NFL Hall of Fame 2014: Will Derrick Brooks, Michael Strahan make the cut?
The star-studded list of 15 semifinalists will be cut significantly on Saturday night and a new Hall of Fame class will be announced.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The next class of Hall of Fame players who will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, will be announced on Saturday during the third annual NFL Honors award show. There are 15 semifinalists and two senior nominees up for the honor this year, and four are first-time nominees. The list includes defensive end Michael Strahan, coach Tony Dungy, offensive tackle Walter Jones and running back Jerome Bettis.
Below are the 15 semifinalists and two senior nominees who could have their names called on Saturday:
Morten Andersen, Kicker
- All-time leading scorer in NFL history
- Seven-time Pro Bowl selection
- Two-time all-decade selection (80s, 90s)
Jerome Bettis, Running Back
- Member of the Steelers' Super Bowl XL team
- Sixth-most rushing yards in NFL history (13,662)
- Six-time Pro Bowl selection
Tim Brown, Wide Receiver
- Fifth-most receiving yards among wide receivers in NFL history (14,934)
- Nine-time Pro Bowl Selection
Derrick Brooks, Linebacker
- Member of the Buccaneers' Super Bowl XXXVII team
- 11-time Pro Bowl selection
Edward DeBartolo Jr., Former 49ers owner (23 years)
- Won five Super Bowls in a 14-year span
Tony Dungy, Coach
- First African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl
- Tampa Bay (1996-2001) and Indianapolis (2002-08)
Kevin Greene, Linebacker/Defensive End
- Third-most sacks in NFL history (160)
- Five-time Pro Bowl selection
Charles Haley, Linebacker/Defensive End
- Won five Super Bowls with the 49ers and Cowboys
- Five-time Pro Bowl Selection
Marvin Harrison, Wide Receiver
- Set NFL record for catches in a single season (143)
- Eight-time Pro Bowl selection
Walter Jones, Offensive Tackle
- Nine-time Pro Bowl pick
- 2000s All-Decade team
John Lynch, Safety
- Member of the Buccaneers' Super Bowl XXXVII team
- Nine-time Pro Bowl selection
Andre Reed, Wide Receiver
- Seven-time Pro Bowl selection
- Member of the Bills team that went to four consecutive Super Bowls
Will Shields, Guard
- Started 223 of 224 games over 14 seasons
- 12-time Pro Bowl selection
Breaking Madden
Michael Strahan, Defensive End
- Member of the Giants' Super Bowl XLII team
- 141.5 sacks in 15 seasons
- Seven-time Pro Bowl player
Aeneas Williams, Cornerback/Safety
- 55 interceptions in 14 seasons
- Eight-time Pro Bowl selection
Senior Nominees
Claude Humphrey, Defensive End
- 1968 Defensive Rookie of the Year
- Six-time Pro Bowl selection
Ray Guy, Punter
- Seven-time Pro Bowl selection
- Won three Super Bowls in 14 seasons
Jones, Brooks and Strahan seem to be the favorites of this year's class. Brooks and Jones are first-year eligible players and both were the best at their positions for a long period of time. Strahan owns the single-season record for sacks and was snubbed last year, which was his first year of eligibility. Bettis and Brown have both been passed over before and with the way wide receivers and running backs are producing these days, it seems they are in a fight against modern beat writers.
Williams, Lynch and Reed are the most likely not to be selected. Lynch played safety, which is an uncommon position in the Hall of Fame. Williams has been picked over several times and the talent at the top this season is once again better. Reed has been eligible for nearly a decade and will have trouble getting in over Brown, who also does not seem to be likely to get in on this class.
NFL Honors will kick off at 8 p.m. ET Saturday on FOX.
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