On Friday, many Detroit Lions fans finally got the closure they were looking for in regards to former center Frank Ragnow. Speaking to media from his “Skeet Shoot Showdown” charity event for the first time since his sudden retirement, Ragnow revealed why he retired, what really happened with his failed return to play last November, and his thoughts on the entire ordeal.
As expected, Ragnow spoke thoughtfully and professionally about everything that happened. I’m sure it was good for him to get everything off
of his chest, and as a fan myself, it feels like the book has now finally been closed on his career, and we can all comfortably move on.
But before Ragnow becomes a player we rarely think about, let’s talk about his legacy. Today’s Question of the Day is:
Is Frank Ragnow a Hall of Famer?
My answer: It’s a complicated question, and it brings up a common contentious argument when it comes to the Pro Football Hall of Fame: longevity.
Ragnow played just seven years in the NFL, and while he was remarkably reliable given the litany of injuries he had to deal with over that time, that is still considered a relatively short career by Hall of Fame standards. Remember all the nitpicking going on about Calvin Johnson being a first ballot Hall of Famer because of his early retirement? Well, Megatron played in nine seasons.
In order to get in with just seven seasons, Ragnow would likely have to be an All Pro player for most of his career, and unfortunately for Ragnow, his era completely overlapped with Jason Kelce. Ragnow still managed to be a three-time Second-Team All Pro, and admittedly that’s a solid foundation to build a Hall of Fame argument—especially when you consider just one center gets to be named First-Team All Pro. But it’s hard to argue with any other tangible facts or stats.
Do I think Ragnow’s level of play is right alongside the greats at center? Absolutely I do, and in a lot of ways, that’s all that should matter. Unfortunately, for Hall of Fame voters who can’t realistically watch every game of every player, stats and concrete accomplishments are what build out a Hall of Fame candidacy, and I just don’t think Ragnow’s case will be strong enough for voters. I do hope I’m wrong, though.
So I believe he’ll be kept out of the Hall. That said, I sure hope the Lions are smart enough to appreciate his seven years in Detroit and bring him into the “Pride of the Lions,” the team’s ring of honor.
Do you think Ragnow will make it into the Hall? Vote below and share you reasoning why in the comment section.
