Sep 27, 2014; London, UNITED KINGDOM; Andre Reed (left) and Terrell Davis at NFL Fan Forum at the Cafe Royal Hotel in advance of the International Series game between the Miami Dolphins and the Oakland Raiders. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Terrell Davis was smiling ear to ear.
If you were to see him right now, it’s still there and won’t go away anytime soon.
For a guy who always flashes a smile, that says a lot.
Davis is a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame for the first time in his nine years of eligibility. Let that sink in a few seconds since you know how special he was. Davis is one of 15 players to make it this far. He joins former Tampa Buccaneers and Broncos safety John Lynch. Steve Atwater and Karl Mecklenburg failed to make the cut.
Davis’ hopes now fall on the presentation of ESPN Broncos writer Jeff Legwold to the 45 other members of the selection committee. That will take place the Saturday before the Super Bowl.
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This is the same group of football “experts” who selected Curtis Martin over Davis.
Davis has to get in.
He should be the next Broncos player to get in. There are only four in the Hall of Fame – John Elway, Floyd Little, Shannon Sharpe and Gary Zimmerman.
Davis is the only member of the 2,000-yard rushing club eligible for enshrinement to not have his bust in Canton, Ohio.
He’s a former NFL MVP (something neither Martin nor Jerome Bettis can say), a Super Bowl MVP and two-time Super Bowl Champion.
But it’s Davis’ stats in the postseason that make this a no-brainer. Or should. It will make Legwold’s presentation really, really easy to the point even those dense “experts” will figure it out.
For his shortened career, he had 204 carries for 1,140 yards and 12 touchdowns in the postseason. Simply put: Davis is the best postseason running back in the history of the NFL.
Period.
Aug 20, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; General view of the historical monument pillars of former Denver Broncos players at the Ring of Fame plaza at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. From left: Tom Nalen (66), Rod Smith (80), Shannon Sharpe (84), Terrell Davis (30) and Steve Atwater (27). Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
And it’s not even close. Remember, he did what he did in eight playoff games.
Eight.
Davis is tied for the most career 100-yard postseason games with seven. The guy he’s tied with, Emmit Smith, needed 17 games to get there. Davis has the NFL record for consecutive games with 100 yards rushing in the playoffs with seven.
Davis has the NFL record for average yard per carry at 5.59.
Davis is tied for third in career postseason touchdowns. Smith is first with 19 (in 17 games); Franco Harris (19 games) and Thurman Thomas (21 games) are next with 16.
I will say it again: TD did what he did in eight games.
When you hear voters talk, one of the big points of emphasis is the postseason. Since Davis had his career shortened due to a knee injury, he gets docked. He gets punished because he didn’t have “longevity.”
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They forget a guy named Gale Sayers.
You cannot mention the decade of the 1990s without Davis. You can’t say that about Martin or Bettis (who also is a finalist this year).
Davis is a Hall of Famer.
He should already be in.
He’s one of the greatest to ever play the game of football. If you listen to the guys who played the game, and are in the Hall of Fame at the running back position, they agree.
Marcus Allen.
Marshall Faulk.
Other Hall of Famers agree.
Rod Woodson.
Andre Reed.
Here’s a fact: Without Davis, John Elway and the Broncos don’t win two Super Bowls.
Let’s hope the voters get the memo.
It’s time for TD to show off that smile as he gives his speech next August in Canton.
Jan 31, 2013; New Orleans, LA, USA; NFC squad player Terrell Davis during the Tazon Latino VII flag football game at Clinic Field inside the Ernest Morial Convention center. Super Bowl XLVII will take place between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens on February 3, 2013 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports