Jerome Bettis Doesn't Get in the Hall of Fame...Again

Former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis did not get into the Hall of Fame for the third year in a row. This was Bettis' third year of eligibility and he wasn't even close in terms of votes needed to make the final cut. I for one am not surprised by this at all. I do not think Bettis was an "elite" running back by any means, and I had a feeling that it would take  a while for him to get elected into the Hall. 

It's not that I don't think was a good player, he was very good, but he wasn't great. He gained a lot of fans by being a "tough" running back and a big running back. He had a "cult" style following. Many Steeler's fans today wish that the Steelers still had a running game similar to the "Bettis" days. 

Bettis was good but not great, like his career 3.9-yards per carry average. Bettis would be just one of two running backs in the Hall of Fame with a yards per carry average under 4.0, the only other being John Riggins. 

Riggins was a better player than Bettis. Sure Bettis has more total yardage but Riggins played in even a "tougher" role than Bettis, playing fullback for half of his damn career. Who did Bettis ever block? 

Riggins also played great in big games, again unlike Bettis, who's stats got even worse in the postseason. Riggins averaged 3.9-yards per carry in his postseason career, Bettis just a measly 3.37. That's awful. Riggins scored 12 touchdowns in 9 career postseason games, which includes Super Bowl 17, in which he was the game MVP with 166 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Bettis played in 14 career postseason games, 5 more than Riggins, and had 3 less touchdowns. Bettis won a Super Bowl as well, but he was a backup on that team and was almost the sole reason the Steelers almost lost to the Indianapolis Colts in the divisional round. Bettis owes Ben Roethlisberger a lifetime. 

It might seem like I'm hating on Bettis big time, and maybe I am, I don't even think he's one of the 15, maybe even 20 best running backs of all-time. But given the criteria for the NFL, and Bettis' total career stats, 6th all-time leading rusher in NFL history, I think Bettis should and will get into the Hall of Fame. I just think it will and should take a few more tries.