The German Patriots legend Sebastian Vollmer reacted with disbelief to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s controversial decision not to induct long-time successful coach Bill Belichick in the first possible year and to keep New England owner Robert Kraft waiting for an induction.
“In the end it is incomprehensible to me, for me the Hall of Fame has also lost a bit of credibility,” said Vollmer a few days before Super Bowl LX SPORT1-Interview in San Francisco: “If you don’t take the winningest coach as a first-ballot Hall of Famer, who deserves it?”
Vollmer on Belichick: “There is no one better”
Belichick, who had his first chance to be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year, did not receive the required 40 yes votes from 50 media representatives.
With six Super Bowl wins as head coach of the Patriots and two more wins as defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, Belichick has the most titles by a coach in NFL history.
Vollmer won two Super Bowls under Belichick
The fact that the 73-year-old is considered a controversial character is not an argument for Vollmer.
“That’s not what the Hall of Fame is about. It’s about the performance you’ve achieved in the past as a pro coach – and there’s no one better,” emphasized Vollmer, who won two Super Bowl titles under Belichick.
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This decision also causes disbelief
The renewed non-election of Kraft, who has now met the formal requirements for induction into the Hall of Fame for over a decade, also leaves Vollmer stunned.
Kraft’s track record is unparalleled, argues Vollmer: “The man has six Super Bowl rings, he has more than anyone else, even twice as many as anyone else – Jerry Jones has three.”
Kraft, who has owned the Patriots since 1994, “bought the franchise and since then it has been the most successful franchise,” said Vollmer, so he also feels “absolute incomprehension” for this decision.
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