NFL Hall Of Fame: The Final Twenty Five

The Pro Football Hall of Fame has announced the 25 semifinalists for the Class of 2009.

The results of the modern-era reduction vote to 15 finalists will be announced in early January. Two candidates who are recommended by the Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee will be added.

That group of 17 finalists will then be voted on at the Selection Committee’s annual meeting on Jan. 31, 2009 in Tampa. The Class of 2009 will be announced at a press conference following the meeting.

Here are the 25 modern-era semifinalists:
 
WR Cris Carter — 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins.

RB Roger Craig — 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings.

RB Terrell Davis — 1995-2001 Denver Broncos.

C Dermontti Dawson — 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers.

DE Richard Dent — 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles.

DE-LB Chris Doleman — 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers.

LB-DE Kevin Greene — 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers.

OG Russ Grimm — 1981-1991 Washington Redskins.

P Ray Guy — 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.

DE-LB Charles Haley — 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys.

CB Lester Hayes — 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders.

DT Cortez Kennedy — 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks.

OG Bob Kuechenberg — 1970-1984 Miami Dolphins.

OG Randall McDaniel — 1988-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-01 Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Owner Art Modell — 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2003 Baltimore Ravens.

DT John Randle — 1990-2000 Minnesota Vikings, 2001-03 Seattle Seahawks.

WR Andre Reed — 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins.

TE Shannon Sharpe — 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens.

DE Bruce Smith — 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000-03 Washington Redskins.

QB Ken Stabler — 1970-79 Oakland Raiders, 1980-81 Houston Oilers, 1982-84 New Orleans Saints.

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue — 1989-2006 National Football League.

Special-teams-WR Steve Tasker — 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills.

LB Derrick Thomas — 1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs.

Owner Ralph Wilson — 1960-current Buffalo Bills.

CB-S Rod Woodson — 1987-1996 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-2001 Baltimore Ravens, 2002-03 Oakland Raiders.

It's hard to cut this list to fifteen. Wait till it has to go from fifteen to seven or less.

But first do the cut to the fine fifteen. The two senior nominees', Dallas Cowboy WR Bob Hayes and Philadelphia Eagle/Atlanta Falcon DE Claude Humpherys get a pass and do not count against the fifteen. They do count against the final seven though.

Just making it to fifteen a bunch of great players were cut including New York Giants QB Phil Simms and RB Otis Anderson, Washington Redskin T Joe Jacoby, Dallas Cowboys DE Ed Too Tall Jones and S Darren Woodson, Kansas City Chief CB Albert Lewis, New York Jet NT Joe Klecko, Denver Bronco S Louie Wright, and Houston Oiler LB Robert Brazile.

All notable players but not on the fifteen.

So what ten players do you cut to make the fifteen?

Why is Art Modell on the list? Because he moved the Cleveland Browns and fired two of the game's greatest coaches in Paul Brown and Bill Belichick? Bye Bye Art.

Adios Paul Tagliabue. Yeah you made a lot of rich people richer flooded the networks with football. But was free agency all that great? And is your legacy that of a No Fun League that is all about the money?

Owner Ralph Wilson should be on a different ballot, not knocking players out.

It's hard for a special teams guy to make it, so so long Steve Tasker.

And it's harder for a punter. Good-bye Guy.

Cortez Kennedy was good but was he great?

Out of all of the above pass rushers, who was the best?

Not Charles Haley who was not a great run defender and his portrayal in a recent book as a sociopathic, racist, sexual pervert will not help his cause any.

Should Shannon Sharpe be a first ballot Hall player?

Was Derrick Thomas too one-dimensional?

Did John Randle play the run well enough?

That knocks the list to 17 counting the seniors.

Good luck cutting at least ten guys from that group.

Especially since Bruce Smith and Rod Woodson are almost sure things. That leaves five or less spots. And the two seniors always have the inside track.

Good Luck picking.

My final picks DE Bruce Smith, S Rod Woodson, WR Bob Hayes, CB Lester Hayes, DE Richard Dent, WR Cris Carter, and G Russ Grimm.