Boselli’s Eight-Year Run Might Not Gain Him Fame

Sure, Tony Boselli could always block. In an eight-year NFL career that ended this month, most experts agree he did it more efficiently, more ferociously and with more consistency than anyone else who played left tackle. Maybe ever.

Yet when asked to scroll down the list of amazing plays he made, big-time matchups he dominated and games he almost single-handedly controlled, Boselli’s old coach, Tom Coughlin, always recalls one moment that had nothing to do with blocking.

It was Nov. 8, 1998. Cornerback Artrell Hawkins of the Cincinnati Bengals had scooped up a fumble and was strutting down the sideline for what looked to be a sure touchdown. Boselli, 150 pounds heavier and about a foot taller, saw Hawkins jabbing a finger toward his teammates. He took off, took a great angle, chased down the cornerback and made a tackle that had the entire city of Jacksonville talking for the next week.

That kind of play, that kind of pride, is what would have made Boselli a sure-thing Hall of Famer had his career not been ended prematurely by shoulder injuries.

Skeptics point out that Boselli only played 91 games in the seven seasons he was healthy, and that could be the sticking point on his enshrinement.

“There’s no question that Boselli had Hall of Fame attitude and Hall of Fame talent,” said Sam Kouvaris, a Jacksonville sports anchor who is on the Hall of Fame selection committee. “The only question is whether he had a Hall of Fame career.”

Those who believe he did look to Gale Sayers and Jim Brown, two Hall of Fame running backs who made it despite shortened careers. Sayers and Brown have something Boselli never will, though, and that’s hard, indisputable statistics to back up their performances.

Unofficially, Boselli only allowed 15 1/2 sacks, about half of which were attributable to good coverage in the secondary. Still, one of the main methods of gauging greatness on offensive line is by looking at games played. Jackie Slater (20 seasons), Dan Dierdorf (13) and Joe DeLamielleure (13 seasons) made it in part because they played well over a long period.

Boselli was likely better than all of them, but over a much shorter era.