Will Shields has announced his retirement from the football and the Kansas City Chiefs. After going to 12 Pro Bowls during his 14-year career, does Shields belong in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? The case for offensive linemen are so subjective. You can debate quarterbacks, running backs and receivers based on numbers, but how do you judge an offensive lineman? Shields made 223 consecutive starts, and that has to mean something. But the Hall of Fame should be more than showing up for work every day.
Pro Bowls are tough to gauge too, because many of them are based on reputation a lot of times. Where, once you get one nomination, you are pretty much locked in for the rest of your career. Kind of like Eric Williams and his final couple of Pro Bowl nominations.
Shields was a great humanitarian. One of the NFL's leaders when it comes to philanthropic work. And while that shouldn't be taken into account, it most certainly does when it comes to NFL writers. Guys like Peter King will vote in a guy like Shields because he is a good guy, or maybe he bought him a cup of coffee. But we are trying to talk credentials here.
And so when you look at the whole body of work, does he deserve it?
Yes. Shields belongs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. When you look at the list of the top guards during his era, it is only Shields and Larry Allen. You might not really be able to judge the impact of a guy like Will Shields until you see how tough it will be for the Chiefs to replace him this year. Shields was a big reason why guys like Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson have had so much success.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-16-2007 @ 7:30PM
John Mesawitz said...
Will Shields should be in the football hall of fame. Consistant quality football for over twelve years, plus being a real humanitarian, he is in Walter Payeton category.
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4-16-2007 @ 5:13PM
Eric said...
Ask Trent Green,Priest Holmes,and that imposter LJ just how valuable Will Shields is! It sounds more like you are bagging on Will,lets see any of you writers do what he did for fourteen seasons and then you can and have the right to question whether he deserves to go to the hall!If a cokehead like Mike Irvin gets in then Will should not have to wait five years. KC loves you Will and thank you!
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4-17-2007 @ 9:26AM
Donn said...
Will Shields defines what a hall of fame player should be. Not only was he the best player at his position for a decade (at least.) He was also one the the finest men to play the game of football. Will Shields is what every single football player should aspire to be. I hope the NFL hires him to talk to every single rookie player entering the league today to show them that you can be a successfull outstanding football player and not be a self-serving money/spotlight-grubbing criminal thug like so many young talented players appear to be today.
If Will Shields does not make the HOF on the first ballot it will be a travesty.
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4-19-2007 @ 1:23PM
Jeremy said...
Ask Warren Sapp what kind of player will was.
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4-23-2007 @ 5:41PM
sean said...
All about being a team player and Mr. Will Shields fit's greatly into that type of mold. Mr. Shields did a fine job at a tuff postion to play at, He was a man that played with control compasion on the field and off the field as well also. One day the Hall Fame will have His Kansas City Chiefs Jersey, beside his Hall of Fame Plaque. Nice to see a humblr man do well on the field and be a true pro off the field as well also.
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4-24-2007 @ 2:11AM
Jeffchef1 said...
Will Shields should be enshrined in the Hall of Fame...period...end of story.
Offensive lineman, guards in particular is not an easy road to take for enshrinement. Look at the number of guards that are in the Hall of Fame.
Now compare Will Shields to some of them. He holds his own in comparison, much as he held his own against
Ray Lewis on Monday Night Football.
He compares very well with Bruce Matthews in Pro Bowl appearances and in games played. Yes, "just" showing up for work counts! Especially CONSECUTIVE games. This stat puts him in comparison with Brett Favre. Do you think that anyone will question Favre on "just"
showing up for work?
Kansas City has always had one of the top running games in the NFL during Shields career and it hasn't made a difference who was carrying the pigskin. Okoye, Allen, Holmes or Johnson. Look at the goal line production.
Hall of Fame...Yes...End of Story
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