Fansided

Biggest Hall of Fame snub for all 32 NFL teams

By Mike Phillips

PASADENA, CA- JANUARY 9: Jim Marshall #70 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on from the bench against the Oakland Raiders during Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Raiders won the Super Bowl 32 -14. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA- JANUARY 9: Jim Marshall #70 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on from the bench against the Oakland Raiders during Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The Raiders won the Super Bowl 32 -14. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Raiders cornerback Lester Hayes comes off of the field following his 18-yard interception return for a touchdown during the Raiders’ 38-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1983 AFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 1, 1984, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rob Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
Los Angeles Raiders cornerback Lester Hayes comes off of the field following his 18-yard interception return for a touchdown during the Raiders’ 38-10 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1983 AFC Divisional Playoff Game on January 1, 1984, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rob Brown/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /

Las Vegas Raiders

Notable Hall of Fame Snub: CB Lester Hayes

Few defensive backs were more dominant in their prime than Hayes, who was nicknamed “The Judge” and teamed with Mike Haynes to give the Raiders one of the most fearsome cornerback duos of the 1980s. A five-time Pro Bowler, Hayes was named the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 1980 after racking up 13 interceptions.

Even though Hayes was one of the NFL’s greatest shutdown corners he did generate some controversy for excessive use of Stickum, which Hayes would slather all over his uniform to help him grip footballs. Hayes recorded just 14 interceptions in the six years after the NFL banned Stickum as compared to 25 in the four years prior, which may have been held against him by past voters.

Los Angeles Chargers

Notable Hall of Fame Snub: DE Leslie O’Neal

A true pass-rushing star, O’Neal made an impact from the moment he was drafted by the Chargers in the first round of the 1986 NFL Draft. Named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Year after racking up 12.5 sacks, O’Neal saw his immediate future curtailed by a knee injury that cost him most of the next two seasons.

O’Neal was dominant when he was on the field, however, making the Pro Bowl six times, earning three Second-Team All-Pro appearances and finishing his career with 132.5 sacks. That total ranks 20th on the all-time list and the only players ahead of O’Neal who aren’t in the Hall of Fame played recently, making his exclusion a bit of an outlier.

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