>I think his skill set is gonna lead to innovations in the
>game, kinda like Shannon Sharpe changed the role of Tight
>Ends, and how Athletic QB's are all the rage nowadays.

i think winslow was more the forerunner there, i mean sharpe had peers like eric green, keith jackson and ben coates that were all pretty similar in style. anyway, moving on from my nitpicking ...

>So I *wanna* say he'll get in just based on what he's done,
>but unless the game changes to where Return Men are a bigger
>factor across the league, I'm not sure. It's kinda like a
>Punter getting in. Sure there are legendary punters...but they
>don't get in before LB's, RB's and QB's.

right i mean ray guy is not in, he had a booming leg, never let a snap over his head and was a tremendous athlete at the position. lechler is the modern day punter par excellence, he ain't gettin' in either IMO.

that said, mitchell has a shot among return men and there are some kickers that are going to get long looks, such as morten and gary anderson and maybe vinatieri down the line. the place kicker's role has changed, they are true specialists now and the voting will adapt to that soon (it's already begun to with stenerud). the return man is going that way as fewer and fewer regular players are put in the role once they establish themselves are position-player stars.

>
>Sidepost: Whatever became of cats like Vai Sikahema, Eric
>Metcalf, and Dante Hall? They just kinda disappeared....

Hall was super exciting! Metcalf had a long career, funky little scatback that wasn't quite as specialized as say Mel Gray in Houston or Sikahema, who now does some national radio and local TV in Philly.