Denver Native (Carol)
11-29-2016, 12:05 PM
By Rick Gosselin
Talk of Fame Network
Versatility was a plus for Karl Mecklenburg during his NFL career with the Denver Broncos.
But what worked for him as a player is now working against him as a Hall-of-Fame candidate. Mecklenburg is one of the most difficult players in NFL history to pigeon hole into a position.
Mecklenburg wasn’t allowed to line up on the weak side his entire career and come off the edge in the pass rush like Hall-of-Famer Lawrence Taylor for 139 career sacks. He wasn’t allowed to line up on the strong side his entire career and engage tight ends and running backs in the passing game like Hall-of-Famer Ted Hendricks for 26 career interceptions.
And Mecklenburg wasn’t allowed to stand on the inside for 12 seasons and make tackle after tackle after tackle in the running game like Hall-of-Famer Mike Singletary.
Consistency in performance – and consistency at one position – puts players in the Hall of Fame.
Mecklenburg checks the box for consistency in performance but not consistency at a position. Because he didn’t have one position.
Mecklenburg was the defensive equivalent of a Swiss army knife. A multi-purpose defensive tool, he played anywhere and everywhere, from season to season, often from game to game.
“My position is strange because I played all seven front positions,” Mecklenburg told us in a Talk of Fame Network interview. “One of the challenges I face in having an opportunity of going to the Hall of Fame is that, statistically, people don’t know what to do with me.”
rest - http://www.talkoffamenetwork.com/state-case-karl-mecklenburg/
Talk of Fame Network
Versatility was a plus for Karl Mecklenburg during his NFL career with the Denver Broncos.
But what worked for him as a player is now working against him as a Hall-of-Fame candidate. Mecklenburg is one of the most difficult players in NFL history to pigeon hole into a position.
Mecklenburg wasn’t allowed to line up on the weak side his entire career and come off the edge in the pass rush like Hall-of-Famer Lawrence Taylor for 139 career sacks. He wasn’t allowed to line up on the strong side his entire career and engage tight ends and running backs in the passing game like Hall-of-Famer Ted Hendricks for 26 career interceptions.
And Mecklenburg wasn’t allowed to stand on the inside for 12 seasons and make tackle after tackle after tackle in the running game like Hall-of-Famer Mike Singletary.
Consistency in performance – and consistency at one position – puts players in the Hall of Fame.
Mecklenburg checks the box for consistency in performance but not consistency at a position. Because he didn’t have one position.
Mecklenburg was the defensive equivalent of a Swiss army knife. A multi-purpose defensive tool, he played anywhere and everywhere, from season to season, often from game to game.
“My position is strange because I played all seven front positions,” Mecklenburg told us in a Talk of Fame Network interview. “One of the challenges I face in having an opportunity of going to the Hall of Fame is that, statistically, people don’t know what to do with me.”
rest - http://www.talkoffamenetwork.com/state-case-karl-mecklenburg/