NFL Hall of Fame finalists

[Roy Hobbs]

Here are the 15 modern day finalists for the Hall of Fame:

• Jerry Rice
• Emmitt Smith
• Tim Brown
• Cris Carter
• Andre Reed
• Shannon Sharpe
• Roger Craig
• Dermontti Dawson
• Russ Grimm
• John Randle
• Cortez Kennedy
• Richard Dent
• Rickey Jackson
• Charles Haley
• Don Coryell (coach)

Voters can select up to five finalists, and must select at least three, I believe.

I'd say Rice, Smith, and Dent as my three no-brainers.  I'd also probably vote for Haley and Carter as my other two, although I'm also sympathetic to Shannon Sharpe.

I'd like to see Dick Lebeau make it in as a senior candidate.  He's on the ballot, along with Floyd Little (who I know almost nothing about.)[/list]

[Donoghus]

Roy, I think its a minimum of 4, maximum of 6 unless both senior committee candidates get enough votes, then 7 can go in.

Lot of quality candidates this year.  The biggest problem that I have with the NFL HOF is the seeming lack of defensive players (especially from non-SB winners) and the fact that I do believe a punter should be in the HOF (Ray Guy).

From this year's class, I'd have to go with:

Jerry Rice
Emmitt Smith
Shannon Sharpe
Richard Dent
John Randle
Dick LeBeau

[Bahku]

I agree there should be more from the defensive side of the ball, and that Rice and Smith are no-brainers ... my six would be, in order of preference:

Jerry Rice
Emmitt Smith
Cris Carter
Richard Dent
Andre reed
Floyd Little

[Roy Hobbs]

Roy, I think its a minimum of 4, maximum of 6 unless both senior committee candidates get enough votes, then 7 can go in.

Yeah, I wasn't sure how that worked.  I know it's five minimum, and up to seven if both senior candidates make it.  If both Little and Lebeau make it, does that mean the minimum is five, or six?  I'm not sure.  Regardless, I'd be submitting a full ballot no matter what, as there are a lot of deserving guys.  It's amazing to compare the NFL to MLB, where a lot of mediocre players get strong consideration every year (while elite guys like Roberto Alomar and Barry Larkin miss the cut.)

So long as Richard Dent gets in, I don't care who the rest of the class is.  It's a travesty he hasn't been put in yet.

[Donoghus]

Roy, I think its a minimum of 4, maximum of 6 unless both senior committee candidates get enough votes, then 7 can go in.

Yeah, I wasn't sure how that worked.  I know it's five minimum, and up to seven if both senior candidates make it.  If both Little and Lebeau make it, does that mean the minimum is five, or six?  I'm not sure.  Regardless, I'd be submitting a full ballot no matter what, as there are a lot of deserving guys.  It's amazing to compare the NFL to MLB, where a lot of mediocre players get strong consideration every year (while elite guys like Roberto Alomar and Barry Larkin miss the cut.)

So long as Richard Dent gets in, I don't care who the rest of the class is.  It's a travesty he hasn't been put in yet.

There are so many good candidates and guys who've been continously passed over, IMO, that I think you have to vote the maximum.  Especially, when you start looking at who isn't in from the defensive side of things. 

I think Dent has an excellent chance of finally getting in this year.

[Donoghus]

HOF announcement comes late this afternoon. 

I'm gonna go with Rice, Smith, LeBeau, Dent, and Sharpe getting in.

Knowing that, I'll probaby end up getting 2 of those right.   

[celticinorlando]

Emmitt-LOCK
Rice -Lock
Carter-should be in already
Lebeau
Dent
Sharpe

[Donoghus]

I'd love to see Randle get some serious consideration but I'm gonna be a realist here and say that he doesn't come that close.

Its too bad. Guy was quite the beast back in the day.  Hopefully, his candidacy will grow as the years move on like it has for some others. 

[celticinorlando]

I'd love to see Randle get some serious consideration but I'm gonna be a realist here and say that he doesn't come that close.

Its too bad. Guy was quite the beast back in the day.  Hopefully, his candidacy will grow as the years move on like it has for some others. 

to me you gotta put dent in before randle and you have to put in cris carter before andre reed

[Donoghus]

I'd love to see Randle get some serious consideration but I'm gonna be a realist here and say that he doesn't come that close.

Its too bad. Guy was quite the beast back in the day.  Hopefully, his candidacy will grow as the years move on like it has for some others. 

to me you gotta put dent in before randle and you have to put in cris carter before andre reed

Oh, I definitely agree on both accounts.  I think Dent gets in this year but not sold on Carter getting in quite yet.

[greg683x]

not gonna happen with all the big names on the ballot, but Id love to see Russ Grimm get some love.  The hogs are the most famous offensive line in history and none of them are in the hall of fame.

[Roy Hobbs]

What a bizarre world HOF voters live in:

Jerry Rice, Russ Grimm, John Randle, Emmitt Smith and Rickey Jackson made the list of five final candidates for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Of the five, only those receiving 80 percent approval from the committee will qualify for enshrinement. Those results are scheduled to be announced on NFL Network about 25 minutes into a program that begins at 5 p.m. ET.

Cortez Kennedy, Richard Dent, Dermontti Dawson, Andre Reed and Shannon Sharpe survived the cut from 15 to 10 finalists. Charles Haley, Roger Craig, Cris Carter, Don Coryell and Tim Brown were eliminated in the cut from 15 to 10 finalists.

I'm sorry, but there's just no way that John Randle and Ricky Jackson should be ranked ahead of Richard Dent.  Heck, I'd have Charles Haley ranked higher than either of those guys, as well, and certainly Cris Carter was better than Andre Reed (who made the top ten).

[Fafnir]

So long as Richard Dent gets in, I don't care who the rest of the class is.  It's a travesty he hasn't been put in yet.

Defensive players always get the shaft by the HoF, and its even worse for lineman.

[Roy Hobbs]

So long as Richard Dent gets in, I don't care who the rest of the class is.  It's a travesty he hasn't been put in yet.

Defensive players always get the shaft by the HoF, and its even worse for lineman.

Ironically enough, the league selected two defensive players and an offensive lineman among its five modern selections, and yet still shafted Dent.  I truly don't understand it.

[Fafnir]

So long as Richard Dent gets in, I don't care who the rest of the class is.  It's a travesty he hasn't been put in yet.

Defensive players always get the shaft by the HoF, and its even worse for lineman.

Ironically enough, the league selected two defensive players and an offensive lineman among its five modern selections, and yet still shafted Dent.  I truly don't understand it.

True, but one year doesn't reverse how many years of RB, RB, RB, QB, WR, RB.