Debate Game - Semifinals - Group Two

[ruuuuudiii]

Congratulations on advancing from the first round, now it's only three of you, and only the winner is guaranteed a spot in the finals. The runner-up has to have more votes than the runner-up from the other group to enter the finals.

Remember the rules.
* I will post the topic, you will then make your opening statement
* You have until 8 pm Eastern Time on Friday to make the opening statement, after that the debate will begin.
* If all three participants have made their opening statement before the deadline, you may begin debating at anytime
* You will then have about 4 days to debate the topic at hand
* Remember, the idea is to win the debate by ginving the best arguments, both by supporting your idea and shooting down the others
* Voters, please vote for the best debater, not the person you agree the most with




The participants in this group are ...

DBLOCK


J_Ray


dbuilder

Good luck and have fun.

[ruuuuudiii]

The NFL disbanded after the 2006-07 season, and all that’s left is Hall of Fame selection. Many linebackers have the credentials to make a run at the Hall, but only one can make it in this year. Make your choice, and see if you can win over us voters.

Edit: I apologize for not making it as clear as it was in the other debate, where I inducted a couple of players myself, iincluding one still very much active.

All players, active and retired, are eligible for Hall of Fame induction.

[dbuilder]

First off, Congrats to the semi-finalist.

Now is time for the tribute. The late great Derrick Thomas should be the first LB considered for the Hall of fame.
He picked up where Lawerence Taylor left off and put together a stellar career. When you think of Shawne Merriman of todays game, all of your comparisons go back to Derrick Thomas and the original LT. Company like that speaks for itself. He holds the single game 7 sack record and helped revolutionize the position for hybrid LB's. Many of the Rush OLB's in the 3-4 scheme today are molded after Derrick Thomas. It is time homage is paid to the great pro who's life was taken before his time. Derrick Thomas a Hall of Fame lock.

[ruuuuudiii]

Please see my edit in Post 2. I apologize for the confusion.

dbuilder, if you want to change player, you can.

[J_Ray]

When you think of the Hall of Fame, you think of the NFL's finest players of all-time for each position. The Linebacker with the best credentials to me is Derrick Brooks by far. Brooks has been the cornerstone of the Buccaneers fierce D for over a decade now. The 13-year vet hasn't missed a single game in his career and has recorded 100+ tackles in every year after his rookie campaign. He's been the emotional leader and physical leader for Tampa Bay through the years, which includes a Super Bowl Champion team. He is clearly the top linebacker for the Hall Of Fame.

[ruuuuudiii]

It's after the 8 pm Saturday deadline, so dbuilder and J_Ray, debate at will. DBLOCK, you can jump in at anytime.

[J_Ray]

Originally Posted by dbuilder

First off, Congrats to the semi-finalist.

Now is time for the tribute. The late great Derrick Thomas should be the first LB considered for the Hall of fame.
He picked up where Lawerence Taylor left off and put together a stellar career. When you think of Shawne Merriman of todays game, all of your comparisons go back to Derrick Thomas and the original LT. Company like that speaks for itself. He holds the single game 7 sack record and helped revolutionize the position for hybrid LB's. Many of the Rush OLB's in the 3-4 scheme today are molded after Derrick Thomas. It is time homage is paid to the great pro who's life was taken before his time. Derrick Thomas a Hall of Fame lock.

Derrick Thomas was a good player, but he isn't even the top sacking LB. The Hall of Fame is for the most elite, and Derrick Brooks just has better credentials than Derrick Thomas. Derrick Brooks lead Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl Championship, something Derrick Thomas didn't do with the Chiefs. Brooks also was a durable player for the Tampa D but in the last few years of his career, Derrick Thomas missed quite a bit of action, 13 games in 2 years. Even though Brooks doesn't get as many sacks as Thomas, he's far more versatile. Brooks can match Thomas' run stopping ability but can also drop back into coverage far better than Thomas. You said people are trying to be like Derrick Thomas but you also said Derrick Thomas was like Lawerence Taylor. Therefore, he didn't revolutionize the position, LT did. Brooks has revolutionized team player in the modern time in sports, where players leave for money. Brooks has been a Buccaneer his whole 13-year career, staying that long with a team these days sounds ludacris with all the money being thrown around. Brooks has stayed consistent through the years, putting up big numbers, and probably would keep putting up big numbers if the NFL didn't stop (scenario). Derrick Thomas' career was pretty good the first few years he was in the league but they slowly declined over time, and he wasn't even that old when they did decline.

[dbuilder]

Originally Posted by J_Ray

Derrick Thomas was a good player, but he isn't even the top sacking LB. The Hall of Fame is for the most elite, and Derrick Brooks just has better credentials than Derrick Thomas. Derrick Brooks lead Tampa Bay to a Super Bowl Championship, something Derrick Thomas didn't do with the Chiefs. Brooks also was a durable player for the Tampa D but in the last few years of his career, Derrick Thomas missed quite a bit of action, 13 games in 2 years. Even though Brooks doesn't get as many sacks as Thomas, he's far more versatile. Brooks can match Thomas' run stopping ability but can also drop back into coverage far better than Thomas. You said people are trying to be like Derrick Thomas but you also said Derrick Thomas was like Lawerence Taylor. Therefore, he didn't revolutionize the position, LT did. Brooks has revolutionized team player in the modern time in sports, where players leave for money. Brooks has been a Buccaneer his whole 13-year career, staying that long with a team these days sounds ludacris with all the money being thrown around. Brooks has stayed consistent through the years, putting up big numbers, and probably would keep putting up big numbers if the NFL didn't stop (scenario). Derrick Thomas' career was pretty good the first few years he was in the league but they slowly declined over time, and he wasn't even that old when they did decline.

If the Hall of Fame is for the most elite, only one player from each position would enter Canton. And for the record Derrick Thomas was elite. Derrick Brooks has put together a phenominal career and definitly deserves his place in Canton. Matter of fact, though he is a Seminole, D. Brooks is one of my favorite football players, but should he be enshrined in the Hall before Derrick Thomas? No, Not in my opinion. Why? Because D. Thomas helped solidify a precedent for what has become one of the most sought after prototypes in recent history, the Hybrid LB. 6'3" 240lb, speed off the edge. JRay would have you believe that I said DT revolutionized the Hybrid LB Position, when i simply said D. Thomas confirmed LT's breakthrough, and later became one of the Best Defensive Players in the League on a excellent Defensive ball club at the time. Some say DT was one dimenisional, well I will say that he dominated that Dimension. D. Brooks is an excellent Football Player but to say the least he has taken full advantage of the Tampa 2 Scheme. Safe to say the system has served him well. In KC, Derrick Thomas was the system, and he was who Offensive Coordinators game-planned around. If the league ended today you would have to make Sure Derrick Thomas was the first to be inducted.

[ruuuuudiii]

Alright guys, you have until midnight on Wednesday to finish this thing, about 2 days from now.

[GatorsRock]

Anyone else want to continue the debate?