Pro Football Reference Blog

In 1998, he helped the Colts to a 3-13 record in Peyton Manning's first season. In 1999, the Colts released Faulk, drafted Edgerrin James, and went 13-3 in P.Manning's second season.

(OK, so St Louis improved from a 4-12 Lambs team to a 13-3 Rams team over that same span...)

DaHook, Faulk really had his problems in those '99 playoffs with the Rams. He ended up with 38 carries for only 82 yds. which comes to 2.2 yds. per carry (he did have 1 rushing TD also in those 3 games). But Kurt Warner more than made up for that with his passing. But other than that, he had a very good career with a lot of great games and is very deserving of this.

DaHook,

That Colts' record might have had something to do with that new QB growing up and developing a repertoire with some WR named Harrison.

Easy choice for the (first ballot) HOF, though I think his all time ranking is probably too high for where most people would put him.

First ballot. I did a breakdown of running backs recently and came up with a Qualititative and a Quantitative list of the league's best All-time RBs. Looking at it in either light, Faulk was a top 5 back both ways. In my opinion, there are six elite runners of the post 1950s backs: Payton, Sanders, Smith, Brown, Tomlinson, and Faulk. He is not only a HOFer, but he's probably among the top 1/4 of all HOF running backs. This is such a slam dunk that it really doesn't need debate.

#10: No O.J. or Dickerson? I might throw Earl Campbell in there, too.

I would agree that Faulk is a lock. He was arguably the best offensive player in the game from 1999-2001.

Who was the better offensive weapon, faulk or moss? Remember, you must factor in as many details as you can-for instance, moss's deep threat abilities versus the other routes he ran as well as faulk as a runner and receiver. According to Greg Cosell, both players really did force defenses into a bind and really, only a few non qb players have ever done that. In my mind, as scary as moss was, and in keeping in mind how he opened up everything for players around him, faulk could hurt you in many more ways and with a clever coordinator, was very difficult to stop.

This year's eligible running backs should be, in my opinion, ranked as follows:
1) Faulk (a first ballot guy);
2) Martin (a no-doubter who may have to wait a year or two);
3) Bettis (close, but I bet he gets in eventually).
My inductees for this year would be Faulk, Deion, Roaf, Dawson, and Hanburger, who should dedicate his induction speech to Sean Lahman if he does get in. He won my vote.

Faulk is a first ballot selection for the Hall of Fame.

Faulk shouldn't be analyzed for wins. Faulk have average quarterbacks at best with the colts before Peyton Manning with Jim Harbaugh, Paul Justin and a damaged goods version of Don Majkowski. Faulk had Manning at the wrong time. Manning was a rookie in 1998. Marvin Harrison was in his 3rd year with the Colts back when Peyton Manning was drafted.

There should be 7 people in the Hall of Fame for 2011 class.

Marshall Faulk
Deion Sanders
Cris Carter
William Roaf (he was 1990's & 2000's all decade teams)
Cortez Kennedy
Chris Hanburger
Les Ritchter