OPINION: Woodson Likely Next Packers Hall of Famer

The 130 modern-era nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2021 were announced last week, and five players with significant Packers tenures were among them.

 Career-Packer Donald Driver joined a list of 13 wide receivers up for election that also includes Henry Ellard, Torry Holt, Calvin Johnson, Chad Johnson, Derrick Mason, Muhsin Muhammad, Jimmy Smith, Rod Smith, Hines Ward, Reggie Wayne, Wes Welker and Roddy White. Holt and Wayne were finalists last year, and Calvin Johnson, Welker and White are in their first year of eligibility. 

 Driver does not line up favorably among that company for career totals, though his lone Super Bowl in 2010 does give him a ring to hold over eight of the other candidates. Still, among the nominees his receptions rank ahead of only Calvin Johnson, who played five fewer seasons. His yards and touchdowns rank ahead of only Welker, who played in 30 fewer games than Driver. Though his smile would look great on a bust, the logjam at wide receiver may keep Driver in the parking lot.

 Three former members of the Green Bay secondary are also nominated, including Leroy Butler, Nick Collins and Charles Woodson. They are among a list of defensive backs that also includes Eric Allen, Ronde Barber, Merton Hanks, Rodney Harrison, James Hasty, Albert Lewis, John Lynch, Tim McDonald, Allen Rossum, Asante Samuel, Bob Sanders, Charles Tillman, Troy Vincent, Adrian Wilson and Darren Woodson. Butler and Lynch were finalists last year, and Tillman and Charles Woodson are in their first year of eligibility.

 Of the three Packers, Charles Woodson easily makes the strongest case for himself with an 18-year career in which he compiled nine Pro Bowls, three All-Pro selections, a Super Bowl, a Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 1998 and a Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2009. His 65 career interceptions lead the class of nominees and are good for fifth all-time. Butler’s case is harder to differentiate from another logjam position, though his four All-Pro selections do lead the class. Collins may have his legacy go forever the way of Sterling Sharpe’s, as that of a tremendous talent and promising resume unfortunately lacking the length to get him to the Hall.

 Former placekicker Ryan Longwell also joins a field of 12 kickers and punters up for election, including David Akers, Gary Anderson, Jason Elam, Jeff Feagles, Jason Hanson, John Kasay, Sean Landeta, Nick Lowery, Reggie Roby, Rohn Stark and Matt Turk. Of the seven kickers, Longwell has the best field goal percentage of 83.2, but has the lowest number of makes and no Pro Bowl selections. He held the Packers’ all-time leading scorer mark for a decade before Mason Crosby unseated him, but the presence of two total kickers in the Hall in general would suggest Longwell may never reach Canton.

 The Class of 2021 may see three first-ballot enshrinees next year, as a class including Charles Woodson, Peyton Manning and Calvin Johnson looks highly probable.

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