Abner Haynes

[SilverEagle]

All this recent pub about Tim Brown being the only Dallas native to be inducted into the NFL HOF got me thinking about Abner Haynes. Abner was a graduate of Dallas' Lincoln High School, and IMHO deserves as much consideration to be in the NFL HOF as anyone. Here is a segment from his WIKI page.....

"Haynes' statistics compare favorably with those of Gayle Sayers, who was inducted to the "Pro Football" Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility, while Haynes is continually ignored by the selectors, even though he surpassed Sayers in three of the five categories shown below."

Player	Seasons	Rushing Yds	Average Rush Yds per Carry	Rushing TDs	All-purpose Yds	Total TDs
Abner Haynes	8	4,630	4.5	46	12,065	68
Haynes per Season	..	579	4.5	5.75	1,508	8.5
Gayle Sayers	7	4,956	5.0	39	9,435	56
Sayers per season	..	708	5.0	5.57	1,348	8.0

 

How do these guys get nominated?

Edited August 9, 2015 by SilverEagle

[North Texas Shep]

Abnegation needs a nod. 

[UNTexas]

Its ridiculous he hasn't been considered. In my estimation with the ridiculous world today, attach a sad sports story that gets attention and he'll get the nod. 

It's political. Look at Joe Greene. It took him until 87 and u til recently Pittsburgh's Hall of Fame which is absolute nonsense. Maybe he'd have some insight how to start campaigning?

Edited August 9, 2015 by UNTexas

[Side Show Joe]

For years I've wondered why Haynes isn't in the Hall. I've heard the argument that his carrier was too short. I've also heard that he played all of his seasons in the AFL, and not against the stronger teams in the NFL. Both arguments seem weak to me. The man had a Hall of Fame carrier. He should be included.

[SilverEagle]

For years I've wondered why Haynes isn't in the Hall. I've heard the argument that his carrier was too short. I've also heard that he played all of his seasons in the AFL, and not against the stronger teams in the NFL. Both arguments seem weak to me. The man had a Hall of Fame carrier. He should be included.

As the chart above shows, Gayle Sayers only had 7 seasons while Abner Haynes had 8. Here is the Chicago Bears record while Sayers was playing.

 

 

1965	1965	NFL	Western		3rd	9	5	0	.643			George Halas (COY)	[4]
1966	1966	NFL	Western		5th	5	7	2	.429				[4]
1967	1967	NFL	Western	Central	2nd	7	6	1	.536				[4]
1968	1968	NFL	Western	Central	2nd	7	7	0	.500				[4]
1969	1969	NFL	Western	Central	4th	1	13	0	.071				[4]
1970	1970	NFL	NFC	Central	4th	6	8	0	.429				[4][j]
1971	1971	NFL	NFC	Central	3rd	6	8	0	.429

 

His teams never got any higher than 2nd. 

Once again, I wonder how the nomination process gets started?

[Mean Green 93-98]

As the chart above shows, Gayle Sayers only had 7 seasons while Abner Haynes had 8. Here is the Chicago Bears record while Sayers was playing.

 

 

1965	1965	NFL	Western		3rd	9	5	0	.643			George Halas (COY)	[4]
1966	1966	NFL	Western		5th	5	7	2	.429				[4]
1967	1967	NFL	Western	Central	2nd	7	6	1	.536				[4]
1968	1968	NFL	Western	Central	2nd	7	7	0	.500				[4]
1969	1969	NFL	Western	Central	4th	1	13	0	.071				[4]
1970	1970	NFL	NFC	Central	4th	6	8	0	.429				[4][j]
1971	1971	NFL	NFC	Central	3rd	6	8	0	.429

 

His teams never got any higher than 2nd. 

Once again, I wonder how the nomination process gets started?

Some of your comments seem to be suggesting that Gayle Sayers shouldn't be in the HOF (e.g., "How do these guys get nominated?").  If so, FAIL.  The point about the NFL being tougher competition isn't really answered by the Bears' standing during the time that Sayers was with them.  The fact that he was able to perform at such a high level on mostly mediocre teams only speaks more to his ability.  And it also probably speaks to why his career was cut short.

I'll agree that Abner Haynes belongs in the HOF, but denigrating Gayle Sayers' ability and achievements is plain stupid.

Edited August 9, 2015 by Mean Green 93-98

[SilverEagle]

Putting Sayers record in perspective is more like it. Especially when the typical argument to exclude former AFL stars was that.....well.....they played in the AFL. Now, that's stupid. 

[greenit]

AFL = original G5?

[VideoEagle]

AFL = original G5?

More likely the old All American Football conference is closer to the G5. The NFL (P5) cherry picked teams from the AAFC (G5) then left the rest to die. Records from the old AAFC don't count in the NFL for the teams that moved up while AFL records do. AFL-NFL was a full merger, AAFC vs NFL was a cherry pick and die. 

For those who don't follow history, the 49's, Colts and of course the Browns all came from the old AAFC.