Mike Martz spent 12 seasons of his coaching career with the Rams franchise and was most notably the offensive coordinator for the 1999 St. Louis Rams team which went on to win Super Bowl XXXIV. The Rams showcased one of the most dynamic offenses in NFL history, which was nicknamed ‘The Greatest Show On Turf” from 1999-2001.
After their Super Bowl XXXIV win, Dick Vermeil retired and Martz became St. Louis’ head coach, so this group of guys means an incredible amount to him and his career.
Oftentimes, QB Kurt Warner (who was named a 2016 Hall of Fame finalist) and HOF running back Marshall Faulk are the guys who get the most credit for the unit’s success when brought up in present-day conversation, but wide receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt were essentially just as important.
In 1999, Bruce was spectacular, tallying 77 receptions for 1,165 yards and 12 TDs. He finished his 16-year career with 1,204 receptions, 15,208 yards and 91 TDs.
Holt was a rookie that season, but still finished with a solid 52 receptions for 788 yards and six TDs. Over his 11-year career, Holt tallied 920 receptions for 13,382 yards and 74 TDs. Both players were clearly elite and never received adequate credit for their otherworldly careers.
Both Holt and Bruce retired in 2009, and after waiting five years, they each have only made it as far as a semi-finalist in the HOF voting in their first two years of eligibility.
Terrell Owens is eligible for the first time in 2016 and has already been named a finalist. Over his 15-year career, Owens tallied 1,078 receptions for 15,934 yards and an astronomical 153 TDs. He might not have won a Super Bowl and was undoubtedly a total diva, but he clearly had a better statistical career than both Bruce and Holt.
However, the fact that Owens has been named a finalist over the two did not sit well with Martz. He had a number of things to say recently about the situation when talking to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
“‘Surprised’ isn’t the word,” Martz told the newspaper. “You can’t print how I felt when T.O. leapfrogged those two. That’s just plain out-and-out ridiculous.”
Owens and former Indianapolis Colts star Marvin Harrison are the only two wide receivers to make it as finalists in 2016, and Martz wasn’t incredibly thrilled about Harrison getting the nod over Holt and Bruce either.
“Had [Holt and Bruce] promoted themselves, which was contrary to everything we were about, they’d probably get in without an issue,” Martz said.
“That’s just not who we were. If they big-timed it and did all that dumb stuff, they’d probably get in earlier. I think they’ll eventually get in. I don’t think that’s an issue, but it’s tragic that people think of them like that. If Marvin Harrison gets in, how could they not get in?”
I respect the fact that Martz is sticking up for his players, but both Owens and Harrison accomplished more than Bruce and Holt from an individual standpoint, which is what is mainly taken into consideration where HOF selections are concerned. That’s not to say Bruce and Holt don’t deserve to get in — because they do — but not over Owens and Harrison.
