NFL Hall of Fame: Predicting the 2015 class

Tim Brown, WR (Raiders 1988-2003, Buccaneers 2004)

If we had to wait what seemed like forever for Andre Reed and Art Monk, then it only makes sense that we had to wait for Tim Brown.

With that said, however, 2015 will be Tim Brown’s year.

With 1,094 receptions for 14,934 yards and 100 touchdowns (almost all of which with the Raiders) Brown was quietly one of the best receivers in the game for nearly two decades.  His best year came in 1997, where he caught a career-high 104 balls for a career-high 1,408 yards and five touchdowns.

His 1,094 receptions are fifth-most in NFL history, his 14,934 receiving yards are sixth-most and his 100 touchdown catches are seventh most.

Brown was also a valuable kick and punt returner for the first half of his career, racking up 4,555 total return yards with four touchdowns.  In his rookie year in 1988, Brown recorded 1,098 kick return yards with a touchdown, averaging 26.8 yards per return.

The only thing that has kept Brown outside of Canton is the lack of a Super Bowl ring. He’s had just one appearance, which the Raiders lost to Tampa in 2002.

But what should get Brown in this year is the fact that he achieved his stats without a Hall of Fame quarterback.  In fact, Brown recorded his 14,734 yards in 16 years in Oakland with several quarterbacks, like Jay Schroeder, Todd Marinovich, Jeff Hostetler, Jeff George, Rich Gannon, Kerry Collins and Marques Tuiasosopo.

Remember those guys?  No, but we all remember the guy who caught nearly all of their passes.

Next August, we’ll pay our proper tribute to him when he gets inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.