HOF 25 semifinalists

[LaChapelle]

Some one get a towel for KnowMo's swamp box

Hall of Fame announces 25 semifinalists

Posted by Mike Florio on November 28, 2009 2:23 PM ET

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has whittled its laundry list of 2010 modern-day nominees down to 25 semifinalists.

They are, as listed right here,
receiver Cliff Branch,

receiver Tim Brown,

receiver Cris Carter,

coach Don Coryell,

running back Roger Craig,

running back Terrell Davis,

center Dermontti Dawson,

defensive end Richard Dent,

defensive end Chris Doleman,

linebacker Kevin Greene,

guard Russ Grimm,

punter Ray Guy,

defensive end Charles Haley,

cornerback Lester Hayes,

linebacker Rickey Jackson,

defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy,

owner Art Modell,

defensive tackle John Randle,

receiver Andre Reed,

receiver Jerry Rice,

tight end Shannon Sharpe,

running back Emmitt Smith,

Commissoner Paul Taglabue,

receiver Steve Tasker,

and cornerback Aeneas Williams.

Mail ballots will be used to trim the list of 25 to 15, with results announced on January 7.

The list will then bulge to 17 with the addition of the Seniors Committee finalists -- Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little. Up to five modern-day finalists may be elected for enshrinment on February 6. One, both, or neither of the Seniors Committee nominees also may be Cantonized at that same time.

No-brainers for enshrinement are Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice. Tim Brown might have to wait until Carter gets in. Reed arguably should get in before either of them. Sharpe also has a strong chance of making it through.

As to the Seniors Committee nominees, there's a strong sense that LeBeau will make it. Even though, technically, he's being considered only for his efforts as a player, LeBeau's decades of work as an assistant coach -- and his role in the two most recent Super Bowl wins by the Steelers -- is giving his bid the same kind of boost that John Madden received from his stellar broadcasting career and the profound impact of his Madden video game series, which made pro football more understandable and accessible to young fans, many of whom can now manage a clock much better than half of the men who work as NFL head coaches.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I think he will, but i dont know about first ballot? There is starting to be a backlash against recievers of the past 20 years who have played in the "pass happy era".

Andre Reed is one of them too.

Its too bad about Terrell Davis. He honestly needed about 1 or 2 more strong seasons and he most likely would have been 1st ballot.

Carter's not first-ballot. I think this is his third or thereabouts. He should get in.

I agree about Davis. 2 more strong seasons and I think he could've squeaked in. His problem is a short career and an offensive system where Olandis Gary and Mike Anderson were able to get 1,000+ yards after he was hurt.

If he gets in, Priest Holme also deserves it, and one of my favorite dark horses, William Andrews of the Falcons, deserves it. And all three of those guys don't deserve it.

[Deberg_1990]

Not sure, but isnt there something of a bias against defensive players in the Hall as well?

Guys like Aeneas Williams, Kevin Green, Doleman, Randle will have a tough time getting in.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by ceebz

One 1000 yard season, career 3.9 ypc avg. No way he deserves it.

If there's any old Donk that I honestly think deserves in, it's Gradishar.

His numbers aren't spectacular, to be sure, but that guy did play on some terrible Donkey teams, and was the only threat they had for years and years.

I don't know that he is HoF worthy, but an argument could certainly be made for him.

But I'm still on the Tommy Nobis for HoF bandwagon.

If there is one player on horrible teams that belongs, it's him.

He was better than Ray Nitsche, but played on quite probably the worst team of the 60s.