide whether we were going to take a quarterback 625 00:32:40,280 --> 00:32:44,240 Speaker 1: or Tony Basselli. So so now listen to that. It's 626 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:46,800 Speaker 1: not like, oh, we had to decide whether we're gonna 627 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:52,040 Speaker 1: take a quarterback or a tackle or Carrie Collins or 628 00:32:52,080 --> 00:32:56,280 Speaker 1: Tony Basselli. No, it was just a quarterback position wise, 629 00:32:56,520 --> 00:33:00,920 Speaker 1: and Tony Basselli by name, because, as Tom Coughlin called him, 630 00:33:01,200 --> 00:33:05,360 Speaker 1: cornerstone of a franchise, generational type talent at that position. 631 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:09,240 Speaker 1: Are you convinced, I think convinced for a while, but 632 00:33:09,600 --> 00:33:15,920 Speaker 1: but more pertinent to the conversation, I'm more and more convinced. 633 00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:18,040 Speaker 1: And I know people get tired of here and I 634 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:22,120 Speaker 1: say this, it's it's one year or the next. To me, 635 00:33:22,320 --> 00:33:24,360 Speaker 1: I think it's gonna happen to this year and next year, 636 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:27,800 Speaker 1: just based on people I talked to. Remember, there's fifteen finalists. 637 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:31,000 Speaker 1: If they put Peyton Manning, Charles Woodson and Calvin Johnson in, 638 00:33:31,480 --> 00:33:36,280 Speaker 1: that leaves two spots for twelve. Yeah, it's a brutal process. 639 00:33:36,560 --> 00:33:39,440 Speaker 1: Brutal put Fanik in there all of a sudden, now 640 00:33:39,760 --> 00:33:43,520 Speaker 1: you know you've got one one spot for eleven guys. 641 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:47,120 Speaker 1: John Lynch is a finalist for the sixth year, you know, 642 00:33:47,320 --> 00:33:51,160 Speaker 1: I mean there there there's some talented people on there, 643 00:33:51,240 --> 00:33:55,440 Speaker 1: Sam Mills, Zach Thomas, you know, Reggie Wayne, I mean 644 00:33:55,480 --> 00:33:58,400 Speaker 1: were talking about guys who and like you said, have 645 00:33:58,560 --> 00:34:02,760 Speaker 1: serious stats. So, uh, there's there's a small window there. 646 00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:06,200 Speaker 1: I don't see a problem with putting both Fannika and 647 00:34:06,200 --> 00:34:10,239 Speaker 1: Basselli in in the same year. Uh. And I'll and 648 00:34:10,280 --> 00:34:13,239 Speaker 1: I'll that's one of the things I'll mention Fan and 649 00:34:13,320 --> 00:34:16,239 Speaker 1: sy It's a thankless process that you have to go 650 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:19,120 Speaker 1: through each year. I know the work you put into it. 651 00:34:19,200 --> 00:34:22,520 Speaker 1: I know O the voters know the work in the 652 00:34:22,800 --> 00:34:25,920 Speaker 1: passion you put into it. I appreciate you talking about us. 653 00:34:26,120 --> 00:34:28,680 Speaker 1: We're talking about this today with us, and I certainly 654 00:34:28,719 --> 00:34:31,120 Speaker 1: wish you'd like in the process have a great five 655 00:34:31,160 --> 00:34:34,759 Speaker 1: minutes on virtual zoom next week to the voters. Thanks John, 656 00:34:34,840 --> 00:34:38,120 Speaker 1: great spensive time together, all right. I am pleased to 657 00:34:38,160 --> 00:34:42,480 Speaker 1: be joined today by Jim Trotter, the NFL Network, a 658 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:46,640 Speaker 1: long time NFL reporter. I know him from his days 659 00:34:46,640 --> 00:34:49,720 Speaker 1: in San Diego. He's been doing this a long time 660 00:34:50,160 --> 00:34:52,960 Speaker 1: Hall of Fame voter, which is why we're talking to 661 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:56,080 Speaker 1: him and Jim, I think a lot of Jaguars fans. 662 00:34:56,200 --> 00:35:00,440 Speaker 1: I'm sure I saw your comments regarding Tony on the 663 00:35:00,560 --> 00:35:03,200 Speaker 1: NFL rollout, the finalist roll out a couple of weeks 664 00:35:03,239 --> 00:35:07,319 Speaker 1: where about a week? Yes, And I'm curious, Um, have 665 00:35:07,520 --> 00:35:11,520 Speaker 1: you come around on Tony or how would you describe 666 00:35:12,080 --> 00:35:16,520 Speaker 1: why you feel so strongly about him as a candidate. Um, 667 00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:18,839 Speaker 1: I would say that that it's probably fair to say 668 00:35:18,880 --> 00:35:21,279 Speaker 1: I've come around, but I did that a few years ago. 669 00:35:21,480 --> 00:35:24,080 Speaker 1: You know. Initially, when he first came in the room, 670 00:35:24,160 --> 00:35:27,520 Speaker 1: I had some hesitation about the length of career and whatnot, 671 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:30,880 Speaker 1: and then I had to look in the mirror because 672 00:35:30,920 --> 00:35:33,160 Speaker 1: I was one of those people who was really pushing 673 00:35:33,239 --> 00:35:36,200 Speaker 1: Terrell Davis for the Hall of Fame because of how 674 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:38,920 Speaker 1: dominant he was his best postseason running back in the 675 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:42,560 Speaker 1: league's history. When you look at the numbers and his performance, 676 00:35:42,680 --> 00:35:45,160 Speaker 1: and I had to ask myself, how could I support 677 00:35:45,200 --> 00:35:48,800 Speaker 1: one and not the other? You know, um, Tony Boselli. 678 00:35:48,840 --> 00:35:51,640 Speaker 1: When you look at his career and the people that 679 00:35:51,719 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 1: he played against, he flat out dominated. And I'm talking 680 00:35:55,120 --> 00:35:58,160 Speaker 1: about against you know, Hall of famers, current Hall of famers, 681 00:35:58,719 --> 00:36:01,160 Speaker 1: and the fact that he played y one games might 682 00:36:01,200 --> 00:36:03,880 Speaker 1: not sit well with some, But to me, that's not 683 00:36:04,000 --> 00:36:06,319 Speaker 1: his fault. It wasn't that he walked away from the game. 684 00:36:06,360 --> 00:36:09,799 Speaker 1: It wasn't that there was a deterioration and performance. It 685 00:36:09,920 --> 00:36:13,359 Speaker 1: was because of an injury and surgeries that took him 686 00:36:13,360 --> 00:36:15,960 Speaker 1: away from the game. So when I look at how 687 00:36:16,040 --> 00:36:20,120 Speaker 1: dominant he was over that period of time, I don't 688 00:36:20,120 --> 00:36:24,040 Speaker 1: think there was a better left tackle, um, you know, 689 00:36:24,160 --> 00:36:27,239 Speaker 1: or a tackle I should say, um, he's the guy 690 00:36:27,360 --> 00:36:29,920 Speaker 1: that that that. I just felt I couldn't be a 691 00:36:30,000 --> 00:36:33,279 Speaker 1: hypocrite in support one and not the other. Does it 692 00:36:33,440 --> 00:36:36,160 Speaker 1: have some I hate the word juice, but everybody uses 693 00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:39,920 Speaker 1: it now, UM, some juice in the room. The fact 694 00:36:40,000 --> 00:36:44,239 Speaker 1: that he was a three time All Pro at a 695 00:36:44,360 --> 00:36:47,880 Speaker 1: time when it was maybe the golden era of the position, 696 00:36:48,440 --> 00:36:51,799 Speaker 1: meaning you had pace, you had Walter Jones, you had 697 00:36:51,800 --> 00:36:54,920 Speaker 1: guys who were at their lead level roof and for 698 00:36:55,000 --> 00:36:58,359 Speaker 1: a and for a period when you talk to people 699 00:36:58,400 --> 00:37:00,640 Speaker 1: back things. I did stories on it. He was the 700 00:37:00,680 --> 00:37:04,040 Speaker 1: best of the best at that point until his injury. 701 00:37:04,239 --> 00:37:08,560 Speaker 1: I guess that resonates in the room the more voters here, Yeah, 702 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:10,960 Speaker 1: and and and again. I just think that the one 703 00:37:11,000 --> 00:37:14,400 Speaker 1: thing that has really prevented him from going in is 704 00:37:14,600 --> 00:37:18,040 Speaker 1: this whole discussion about longevity, and the question that I 705 00:37:18,080 --> 00:37:21,360 Speaker 1: had to ask myself as well, is the cut off 706 00:37:21,400 --> 00:37:24,719 Speaker 1: point to saying someone played long enough. And obviously for 707 00:37:24,840 --> 00:37:29,879 Speaker 1: every individual is going to be different. But you know, um, 708 00:37:30,000 --> 00:37:32,400 Speaker 1: what he is facing is that, look, the last four 709 00:37:32,480 --> 00:37:34,960 Speaker 1: tackles to go into the Hall of Fame, offensive tackles 710 00:37:35,000 --> 00:37:37,040 Speaker 1: to go in the Hall of Fame. UM, in the 711 00:37:37,080 --> 00:37:41,120 Speaker 1: past decade, all played East two hundred and I believe 712 00:37:41,160 --> 00:37:42,840 Speaker 1: I'm doing, off the top of my head a hundred 713 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:47,400 Speaker 1: and sixty four games, and I'm yeah, and Tony obviously 714 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:51,680 Speaker 1: played you know Um, I believe it was so he was, 715 00:37:51,800 --> 00:37:54,520 Speaker 1: so I think he's battling that more than anything else. 716 00:37:55,120 --> 00:37:57,719 Speaker 1: And I do think the more we talk about it, 717 00:37:57,800 --> 00:38:00,359 Speaker 1: the more we we shine a light on that's how 718 00:38:00,440 --> 00:38:04,880 Speaker 1: dominant he was. UM during that period of time. Not 719 00:38:04,960 --> 00:38:10,200 Speaker 1: only one games is not insignificant in my mind. So again, 720 00:38:10,239 --> 00:38:14,080 Speaker 1: I came around on it fairly quickly, and I think 721 00:38:14,120 --> 00:38:18,400 Speaker 1: others will ultimately. I do sense not that this means anything, 722 00:38:18,960 --> 00:38:21,600 Speaker 1: but I do sense that there is a ground swell 723 00:38:22,000 --> 00:38:25,719 Speaker 1: for him. Um. But that doesn't mean anything. I've gone 724 00:38:25,760 --> 00:38:28,320 Speaker 1: into that room in the past and thought certain guys 725 00:38:28,360 --> 00:38:32,160 Speaker 1: were we're going in and they didn't. So UM. All 726 00:38:32,200 --> 00:38:34,680 Speaker 1: I can do is vote my conscience, and my conscience 727 00:38:34,680 --> 00:38:37,880 Speaker 1: tells me that Tony Boselli is a Hall of Famer, 728 00:38:37,880 --> 00:38:40,920 Speaker 1: and I'm going to continue to vote for him. I 729 00:38:40,960 --> 00:38:43,120 Speaker 1: would ask you one sort of personal question that I 730 00:38:43,120 --> 00:38:48,680 Speaker 1: always ask voters, the amount of time. And again, I've 731 00:38:48,719 --> 00:38:50,960 Speaker 1: been close with a lot of voters over the years, 732 00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:54,920 Speaker 1: and I respect to a great level of the time 733 00:38:55,000 --> 00:38:58,320 Speaker 1: that you guys put into it. How much time would 734 00:38:58,320 --> 00:39:02,280 Speaker 1: you say, in a given year do you spend trying 735 00:39:02,320 --> 00:39:07,799 Speaker 1: to talk to former players, coaches, gms, other writers. This 736 00:39:07,840 --> 00:39:12,360 Speaker 1: is a year round process for you guys. No, absolutely 737 00:39:12,400 --> 00:39:14,759 Speaker 1: it is. And to answer your question, I would I 738 00:39:14,760 --> 00:39:18,080 Speaker 1: would say that I don't spend necessarily a lot of time. 739 00:39:18,560 --> 00:39:21,920 Speaker 1: I believe that. Look, I don't like to overthink this. 740 00:39:22,560 --> 00:39:25,279 Speaker 1: I believe in trusting your eyes. I don't believe in 741 00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:28,440 Speaker 1: trusting numbers necessarily. I believe in trusting your eyes and 742 00:39:28,520 --> 00:39:32,440 Speaker 1: what you saw. We are in that room, um, because 743 00:39:32,920 --> 00:39:36,719 Speaker 1: you know, Um, the way it stated is we cover 744 00:39:36,880 --> 00:39:40,640 Speaker 1: the league, we see these guys. We are supposed to 745 00:39:40,680 --> 00:39:43,880 Speaker 1: know these guys. Where I spend time talking to people, 746 00:39:44,520 --> 00:39:48,400 Speaker 1: um about candidates, to be quite frank with you, is 747 00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:50,840 Speaker 1: more about the guys that I didn't cover in terms 748 00:39:50,840 --> 00:39:53,200 Speaker 1: of um, they were out of I was not a 749 00:39:53,239 --> 00:39:56,120 Speaker 1: beat writer at the time that they were playing. So 750 00:39:56,239 --> 00:39:58,920 Speaker 1: whether it's you know, if it's a senior candidate or 751 00:39:59,000 --> 00:40:02,600 Speaker 1: something along those then I started asking more about that person, 752 00:40:02,719 --> 00:40:05,360 Speaker 1: someone that I didn't see on a regular but I 753 00:40:05,360 --> 00:40:09,319 Speaker 1: started covering the league in and so if you were 754 00:40:09,320 --> 00:40:14,080 Speaker 1: playing from nine six on, I believe that I should know, um, 755 00:40:14,160 --> 00:40:17,160 Speaker 1: what type of player you were. I should have seen you, 756 00:40:17,160 --> 00:40:19,280 Speaker 1: you know, at some point, not just once or twice, 757 00:40:19,280 --> 00:40:23,560 Speaker 1: but multiple times, particularly we're talking about elite players, so, um, 758 00:40:23,719 --> 00:40:27,000 Speaker 1: I don't feel it's necessary to say that, well, because 759 00:40:27,360 --> 00:40:31,160 Speaker 1: X number of former coaches or players are saying this 760 00:40:31,200 --> 00:40:34,640 Speaker 1: guy deserves to go in, therefore I should vote for him. Again, 761 00:40:34,680 --> 00:40:36,800 Speaker 1: I'm going to vote my conscience, and I'm going to 762 00:40:36,920 --> 00:40:41,279 Speaker 1: vote on what I see and and and I'm going 763 00:40:41,320 --> 00:40:43,520 Speaker 1: to say something here that might not be real popular 764 00:40:43,520 --> 00:40:45,680 Speaker 1: with some, but I believe that there are people to 765 00:40:45,719 --> 00:40:49,000 Speaker 1: get in the Hall. I believe it's a first of all, 766 00:40:49,160 --> 00:40:52,840 Speaker 1: it is the most exclusive club in sports, meaning that 767 00:40:52,880 --> 00:40:56,279 Speaker 1: they only let in five modern era candidates each year. 768 00:40:56,400 --> 00:40:59,560 Speaker 1: Having said that, I believe that if we have to 769 00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:02,839 Speaker 1: have a long discussion on guys, they're probably not Hall 770 00:41:02,880 --> 00:41:05,600 Speaker 1: of Famers. And I'm setting aside guys who were injured. 771 00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:08,120 Speaker 1: If we're talking about length of career, I'm talking about 772 00:41:08,160 --> 00:41:11,000 Speaker 1: guys who played a decade or more and whatnot. If 773 00:41:11,040 --> 00:41:12,880 Speaker 1: we have to have a long discussion, they're probably not 774 00:41:12,960 --> 00:41:15,080 Speaker 1: a Hall of Famer. It's supposed to be for the 775 00:41:15,120 --> 00:41:17,880 Speaker 1: elite of the elite. If you make it to the NFL, 776 00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:20,759 Speaker 1: in my opinion, you are an elite football player. Think 777 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:23,760 Speaker 1: about the how many people who played this game actually 778 00:41:23,760 --> 00:41:27,640 Speaker 1: get that far so um so. Again, having said that, 779 00:41:27,840 --> 00:41:30,680 Speaker 1: I don't feel that I I need to um go 780 00:41:30,719 --> 00:41:34,040 Speaker 1: out and interview three people and say, give me your 781 00:41:34,080 --> 00:41:36,960 Speaker 1: thoughts on who is and who isn't? Um, what did 782 00:41:36,960 --> 00:41:39,919 Speaker 1: I see when I actually watch these guys play. That's 783 00:41:39,920 --> 00:41:42,080 Speaker 1: more of what I asked myself. What I've heard from 784 00:41:42,120 --> 00:41:44,560 Speaker 1: talking to different voters. Is there still a feeling that 785 00:41:44,640 --> 00:41:46,440 Speaker 1: Tony probably has a good chance to get into the 786 00:41:46,440 --> 00:41:49,560 Speaker 1: next couple of years. Do you feel that or uh, 787 00:41:50,280 --> 00:41:53,640 Speaker 1: how would you assess that? I guess it the question, No, 788 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:57,280 Speaker 1: I feel it, But again it doesn't mean anything. UM. 789 00:41:57,320 --> 00:42:00,640 Speaker 1: I have felt that about other people, other players, other coaches, 790 00:42:01,480 --> 00:42:05,359 Speaker 1: and they didn't even make the first cut. So there 791 00:42:05,719 --> 00:42:08,040 Speaker 1: really is no way to say. And I think that 792 00:42:08,239 --> 00:42:13,000 Speaker 1: anyone who tells you unless they've interviewed all forty eight voters, 793 00:42:13,040 --> 00:42:16,080 Speaker 1: and all forty eight voters were honest with them. And 794 00:42:16,120 --> 00:42:18,720 Speaker 1: that's the other thing I remember. I've I've had voters 795 00:42:18,760 --> 00:42:20,360 Speaker 1: come up and talk to me about guys, and we 796 00:42:20,480 --> 00:42:23,080 Speaker 1: might talk about candidates, and I walk away from that 797 00:42:23,120 --> 00:42:26,480 Speaker 1: conversation believing that that that they're voting for that person 798 00:42:27,000 --> 00:42:30,879 Speaker 1: and that person doesn't get in. So you know, it's 799 00:42:30,880 --> 00:42:34,160 Speaker 1: a silent vote. We don't know. You know, you may 800 00:42:34,200 --> 00:42:36,200 Speaker 1: speak up and support of a guy in the room, 801 00:42:36,239 --> 00:42:38,880 Speaker 1: and then ultimately when it gets down to that, that 802 00:42:38,880 --> 00:42:42,640 Speaker 1: that voting time, you decided to go a different direction. Um. Look, 803 00:42:42,680 --> 00:42:46,239 Speaker 1: I believe that when you get fifteen finalists that you 804 00:42:46,239 --> 00:42:49,560 Speaker 1: could pick any five and you're gonna have a good class. Um, 805 00:42:50,000 --> 00:42:52,200 Speaker 1: but you can only pick five. And I don't think 806 00:42:52,239 --> 00:42:55,759 Speaker 1: that people realize how difficult that is because I used 807 00:42:55,760 --> 00:42:58,400 Speaker 1: this exercise to kind of Um. I started very early 808 00:42:58,400 --> 00:43:00,680 Speaker 1: on when I was at the hall and people would 809 00:43:00,680 --> 00:43:02,919 Speaker 1: come after us and you guys don't know what you're doing, 810 00:43:03,000 --> 00:43:05,279 Speaker 1: and what a bunch of idiots in this. And I 811 00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:08,600 Speaker 1: would take the list of fifteen and I would get together, 812 00:43:08,760 --> 00:43:11,760 Speaker 1: you know, five to ten people and I would say, okay, 813 00:43:11,840 --> 00:43:15,560 Speaker 1: choose five, and choose silently, and then give me your list. 814 00:43:15,880 --> 00:43:20,640 Speaker 1: And invariably, in many cases, each list was different from 815 00:43:20,680 --> 00:43:24,960 Speaker 1: the other. So that tells you how difficult it is. UM. 816 00:43:25,040 --> 00:43:28,160 Speaker 1: So I realized, we're gonna get criticized no matter what 817 00:43:28,200 --> 00:43:32,320 Speaker 1: we do. UM. But as to Tony, I know, UM, 818 00:43:32,400 --> 00:43:34,360 Speaker 1: and I try and go in with an open mind 819 00:43:34,400 --> 00:43:36,960 Speaker 1: on guys and and and wade barring guys like cold 820 00:43:37,000 --> 00:43:41,000 Speaker 1: Charles Woodson or Peyton Manning who you just know, hm, 821 00:43:41,520 --> 00:43:44,160 Speaker 1: their hall of famers. Um. But on those others, I 822 00:43:44,239 --> 00:43:46,000 Speaker 1: try and go in with an open mind and whatnot. 823 00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:48,920 Speaker 1: I can sit here and tell you now, going in, 824 00:43:49,040 --> 00:43:53,279 Speaker 1: Tony Boselli will have my vote and we'll just see 825 00:43:53,280 --> 00:43:56,400 Speaker 1: where it goes from there. Yeah. The biggest truth that 826 00:43:56,480 --> 00:43:59,040 Speaker 1: every voter will tell you is if you're on that 827 00:43:59,120 --> 00:44:01,239 Speaker 1: list of fifteen or a Hall of Famer, it's just 828 00:44:01,280 --> 00:44:03,880 Speaker 1: a matter of if the process works for you. And 829 00:44:03,920 --> 00:44:07,880 Speaker 1: I think a lot of fans and we get you know, Jaguars. 830 00:44:07,920 --> 00:44:09,919 Speaker 1: People who write me are obviously biased, so they hate 831 00:44:09,920 --> 00:44:12,200 Speaker 1: the fact of Tony's not in. But you're right. The 832 00:44:12,239 --> 00:44:16,960 Speaker 1: reality is all fifteen of those guys there is an 833 00:44:16,960 --> 00:44:19,360 Speaker 1: incredibly strong argument, and there's guys who aren't even on 834 00:44:19,360 --> 00:44:22,120 Speaker 1: that list to its early Jim Trotter, I cannot thank 835 00:44:22,160 --> 00:44:25,000 Speaker 1: you enough for your time with this. I know it's 836 00:44:25,239 --> 00:44:27,600 Speaker 1: it's request that you get a lot this time of year, 837 00:44:27,640 --> 00:44:29,800 Speaker 1: so so for you to carve out some time to 838 00:44:29,840 --> 00:44:32,120 Speaker 1: spend with me, I appreciate it very much and I 839 00:44:32,160 --> 00:44:34,480 Speaker 1: look forward to talking to you down the road. Oh 840 00:44:34,600 --> 00:44:38,840 Speaker 1: my pleasure, man. I just uh Tony has an ally 841 00:44:38,880 --> 00:44:41,160 Speaker 1: and me and and hopefully works out for him. But 842 00:44:41,200 --> 00:44:45,520 Speaker 1: I'm only one of forty eight. I'm pleased as always 843 00:44:45,560 --> 00:44:49,399 Speaker 1: to be joined by Peter King. Uh. Peter, a long 844 00:44:49,520 --> 00:44:52,360 Speaker 1: time Hall of Fame voter. You know, I consider you 845 00:44:52,400 --> 00:44:55,560 Speaker 1: the guru the process. You've been around as long as anybody. 846 00:44:55,600 --> 00:44:58,239 Speaker 1: And we're obviously talking about Tony Baselli again. And if 847 00:44:58,280 --> 00:45:00,000 Speaker 1: you call it a waiting game or how would you 848 00:45:00,040 --> 00:45:03,000 Speaker 1: describe it at this point? You know, really, I think 849 00:45:03,120 --> 00:45:07,839 Speaker 1: the best way to describe it, John, is that you 850 00:45:07,880 --> 00:45:11,919 Speaker 1: would think that someone who's a finalist for so long, 851 00:45:12,560 --> 00:45:16,759 Speaker 1: you know, the majority of people who become finalists multiple 852 00:45:16,880 --> 00:45:21,719 Speaker 1: multiple times eventually get in. And now it's sort of 853 00:45:21,760 --> 00:45:25,600 Speaker 1: happening to Tony and to John lynch Um, And so 854 00:45:25,800 --> 00:45:28,920 Speaker 1: I think what you have to look at here is 855 00:45:29,600 --> 00:45:33,320 Speaker 1: you now have to look at the biggest reasons. Okay, 856 00:45:33,360 --> 00:45:34,920 Speaker 1: so I'm in the room, I look at the bigger, 857 00:45:35,080 --> 00:45:38,440 Speaker 1: biggest reasons why I think he's not in, and it 858 00:45:38,520 --> 00:45:43,760 Speaker 1: basically comes down to length of career. And uh, without 859 00:45:43,880 --> 00:45:47,840 Speaker 1: that issue, we wouldn't be having this conversation. He'd already 860 00:45:47,840 --> 00:45:52,560 Speaker 1: be in. And so I think it's incumbent on people 861 00:45:52,680 --> 00:45:58,640 Speaker 1: like me who believe in Tony's case, uh, and who 862 00:45:58,719 --> 00:46:01,120 Speaker 1: try to figure out from year to year, you know, 863 00:46:01,239 --> 00:46:06,440 Speaker 1: it's not anymore about the dominance of him at the position. UM. 864 00:46:06,480 --> 00:46:10,600 Speaker 1: You know, I've told every particle of the UM the 865 00:46:10,640 --> 00:46:15,200 Speaker 1: Tony Basselli shutout. UM. You know, one of the great 866 00:46:15,560 --> 00:46:22,759 Speaker 1: past protection games ever, the Tony Basselli shut out in 867 00:46:22,800 --> 00:46:28,160 Speaker 1: the early nineties of Derrick Thomas, where basically Thomas, uh, 868 00:46:28,239 --> 00:46:30,160 Speaker 1: you know, not only didn't get a sack, he got 869 00:46:30,200 --> 00:46:35,799 Speaker 1: one slight pressure and that came against someone who wasn't 870 00:46:35,840 --> 00:46:40,879 Speaker 1: Tony Boselli. So I think my attitude right now going 871 00:46:40,920 --> 00:46:44,239 Speaker 1: into it is that what I want to emphasize this 872 00:46:44,320 --> 00:46:48,080 Speaker 1: year when I speak up for him is the history 873 00:46:48,239 --> 00:46:52,400 Speaker 1: of players who have not played, not had long careers, 874 00:46:53,400 --> 00:46:58,480 Speaker 1: and how they compare what their imprint on the game 875 00:46:59,239 --> 00:47:02,879 Speaker 1: was like paired to Tony's imprint on the game. And 876 00:47:02,920 --> 00:47:05,200 Speaker 1: that's some of the stuff that I'll be working on 877 00:47:05,800 --> 00:47:09,920 Speaker 1: prior to the meeting. But you know, things like I 878 00:47:10,440 --> 00:47:14,239 Speaker 1: doubt that many people would say, with the exception of 879 00:47:14,360 --> 00:47:19,680 Speaker 1: Super Bowls, which is which is big, you know, very big, uh, 880 00:47:19,840 --> 00:47:25,359 Speaker 1: that in his eighties six career games that Terrell Davis 881 00:47:25,520 --> 00:47:31,120 Speaker 1: had a better career overall than UH than Tony Boselli 882 00:47:31,200 --> 00:47:34,640 Speaker 1: had in nineties seven games. But that's where we are, 883 00:47:34,680 --> 00:47:37,120 Speaker 1: and so that's part of what I'll try to be 884 00:47:37,160 --> 00:47:42,840 Speaker 1: emphasizing when I speak up to the group in in UH. 885 00:47:42,880 --> 00:47:46,200 Speaker 1: You know, in the coming weeks you mentioned that he's 886 00:47:46,760 --> 00:47:50,520 Speaker 1: been a finalist so many times, and the reports were 887 00:47:50,600 --> 00:47:52,480 Speaker 1: that he was top ten. I think the last three 888 00:47:52,560 --> 00:47:56,799 Speaker 1: years written. The point is he's gotten strong consideration, and 889 00:47:56,840 --> 00:48:01,080 Speaker 1: I guess from what you say that often means there's 890 00:48:01,200 --> 00:48:04,360 Speaker 1: enough people who feel solidly about his candidacy that eventually 891 00:48:04,400 --> 00:48:07,360 Speaker 1: works out. And I think you continue to think that 892 00:48:07,360 --> 00:48:10,040 Speaker 1: it will work out for him in the end. Well, 893 00:48:10,120 --> 00:48:14,720 Speaker 1: I do, John, But you know that and six dollars 894 00:48:14,719 --> 00:48:18,759 Speaker 1: and cents will buy you a triple Carmel machiatto at Starbucks. 895 00:48:18,800 --> 00:48:22,880 Speaker 1: So I don't know what that means really, um I 896 00:48:23,560 --> 00:48:25,960 Speaker 1: it's hard to read the room, it really is. I 897 00:48:26,000 --> 00:48:28,600 Speaker 1: don't go out of the room and say, hey, did 898 00:48:28,600 --> 00:48:30,759 Speaker 1: you vote for Basselli? And if you didn't, what can 899 00:48:30,800 --> 00:48:33,440 Speaker 1: I do to get your vote. I don't politic for people, 900 00:48:34,239 --> 00:48:36,880 Speaker 1: it's not that's not my job. My job is to 901 00:48:36,960 --> 00:48:40,239 Speaker 1: give my opinion and let the chips fall where they may, 902 00:48:40,520 --> 00:48:45,120 Speaker 1: and look, I believe that this year, Uh, and every 903 00:48:45,200 --> 00:48:48,759 Speaker 1: year there's one, two or three guys who were relatively automatic. 904 00:48:48,880 --> 00:48:52,720 Speaker 1: But I believe this year, you know, there's three people 905 00:48:52,880 --> 00:48:57,640 Speaker 1: whose cases are going to hurt the returning people. Uh 906 00:48:57,680 --> 00:49:01,839 Speaker 1: and Peyton Manning, Charles and Sin and Calvin Johnson. I'm 907 00:49:01,880 --> 00:49:04,880 Speaker 1: not saying they're the only ones, but I'm saying I 908 00:49:04,920 --> 00:49:09,520 Speaker 1: think those three guys enter this process as the newcomers 909 00:49:09,880 --> 00:49:12,560 Speaker 1: who I think have good chance. Obviously Manning is going 910 00:49:12,600 --> 00:49:14,719 Speaker 1: to make it, and the other two guys I think 911 00:49:14,719 --> 00:49:17,480 Speaker 1: have good chances. So you know, we'll see where that 912 00:49:17,560 --> 00:49:22,520 Speaker 1: leaves everybody else. I'm I'm bullish on a lot of candidates. 913 00:49:22,800 --> 00:49:24,560 Speaker 1: I'm one of the few people I think it was 914 00:49:24,680 --> 00:49:28,800 Speaker 1: very bullish on Sam Mills. I love Sam mills candidacy. 915 00:49:28,960 --> 00:49:33,880 Speaker 1: I really like Zach Thomas's candidacy. So there's a lot 916 00:49:34,000 --> 00:49:37,480 Speaker 1: of people who deserve, in my opinion, to be in 917 00:49:37,520 --> 00:49:40,440 Speaker 1: the Pro Football Hall of Fame. I hope, whether it's 918 00:49:40,520 --> 00:49:42,920 Speaker 1: this year or some other year, I hope that Tony 919 00:49:42,960 --> 00:49:47,239 Speaker 1: Bessel's name rises to the top. Hey, final question, with 920 00:49:47,320 --> 00:49:50,319 Speaker 1: more and more people in the room, meaning I ain't 921 00:49:50,840 --> 00:49:55,759 Speaker 1: eight now used to be at thirty two? It is 922 00:49:55,760 --> 00:49:59,759 Speaker 1: it a better process now? Or there is there any 923 00:49:59,760 --> 00:50:01,759 Speaker 1: part of process you can see improve You've been so 924 00:50:01,840 --> 00:50:03,480 Speaker 1: involved with for so long and I know you pour 925 00:50:03,520 --> 00:50:10,360 Speaker 1: your heart into it. Any you know, is this I 926 00:50:10,360 --> 00:50:12,840 Speaker 1: guess the best process? Or how would you improve it? 927 00:50:12,880 --> 00:50:16,560 Speaker 1: Any thoughts in that direction? Well, this year is going 928 00:50:16,600 --> 00:50:21,360 Speaker 1: to be interesting because they now have added to more 929 00:50:21,400 --> 00:50:26,960 Speaker 1: modern media people. Uh. And it's weird to say modern 930 00:50:27,000 --> 00:50:31,000 Speaker 1: media people when one of them is Bill Pollyan. Uh, 931 00:50:31,280 --> 00:50:34,279 Speaker 1: you know it's Bill Pollyan and Lisa Walters are at 932 00:50:34,320 --> 00:50:38,960 Speaker 1: least Assaulters rather um. But but I think when I 933 00:50:39,040 --> 00:50:42,560 Speaker 1: look at the process right now, I've heard all the 934 00:50:42,640 --> 00:50:49,520 Speaker 1: alternatives that people have proposed. Um, let's add one vetter, 935 00:50:50,000 --> 00:50:55,759 Speaker 1: one former player per franchise, UM And And look, I 936 00:50:55,840 --> 00:51:00,560 Speaker 1: think that there's a lot of good ideas and good 937 00:51:00,600 --> 00:51:05,319 Speaker 1: ideas out there are good ideas and good uh concepts 938 00:51:05,400 --> 00:51:10,800 Speaker 1: to consider. But I think if you add one person 939 00:51:12,000 --> 00:51:16,240 Speaker 1: from every market, one of the things that then becomes 940 00:51:16,239 --> 00:51:21,359 Speaker 1: hard is that, you know, then you have seventy five 941 00:51:21,480 --> 00:51:27,400 Speaker 1: or so voters, and it's pretty hard to hold a meeting. 942 00:51:27,640 --> 00:51:34,560 Speaker 1: I would think in one day, if you are considering uh, 943 00:51:34,600 --> 00:51:39,120 Speaker 1: you know fifteen to eighteen candidates, and you want to 944 00:51:39,160 --> 00:51:43,640 Speaker 1: have an open discussion on everyone you know. In the past, 945 00:51:43,719 --> 00:51:50,560 Speaker 1: some of the discussions have laughed, lasted eight minutes, and honestly, 946 00:51:50,719 --> 00:51:54,080 Speaker 1: I think they've been great discussions, most of them. I 947 00:51:54,120 --> 00:51:59,040 Speaker 1: would not want to close off, uh, anybody who's got 948 00:51:59,200 --> 00:52:03,280 Speaker 1: something to add than something strident to say, just because 949 00:52:03,520 --> 00:52:07,920 Speaker 1: the meeting is running long. When when that particular idea 950 00:52:07,960 --> 00:52:11,879 Speaker 1: has come up. My whole point always has been, if 951 00:52:11,920 --> 00:52:14,640 Speaker 1: you have good people in the meeting, you're not going 952 00:52:14,680 --> 00:52:17,400 Speaker 1: to get the meeting done in one day. It I 953 00:52:17,440 --> 00:52:21,080 Speaker 1: don't see how it's possible. The meetings now are eight 954 00:52:21,080 --> 00:52:25,000 Speaker 1: to nine hours long. I don't look I'd be fine 955 00:52:25,040 --> 00:52:28,719 Speaker 1: if they were fourteen hours long, but because it is 956 00:52:28,760 --> 00:52:31,279 Speaker 1: what it is. But I'm just saying, I'm not sure 957 00:52:31,320 --> 00:52:35,600 Speaker 1: that that's a real practical way to improve the process. 958 00:52:36,320 --> 00:52:38,799 Speaker 1: I think the one other thing that has been discussed 959 00:52:39,800 --> 00:52:44,000 Speaker 1: um that I think is kind of an interesting concept 960 00:52:44,760 --> 00:52:48,920 Speaker 1: is simply to, uh, you know, to have a set 961 00:52:49,000 --> 00:52:53,920 Speaker 1: time period for discussion on every candidate too. It can 962 00:52:54,080 --> 00:52:57,440 Speaker 1: exceed at the end of say, thirty five minutes or 963 00:52:57,480 --> 00:53:01,640 Speaker 1: whatever it is, it's over, and that's interesting. But then again, 964 00:53:02,360 --> 00:53:05,680 Speaker 1: you're really kind of limiting the conversations you can have, 965 00:53:05,800 --> 00:53:10,400 Speaker 1: and you're opening up the possibilities of filibuster. So you know, 966 00:53:10,480 --> 00:53:13,799 Speaker 1: I don't know, John, whatever the rules are, I don't 967 00:53:13,840 --> 00:53:15,840 Speaker 1: get too caught up in them. I just try to 968 00:53:15,920 --> 00:53:18,640 Speaker 1: vote my conscience and vote for the people who I 969 00:53:18,680 --> 00:53:23,400 Speaker 1: think belong what. It's a public process with a tremendous 970 00:53:23,400 --> 00:53:26,759 Speaker 1: amount of interests. As a result, there's always criticism. But 971 00:53:26,880 --> 00:53:29,000 Speaker 1: one thing I can say from knowing you, from knowing 972 00:53:29,080 --> 00:53:33,319 Speaker 1: many of the voters, never question the passion of the 973 00:53:33,360 --> 00:53:36,359 Speaker 1: people involved with it and the diligence. And I know 974 00:53:36,520 --> 00:53:39,000 Speaker 1: you're at the forefront of that list. And I also 975 00:53:39,120 --> 00:53:42,239 Speaker 1: know that it's the playoffs, extremely busy time for you. 976 00:53:42,320 --> 00:53:44,680 Speaker 1: So thank you for joining us and talking to Jaguars 977 00:53:44,719 --> 00:53:46,920 Speaker 1: fans about this fear. I will catch up with you 978 00:53:46,960 --> 00:53:48,440 Speaker 1: down the road. I look forward to seeing you at 979 00:53:48,520 --> 00:53:51,640 Speaker 1: some point and thank you again. Hey, I really hope 980 00:53:51,719 --> 00:53:53,880 Speaker 1: I see in training camp next year with whoever the 981 00:53:53,960 --> 00:53:58,279 Speaker 1: new coaches. Everybody's waiting here for sure, so Peter, it's 982 00:53:58,280 --> 00:54:00,960 Speaker 1: a pleasure always. Okay, all the besty, John, thank you 983 00:54:01,520 --> 00:54:03,880 Speaker 1: all right. I want to thank all four people for 984 00:54:04,000 --> 00:54:09,160 Speaker 1: joining us and it's the playoffs. So for Peter King, 985 00:54:09,480 --> 00:54:13,360 Speaker 1: Pete Prisco, Jim Trotter, who all covered the league nationally, 986 00:54:13,800 --> 00:54:18,400 Speaker 1: to join me and talk about Tony Baselli's chances, uh, 987 00:54:18,719 --> 00:54:21,120 Speaker 1: that means a lot. And I think Jaguars fans who 988 00:54:21,200 --> 00:54:24,200 Speaker 1: here this will have a good feeling. I personally, from 989 00:54:24,200 --> 00:54:27,200 Speaker 1: talking to people on the committee for years, I believe 990 00:54:27,320 --> 00:54:31,480 Speaker 1: Tony's getting in either next year or this year. I 991 00:54:31,520 --> 00:54:33,959 Speaker 1: think he can be this year. I think it's gonna 992 00:54:33,960 --> 00:54:38,280 Speaker 1: be a coin flip because of the Alan Fanaka situation. 993 00:54:38,400 --> 00:54:41,200 Speaker 1: But I still believe from talking to people and from 994 00:54:41,280 --> 00:54:44,400 Speaker 1: having followed this process for a long time, that momentum 995 00:54:44,520 --> 00:54:47,240 Speaker 1: is there. There's time for this. It's often a process, 996 00:54:47,280 --> 00:54:49,400 Speaker 1: as you've heard. I think he gets in one of 997 00:54:49,400 --> 00:54:52,439 Speaker 1: the next two years. We'll see what happens. We will 998 00:54:52,440 --> 00:54:56,719 Speaker 1: cover this on Jaguars dot com on January nine, which 999 00:54:56,719 --> 00:54:59,000 Speaker 1: is the day of the voting. I hope he gets in, 1000 00:54:59,440 --> 00:55:01,239 Speaker 1: not only the cause I'm tired of talking about it, 1001 00:55:01,239 --> 00:55:05,319 Speaker 1: because Tony deserves it, you know, and it would be 1002 00:55:05,320 --> 00:55:08,040 Speaker 1: a great thing to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Good luck to 1003 00:55:08,040 --> 00:55:11,120 Speaker 1: Tony VASSELLI, thank you for listening. This one didn't stuck 1004 00:55:11,680 --> 00:55:12,480 Speaker 1: we'll see you soon.