Ray Lewis Among Active NFL Players Who Should Be Headed for the Hall of Fame

Every year, new players are added to the Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

Debates rage on and on about who should be in, who shouldn't be in, and who will or will not be in.

While most of the focus goes towards players already retired, I decided to take a look at some active players who will be, or could be Canton-bound.

*Players will be listed by Name, Position, Team they associate in the hall*

Ray Lewis - LB - Baltimore Ravens

Ray Lewis is probably the second best middle linebacker to ever play, only behind the great Dick Butkus. He is a consistent player in that Baltimore defense, and has been for a long time. He was the leader of what some would call one of the best defenses ever when he anchored that Super Bowl-winning 2000 Ravens' team. Ray Lewis instills fear into every offense and offensive coordinator unfortunate enough to have to play against him.

Lorenzo Neal - FB - San Diego Chargers

Lorenzo Neal is a guy who probably will not enter the Hall of Fame, but only because of the flaw in the Hall of Fame's system. As a fullback, he does not have the rushing numbers to go in as a running back, but also does not get recognized the same way as a lineman would because fullbacks generally bounce around from team to team. But the fact is Lorenzo Neal has 11 straight years of blocking for a 1,000-yard rusher. He's a hard-nosed guy who represents everything that is great about football.

Ed Reed - FS - Baltimore Ravens

Ed Reed is the third best safety to ever play, right behind Brian Dawkins and Ronnie Lott. Ed Reed can not only lay a hit on any receiver unfortunate enough to come across the middle, but is a ball-hawk. He may be the most opportunistic safety in the history of the league and is a highlight-reel machine. An exciting player to watch, and should see his bust in the hall.

Jamal Lewis - RB - Baltimore Ravens

One of a select few running backs in the league's history with 10,000 rushing yards and one of only five other players to run for more than 2,000 yards in a single season. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards in six of his last seven season and at one point owned the NFL record for rushing yards in a single game (295). If he performs consistently for the next few years he should find his way into Canton eventually.

Marvin Harrison - WR - Indianapolis Colts

Marvin Harrison is a no-brainer pick and should be a first-ballot guy. He has moved into second place all time in receptions with just two over 1,100. He owns the record for receptions in a season with 143 and is just shy of 130 touchdowns for his career. While he may not have the flash of a Jerry Rice or Cris Carter, he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath. Punch his ticket right now.

Peyton Manning - QB - Indianapolis Colts

In only 11 years, Peyton Manning has amassed over 45,000 passing yards and 333 touchdowns thrown. He has won a Super Bowl and was voted MVP in that game. He has never missed a game in his entire career and is one of the most spectacular quarterbacks to ever put on a helmet. Another sure-fire guy who will have no problem entering the Hall of Fame.

Fred Taylor - RB - Jacksonville Jaguars

Fred Taylor is a guy who does not get much national exposure because of the market he plays in, and therefore has been overlooked his entire career. He has amassed over 11,000 rushing yards and has seven seasons where he rushed for over 1,000 yards. The only knock on Fred Taylor has been his issues with injury, but he always bounces back and performs at a high level. His body of work gets him in.

Tony Gonzalez - TE - Kansas City Chiefs

Outside of Kellen Winslow, Sr. Tony Gonzalez is the best tight end to ever grace a football field. The man blocks like a tackle, and catches like a wide receiver. He has revolutionized a position that once was nothing more than an extra tackle. Gonzalez holds almost every conceivable record for tight ends. He'll be a first ballot Hall of Fame entry.

Tom Brady - QB - New England Patriots

Tom Brady is this generation's Terry Bradshaw. While the stats aren't as great as most people have been led to believe, he wins. After not starting his rookie season, the unknown sixth round draft pick out of Michigan was thrust into a starting role once the face of the franchise Drew Bledsoe was knocked out of a game in 2001 and he has not relinquished the role until his recent injury. Despite not throwing for more than 28 touchdowns until the 2007 season, Brady has never thrown more than 14 interceptions, holds the record for 50 touchdown passes in a season, and more importantly is a three-time Super Bowl winner.

Brett Favre - QB - Green Bay Packers

Arguably the best quarterback to ever play. Brett Favre holds every major passing record from yards to touchdowns to interceptions. He's not an overly tall man, or a physical specimen to challenge a titan, but he has a love for the game that is unrivaled and has produced one of the most spectacular careers in NFL history. Guaranteed in Canton.

Kevin Mawae - C - New York Jets

The best center, ever. Kevin Mawae is a constant professional on and off the field, as he is actively involved in the NFLPA and is currently the president of said organization. He is in his 15th season and has made the Pro Bowl. The main statistic for a lineman is longevity and durability; Kevin Mawae had not missed a game for 10 years, '95-'04.

Olin Kruetz - C - Chicago Bears

Olin Kruetz is a fantastic center, a man any team would love to anchor their offensive line around. He's a quarterback on the line, putting everyone where they need to be allowing the Chicago offense to run since '99. He has an active starting streak dating back to 2003 and is showing no signs of slowing down. A few more years of holding up the way he has and Kruetz should make his way to Ohio.

Brian Urlacher - LB - Chicago Bears

Urlacher has been the face of the Chicago Bears since 2000. He is the only reason the Bears can run the Tampa 2 that Lovie Smith brought with him to Chicago. He's a player that must be accounted for at all times and gameplanned around. Usually I say a player has to be the best at his position at some point to be in the Hall of Fame, but with Ray Lewis playing that's just not possible. A few more years of playing at a high level and he's in.

Terrell Owens - WR - San Francisco 49ers

The drama of Terrell Owens is well-documented, unfortunately his play then becomes overshadowed. If it was a good-guy hall of fame, "T.O." would not even be in the conversation, but since it's based on football performance, he's an obvious choice. Ignoring a 2005 season in which he was suspended as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles, he has eight consecutive 1,000 yard seasons. In the 2009 season, he will more than likely eclipse 1,000 receptions, 15,000 yards, and 150 touchdowns. That has "Hall of Fame" written all over it.

Brian Dawkins - FS - Philadelphia Eagles

He's been the catalyst of a high-octane Philadelphia defense for a very long time. He's feared by anyone with a route to be run across the middle and has earned the title of Weapon X for his big-time hits. Dawkins is the Eagles' franchise leader in interceptions and games played. He also is the longest-tenured athlete in Philadelphia sports, a difficult task to keep the Philadelphia crowd happy for so long. Second best safety to ever play, behind Ronnie Lott.

Donovan McNabb - QB - Philadelphia Eagles

Donovan McNabb has been spectacular in his 10-year career. He owns every franchise record for the Philadelphia Eagles, not an easy feat considering the level of talent to play quarterback in Philadelphia. On top of franchise records, McNabb is the only quarterback in NFL history to throw over 30 touchdowns and less than 10 interceptions in the same year. He also owns the lowest TD:INT ratio in the league's history. He's on his way to being only the fourth quarterback to pass for over 30,000 yards and rush for 5,000. He currently sits at 29,320 yards passing and 3,109 rushing.

Jon Runyan - T - Philadelphia Eagles

Jon Runyan is one of the most underrated players in the NFL, and one of the most unfairly-hated. Runyan has earned a reputation as a dirty player because of his habit of playing right until the whistle. He will hit a defensive player standing around a pile, or do whatever it takes to make a block. He holds the third-longest active starting streak behind Brett Favre and Derrick Brooks. He has not missed a game since his rookie season in 1996.

Isaac Bruce - WR - St. Louis Rams

Isaac Bruce, in his younger days, was a receiver who scared defensive coordinators. No one dared cover him one-on-one, and if they did, they paid for it. His route running was phenomenal and he seemed to naturally secrete "Stick 'Em." His presence on the other side of the field helped Torry Holt to blossom into the receiver he is and was with the Greatest Show On Turf. Bruce ranks near the top in most receiving categories and should get in given his body of work.

Walter Jones - T - Seattle Seahawks

Walter Jones has manned down the left side of Seattle's line for the past 12 years, and done a fine job of it. He has earned the respect of the league for his toughness, missing only a few games throughout his magnificent career. He was a big reason the Seahawks made their first Super Bowl in 2005 and held down the NFC West throughout the better part of the last decade. His superior play is directly related and responsible for the success of Matt Hasselbeck, a top-notch NFL quarterback when healthy.

Torry Holt - WR - St. Louis Rams

Torry Holt put up good numbers as a rookie in '99 while supplementing Isaac Bruce, but in 2000 is when Holt really burst onto the scene. With 82 catches and over 1,600 yards receiving, he stamped his place as one of the elite receivers in the NFL. Since 2000, Holt had eight consecutive years of 1,000 receiving yards, twice going over 100 receptions. The Rams dismal 2008 season put that streak to an end, but even on a bad team Holt was a bright spot. He's often known as the best route runner in football and should find a place in Canton.

Derrick Brooks - LB - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Iron Man. Derrick Brooks has not missed a single game since his rookie season. Even in his rookie season, he only missed three. He's been a keystone in Monte Kiffin's defense down in Tampa and has made a name for himself in doing such. He can tackle, cover, and blitz with the best of them. Even being as undersized as he is (at about 6 feet tall and 230 pounds), he is a tough, no-nonsense competitor. He lead the Buccaneers to their first Super Bowl victory, and should have won MVP. Stamp his ticket.

All of these players, I feel, should be in the Hall of Fame when all is said and done. They are players who are constantly at the top of their game and are the model for their positions. They have added a certain enigma to the game of football with their unprecedented performance, skill, and ability.

They belong etched into football greatness, in football immortality, the Professional Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.