The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced their list of 2011 candidates today, and once again, the class could potentially have a distinct Pittsburgh feel.
A number of former Steelers were on the initial list of 113 nominees, including RB Jerome Bettis, C Dermontti Dawson, S Donnie Shell, LB Kevin Greene, K Gary Anderson, Coach Buddy Parker, Defensive Coordinator Bud Carson, Adminstrator Art Rooney Jr. and scout Bill Nunn.
A few former Pitt Panthers are also on the preliminary list, including RB Curtis Martin, DE Chris Doleman, and assistant coach Jimmy Johnson.
Sewickley's Chuck Knox, longtime coach of the Rams, Bills, and Seahawks, is also a candidate for induction.
Dawson was a finalist last year, making it to the final 10. He'll eventually get in, but this might be another "logjam" type year for Canton. Besides Bettis and Martin, strong first-year candidates include Deion Sanders, Marshall Faulk, and Jimmy Smith. And you can't forget about finalists from 2010 who will have another strong case in 2011, including Andre Reed, Tim Brown, Roger Craig, Charles Haley, Shannon Sharpe, Richard Dent, Don Coryell, and Cortez Kennedy.
From this initial list, Hall of Fame selectors will choose 25 as semifinalists in November. The semifinalists will be whittled down to 15 finalists in early January, and election for the Hall takes place the day before the Super Bowl in February.
The full list of 113 nominees is as follows:
| K.S. "Bud" Adams, Jr. Owner 1960-Present Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Titans | Eric Allen Cornerback 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders | Ken Anderson Quarterback 1971-1986 Cincinnati Bengals | ||
| Gary Anderson Kicker 1982-1994 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1995-96 Philadelphia Eagles, 1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-2002 Minnesota Vikings, 2003-04 Tennessee Titans | Ottis Anderson Running Back 1979-1986 St. Louis Cardinals, 1986-1992 New York Giants | Bruce Armstrong Tackle 1987-2000 New England Patriots | ||
| Steve Atwater Safety 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets | Al "Bubba" Baker Defensive End 1978-1982 Detroit Lions, 1983-86 St. Louis Cardinals, 1987, 1989-1990 Cleveland Browns, 1988 Minnesota Vikings | Bill Bates Safety (also ST) 1983-1997 Dallas Cowboys | ||
| Mark Bavaro Tight End 1985-1990 New York Giants, 1992 Cleveland Browns, 1993-94 Philadelphia Eagles | Bobby Beathard Administrator 1966-67 Kansas City Chiefs, 1968-1971 Atlanta Falcons, 1972-77 Miami Dolphins, 1978-1988 Washington Redskins,1990-99 San Diego Chargers | Cornelius Bennett Linebacker 1987-1995 Buffalo Bills, 1996-98 Atlanta Falcons, 1999-2000 Indianapolis Colts | ||
| Jerome Bettis ** Running Back 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers | Tony Boselli Tackle 1995-2002 Jacksonville Jaguars | Lomas Brown Tackle 1985-1995 Detroit Lions, 1996-98 Arizona Cardinals, 1999 Cleveland Browns, 2000-01 New York Giants, 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | ||
| Tim Brown * Wide Receiver (also KR) 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Joey Browner Safety 1983-1991 Minnesota Vikings, 1992 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | LeRoy Butler Safety 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers | ||
| Dave Butz Defensive End/Defensive Tackle 1973-74 St. Louis Cardinals, 1975-1988 Washington Redskins | Leo Carlin Administrator 1960-Present Philadelphia Eagles | Bud Carson Assistant Coach/Head Coach 1971-77 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1978-81, 1997 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1982 Baltimore Colts, 1983 Kansas City Chiefs, 1985-88 New York Jets, 1989-1990 Cleveland Browns, 1991-94 Philadelphia Eagles | ||
| Cris Carter * Wide Receiver 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins | Larry Centers Running Back 1990-1998 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 1999-2000 Washington Redskins, 2001-2002 Buffalo Bills, 2003 New England Patriots | Ray Childress Defensive Tackle/Defensive End 1985-1995 Houston Oilers, 1996 Dallas Cowboys | ||
| Todd Christensen Tight End 1979 New York Giants, 1979-1988 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders | Gary Clark Wide Receiver 1985-1992 Washington Redskins, 1993-94 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 1995 Miami Dolphins | Ben Coates Tight End 1991-99 New England Patriots, 2000 Baltimore Ravens | ||
| Jack Kent Cooke Owner 1974-1997 Washington Redskins | Don Coryell * Coach 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers | Jim Covert Tackle 1983-1990 Chicago Bears | ||
| Roger Craig Running Back 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-1993 Minnesota Vikings | Otho Davis Trainer 1971-72 Baltimore Colts, 1973-1995 Philadelphia Eagles | Terrell Davis Running Back 1995-2001 Denver Broncos | ||
| Dermontti Dawson * Center 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers | Ed DeBartolo, Jr. Owner 1979-1997 San Francisco 49ers | Richard Dent * Defensive End 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles | ||
| Chris Doleman Defensive End/Linebacker 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers | Kenny Easley Safety 1981-87 Seattle Seahawks | Henry Ellard Wide Receiver (also PR) 1983-1993 Los Angeles Rams, 1994-98 Washington Redskins, 1998 New England Patriots | ||
| Marshall Faulk ** Running Back 1994-98 Indianapolis Colts, 1999-2005 St. Louis Rams | Tom Flores Coach 1979-1987 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-94 Seattle Seahawks | Russ Francis Tight End 1975-1980, 1987-88 New England Patriots, 1982-87 San Francisco 49ers | ||
| Eddie George Running Back 1996-2003 Houston/Tennessee Oilers/Titans, 2004 Dallas Cowboys | Ron Gibbs Official 1940-1962 National Football League | Kevin Greene Linebacker/Defensive End 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers | ||
| Ray Guy Punter 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders | Charles Haley * Defensive End/Linebacker 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys | Ken Harvey Linebacker 1988-1993 Phoenix Cardinals, 1994-98 Washington Redskins | ||
| Ole Haugsrud Owner 1923-27 Duluth Kelleys/Eskimos | Lester Hayes Cornerback 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders | Jay Hilgenberg Center 1981-1991 Chicago Bears, 1992 Cleveland Browns, 1993 New Orleans Saints | ||
| Chris Hinton Guard/Tackle 1983-89 Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts, 1990-93 Atlanta Falcons, 1994-95 Minnesota Vikings | Kent Hull Center 1986-1996 Buffalo Bills | Joe Jacoby Tackle 1981-1993 Washington Redskins | ||
| Jimmy Johnson Coach 1989-1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1996-99 Miami Dolphins | Brent Jones Tight End 1987-1997 San Francisco 49ers | Ed "Too Tall" Jones Defensive End 1974-78, 1980-89 Dallas Cowboys | ||
| Mike Kenn Tackle 1978-1994 Atlanta Falcons | Cortez Kennedy * Defensive Tackle 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks | Frank "Bucko" Kilroy Administrator 1962-64 Washington Redskins, 1965-1970 Dallas Cowboys, 1971-1984 New England Patriots | ||
| Joe Klecko Defensive End/Defensive Tackle/Nose Tackle 1977-1987 New York Jets, 1988 Indianapolis Colts | Chuck Knox Coach 1973-77 Los Angeles Rams, 1978-1982 Buffalo Bills, 1983-1991 Seattle Seahawks, 1992-94 Los Angeles Rams | Jim Lachey Tackle 1985-87 San Diego Chargers, 1988 Los Angeles Raiders, 1988-1992, 1994-95 Washington Redskins | ||
| Albert Lewis Cornerback 1983-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-98 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders | Nick Lowery Kicker 1978 New England Patriots, 1980-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-96 New York Jets | Dexter Manley Defensive End 1981-89 Washington Redskins, 1990 Phoenix Cardinals, 1991 Tampa Bay Buccaneers | ||
| Charles Mann Defensive End 1983-1993 Washington Redskins, 1994 San Francisco 49ers | Curtis Martin ** Running Back 1995-97 New England Patriots, 1998-2005 New York Jets | Clay Matthews Linebacker 1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons | ||
| Art McNally Official 1968-1991 National Football League | Karl Mecklenburg Linebacker 1983-1994 Denver Broncos | Sam Mills Linebacker 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers | ||
| Frank Minnifield Cornerback 1984-1992 Cleveland Browns | Brian Mitchell Running Back (also KR/PR) 1990-99 Washington Redskins, 2000-02 Philadelphia Eagles, 2003 New York Giants | Art Modell Owner 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2003 Baltimore Ravens | ||
| Herman Moore Wide Receiver 1991-2001 Detroit Lions, 2002 New York Giants | Stanley Morgan Wide Receiver 1977-1989 New England Patriots, 1990 Indianapolis Colts | Bill Nunn Administrator 1968-Present Pittsburgh Steelers | ||
| Buddy Parker Coach 1949 Chicago Cardinals, 1951-56 Detroit Lions, 1957-1964 Pittsburgh Steelers | Jim Plunkett Quarterback 1971-1975 New England Patriots, 1976-1977 San Francisco 49ers, 1979-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders | Mike Quick Wide Receiver 1982-1990 Philadelphia Eagles | ||
| Andre Reed * Wide Receiver 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins | Dan Reeves Coach 1981-1992 Denver Broncos, 1993-96 New York Giants, 1997-2003 Atlanta Falcons | Gerald Riggs Running Back 1982-88 Atlanta Falcons, 1989-1991 Washington Redskins | ||
| Willie Roaf ** Tackle 1993-2001 New Orleans Saints, 2002-05 Kansas City Chiefs | Joe Robbie Owner 1966-1989 Miami Dolphins | Reggie Roby Punter 1983-1992 Miami Dolphins, 1993-94 Washington Redskins, 1995 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1996-97 Houston/Tennessee Oilers, 1998 San Francisco 49ers | ||
| Art Rooney, Jr. Administrator 1961-Present Pittsburgh Steelers | Carroll Rosenbloom Owner 1953-1971 Baltimore Colts, 1972-78 Los Angeles Rams | Ed Sabol Founder NFL Films | ||
| Steve Sabol President NFL Films | Deion Sanders ** Cornerback (also KR/PR) 1989-1993 Atlanta Falcons, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-99 Dallas Cowboys, 2000 Washington Redskins, 2004-05 Baltimore Ravens | Shannon Sharpe * Tight End 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens | ||
| Clark Shaughnessy Coach 1944-1947 Washington Redskins, 1948-49 Los Angeles Rams, 1951-1962 Chicago Bears | Donnie Shell Safety 1974-1987 Pittsburgh Steelers | Phil Simms Quarterback 1979-1993 New York Giants, injured-1982 | ||
| Fred Smerlas Nose Tackle 1979-1989 Buffalo Bills, 1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991-92 New England Patriots | Jimmy Smith ** Wide Receiver 1992 Dallas Cowboys, 1995-2005 Jacksonville Jaguars | J.T. Smith Wide Receiver (also PR) 1978 Washington Redskins, 1978-1984 Kansas City Chiefs, 1985-1990 St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals | ||
| Paul Tagliabue Commissioner 1989-2006 National Football League | Darryl Talley Linebacker 1983-1994 Buffalo Bills, 1995 Atlanta Falcons, 1996 Minnesota Vikings | Steve Tasker Special Teams (also WR) 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills | ||
| Dick Vermeil Coach Philadelphia Eagles 1976-1982, St. Louis Rams 1997-99, Kansas City Chiefs 2001-05 | Herschel Walker Running Back 1986-89 Dallas Cowboys, 1989-1991 Minnesota Vikings, 1992-94 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995 New York Giants, 1996-97 Dallas Cowboys | Ricky Watters Running Back 1992-94 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-97 Philadelphia Eagles, 1998-2001 Seattle Seahawks | ||
| Aeneas Williams Cornerback/Safety 1991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 2001-04 St. Louis Rams | Doug Williams Quarterback 1978-1982 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1986-1989 Washington Redskins | Steve Wisniewski Guard 1989-2001 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders | ||
| Ron Wolf Administrator 1991-2001 Green Bay Packers | Darren Woodson Safety 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys | Louis Wright Cornerback 1975-1986 Denver Broncos | ||
| Frank Wycheck Tight End 1993-94 Washington Redskins, 1995-2003 Houston/Tennessee Oiler/Titans | George Young Administrator 1968-1974 Baltimore Colts, 1975-78 Miami Dolphins, 1979-1997 New York Giants, 1998-2001 National Football League |
* Among 17 finalists for Class of 2010; ** First year of eligiblity
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Email: mondesishouse@gmail.com
7 comments:
My votes:
Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, Curtis Martin, Deion Sanders, Herschel Walker, Tim Brown, Shannon Sharpe, Dermontti Dawson, Richard Dent, Ed Jones, Donnie Shell, Darren Woodson, Gary Anderson, Jimmy Johnson, Paul Tagliabue
It is an absolute travesty that Gary Anderson and Dermontti Dawson aren't in the hall already. Anderson was absolutely the best ever at his position and Dawson is in the top 5 at his position all time.
I predict that one of the three RB's (Martn, Faulk, Bettis) will not be in this year's class. They should all be shoe-ins though.
Ray Guy is a huge travesty on this list. The guy is by all accounts the best punter ever. Last time I checked, every team has a punter. It's a part of football. Save the macho BS about kickers. The position counts and this guy should be in.
The baseball hall of fame is full of hypocrisy, but the football HOF hardly represents the game fairly.
Ray Guy gets in when the Chris Carters, Donnie Shells, etc get in as far as I'm concerned.
Those type of players deserve it more than a...yes...a PUNTER.
I'm with you KOZ. Ray Guy is by far the most shocking name on the list. Are Cris Carter/Donnie Shell unanimously regarded as the best EVER at THEIR positions? This guy invented 'hangtime'. He SHOULD get in (SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN), but he's a punter.
No one else on that list changed the game like Ray Guy. It's a travesty, and he'll only get elected the year after he dies... cause that's how people do things. :-/
I wonder who the best Long Snapper ever was? I doubt he is in the HOF.
BTW, it's certainly not Silverback!
Maybe the voters know what many have suspected about the Raidah's using helium balls when guy punted ( sarcasm).
Since I am far too young to remember, there was apparently a punter for KC , I believe, that some believe to have been better than Guy.
Also, if you're pushing for Ray Guy, what about Steve Tasker?
Placekickers get in... what's the difference?
(i must concede, good point about Tasker though. i thought that when i saw his name on the list, but was hoping no one else would notice him)
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