NFL Hall Of Fame Final Fifteen: Later Raiders

The NFL Hall of Fame has cut its finalist list to fifteen, and its theme was later Raiders.

Oakland Raider standouts QB Ken Stabler, P Ray Guy, and CB Lester Hayes all bit the bullet before the final selection shot.

Of the three, it's hard to understand how the voters keep blocking Lester Hayes out.

Hayes was an impact player on a Super Bowl winning team. In 1980, he was NFL Defensive Player of the year and he made the 1980's All Decade Team.

His only negatives are that he played on the same team as a Hall of Fame corner in Mike Haynes, Stick ‘Em controversies, and that he faded badly late in his career, when the pass coverage rules were tweaked in favor of the offenses.

Long-time San Francisco 49er and short time Raider, Roger Craig also did not make the cut. The Niners were the team of the decade, and it looks like QB Joe Montana, WR Jerry Rice, S Ronnie Lott, DE Fred Dean, and Head Coach Bill Walsh are the only players Hall-bound.

However, DE Charles Haley still has a legitimate shot. His bizarre behavior off field might be his biggest hindrance—that, and a plethora of pass rushers.

Three great pass rushers, DEs Charles Haley and Chris Doleman, and LB Kevin Greene also missed the cut.

Raider nemesis, Denver Bronco RB Terrell Davis, also failed to reach the final fifteen. The career-shortening knee injury seems to have bitten the Bronco.

The finalists for the 2009 class are Cris Carter, John Randle, Shannon Sharpe, Bruce Smith, Rod Woodson, Dermontti Dawson, Richard Dent, Russ Grimm, Cortez Kennedy, Bob Kuechenberg, Randall McDaniel, Andre Reed, Derrick Thomas, Paul Tagliabue, Ralph Wilson Jr., Bob Hayes, and Claude Humphrey.

Denver Bronco TE Shannon Sharpe, Seattle Seahawk DT Cortez Kennedy, Pittsburgh Center Dermontti Dawson, and Pittsburgh Steeler/Baltimore Raven DB Rod Woodson are in their first year of eligibility.

For Miami Dolphin Guard Bob Kuchenberg, it's his last shot before being dropped into the deep-swirling seniors pool.

A minimum of four, and a maximum of seven finalists, can be chosen. To be elected, a finalist must receive 80 percent of the 44 votes from the Hall's Board of Selectors.

The finalists are picked Super Bowl Saturday.

There is a lot of purple in there, with three Minnesota Vikings—WR Cris Carter, DT John Randle, and G Randall McDaniel—making a run at enshrinement.

Of the three Vikings, Carter, a finalist last year, has the best shot.

Dallas Cowboy Bob Hayes, a seniors nominee for an incredible second time, has a legitimate shot. The other seniors man is Atlanta Falcon/Philadelphia Eagle DE Claude Humphrey. His road is a bit harder, as Buffalo Bill DE Bruce Smith is a sure thing and Bears DE Richard Dent has come close several times.

My guesses:

DE Bruce Smith is a sure thing. The Bills DE made the 80's and the 90's All-Decade Team.

DB Rod Woodson should be a sure thing—after all, he did make the NFL's 75th Anniversary Team. What more can you do?

WR Cris Carter makes it this year after being so close last year.

Chicago Bear Super MVP Richard Dent nudges out the other DEs for a spot.

Many feel that Dent got a raw deal last year because they considered him a better player then LB Andre Tippet and DE Fred Dean, who both pushed pass him.

Everybody loves TE Shannon Sharpe—and he has the TV exposure—so he likely makes it, though he was not much of a blocker.

Bob Hayes dashes in on his second seniors try. "The Bullet" fills the final WR spot for the year, and pushes Andre Reed back into the pack.

Finally, the Hall will grab a Guard. It’s a toss-up between Kuchenberg, Grimm, and McDaniel, but I think the Hall needs a Hog at last, and Grimm gets the nod.