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wandlores · 8 years ago

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Dried Out

Pairing: Cho Chang x Roger Davies Words: 2,364 This is for the @hprarepairnet Summer Vacation Challenge and @flntwood who requested this pairing! You can also read this on AO3.

Cho assumed her summer would be full of grief after she lost Cedric. It was hard for her to concentrate on her favorite time of year. She didn’t feel like swimming, she didn’t feel like camping, and she certainly did not feel like eating frozen custard. That was Cedric’s favorite dessert.

It was all too much for her, and she cried herself to sleep every night for the first month until she was sure she completely dried herself out.

It wasn’t until one afternoon that she finally decided to go outside and soak in some sun. She went into her backyard and sat on her tree swing. It was her favorite place to go as a young kid, and it always helped her clear her mind.

She thought back on how she hated being an only child when she was young, but now, it was great to have this place to herself. She supposed it sounded selfish, but she needed a place to call her own.

The summer breeze felt good against her skin, and her long silky hair brushed against her back. She closed her eyes and tried to focus on the simple sensation. It was the little things that were going to get her by.

She was interrupted from her relaxing trance when she heard her mother talking to an unfamiliar voice. Curiously, she jumped off of her swing and traced her hand against the wooden fence as she walked to her front yard. She made it to her front yard and saw her mother talking to a handsome man who appeared to be their new neighbor.

She could tell her mother was attracted to the man, because she was blushing and constantly flattening her hair. Cho couldn't really blame her.

“Oh Cho!” her mother exclaimed, “It’s so great you’re out here. This is our new neighbor, Richard Davies. His family has moved in right next door from Godric’s Hollow.”

Cho forced a polite smile in Richard’s direction and shook his hand.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

“My son has told me a lot about you, Cho. I’m assuming you remember Roger from school? He’s currently in our house unpacking, but he will be happy to know that you live next door.”

Cho’s body stiffened, and she cleared her throat.

She knew about Roger all right. He had attempted to ask her out a week after Cedric died. She thought he was disgusting and arrogant, and now he was her neighbor.

“I do know your son,” she replied.

Richard smiled, and Cho watched as he turned his head around to look back at his family. They were levitating items into their new home, and that’s when Cho caught sight of him outside.

Roger had matured since she saw him last month. He matured so much that Cho almost didn’t recognize him, and she didn’t understand how someone could change in such a short amount of time.

He was wearing a white tank top that revealed his collarbones and his muscular arms were on full display. He was larger than before, and Cho caught herself gaping.

It was as though he could read her mind, because he turned his head around in the direction of his father’s voice and caught sight of her. He smiled flirtatiously at her, and Cho felt an overwhelming urge to hex him.

She hoped, she prayed, that he wouldn’t walk over. Naturally, her wish wasn’t granted. Nothing in the universe seemed to be on her side lately.

“Cho, isn’t it wonderful news that we’re now neighbors?” he asked her boldly, “I have to say, I’m pretty darn excited about it.”

She glanced over to check that their parents were still talking; she wanted to make sure they were distracted before she could give him a candid response. Her mother now seemed to be in a deep conversation with Roger’s mum, and Richard Davies appeared to be back in his own yard so he could finish levitating furniture into their new home.

“I have to say I’m not excited that you’re here,” Cho hissed, “I wanted to spend my summer alone to get over Cedric. Or did you forget about him? It appeared you did when you asked me out a week after his funeral. Who the bloody hell does that?”

She expected him to smirk at her, but he surprised her by awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. He looked ashamed of himself, but she wasn’t going to let that cloud her judgment of him. This could be an act for all she knew. He was smart, but so was she.

“Look, that was wrong of me-“ he started, but Cho cut him off and raised her hand.

“I don’t want to hear it. Why don’t you just leave me alone this summer, then we can go back to school in September and act like we weren’t even neighbors, yeah?”

He was about to reply, but she didn’t give him a chance to. Instead, she turned around and walked back to her backyard.

Two days went by, and Roger didn’t bother her. She figured he got the message the first day he moved in. She thought that maybe she could actually grieve this summer in peace, but she was quickly proven wrong.

She was laying on her back porch trying to get a tan when he came to bother her again. She watched him as he climbed over her fence. She tried to act like she didn't notice him, but once he reached her, he looked down at her until she took her sunglasses off and acknowledged him.

“I thought I told you to leave me alone this summer-“ Cho started, but this time, he interrupted her.

“Look, what I did was shitty, Chang. I’m not denying that, but can’t we just forget about it? I’m bored, and it’s summer. Let’s do shit. You need to take your mind off of what happened, it isn’t healthy for you sitting around grieving alone.”

“You don’t know anything about what is good or bad for me. I would rather be by myself, thanks.”

“You know that’s not true.”

She was about to argue, but she stood up instead to look him straight in the eye.

His brown eyes were serious, but she noticed that there was still a light-heartededness hidden beneath them. It perplexed her that his eyes could display such contradicting emotions at the same time. She furrowed her brows and crossed her arms.

“Let’s say I take you up on your offer,” she replied, “What would you even want to do? There isn’t much to do here in this village.”

He smiled at her as though he won a bet.

“Well, for starters. We could eat some ice cream. Maybe we could swap books? That’s something that happens in muggle summer romance movies, I heard-“

“You study up on muggles?”

“Yeah, don’t you?”

She blinked a few times and looked down at her hands to pick at the skin by her nails. It was nervous habit her mother always tried to get her to kick.

When she didn’t answer him, he sighed.

“Was Cedric into studying muggle culture? Cause if he was, we don’t have to-“

“No,” she answered him quickly, “He wasn’t into studying muggle culture. He was more interested in discussing Quidditch with me.”

“What else was the famous Cedric Diggory into?”

She couldn’t do this, it was too painful. She had to find a reason to escape. She collected her towel and sunglasses from the ground and slipped them back onto her body. She attempted to avoid eye contact with him as she spoke.

“I-I have to go to town with my mum. I’ll see you around.”

She had almost completely turned the knob on her back door when he spoke up.

“Cho, don’t go. I’m sorry. We don’t have to talk about Cedric.”

She glanced back at him and examined him closely. He was wearing swimming trunks and tight white t-shirt. His dark hair needed to be trimmed, because he kept blowing strands of it out of his eyes, and his hands were gripping the hem of his shorts in anticipation. She assumed it was his nervous habit.

But his hands were large, and they looked strong. She gulped. No, she really couldn’t do this.

“It-it isn’t that,” she lied, “I really have to go.”

Roger's mouth open and closed quickly. She took that as her chance to slip through her door quietly. When she got inside and turned around to look out the window, he had gone.

Cho decided to give him a chance the next day, and the day after that, and the day after that.

Their friendship grew rather quickly by the time August came around. They woke up early in the morning to watch the sunrise, and they hung out until sunset. Cho learned that there was a side to Roger Davies that he didn’t let others at Hogwarts see.

He wasn’t arrogant, he wasn’t entitled. He was just a normal guy who was trying to figure out his purpose.

They were up in the tree in Cho’s backyard. They had climbed to the top and were holding on; Cho had to grab him a few times so he wouldn’t fall backwards. He was clumsy, she found it cute.

She watched him as he watched the sunset, and that’s when she realized he was beautiful. His need for a purpose was endearing, and the fact that there was so much more to him beneath the surface made him real and oddly relatable. But there was one problem.

She felt guilty, because she was falling for him. She felt like it was too soon to be moving on from Cedric, and it wasn’t right. She shouldn’t be feeling this happy so soon. Cedric had died.

Roger turned his head around to see her staring at him. She was deep in thought, and he raised his left brow.

“Is everything okay, Chang?” he asked, “You seem really in your head."

She shook her head as though she was trying to shake her thoughts away and blushed slightly. She hoped he didn’t notice.

“I-I’m fine,” she lied, “I was just thinking about how summer goes by too quickly every year.”

He studied her face for a moment, and she looked forward at the sunset to avoid his gaze. She was a bad liar; her eyes were always her tell.

“You’re lying,” he challenged, “What are you thinking about?”

She sighed. She felt like that was all she could do.

“I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Is it about how you’re starting to feel something for me and how you feel bad because of Cedric?”

Stunned at his words, she snapped her head back in his direction. She didn’t say anything, but she didn’t have to.

He adjusted himself on the branch he was occupying so he was now directly facing her. His eyes were intense, and she felt like he was able to see into her soul.

“Cedric would want you to be happy, Cho,” he told her, “And I’m not just saying that because I want you to be mine. I’m saying that because Cedric was a good person. He wouldn’t want you to go through his loss alone, and he certainly wouldn’t want you to avoid finding someone else because of him. He would want you to find someone to help you take the pain away. I’m not saying I will ever replace him, because I won’t. He was a much better person than I’ll ever be, but I don’t want you to ignore what you’re feeling because you’re feeling guilty. You have no reason to feel guilty, Cho. Cedric wouldn’t want you to feel this way. Cedric died, but you didn't. He would want you to feel alive.”

She blinked a few times as she processed his words and looked down at her hands. She started to pick the skin around her nails again, but he surprised her by placing his hand on top of hers so she couldn’t continue. That was the first time they ever touched.

“This habit isn’t good for your hands,” he commented, “You could get an infection.”

She glanced up to see him looking at her. His eyes were soft, they were expressing something from deep within him she had never seen before.

Cho was overwhelmed with emotion. She was not the type to act impulsively, but she did the most impulsive thing she could think of.

She kissed him.

His lips were chapped, and he didn’t respond immediately. She attempted to pull away because of her own embarrassment and shame, but he gently grabbed the back of her neck so she would stay in place. He hesitantly parted her lips with his tongue, and she let him.

He tasted like the chocolate ice cream cone he had eaten earlier, and all Cho could think about was that she wanted more, more, more.

Something so wrong shouldn’t feel so right.

When they finally pulled away, the sun had gone down. The sky was almost black. She took a deep breath and looked down still trying avoid his eyes. Roger cupped her cheek with his left hand, and she realized he was wiping away a tear she didn’t know she had let escape.

“Why do I feel guilty when this feels so right?” she whispered to him, “Why can’t I just let myself accept that Cedric would be okay with this?”

“Look at me,” he pleaded softly.

She looked up in his eyes, and he gave her a small comforting smile.

“Because you loved him, Cho. You still love him, and that’s okay. You will always love him.”

It was then that the tears she thought she had permanently lost found their way back. Her eyes were far from dry.

He kept wiping her cheeks as he held her, and eventually, she felt Roger’s tears merge with her own.

“It’s okay,” he soothed her, “It’s okay.”

And for the first time in a long time, Cho believed him. She believed that it would be okay after-all. She just couldn't do this alone.

#hprarepairnetchallenge #hprarepairnet #hpminorcharnet #lightningeranet #mywriting #hp #flntwood #roger x cho #cho x roger #roger davies #cho chang #cho #roger #hppositivitynet #provocative-envy #mxrcusflint #ff-sunset-oasis

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auburnfamilynews · 6 years ago

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Eli Stove sticks a dagger in the Aggies! (AP Photo/Sam Craft)

War Eagle, everybody! It’s time now for another Auburn game preview! On September 21st, Auburn will travel to College Station, Texas to take on the Texas A&M Aggies in the SEC season opener. Texas A&M was a dangerous team last season, that really had Auburn on the ropes for most of the game, before a furious 4th quarter Auburn rally. Both teams need the win, to really have any chance to compete for the SEC West title.

This will be Jimbo Fisher’s second season as head coach in College Station. Some folks say that Fisher inherited a wealth of talent, and was fortunate last season. I think with Fisher’s track record, that is a bit unfair. Texas A&M won 9 games while playing in the toughest division in college football, and I think that speaks for itself. The issue this year that faces the Aggies is replacing a large amount of talent that either graduated or left early for the NFL.

Texas A&M opens the season with Texas State, then travels to Clemson in week 2. The Aggies return home to tune up against Lamar, then host the Auburn Tigers. Auburn will have already played a game in Texas, in Arlington in the opener against Oregon. Auburn goes back home to tune up on Tulane and Kent State. I think Auburn’s schedule week to week is tougher than Texas A&M’s, but the Aggies do face the defending national champion on the road.

Texas A&M will have to rebuild in spots on defense, and head coach Fisher brought in former Notre Dame defensive coordinator Mike Elko to do the job. The Aggies have to replace 3 starters on the defensive line, as well as a dominant sort of linebacker. The key for the Aggies is going to be slowing Auburn’s running game down. When Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn gets a running game going, Auburn has been next to impossible to beat. Texas A&M needs to force the game onto the arm of a freshman quarterback for Auburn. The Aggies have a veteran secondary, although the defense only forced 11 turnovers all season long, lasts year.

Texas A&M returns a dangerous dual threat quarterback in Kellen Mond, but other areas took some off-season hits. When the Aggies could run the ball last season, the offense was strong. When the offense was stopped up front, Mond took a beating, as the Aggies allowed a whopping 35 sacks last season. Star running back Traveon Williams takes 1760 rushing yards and 278 receiving yards with him to the NFL. Also gone is dangerous receiving tight end Jace Sternberger. The Aggies do have some big receivers returning, and young talent in the running back corps, but it will probably take time for the unit to gel.

Texas A&M has a great player on special teams, senior Braden Mann, who punts and kicks off. Mann was the nation’s leading punter last season, and more than half of his kickoffs were touchbacks. Dangerous Aggie return men are back this season on both units, and coverage in both aspects was good, last season. If there was an Aggie special teams weakness last season, it was place-kicking, as the Aggies missed 10 field goal attempts with freshman kicker Seth Small missing 8 of those. As a sophomore, Small will likely improve.

Unit matchups, after the jump!

Auburn defensive line vs. Texas A&M offensive line: Auburn must win this matchup to keep this game close. Auburn brings a big, athletic defensive line back this season. Likely starters at tackle are senior Derrick Brown and junior T yrone Truesdell. Senior strong-side end Marlon Davidson will be a 4-year starter. The buck side is a rotation between juniors Nick Coe and Big Kat Bryant. Auburn can play monster sophomore Nick Coe at any position on the line with great results. Auburn has serious depth all across the line, as well. Texas A&M’s line was a solid run blocking unit at times last season, but had difficulty allowing a lot of negative plays against better fronts. From left to right, the likely Aggie starters are junior Dan Moore, Jr., junior Jared Hocker, junior Ryan McCollum, senior Colton Praeter, and junior Carson Green. Advantage: Auburn.

Auburn linebackers vs. Texas A&M backs: Auburn will be breaking in a new starting rotation of linebackers, but there is a good bit of playing experience, as these guys have been rotating in for a couple of years. Auburn will go with junior K. J. Britt in the middle, and some combination of junior Chandler Wooten, and sophomore Zakoby McClain on the outsides. I would also expect true freshman Owen Pappoe to play early and often. Texas A&M sophomore Jashaun Corbin is expected to be the bellcow back for the Aggies, this season. Corbin produced 362 rushing yards as a freshman, and 85 receiving yards. He is the most complete back the Aggies have, but there is talent behind Corbin, most notably transfer Cordarrian Richardson, from Central Florida. Richardson checks in at 246 pounds, and would be a load to try and tackle. The possible issue for the Aggies is lead blocking. The hope is that sophomore transfer Ben Miles will be solid enough, there. Advantage: Auburn.

Auburn corners vs. Texas A&M receivers: Auburn has a fairly good combination of starting corners, in senior Javaris Davis and junior Noah Igbinoghene . Auburn has depth and experience behind the starters. What is worrisome about the Aggie receivers is the size of them. There are 5 juniors that will likely rotate at the receiver spots, and all of them are around 6′ 2,” Auburn is smaller than that, at most defensive back spots. The Aggie receiving candidates are Quartney Davis, Jhamon Ausbon, Cameron Buckley, Kendrick Rogers, and Hezekiah Jones. Advantage: Even.

Auburn safeties vs. Texas A&M secondary receivers and quarterback: Auburn’s starting unit features Seniors Jeremiah Dinson and Daniel Thomas at safety. This is a veteran crew with experienced backups. I think Auburn would like to start sophomore Christian Tutt at the nickel spot. Quarterback Kellen Mond is the key player for the Aggies. Despite getting a ton of pressure last year, Mond mostly was able to avoid critical mistakes, and added 474 rushing yards to the offense, to go along with 7 touchdowns on the ground. This year, Mond would like to improve on a 57 percent completion percentage. The Aggies will likely run a lot of 3 receiver sets, and will utilize some of the receivers in the previous section in the slot. The Aggies are hoping to plug sophomore Glenn Beal in at tight end. Advantage: Even.

Punting: Aaron Siposs had a good rookie campain punting the football (averaging 44.2 yards per punt), and is expected to be one of the better punters in the SEC this season. Likewise, Texas A&M returns senior punter Braden Mann, who averaged 50.98 yards per punt last season. Auburn improved dramatically in coverage last season (3.36 yards per return), and Texas A&M was good, allowing 6.3 Advantage: Even.

Kickoffs: Auburn sophomore Anders Carlson had a great year kicking off, last season, with hitting 51 touchbacks on 70 kickoffs. When Carlson didn’t kick it to the end zone, Auburn gave up only 19.44 yards per return. Senior Braden Mann handles kickoffs for the Aggies. Last season Mann had 80 kickoffs and 57 touchbacks. Texas A&M gave up just 16.5 yards per kick return. Advantage: Texas A&M.

Place kicking: Auburn sophomore Daniel Carlson hit on just 15 of 25 field goal attempts, and was 5 of 14 from 40 yards or more. Seth Small hit on 20 of 28 field goal attempts last season. Advantage: Even.

Auburn offensive line vs. Texas A&M defensive line: Auburn has 5 veteran seniors returning on the offensive line, and they looked very good in the Music City Bowl, and on A-Day. From left to right, this will be Prince Tega Wanagho, Marquel Harrell, Kaleb Kim, Mike Horton and Jack Driscoll. The lone returning starter for the Aggies is junior tackle Justin Madubuike, who is a rock. The other tackle will probably be junior Jayden Peevy. Texas A&M will be young but talented under sophomores Tyree Johnson and Bobby Brown. Look out for incoming freshman DeMarvin Leal, a large defensive end who was one of the top defensive linemen in the country in the recruiting rankings. Advantage: Auburn.

Auburn backs vs. Texas A&M linebackers: Auburn lost H-back Chandler Cox, a 4-year starter, blowing open holes. The real question is who will replace Cox. Right now, senior Spencer Nigh is the only fullback/H-back listed on the roster. Sophomore John Samuel Schenker is likely to get work here as well. Senior Kam Martin is blazing fast, but has had durability issues in the past. Sophomore JaTarvious Whitlow took over the top spot last year, and is said to be much improved this spring. Senior Malik Miller has size, power, and a few carries here and there, but hasn’t been used much. Auburn will likely face a trio of juniors as linebacker starters, asked to step up from the bench. Across the corps is Buddy Johnson, Keeath Magee II, and Braden White. Advantage: Auburn.

Auburn receivers vs. Texas A&M corners: Auburn is moving sophomore Seth Williams to the boundary (X) side of the offense, and the likely starter in the flanker spot is either redshirt freshman Matthew Hill or junior Marquis McClain. While Auburn is young here, Texas A&M is veteran and capable at cornerback. Senior Charles Oliver and junior Debione Renfroe should be capable, and there is depth behind them. Advantage: Texas A&M.

Auburn secondary receivers and quarterback vs. Texas A&M: All eyes will be on a new Auburn freshman quarterback starting. Whether that will be Joey Gatewood or Bo Nix has yet to be determined. I would expect the Aggies to try to go after these guys, and cause confusion in the backfield. Auburn has a very speedy and dangerous group of secondary receivers, including junior Eli Stove, senior Will Hastings, and sophomore Anthony Schwartz. Auburn can put big senior receiver Sal Cannella in and get a size mismatch. Texas A&M safeties return from last season, sophomore Leon O’Neal Jr., and junior Derrick Tucker. I think Auburn can create some mismatches in space, but can freshmen quarterbacks take advantage? Advantage: Texas A&M.

Auburn lost a lot less to graduation than Texas A&M did, and appears to have more advantages than the Aggies do. Particularly interesting is that Auburn appears to be stronger on both lines of scrimmage. However, Auburn inexperience at quarterback vs. a veteran Aggie back end could be a great equalizer, or worse. College Station is a great home field advantage for the Aggies, as well. I will note that Auburn has never lost in this venue, but as always, history doesn’t win games. The current players do, or don’t.

Prediction: With advantages on both lines of scrimmage, Auburn pushes the Aggies around a bit, and quiets the home crowd. Able to run the ball successfully and avoiding turnovers, Auburn produces a surprising 34-20 win.

The post Auburn Heads Back to Texas. (Previewing Auburn’s SEC opener against Texas A&M.) appeared first on Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog.

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bloggingandtackling · 6 years ago

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It’s a shame if the Hall of Fame doesn't add these great names

On Aug. 4, the Pro Football Hall of Fame will enshrine eight new members to its hallowed Hall: Bobby Beathard (former Redskins GM), Robert Brazile (a linebacker with the Houston Oilers in the 1970s and 80s), Brian Dawkins (a hard-hitting safety with the Eagles and Broncos), Jerry Kramer (an offensive lineman with the historic Packer teams of the 60s), Ray Lewis (a killer LBer with the Ravens), Randy Moss (second greatest WR of all-time), Terrell Owens (third greatest WR of all-time) and Brian Urlacher (terrific linebacker with the Bears).

It’s cliché to do so, especially this time of year, but since it’s my blog I’m going to do it anyway and ask the question “who isn’t in the Hall of Fame that should be?” Most of the time, Hall of Fame voters get it right. Take for instance 2017 when Kurt Warner and Terrell Davis were both enshrined after having to wait several years. Both were extraordinary players with short careers but the Hall of Fame came to its senses and inducted them properly. Now it’s time for the voters to come to their senses again for these seven players who should be considered for the Class of 2019 and beyond...

Doug Flutie. It’s called the “Pro” Football Hall of Fame, not the “NFL” Hall of Fame. Flutie’s NFL numbers as a QB are pedestrian: 14,715 yards passing, 86 touchdown passes and another 1,634 yards rushing and 10 TDs. But Flutie is the rarest of football players having excelled as a quarterback for three different professional football leagues - the NFL, the CFL and USFL. When factoring in all three of these leagues and 21 years (21 years!) of football, Flutie threw 369 touchdown passes and for 58,179 yards -- more yards and touchdown passes than John Elway, Warren Moon and Dan Fouts, all Hall of Famers whose careers intersected at some point with Flutie. Additionally, Flutie rushed for 6,759 yards (total), which is almost 2,000 more than Randall Cunningham, who is the NFL’s all-time leader in rushing yards as a quarterback. Flutie had six seasons in the Canadian Football League where he threw for more than 5,000 yards, including two seasons where he threw for more than 6,000 yards! Yes, it’s the CFL but it’s still football. When Flutie, who began his pro career with the Bears in 1986 and played three seasons (as a non-starter) for the Patriots from 1987-89, re-entered the NFL with the Buffalo Bills in 1998 he was supposed to be well past his prime at 36 years-old, but he made the Pro Bowl that season, was the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year and helped the Bills to the playoffs. His worst passer rating as a starting QB was 72.0 with the Chargers in 2001, when he was 39. Joe Namath’s best passer rating was 74 in 1969 when he was 26. Namath was enshrined in Canton in 1985. Call me crazy but Doug Flutie is a Hall of Famer.

Jim Plunkett. This one is a bit of a stretch but I still want to make my argument on behalf of Plunkett. Like Flutie, Plunkett won the Heisman Trophy as college football’s best player. He was drafted first overall in 1971 and played for some horrific New England teams of the 1970s. He bounced around, even sat out a season (1979) until called into duty for the Oakland Raiders in 1980 when starter Dan Pastorini (ironically drafted two spots after Plunkett in 1971) was injured. While Plunkett did just enough to win the games that didn’t matter he excelled in the ones that did. He led the Raiders to Super Bowl XV and was named the game’s MVP. During a five-year stretch, he was 34-11 as a starter during the regular season and 8-2 in the playoffs while winning another Super Bowl, Super Bowl XVIII, for the Raiders at the age of 36. His 8-2 mark in the postseason is better than Peyton Manning. Naysayers point to his 164 TD passes to 198 interceptions. But compared to Namath, Plunkett has just nine fewer touchdown passes but 22 fewer career interceptions. Yes, that’s right, Broadway Joe’s TD to INT ratio is 173-220. Plunkett was never a Pro Bowler but he spent his career in the same era as Ken Anderson, Terry Bradshaw, John Elway, Dan Fouts, Bob Griese, Dan Marino, Ken Stabler, Roger Staubach and Fran Tarkenton. All but Anderson are in the Hall of Fame. Only Bradshaw won more Super Bowls. Plunkett, in fact, is the only starting quarterback to win multiple Super Bowls NOT in the Hall of Fame. Stats don’t lie but winning speaks volumes.

Dave Dalby. A teammate of Plunkett’s with the Raiders, Dalby, too, was highly regarded but lightly rewarded during a playing career in which the former UCLA All American never missed a professional football game (205 total). For three seasons, he played behind legendary center Jim Otto but following Otto’s retirement in 1974, Dalby started the next 152 games consecutively while winning Super Bowls XI, XV and XVIII along the way. He was named to his only Pro Bowl in 1977 but, like Plunkett, Dalby was overshadowed during his era by other players like Hall of Famers Jim Langer and Mike Webster, arguably the greatest centers in NFL history. Dalby spent his entire career (1972-85) as a Raider and endured just one losing season (1981) during that timeframe. He anchored an offensive line that featured tackle Art Shell and guard Gene Upshaw, both Hall of Famers, and as I mentioned before, Dalby played in all 205 games during his 14-year career -- probably the greatest stat of all.

Donnie Shell. If it’s winning that should be the ultimate ticket to Canton, then why in the hell isn’t Donnie Shell in the Hall of Fame? A starting safety on the Steelers vaunted Steel Curtain defense of the 1970s, Shell did more than just play for a winner, he made five Pro Bowls as a strong safety and intercepted 51 passes while recovering 19 fumbles during a career that spanned 14 seasons. Like Dalby, once Shell became a full-time starter he wasn’t leaving the playing field and he started 159 straight games from 1977 through 1987, not including 11 playoff games. Oh, and he won four Super Bowls (IX, X, XIII and XIV) during his career. Shell intercepted 14 more passes than Dawkins and was a three-time First Team All-Pro, same as Kenny Easley who’s in the Hall of Fame. Detractors will point out there’s an abundance of Steelers already in the Hall of Fame, including four players (Mel Blount, Joe Greene, Jack Ham and Jack Lambert) from the 1970s defense but Shell deserves a place in Canton. It’s long overdue.

Lemar Parrish. While I’m on the subject of defensive backs, allow me to campaign on behalf of Parrish, a cornerback who was the first “shutdown” corner if there ever so was one. Parrish starred for the Cincinnati Bengals when there were no Cincinnati Bengal stars (1970-77). He intercepted 47 passes during a 13-year career (1970-82) but perhaps the most impressive feat during his playing days is the fact that Parrish was named to the 1974 Pro Bowl after not intercepting any passes at all. In 1979, he led the NFC with nine interceptions for the Washington Redskins and was named First Team All-Pro. During his career with the Bengals, Redskins and Bills, Parrish was an eight-time Pro Bowler and scored 12 touchdowns, including four by interceptions, three off of fumble recoveries, four as a punt returner and one for good measure as a kickoff returner. He was Deion Sanders before Sanders was Primetime. Eligible for the Hall of Fame since 1988, Parrish is still waiting for his bust to be sculpted. There are only 13 cornerbacks in the Hall of Fame, including Emmitt Thomas who played as many seasons as Parrish but made three fewer Pro Bowls, and Mike Haynes, maybe the best corner not named “Deion Sanders” but has one fewer interception than Parrish.

Mike Kenn. An offensive tackle for the Atlanta Falcons, Kenn’s career spanned three decades beginning with his rookie season in 1978 all the way through his final season of 1994. You know the old saying, “a pro’s pro?” Well, Kenn is a pro’s pro. Do you know how many games Mike Kenn played? 251. Do you know how many games Mike Kenn missed? 0. Kenn ranks ninth all-time in games played and started (251) for his career. While he was a two-time First Team All-Pro, Kenn was a five-time Second Team All Pro and was voted to five Pro Bowls in his career -- 1980 through 1984. Kenn was so good, according to Pro Football Reference, he’s one of the 200 best players -- of all time, not just o-linemen. Atlanta quarterback Steve Bartkowski led the league in passing in 1980 and 1981. Bartkowski. Atlanta. THE Atlanta Falcons. During that two-year stretch, Bartkowski threw 61 TD passes (31 in 1980 and 30 in 1981) and the reason he was able to throw 61 touchdown passes is because of Michael Lee Kenn. The main argument against Kenn and his Hall of Fame candidacy is lack of playoff games. He only played in six but his approximate career value is the same as Howie Long, a Hall of Fame defensive end with the Raiders, and better than Hall of Fame offensive linemen Shell, Jonathan Ogden, Mike Munchak and Tom Mack.

Roger Craig. When it comes to approximating career value (according to Pro Football Reference), Craig ranks the same as Kenn and Long and better than other running backs in the Hall of Fame, most notably John Riggins and Eric Dickerson. If I’m allowed to be biased, and Blogging & Tackling is my blog so I’m allowed, then Craig is my champion for “What the Hell Hall of Fame? Why Is This Guy Not In?” Craig was a standout running back on the 49er dynasty teams of the 1980s. He starred at Nebraska in college (full disclosure: also my alma mater) and was drafted to the Niners as a FULLBACK. Yes, Craig was a fullback in his first four seasons in the NFL. All he did as a fullback was lead the league in receptions (92 in 1985), rush for 1,050 yards (also in 1985) and have 1,016 yards receiving (also in 1985). He was the first player in NFL history to record a season with 1,000 yards rushing and 1,000 yards receiving in the same season (1985, duh). Marshall Faulk (Hall of Fame, 2011) is the only other player to accomplish this feat (1999). Craig was both ahead of his time and an old school-type of player. He ran with the reckless abandoned of a fullback but had the hands of a wide receiver, catching more than 65 passes in a season five times while rushing for 700 or more yards in a season six times. Perhaps keeping Craig out of the Hall of Fame is the same argument that kept Terrell Davis out of the Hall for so many years: his career wasn’t long enough. Craig played 11 seasons, mostly with the Niners (1983-90) but had one lackluster season with the Raiders (1991) where he still rushed for 590 yards in a playoff season for the team, and two forgettable years (1992-93) with the Minnesota Vikings. What’s not factored in with Craig’s memorable career is the 16 playoff games he played in and started for San Francisco, which is the equivalent to a full season. Craig’s playoff accomplishments are this: 841 rushing yards, 606 receiving yards and nine touchdowns, including three in Super Bowl XIX. Football fans will note that the 49er dynasty ended with a Craig fumble against the New York Giants just as the Niners were trying to kill out the clock with a 13-12 lead in the NFC Championship Game following the 1990 season. Craig’s fumble led to Lawrence Taylor’s recovery and the Giants were able to win the game in the final seconds on a field goal by Matt Bahr. It was Craig’s last game with the team and a heartbreaking way to go out but as I said before, Craig was ahead of his time. He was a perfect fit for the West Coast Offense but his “high knees” running style and toughness while engaging tacklers harkened back to the running backs before he starred. Craig was voted to four Pro Bowls and that was during the heydays of Hall of Famers like Walter Payton, Eric Dickerson and Tony Dorsett along with 1,000 yard rushers Joe Morris, Herschel Walker, George Rogers and Gerald Riggs. He was the 1988 NFL Offensive Player of the Year, rushing for a career-high 1,500 yards and leading the 49ers to a win in Super Bowl XXIII, and he still ranks in the Top 10 in several Super Bowl offensive categories. For his career, Craig won three Super Bowls and scored four touchdowns in those championships. He’s the only player in NFL history with 13,000+ yards from scrimmage NOT in the Hall of Fame. Put. The. Man. In.

Do you agree or disagree with my argument? Are there other players from the 1970s, 1980s or 1990s more deserving of Hall of Fame recognition than the seven players I blogged about?

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footballleague0 · 7 years ago

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Lions must set the edge against Atlanta Falcons running game

Lions QB Stafford is tied for the best odds to win MVP, per Bovada Kyle Meinke – MLive.com September 21, 2017

Lions and Falcons have drastically different approaches to injuries Nate Atkins – MLive.com September 21, 2017

Lions plan for Julio Jones? Know where he is every play Michael Rothstein – ESPN.com September 21, 2017

Lions sign DE Johnson going into game against Falcons The Associated Press September 21, 2017

Lions’ Stafford deserves more credit for Giants performance Carlos Monarrez – Detroit Free Press September 20, 2017

Detroit Lions must set the edge against Atlanta Falcons running game Dave Birkett – Detroit Free Press September 20, 2017

2017 Detroit Lions are legit, even if you’re scared to believe Jamie Samuelsen – Detroit Free Press September 20, 2017

Stafford-Ryan friendship transcends football Dave Birkett – Detroit Free Press September 20, 2017

Detroit Lions’ Agnew glad Giants’ Brad Wing didn’t break ankles Carlos Monarrez – Detroit Free Press September 20, 2017

Davis, Wilson, Swanson miss Detroit Lions practice Dave Birkett – Detroit Free Press September 20, 2017

Lions’ OG Glasgow steals show in TD celebration Dave Birkett – Detroit Free Press September 20, 2017

Lions’ Agnew earns weekly NFC special teams honors Justin Rogers – The Detroit News September 20, 2017

Lions’ Abdullah returns to practice field; 4 sit out Justin Rogers – The Detroit News September 20, 2017

Lions bring back Johnson, waive Barrett Justin Rogers – The Detroit News September 20, 2017

Friends Stafford, Ryan share position, mutual respect Justin Rogers – The Detroit News September 20, 2017

Lions’ Tate, Jones leave Glasgow hanging after TD Justin Rogers – The Detroit News September 20, 2017

Lions Lowdown: Ford Field will be rocking vs. Falcons The Detroit News September 20, 2017

Resurgent Ansah heads Lions’ revived defensive front Rod Beard – The Detroit News September 20, 2017

Lions film review: 10 observations vs. Giants Justin Rogers – The Detroit News September 20, 2017

Lions mailbag: Zenner’s chance, Robinson’s woes Justin Rogers – The Detroit News September 20, 2017

Agnew is latest Lions player to win NFC special teams player of week Kyle Meinke – MLive.com September 20, 2017

By land and by air, Stafford is proving he’s worth the money Kyle Meinke – MLive.com September 20, 2017

Come for the Detroit Lions’ latest TD celebration, stay for poor Glasgow Kyle Meinke – MLive.com September 20, 2017

Davis among 3 starters to miss Detroit Lions practice Kyle Meinke – MLive.com September 20, 2017

Behind the Lens: Our 25 favorite Detroit Lions/New York Giants photos and how they happened Mike Mulholland – MLive.com September 20, 2017

Quin would like NFL to add ‘interception assists’ to statbook Nate Atkins – MLive.com September 20, 2017

Lions re-sign DE Johnson, cut rookie Barrett Kyle Meinke – MLive.com September 20, 2017

Lions RB Abdullah is fine after all Kyle Meinke – MLive.com September 20, 2017

Lions defense proving critics wrong, but stiffest test awaits Kyle Meinke – MLive.com September 20, 2017

Tickets from racist Lions fan will be donated to charities Michael Rothstein – ESPN.com September 20, 2017

Quinn Impressed By Lions’ Defense, But Falcons Not Afraid Will Burchfield – CBS Detroit September 20, 2017

Week 3 Opponent Clips – Falcons

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LIONS’ X-FACTORS, FALCONS FANS AND TAKK’S POSSIBLE COMING OUT PARTY Matthew Tabeek – AtlantaFalcons.com September 21, 2017

Falcons’ Devonta Freeman-Andy Levitre TD celebration was a week late Vaughn McClure – ESPN.com September 21, 2017

Falcons rookie McKinley to test power rush against Lions Charles Odum – The Associated Press September 21, 2017

HOW TO WATCH FALCONS VS. LIONS: TIME, TV, LIVE STREAM, RADIO, WEATHER, INJURIES Will McFadden – AtlantaFalcons.com September 20, 2017

Julio Jones, Matt Ryan land Top 5 spots in NFL Offensive Player Rankings JuliaKate E. Culpepper – AJC.com September 20, 2017

Trufant named NFC defensive player of the week D. Orlando Ledbetter – AJC.com September 20, 2017

CBS Sports calls Falcons, Lions the best game of the week JuliaKate E. Culpepper – AJC.com September 20, 2017

What Jim Caldwell had to say about the Falcons D. Orlando Ledbetter – AJC.com September 20, 2017

What Dan Quinn had to say on Wednesday D. Orlando Ledbetter – AJC.com September 20, 2017

Matt Ryan not worried about Worrilow stealing signals D. Orlando Ledbetter – AJC.com September 20, 2017

Practicing against Von Miller has Ty Sambrailo ready for anything Vaughn McClure – ESPN.com September 20, 2017

Falcons’ assistant Bryant Young hopes Hall of Fame comes calling Vaughn McClure – ESPN.com September 20, 2017

Defensive Player of Week just the start for Falcons’ Desmond Trufant Vaughn McClure – ESPN.com September 20, 2017

The post Lions must set the edge against Atlanta Falcons running game appeared first on Daily Star Sports.

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giantsfootball0 · 7 years ago