I also find it interesting that Hayes' best year, 1980, was only two years after the enactment of the Mel Blount rule; a season in which the Raiders would face Dan Fouts and the Chargers.For those of you who don't know, the Blount rule is the reason for penalties described as "illegal use of the hands." Meanwhile, a Harvard graduate like Ryan Fitzpatrick who nailed the Wonderlic, has been nothing more than a journeyman in the NFL.Yet, no one questions whether the quarterback is truly dominant, when the quarterback's dominance since 1978 has clearly been an artificial construct of the NFL. Hayes was commonly referred to as "the Judge" and also as "Lester the Molester" because of his He was known as one of the greatest shutdown cornerbacks in NFL history. In the six seasons that Hayes played following the banning of Stickum, he had 14 total interceptions, compared to his 25 that he had in his first four seasons. He and Hall of Famer Michael Haynes made up a lethal tandem in the Raiders’ secondary. Well then, if one position can receive exclusive rules to protect that player from violence, why not let a woman play? I know he's on the ballots. In one such year, 1980, Hayes earned the award for Defensive Player of the Year with thirteen interceptions.That achievement of course has long been in question, because of Hayes' infamous use of the now banned substance Stickum.
Blount of course had dominated as a corner-back for the legendary Steel Curtain defense in The reason I find it interesting that the Raiders and Chargers faced off that year is because until the advent of the Mel Bount rule, Fouts was at best a mediocre quarterback that had never thrown more touchdowns than interceptions, and had only once passed more than 2,000 yards in the five seasons prior.Any historian of the NFL understands the correlation between the Mel Blount rule and the rise of the passing-game. I also read somewhere that Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikof turned him onto Stickum and if that's true then no one should call Lester a cheater if they don't call Fred a cheater. The rule of course is known as the Lester Hayes rule. Lester Hayes, Class: 1976 Induction: 1995 Sport(s): Football - One of the biggest free safeties to ever Lester Hayes (1995) - Texas A&M Athletic Hall of Fame - Texas A&M Athletics - Home of the 12th Man Yet, the NFL ignored the issue of Stickum when Biletnikoff used it. Some would even say that Marino dominated. Under many NFL rules since then though, the league has made it increasingly easier for a quarterback to dominate.And because the quarterback "dominates" to him go all the spoils. Raiders Inducted into the Hall of Fame . Lester Hayes: Pos: DB, Career: 149 G, 39 Int (85th), 5 TD, All-Pro(1st), 5xProBowl, Raiders 1977-1986, born TX 1955 In the years before the rule, only Joe Namath had topped 4,000 yards in 1967. Yet, the same people also say that Marino never had a running-game. However, I like it when I believe that the quarterback earned it. According to the NFL IQ test, the Wonderlic, Dan Marino is an idiot. The main argument that has prevented women from playing football is that the game is too violent. Yet, by intentionally making the game less violent for a chosen few, it opens the door to people that would have otherwise been excluded.Clearly, it does not take a uniquely talented player to succeed at quarterback. Here comes the question of former Raiders corner-back Lester Hayes and the subject of his candidacy for the Hall of Fame. 1 / 26 T Ron Mix. His score on the Wonderlic would indicate that he is a moron.Yet, Marino still succeeded at a high level in the NFL. 2 / 26 C Jim Otto. In 1980, Hayes led the NFL with 13 interceptions, tied for second most with He retired after the 1986 season with a total of 39 interceptions (including 4 defensive touchdowns), a Raider record shared with Hall of Famer The use of Stickum was banned by the NFL after the 1980 season. Some claim the game has "evolved," which is a ludicrous assertion because it presupposes that people *know* which direction is evolution and not devolution. Lester Hayes’ Hall of Fame shot may have been damaged due to a substance, legal at the time, which he used. I should note however, that was back when the American Football League was still considered a joke because it emphasized the passing game.Before you get confused, I don't necessarily hate the passing-game. Hayes was introduced to Stickum, an adhesive substance used by players to improve their grip, in his 1977 rookie season by Hall of Fame wide receiver and fellow teammate Fred Biletnikoff. Biletnikoff even earned the honor of Super Bowl MVP after the Raiders defeated the Biletnikoff is also the only current Raiders receiver enshrined in the Hall of Fame (note: James Lofton played for the Raiders for only a season).It seems strange then that not only has the Hall excluded Hayes, but also receiver Cliff Branch. The Patriots broke rules. Partly because of that, the Raiders have long had the reputation of cheating, so much so that people still lament that quarterback Dan Fouts and the I'd like to note that Raider Haters can no longer ridicule the Raiders for "cheating," because many of those same people have defended the Besides, how is it cheating when there was no rule to break? The use of Stickum (at the time) however, did not break the rules.The question that has long lingered in my mind is: Why do people question the achievements of Hayes because of Stickum, yet do not question the achievements of receiver Fred Biletnikoff because of Stickum?Yet not only is Fred Biletnikoff in the Hall of Fame as a receiver, the award for best college receiver is named after Biletnikoff. The game has evolved because the passing game makes the game less violent? And that the Hall has clearly recognized Biletnikoff as the best receiver in Raiders history thus far, regardless of Stickum (Tim Brown could change that).More importantly, the NFL only banned Stickum after Hayes had dominated by using it.