September 04, 2006

Professional football has a new all-time passing leader.: Damon Allen breaks Warren Moon's record 70,553 career passing yards, and he's got at least one more season left in him.

posted by DrJohnEvans to football at 08:26 PM - 20 comments

Congratulations to Damon, a class act, someone who should soon find himself in two football halls of fame, one in Hamilton, and one in Canton.

posted by tommybiden at 08:45 PM on September 04, 2006

At the current exchange rate it's only 63,825 yards.

posted by mr_crash_davis at 09:25 PM on September 04, 2006

You can't really compare the CFL with the NFL because of the rule book, everyone knows that. If Moon doesn't go to the NFL he easily racks up 100,000 yds

posted by bo_fan at 09:40 PM on September 04, 2006

someone who should soon find himself in two football halls of fame, one in Hamilton, and one in Canton. The Hamilton one (CFL) for sure, but I'd be surprised if the Pro Football HOF will try to induct him. Not because he doesn't deserve to be there (he does) but they don't have a great record of recognizing CFL-only stars...

posted by grum@work at 10:05 PM on September 04, 2006

Grum, you'll notice I didn't say he would be in both, just that he should be. If it's the Pro Football HOF, then recognize great players from all of professional football, or change the name to the NFL HOF. Hell, from what I understand, there is NO mention of Warren Moon's numbers from the CFL on his plaque in Canton.

posted by tommybiden at 11:09 PM on September 04, 2006

I think Canton is pretty clearly intended for U.S. players and teams. "The Board consists of one media representative from each pro football city with two from New York, inasmuch as that city has two teams in the National Football League. A 33rd member is a representative of the Pro Football Writers of America and there are six at-large delegates." Question: know how many Yankees are enshrined in Canton? non-NFL HOFers.

posted by endorfin at 11:35 PM on September 04, 2006

Much respect and sincere congratulations to Damon Allen, but -- I wouldn't expect the Pro Football Hall of Fame to think of any league other than the NFL. Not because they're somehow inferior or don't deserve it, because I don't think the HoF selection committee is that open-minded or, frankly, that smart. The CFL has been around for a hell of a lot longer than the NFL has, and has developed and maintained its own culture across a country that's way harder to run a league across than the US ever could be. The fact that there are no CFL representatives at all in Canton is ridiculous. I'm not even talking about the Sam Etcheverrys or Joe Krols or Angelo "King Kong" Moscas of the league. Simply mentioning Warren Moon's CFL stats would have been a good start. But the Pro Football Hall of Fame isn't paying attention, and its kind of to the belittlement of the sport. For United States residents to think that American-style professional football is only played at a high level by the NFL is myopic and dishonest. Then again, Sadaharu Oh isn't in Cooperstown either, so who am I kidding.

posted by chicobangs at 02:35 AM on September 05, 2006

Just 17 yards short of the record, Allen had Toronto on Hamilton’s 29-yard line. After taking the first-down snap, the 22-year CFL veteran rolled to his left, then hit a streaking Arland Bruce III with a shovel pass up the middle. 22 year carear, the man is 43 and still playing. Thats HoF material by itself in my book. BTW, Wiki already has Waren Moons page updated, until surpassed by Damon Allen on September 4, 2006, the former record-holder for passing yardage in professional football. I for one did not realize m Moon was in both HoF's. Now I have to find out how many more made both of them.

posted by Folkways at 06:46 AM on September 05, 2006

Sadaharu Oh isn't in Cooperstown But how many players in Cooperstown are in a Beastie Boys song? Advantage: Oh

posted by SummersEve at 07:23 AM on September 05, 2006

But how many players in Cooperstown are in a Beastie Boys song? Rod Carew. Because you can't, you won't and you don't stop.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 08:40 AM on September 05, 2006

Couple things on this one that are of interest to me: - CFL is older than the NFL. Three down football came first. Not a lot of people seem to know that. - Allen deserves consideration to Canton, but won't get it. While many feel this is an oversight, at least it's consistent. No one would argue that the NFL isn't the superior league. - It isn't easy to throw 70,000+ yards anywhere. That's less about the league and more about consistency, resiliancy and performance. - Allen is a class act and a pleasure to watch play. He has a gun and can still scramble and run at his age. He is a credit to his family and his profession. - The top two all-time pro chuckers are both African American. Eat that jerky former football position-based racism.

posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 09:15 AM on September 05, 2006

While that is a hell of an accomplishment I don't think he should be in the Pro Football Hall of fame. He may be the greatest player ever to put a helmet on in the CFL but lets face it the compition in the CFL is no where near NFL standards. Demonstrated by the players that cannot make it in the NFL and yet have good careers in the CFL. I think *most* of those that are good enough to play in the NFL do so. Now Damon may be an exception to that rule, maybe he is/was good enough to play in the NFL and just chose the CFL anyway. It is hard to imagine he could be that successful in the CFL and not have some level of success in the NFL. However Canton must be consistant, if they open that door and start letting CFL players into the HOF then how do you draw the line? Which players from a league with inferior talent to you let in and which ones do you not? This would open a huge can of worms that I don't think the NFL wants to even think about.

posted by T.C. at 09:51 AM on September 05, 2006

Me, I'd like to see Damon get those extra 465 rushing yard to move ahead of his brother on the all-time rushing list—Marcus Allen, who is in the Hall of Fame.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:24 AM on September 05, 2006

So, if I had posted this link this morning instead of last night, I would've included a link to Chris Young's round-up of the matter, including a spot of HoF debate. Worth a quick look-see.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 10:35 AM on September 05, 2006

Thats HoF material by itself in my book. I for one did not realize Moon was in both HoF's. Now I have to find out how many more made both of them. Steve Mariucci, ya gotta tip your cap to him. He came to Hamilton for the game last night so he could be there when Damon broke the record. He was Damon's QB coach in college, Cal State Fullerton. The answer to the question of how many in both HOF's is two. Warren Moon, and Bud Grant. The latter as coach in both leagues. Bud in Winnipeg and Minnesota. Question....how is Marv Levy not in the CFL HOF? wow.

posted by tommybiden at 11:04 AM on September 05, 2006

So, if I had posted this link this morning instead of last night, I would've included a link to Chris Young's round-up of the matter, including a spot of HoF debate. Worth a quick look-see. And SpoFi gets a mention in the footnotes for endorfin's link to the Non-NFL Football HOF list!

posted by grum@work at 12:09 PM on September 05, 2006

Rod Carew. Because you can't, you won't and you don't stop. Phil Rizzuto too. I'm sure there are others.

posted by Ufez Jones at 02:08 PM on September 05, 2006

What I liked was the his record breaking pass went about one yard and the rest of the 29 yards the end zone was covered by the efforts of Bruce. (you tube currently fails me here). It wasn't a "one for the ages" classic precision bomb between two defenders and graceful landing in the hands of the receiver, but rather it started out as a nothing play and turned into a TD and record breaker. Awesome.

posted by gspm at 03:45 PM on September 05, 2006

>Me, I'd like to see Damon get those extra 465 rushing yard to move ahead of his brother on the all-time rushing list—Marcus Allen, who is in the Hall of Fame. You come up with some great points.

posted by Philfromhavelock at 09:53 PM on September 05, 2006

That is a great point, I had no idea, that would be ironic as hell.

posted by mjkredliner at 07:58 AM on September 06, 2006

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