Last month, the NFL released the semifinalist list of candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In early January, they'll announce the narrowed list to 15, which will go to a mail-in ballot. It is Roger Craig's first appearance on the semifinalist list and it's about time.

If he were a shoe-in, then there would be no debate and no need to put together a compelling argument. Although Roger's lifetime stats don't make him a HOF lock, his reputation as a game changer as well Super Bowl success liken him to baseball HOFer Kirby Puckett (RIP).

Realistically, there are between two and three spots for Craig to vie for. Rob Woodson and Bruce Smith will most likely get the nod. Shannon Sharpe was a dominate tight end with many Pro Bowl appearances. Along with Sharpe, the other key offensive challenges for those precious HOF votes are Chris Carter, Terrell Davis, and Andre Reed.

Craigs' career stats are 8,189 rushing yards, 4,911 receiving yards, 13,100 total yards, 73 TDs, and three Super Bowl rings.

Let's compare Roger's stats with other Hall of Famers, then with the candidates.

Total Rushing Yards: 8,189

Almost half of Walter Payton’s career yards, but more than HOFers Larry Csonka, Gayle Sayers, Lenny Moore and Ollie Matson.

Total Receiving Yards: 4,911

Less yards than Marcus Allen (Roger’s 4911 was over 11 seasons and Allen’s 5411 was over 16 seasons), but more than HOFers Thurman Thomas, Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett, Walter Payton, John Riggins, and Franco Harris. Roger’s 4911 receiving yards are just 551 yards less than HOF WR Lynn Swann’s career total.

Total Yards: 13,100

Only 278 total yards less than O.J. Simpson but more than HOFers Earl Campbell, Larry Csonka, Gayle Sayers, and Lenny Moore.

13,100 total yards are also more total yards than HOF wide receivers: Steve Largent (played 14 years vs. Roger’s 11), Paul Warfield, Lynn Swann (more than double), John Stallworth and Michael Irvin.

Touchdowns: 73

Only two less than O.J. Simpson but more than HOFers Ollie Matson, Gayle Sayers, Larry Csonka.

Here's a few comparisons to this year's offensive HOF candidates

Chris Carter – he has 840 total yards more than Craig, played five seasons more and didn’t win any Super Bowls

Terrell Davis – Craig had 4200+ yards more, while he played seven seasons, and he has a couple Super Bowls wins.

Andre Reed – has only 610 more total yards than Craig, played five seasons more and has no Super Bowls

Shannon Sharpe – Craig had 3,000+ more yards than him, he played one more season than Craig and he has a couple Super Bowls wins.

Perhaps from a career-statistics perspective, granting Roger Craig entry into the HOF creates some new precedent, which could result in the expectation of other inductees that might not deserve.

Fear not—another candidate would have to be recognized as among the era’s most prolific running backs, with a level of versatility unseen before (he was a Pro Bowler as both a fullback and a halfback), help his team win three Super Bowl championships (and score a lot of points in those games—setting a record for most points scored in a Super Bowl), get selected to the Pro Bowl multiple years, and completely innovate his position—WAIT, wouldn’t that player be a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame?

OK, still on the fence?

Here are two very important points to make:

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