The Pittsburgh Steelers' history is filled with legends of the game. The Hall of Fame is also littered with legends of the organization as well, with others yet to be inducted. For instance, the historic 1974 draft added four future Hall of Famers to the Steelers organization in Lynn Swann, Jack Lambert, John Stallworth, and Mike Webster. The Steelers have always been known to be a great organization, but one former player thinks that someone has been left out of the historic honor.
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Chad Brown Shedding a Tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Chad Brown from the "Blitzburgh" days in Steelers history, recently joined The Cook & Joe show on 93.7 The Fan. Brown played for the Steelers for four years to start his career from 1993 - 1996. He then came back in the twilight of his career in 2006 before officially ending it with the New England Patriots. Brown talked about team legend, Greg Lloyd and how he should not just be in the Steelers Hall of Fame, but the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well.
"There may have been, you know, other players who were great. But from just a personality, what he brings, intimidation level, game planning around him... Five years the baddest man in football. I think he certainly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame."
Steelers Greg Lloyd Rushing the passer against the Baltimore Ravens. | Photo Credit: RVR Photos / USA Today Sports
Steelers Made A Terrific Decision Drafting Lloyd
The Steelers had known they had found a gem in Lloyd as soon as they drafted him. Attending college at Fort Valley State University, the pass rusher was not on the big college stage that most athletes that come to the NFL are. Fort Valley is a Divison II school with only six male sports teams at the university. The Steelers selected Lloyd in the sixth round, but Lloyd had not started until his third year during the 1989 season after dealing with a knee injury.
Lloyd excelled and from 1993-1995 and was a First-team All-Pro for three straight seasons. He was the co-leader in 94' and 95' for most forced fumbles in the NFL. A feared player that was a fiery leader for the Steelers and a guy that excelled on his team became a local legend, but some believe he doesn't have the stats and resume to make the jump to the Hall of Fame.
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Greg Lloyd takes the field as the face of the Blitzburgh Steelers
Why Is Greg Lloyd Not In The Hall Of Fame?
Although Lloyd had an amazing NFL tenure, some voters do not seem to think it is "Hall of Fame worthy". Why would that be? For one, Lloyd did not have as many sacks as one would like with only 54.5 in 11 years. Averaging a little less than five sacks a game is not something that jumps off the page for the Hall of Fame. Lloyd just has the intangibles that you would want as a player that doesn't come show up on the stat sheet.
Teams game planned against Lloyd significantly, which could have affected his statistical numbers. Plays designed away from him and double-teams usually led to team wins, not always individual greatness. Loads of players have stories about how Lloyd was on the field, even other Steelers, but so many also have great things to say about him. In the same interview, Brown says the following about Lloyd's mark on the NFL.
"I think Greg Lloyd's mark on the NFL is definitely underrated because you mentioned those three years when he was First-Team All-Pro. There were about five years in a row where Greg Lloyd was literally the baddest man in football."
And there it is again, the "baddest man in football". Hearing it from other players, you have to think that eventually, it will come to fruition and this Pittsburgh great will one day see his bust in Canton.
What do you think Steeler Nation? Should Greg Lloyd be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter.
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