So I have been badgering you guys for weeks now with ratings, statistics, standard deviations, etc… But just like back in middle school, during holiday weeks math teachers are too lazy to write lesson plans.
Therefore everyone gets the holiday off from any math, calculations, conceptualizing or crunching! Enjoy your turkey, personally I’d prefer an easter egg.
Instead I would like to offer the story about a player, Lester Hayes, who is now known more for his infamy, than for how good a player he was.
Imo, Hayes is a HOF player being kept out because, just like a notorious hoodie wearing coach we all know, he kind went into the grey area when it came to the rules at the time.
Maybe if enough people review Hayes’ stats, the NFL Senior Selection Committee will at least take a look at his career and statistics for HOF consideration.
You can read the full story here: 1980 – The Year Lester Hayes Broke The NFL – The Stickum Saga
TLDR: Just watch the 3 min vid below and you will get the general gist of the Stickum story. However, it does not even begin to touch on how good a player Hayes was.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Bypl5bpZF8
There is more to the story, including Hayes’ remarkable 1980 playoff performance and the history of Stickum in the NFL, so I hope you can find the time to read the full article.
Happy Holiday to all celebrating today. Enjoy the time with friends, family & football!
Quick Synopsis
Lester Hayes in the 1980 regular season
- 13 interceptions in the regular season - The modern NFL record that still stands.
- 7 interceptions in a 6 game stretch.
- Streaks of 6 consecutive games and 4 consecutive games with interceptions.
- Picked off at least one pass in 12 games of a 16 game regular season.
- 5 Post season interceptions.
- 18 interceptions in 20 games.
Lester Hayes Career
- Won 1980 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
- Won Two Superbowls - 1980, 1983
- 5 time Pro Bowl Selection
- All Pro 1st team once & 2nd team five times
- 39 career interceptions
- 8 career post season interceptions
- 7 fumble recoveries
In the 34 game stretch that began with the final 2 games of 1978, all of 1979, and all of 1980, Lester Hayes recorded 23 Interceptions, for 407 return yards, and 3 Touchdowns. It is a span of modern* defensive cornerback greatness that I can only find one instance that is close to matching it.
In the first 34 games of his career, Everson Walls recorded 22 Interceptions and returned 1 for a touchdown. I could find no other modern* NFL player who could even get close to 20 interceptions over a 34 games span.
*Dick “Night Train” Lane had 25 INT in his first 34 games in 1952-54, and holds the record for most interceptions in a season with 14.
It’s a debate, but I would say they absolutely should.
You need a team to make it and win. Every player to get a ring needed the entire roster and coaching staff to do it. Hard for me to see it as a measure of an individual’s success.