Hall of Fame announces Preliminary List

[Giantmetfan07]

Defensive end Bruce Smith, defensive back Rod Woodson and tight end Shannon Sharpe are first-year eligible candidates among the list of 133 players, coaches and contributors who make up the preliminary list of modern-era nominees for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2009.

The preliminary list includes 110 players, seven coaches and 16 contributors, including former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and longtime team owners Bud Adams, Jerry Jones, Art Modell and Ralph Wilson.

Preliminary list of nominees for class of 2009
First-year eligible nominees:
RUNNING BACKS -- Larry Centers, Brian Mitchell (also KR/PR).

TIGHT ENDS -- Shannon Sharpe, Frank Wycheck.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE -- Lincoln Kennedy.

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN -- John Randle (DE/DT), Bruce Smith (DE), Dana Stubblefield (DT).

LINEBACKER -- Jessie Armstead.

DEFENSIVE BACKS -- Darren Woodson (S), Rod Woodson (CB/S).

Additional nominees:
QUARTERBACKS -- Ken Anderson, Boomer Esiason, Jim Plunkett, Phil Simms, Ken Stabler, Joe Theismann, Doug Williams.

RUNNING BACKS -- Ottis Anderson, Roger Craig, Terrell Davis, Greg Pruitt (also KR/PR), Herschel Walker, Ricky Watters.

WIDE RECEIVERS -- Cliff Branch, Harold Carmichael, *Cris Carter, Wes Chandler, Gary Clark, Isaac Curtis, Henry Ellard, Irving Fryar, Roy Green, Harold Jackson, Herman Moore, Stanley Morgan, *Andre Reed, Sterling Sharpe.

TIGHT ENDS -- Mark Bavaro, Todd Christensen, Ben Coates, Russ Francis, Brent Jones, Steve Jordan.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN -- Tony Boselli (T), Lomas Brown (T), Jim Covert (T), Randy Cross (G/C), Dave Dalby ©, Dermontti Dawson ©, Ray Donaldson ©, *Russ Grimm (G), Jay Hilgenberg ©, Kent Hill (G/T), Chris Hinton (G/T), Kent Hull ©, Joe Jacoby (T), Mike Kenn (T), *Bob Kuechenberg (G), Jim Lachey (T), Henry Lawrence (G/T), Mark May (G/T/C), *Randall McDaniel (G), Max Montoya (G), Marvin Powell (T), Steve Wisniewski (G).

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN -- Ray Childress (DT/DE), *Richard Dent (DE), Chris Doleman (DE/LB), Carl "Big Daddy" Hairston (DE/DT), Charles Haley (DE/LB), Ed "Too Tall" Jones (DE), Cortez Kennedy (DT), Joe Klecko (DE/DT/NT), Steve McMichael (DT/NT), Leslie O'Neal (DE), Fred Smerlas (NT), Art Still (DE).

LINEBACKERS -- Cornelius Bennett, Robert Brazile, Kevin Greene (LB/DE), Ken Harvey, Rickey Jackson, Tom Jackson, Clay Matthews, Karl Mecklenburg, Sam Mills, Hardy Nickerson, Chris Spielman, Pat Swilling, Darryl Talley, *Derrick Thomas.

DEFENSIVE BACKS -- Eric Allen (CB), Steve Atwater (S), Joey Browner (S), LeRoy Butler (S), Deron Cherry (S), Raymond Clayborn (CB), Kenny Easley (S), Lester Hayes (CB), Albert Lewis (CB), Ken Riley (CB), Eugene Robinson (S), Donnie Shell (S), Louis Wright (CB).

PUNTERS/KICKERS -- Rich Camarillo (P), *Ray Guy (P), Nick Lowery (K), Reggie Roby (P).

SPECIAL TEAMS/WIDE RECEIVER -- Steve Tasker.

COACHES -- Don Coryell, Tom Flores, Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Clark Shaughnessy.

nfl.com

A lot of great names on there like Jimmy Johnson, Bruce Smith and Joe Theismann.

 

[.GR]

Shannon Sharpe <3

 

[MapleLeaf]

put derrick thomas in it now.......

 

[Macken]

yeah thats a good solid list. dont disagree one bit

 

[A.E]

Ralph C. Wilson Jr. above anybody else on the list.

The guy goes way back to being one of the pioneers of the AFL and helping to merge it with the NFL.

 

[wade3]

No Emmitt Smith? wtf?

 

[MapleLeaf]

While no player has worn it since his death, the Chiefs have not retired Thomas' #58. Thomas was also elected to the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 2001. He was a finalist for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2005, his first year of eligibility. The following three years, Thomas was named a finalist but was not elected.

In 2008, NFL.com selected the Top Ten players who had not yet been elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Thomas ranked #2 due to the fact that he was a defensive player, which in the mindset of the public, offensive players are more glamourous and have more exposure, and some also questioned his efforts against the run.

 

[Hoffa]

Darren Woodson! I'm happy his on there.