If he never comes back to being JJ Watt, and is just an average player for the rest of his career?

No. You have to maintain excellence over a long period of time to make the HOF.

He's been excellent for 5 years. 3 times he's won defensive player of the year.

I say yes.

Of course he is. He's tied for first all time for Defensive Player of the Yeat

Yep.
Doesn't matter if he never plays another snap. He's in the HOF

Absolutely.

I say no, nowhere near any other defensive ends in stats, that have made it to the hall. Also looking at all those leaders, all have one thing in common, super bowl appearances. Something Watt will probably never experience. Guys like White, Lt, b smith, all helped carry their teams to the super bowl.

But, have heard several hof voters say voting criteria will have to change due to shorter careers.

quote:

---

I say no, nowhere near any other defensive ends in stats, that have made it to the hall. Also looking at all those leaders, all have one thing in common, super bowl appearances. Something Watt will probably never experience. Guys like White, Lt, b smith, all helped carry their teams to the super bowl.

But, have heard several hof voters say voting criteria will have to change due to shorter careers.

---

You're comparing him to traditional 4-3 DE's and not the 3-4 DE he plays and has already been said he has 3 DPOY, tied for the most all time in just 6 seasons. He was also the second or third fastest of all-time to 75 sacks.

yes, no doubt Hall of Famer right now.

has anyone ever looked at Howie Long's career numbers? He only had 3 seasons of 8+ sacks and he got into the HoF

quote:

---

yes, no doubt Hall of Famer right now.

has anyone ever looked at Howie Long's career numbers? He only had 3 seasons of 8+ sacks and he got into the HoF

---

They didn't throw as much back then, less opportunities.

Yet it could also be said, Reggie and Bruce would have had many more sacks if they played in a more pass happy league.

Bottom line he will never make it to a super bowl and he will most likely never sniff the sack record, but sure he got defensive player of the year a few times.

As was already stated, less passes and has a ring!

Earl Campbell made the HOF with no rings and a 7 (really 6) year career.

what? "didn't pass as much"

he played in the same division with John Elway and Dan Fouts

quote:

---

Yet it could also be said, Reggie and Bruce would have had many more sacks if they played in a more pass happy league.

Bottom line he will never make it to a super bowl and he will most likely never sniff the sack record, but sure he got defensive player of the year a few times.

---

He was second in MVP voting and making light of him winning the DPOY 3 times in his first 6 seasons shows your contempt for either him or the Texans in general. There are also numerous other stats in which he is way ahead of the curve on in comparison to his contemporaries, but I am sure you will rationalize that as well. I am willing to have an honest conversation about Watts career, it seems you're not.

Earl Campbell retired as the 7th all-time leading rusher in yards and touchdowns. It pays to be there earlier. If he had that same career now there's no way in hell he'd get in.

quote:

---

what? "didn't pass as much"

he played in the same division with John Elway and Dan Fouts

---

That accounts for 4 games a season, and their career pass attempts/game (they're the same) would have put them at 29th in average pass attempts per game last season. Their average is 31 attempts per game, the league median last year was 36.

Watt may get in, or he may end up like Terrell Davis.

Hard to argue against a guy that won DPOY 3 times. If he walked away from the game to pursue an acting career that would be one thing, but if a guy simply dominated like he did and his body gave out in the process, I don't think the longevity will matter to the selection committee.

Let's put it this way, some guys are only in the HOF because they played really good for a LONG time... others are there because when they played they DOMINATED. Watt falls into the 2nd category, he doesn't need the longevity stat.

To answer the OPs question, yes and there is no doubt. It's not even a discussion of if. The only discussion will he go down as one of the Mount Rushmore. This back injury puts that in jeopardy.

quote:

---

quote:

---

what? "didn't pass as much"

he played in the same division with John Elway and Dan Fouts

---

That accounts for 4 games a season, and their career pass attempts/game (they're the same) would have put them at 29th in average pass attempts per game last season. Their average is 31 attempts per game, the league median last year was 36.

Watt may get in, or he may end up like Terrell Davis.

---

Watt's career already surpasses what Terrell Davis did as an individual player.

Piggyback question in the same vein...

If Von got injured and didn't play another down, is he a HOF'er?

Definitely no

It's tough with JJ because his overall numbers probably say no, but he has done some things that very few defensive players have ever done.

Not only are him and LT the only players to win 3 DPOY awards, but JJ and Reggie White are the only players ever to record 15+ sacks in 3 of their first 5 seasons.

It's tough, but I'd say if he quit today JJ would be a HOFer.

Is this a real question??

He is undoubtedly a HOF'er...

DPOY for 3 years, only other person to do that is Lawrence Taylor and he's a HOF.

Every single player who won it TWICE is in the Hall of Fame. He booked his ticket to Canton LAST year.

You know what those other players that have 2 DPOY have?

SUPER BOWL appearances!
Heck looking at the list of DPOY, the majority on there has been to the Super Bowl. (Over the past 2 decades Jason Taylor is the only other DPOY without a Super Bowl appearance.)

Using Super Bowls as a criteria for making or not making the HOF are a complete cop out. It's a lazy take

quote:

---

You know what those other players that have 2 DPOY have?

SUPER BOWL appearances!
Heck looking at the list of DPOY, the majority on there has been to the Super Bowl. (Over the past 2 decades Jason Taylor is the only other DPOY without a Super Bowl appearance.)

---

Yep, and Watt has 3 in 6 years, your argument is weak and you use Super Bowls as your measuring stick. If Watt was a QB, then that is a legitimate discussion after only 6 years of a QB's play. JJ has done more in 6 years than 99% of the defensive players ever did in their first 6 years at a position that has NEVER put up those stats, like not even close. My suggestion is to go look at 3-4 DE stats in the last 25 years and tell me who even comes close to Watt in the first 6 years of their careers, I'll hang up and listen.

quote:

---

Earl Campbell retired as the 7th all-time leading rusher in yards and touchdowns. It pays to be there earlier. If he had that same career now there's no way in hell he'd get in.

---

RBs have a short life span so they can get in a little easier w/a shorter career.

In his healthy prime he would disrupt almost every play, often with a double team. If he doesn't get In the hall of fame they just need burn it down. Players shouldn't have to play 10 yrs to get in.

4 Pro Bowl selection (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
4 First-team All-Pro selection (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
3 AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2014, 2015)
3 PFWA Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2014, 2015)
3 SN NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2014, 2015)
3 PFF Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2013, 2014)
3 PFF Best Player of the Year (2012, 2013, 2014)
2 AFC Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2014)
2 NFL sacks leader (2012, 2015)
2014 MVP Runner-up
Bert Bell Award (2014)
Pro Bowl Defensive MVP (2014)
Ranked #5 in the Top 100 Players of 2013
Ranked #12 in the Top 100 Players of 2014
Ranked #1 in the Top 100 Players of 2015
Ranked #3 in the Top 100 Players of 2016
First Defensive Player to be ranked #1 in the Top 100 Players (2015)
First Defensive Player with multiple 20+ sack seasons (2012, 2014)
4 PFWA All-NFL Team (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
5 AFC Defensive Player of the Month (Sep. 2012, Dec. 2012, Sep. 2014, Dec. 2014, Nov. 2015)