Is Herman Moore the best Detroit Lion not in the Hall of Fame?

Moore was an elite receiver

Last Friday, CBSSports.com listed every NFL team’s best former player that is not in the Hall of Fame. While the Lions do have some worthy candidates, it was hard to argue with the selection of former receiver Herman Moore as being the most worthy.

Herman Moore was almost an afterthought for Lions fans simply because his time in Detroit from 1991-2001, was mostly lived in the shadow of Barry Sanders’ incredible feats. When the Lions offense was on the field, despite 10 other players lining up on every down for Detroit, all eyes were on Barry.

His 123 receptions in 1995 set a league record. He then followed that up with 106 and 104 receptions in the next two seasons respectively. The 31 touchdowns he scored over that period shouldn’t be overlooked either.

Moore was an elite receiver in his prime who made big catches and big plays. Regardless of whichever subpar passer was tossing the ball to him. For a five-six year period, he was a good as any pass-catcher in the game and proved it consistently. Only all-time great Jerry Rice was better at that time.

Now there can be arguments made for and against his case to be the best Lions player not in Hall of Fame, but there is no arguing his place as one of the best players in team history. The player that received honorable mention as the Lions best non-Hall of Famer was Moore’s teammate defensive end Robert Porcher whose 95.5 sacks rank first in team history.

Porcher was used at both end and defensive tackle. Yet regardless of where he lined up he always found his way to the quarterback. Porcher was a leader on the field and off of it. He bled Honolulu Blue and Silver and never under any circumstances gave less than one-hundred percent.

Much like Herman Moore, he is a deserving candidate to be the Lions’ best non-Hall of Famer in team history.

But while either one is hard to argue with for the title, I believe there is one other who deserves to be on the same pedestal as Moore and Porcher. One other who perhaps even deserves to be considered the greatest Lion not enshrined in Canton.