Should Joe Klecko be in the NFL HOF?

[Chuck9788]

To me, it seems that he deserves to be enshrined.

Do you agree or disagree?

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/K/KlecJo00.htm

https://i.ytimg.com/vi/R408uWTBGE0/maxresdefault.jpg

[howard38]

.

[JollyElm]

In general, defensive line candidates are always tough to judge and compare. It seems there are so many factors involved outside of sacks that 'regular' fans don't really think about, making DE's, DT's, and Nose Tackles especially difficult positions to get a clear picture of. Contrast it with assessing a QB, where you can usually make a perfectly clear case (statistically speaking) for or against any field general's enshrinement.

Growing up in Queens in the shadow of Shea Stadium, though, I say hell yeah!!!!!!!

[earlywynnfan]

What do you guys think the chances are for Gastineau, Too Tall Jones, or Harvey Martin? Just curious

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Gastineau was an underrated all around player. His first Pro Bowl appearance was in a year he had no sacks. I always thought Klecko was a better player, but maybe Gastineau became too enamored of the sack and neglected his other duties (if yu're pinning you ears back every play the running game can eat you alive) All of them come up short for me though. Gastineau had the most Pro Bowls and All-Pro selections with 5 and 3. Klecko was 4 and 2, Martin 4 and 1 and Jones 3 and 1. To me those are a pretty good metric for positions where stats are hard to judge as they were voted on by insiders, not fans. Gastineau is border line at those numbers but his career was fairly short for a down lineman and that 5 year peak was about it for him.

On Strahan, I agree it was kinda lame and I'm a huge Giant fan, but does anyone else remember that he was the greatest RUN STOPPING end of his era? One of the more complete defensive Lineman of his time.

[howard38]

Gastineau was an underrated all around player. His first Pro Bowl appearance was in a year he had no sacks. I always thought Klecko was a better player, but maybe Gastineau became too enamored of the sack and neglected his other duties (if yu're pinning you ears back every play the running game can eat you alive) All of them come up short for me though. Gastineau had the most Pro Bowls and All-Pro selections with 5 and 3. Klecko was 4 and 2, Martin 4 and 1 and Jones 3 and 1. To me those are a pretty good metric for positions where stats are hard to judge as they were voted on by insiders, not fans. Gastineau is border line at those numbers but his career was fairly short for a down lineman and that 5 year peak was about it for him.

On Strahan, I agree it was kinda lame and I'm a huge Giant fan, but does anyone else remember that he was the greatest RUN STOPPING end of his era? One of the more complete defensive Lineman of his time.
Sacks became an official stat in 1982 (largely because of Gastineau & Klecko) so Gastineau wasn't credited with any during his first pro bowl season. Unofficially he has been credited with twenty, one half sack behind teammate Klecko.

You may be right that he neglected the run somewhat. That's what his detractors said anyway.

[Aquarian Sports Cards]

Sacks became an official stat in 1982 (largely because of Gastineau & Klecko) so Gastineau wasn't credited with any during his first pro bowl season. Unofficially he has been credited with twenty, one half sack behind teammate Klecko.

You may be right that he neglected the run somewhat. That's what his detractors said anyway.

You're right, I realized last night. However his 2nd pro bowl appearance was only 6 sacks so clearly wasn't getting in just as a pass rusher.

[howard38]

You're right, I realized last night. However his 2nd pro bowl appearance was only 6 sacks so clearly wasn't getting in just as a pass rusher.
True and he was actually all-pro that season as well. Interestingly, the league leader was another LDE, Doug Martin w/ 11.5 (it was a strike year) & he didn't even make the pro-bowl.