Titans Tracker » Tennessee Oilers

George, McNair, Wycheck join Ring of Honor

Will — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 02:48:32 +0000

Eddie George, Steve McNair and Frank Wycheck will be added to the Titans/Oilers Ring of Honor during Monday night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. I find it interesting that all three played for the Houston Oilers. Wycheck began his career with the Washington Redskins.

George, McNair and Wycheck join the following men in the Ring of Honor:

- Bud Adams, owner, founded franchise in 1959
- Elvin Bethea, DE, Oilers, 1968-83
- George Blanda, QB/PK, Oilers, 1960-66
- Earl Campbell, RB, Oilers, 1978-84
- Mike Holovak, GM, Oilers, 1989-93
- Ken Houston, S, Oilers, 1967-72
- Warren Moon, QB, Oilers, 1984-93
- Jim Norton, P, Oilers, 1960-68
- Bruce Matthews, OL, Oilers/Titans, 1983-2002
- Mike Munchak, G, Oilers, 1982-93
(list courtesy of the Tennessean)

All the players on the above list are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Are Eddie George, Steve McNair and Frank Wycheck Hall-of-Famers?

I think George will be the first of the trio to be inducted, but I don’t think he’ll go in on the first ballot.

McNair is a borderline Hall of Famer. He might be inducted many years in the future. Too bad there isn’t a Tough Guy Hall of Fame.

I don’t know about Wycheck. Being a tight end works against him, but he had 505 catches at that position.

Congratulations to the three Oilers/Titans.

Adams among Oilers/Titans HoF preliminary nominees

Will — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 01:22:14 +0000

An article from TitansOnline announces that Titans owner K.S. “Bud” Adams is one of eight individuals associated with the Oilers/Titans franchise who is on the 2008 Pro Football Hall of Fame Preliminary Nominee List. The other Oilers/Titans preliminary nominees are:

Robert Brazile
C.O. Brocato (scout)
Ray Childress
Kent Hill
Wilber Marshall
Reggie Roby
Ken Stabler
Steve Tasker

Given Adams’ long history with the NFL and AFL, I think he will be voted into the Hall of Fame someday.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, and others, thinks Bruce Matthews will be the last Oiler to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

I disagree.

Ray Childress was fierce. He was a five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman and was part of the House of Pain defense that was known for shutting down the run. He deserves to be inducted.

Eddie George has a good (but not great) chance of being inducted. He was the heart and soul of the Oilers/Titans offense and made the Pro Bowl four times. Also, the Hall likes running backs. If Thurman Thomas was seen as a key contributor for the Buffalo Bills — and eight of his thirteen seasons were average at best — George deserves a look.

I saw Robert Brazile play when I was a kid, and while I didn’t fully appreciate his impact on the game, I have a hunch that he deserves to be inducted.

Finally, I’d love to see Steve Tasker be inducted as a special teams player, even though he gained notoriety as a Buffalo Bill.

Tennessee Oilers debut in Memphis

Will — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 02:22:03 +0000

How many of you remember that awkward moment in NFL time known as the Tennessee Oilers?

Bud Adams quickly cut ties with the city of Houston. Therefore, his team had to wait a few years until the new stadium in Nashville was completed. It also had to wait to adopt its own unique identity. So, in 1997 and 1998, NFL fans in the state of Tennessee were presented with a hybrid franchise: the Tennessee Oilers.

This article looks back at Titans/Oilers legend Eddie George’s first game in Memphis. He had 35 carries for 216 yards against the Oakland Raiders.