Don't get me wrong, Patrick Willis was an absolutely phenomenal player, but man 7.5 seasons and he gets in his first year as a finalist...just feels wrong to me. Same for Devin Hester. Guy was great as a KR/PR, but come on now.
And how Antonio Gates wasn't a first ballot guy either is beyond me.
955 receptions, 11k yards, and 116 TDs as a TE should of been a lock.
Antonio Gates and Rodney Harrison should be in over Devin Hester. Hester was an average gadget player that had one good season. That's not up for dispute and it's atrocious that Canton has snubbed two excellent players once again from the Hall. Andre Johnson and Patrick Willis I will say are worthy of being in the Hall of Fame despite being stuck on teams that didn't really acheive much when they were there.
Johnson was a star wide out on terrible Texans teams that was a true difference maker in Houston being even remotely competitive when they first started out. Seven seasons of over 1000 yards and four straight seasons of at least 8 or more TDS with the Texans when they had no QB better than Matt Schaub. MATT. SCHAUB. Johnson's best QB while in Houston was a game manager. If that's not making the most out of a terrible situation, then I don't know what is. Had he played with someone like Brady or Manning, the conversation of him being an impact player wouldn't be up for dispute.
As for Patrick Willis, snagging five first team all pro selections on defense for roughly an eight year career is no mean feat. He was one of the most impressive middle linebackers to come out of the draft since Ray Lewis and Brian Urlacher and he hit people hard. Led the league in tackles twice in his first three seasons and was a critical piece of San Francisco's front seven when stopping the run and affecting the quarterback. I think if Willis didn't have to retire because of his foot injury, his stats would've looked more impressive and it would be easier to justify his Hall of Fame selection. I'm not going to say he should be passed over due to factors out of his control.
