Rice, Smith Among Hall of Fame Candidates
NFL career receiving leader Jerry Rice and career rushing leader Emmitt Smith are among the 131 preliminary candidates for next year's Pro Football Hall of Fame class announced Saturday.
Rice and Smith are the headliners among seven candidates who are in their first year of eligibility.
Others in that category are quarterback Rich Gannon, running back Eddie George, wide receiver Tim Brown, defensive back Aeneas Williams and kicker Gary Anderson.
Among the former Washington Redskins players on the list of preliminary candidates are guard Russ Grimm, offensive tackle Joe Jacoby, defensive ends Dexter Manley and Charles Mann, kick returner Brian Mitchell and quarterbacks Doug Williams and Joe Theismann.
The list is to be trimmed to 25 semifinalists in late November and then reduced to 15 modern era finalists in January.
The media members who serve as Hall of Fame selectors will meet on the day before the Super Bowl in February and elect four to seven new Hall of Famers from among the 15 modern era finalists and seniors committee nominees Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little.
From the Hall of Fame's announcement, the 131 preliminary modern era candidates are as follows:
FIRST-YEAR ELIGIBLE NOMINEES
Quarterback--Rich Gannon
Running Back--Eddie George, Emmitt Smith
Wide Receiver--Tim Brown, Jerry Rice
Defensive Back--Aeneas Williams (CB/S)
Kicker--Gary Anderson
ADDITIONAL NOMINEES
Quarterbacks--Ken Anderson, Randall Cunningham, Boomer Esiason, Jim Plunkett, Phil Simms, Joe Theismann, Danny White (also punter), Doug Williams
Running Backs--Ottis Anderson, Larry Centers, Roger Craig, Terrell Davis, Leroy Hoard, Eric Metcalf (also WR), Brian Mitchell (also KR/PR), Mike Pruitt, Gerald Riggs, George Rogers, Herschel Walker, Ricky Watters
Wide Receivers--Cliff Branch, *Cris Carter, Gary Clark, Henry Ellard, Irving Fryar, Roy Green, Herman Moore, Stanley Morgan, *Andre Reed, Sterling Sharpe
Tight Ends--Mark Bavaro, Todd Christensen, Ben Coates, Russ Francis, *Shannon Sharpe, Frank Wycheck
Offensive Linemen--Tony Boselli (T), Lomas Brown (T), Jim Covert (T), *Dermontti Dawson (C), *Russ Grimm (G), Jay Hilgenberg (C), Chris Hinton (G/T), Kent Hull (C), Joe Jacoby (T), Mike Kenn (T), Jim Lachey (T), Max Montoya (G), Korey Stringer (T), Steve Wisniewski (G)
Defensive Linemen--Al "Bubba" Baker (DE), Ray Childress (DT/DE), *Richard Dent (DE), Chris Doleman (DE/LB), Charles Haley (DE/LB), Ed "Too Tall" Jones (DE), *Cortez Kennedy (DT), Joe Klecko (DE/DT/NT), Dexter Manley (DE), Charles Mann (DE), Steve McMichael (DT/NT), Leslie O'Neal (DE), Michael Dean Perry (DT/DE), *John Randle (DE/DT), Clyde Simmons (DE), Fred Smerlas (NT)
Linebackers--Cornelius Bennett, Matt Blair, Kevin Greene (also DE), Ken Harvey, Rickey Jackson, Rod Martin, Clay Matthews, Karl Mecklenburg, Sam Mills, Hardy Nickerson, Chris Spielman, Pat Swilling, Darryl Talley
Defensive Backs--Eric Allen (CB), Steve Atwater (S), Joey Browner (S), LeRoy Butler (S), Raymond Clayborn (CB), Kenny Easley (S), Lester Hayes (CB), Carnell Lake (S/CB), Albert Lewis (CB), Frank Minnifield (CB), Donnie Shell (S), Darren Woodson (S), Louis Wright (CB)
Kickers/Punters--Ray Guy (P), Nick Lowery (K), Reggie Roby (P)
Special Teams--Steve Tasker (ST/WR)
Coaches--Bill Arnsparger, Don Coryell, Tom Flores, Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, A.O. "Bum" Phillips, Dan Reeves, Buddy Ryan, Clark Shaughnessy
Contributors--K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr., Bobby Beathard, Gil Brandt, Leo Carlin, Jack Kent Cooke, Otho Davis, Ed DeBartolo, Jr., Ole Haugsrud, Frank "Bucko" Kilroy, Art Modell, Art Rooney, Jr., Carroll Rosenbloom, Ed Sabol, Steve Sabol, *Paul Tagliabue, Jim Tunney, Ron Wolf, George Young
*On last year's finalists list
By
Mark Maske
|
September 19, 2009; 2:05 PM ET
| Category:
Hall of Fame
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