FInal 15

[JohnTurney]

Here are the 15
Troy Polamalu, S—2003-2014 Pittsburgh Steelers
John Lynch, S -- 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos
Steve Atwater, S -- 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets
LeRoy Butler, S -- 1990-2001 Green Bay Packers
Edgerrin James, RB—1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks
Zach Thomas, LB—1996-2007 Miami Dolphins, 2008 Dallas Cowboys
Sam Mills, LB -- 1986-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers
Bryant Young, DT—1994-2007 San Francisco 49ers
Richard Seymour, DE/DT -- 2001-08 New England Patriots, 2009-2012 Oakland Raiders
Reggie Wayne, WR —2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts
Torry Holt, WR—1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars
Isaac Bruce, WR—1994-2007 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 2008-09 San Francisco 49ers
Steve Hutchinson, G,—2001-12 Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans
Alan Faneca, G,—G -- 2001-05 Seattle Seahawks, 2006-2011 Minnesota Vikings, 2012 Tennessee Titans
Tony Boselli, T, —1995-2001 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2002 Houston Texans (IR)

[JohnTurney]

ranks in order of grades by Proscout

Troy Polamalu
Bryant Young
Tony Boselli
Richard Seymour
Steve Hutchinson
Leroy Butler
Edgerrin James
Isaac Bruce
Sam Mills
Steve Atwater
Zach Thomas
Alan Faneca
John Lynch
Torry Holt
Reggie Wayne

[ChrisBabcock]

Sam Mills is a bit of a surprise. Has he made it to the final 15 before? I can't remember for sure but it seems to me he hasn't.

[JohnTurney]

Sam Mills is a bit of a surprise. Has he made it to the final 15 before? I can't remember for sure but it seems to me he hasn't.

I think he's been on Final 25 a few times, not FInal 15

A solid list, top to bottom. Case can be made for all 15

[JuggernautJ]

ranks in order of grades by Proscout

Troy Polamalu
Bryant Young
Tony Boselli
Richard Seymour
Steve Hutchinson

Wouldn't that be a great class?
3 of 5 defensive players and the only offensive players would be linemen.

Whataya think the odds of that happening are?

[JohnTurney]

Wouldn't that be a great class?
3 of 5 defensive players and the only offensive players would be linemen.

Whataya think the odds of that happening are?

Zero %

[bachslunch]

Agreed, it’s a fine list. All are deserving, no major quibbles.

A little surprised Patrick Willis didn’t make it, but the other two LBs have been waiting a while. His short career is obviously an issue. The three biggest surprises for me are Sam Mills and Bryant Young, plus Reggie Wayne being a first time finalist. Was wondering if Hines Ward would be a finalist since he’s next in the WR queue in seniority after Torry Holt. Wayne jumped the line, surprisingly.

Nice to see Leroy Butler and Zach Thomas get this far also.

[bachslunch]

As to who the final five might be, that’s becoming more of a crapshoot. Definitely think Polamalu, James, at least one other safety (probably Atwater), and at least one OL (probably Faneca since he has been waiting longest) get elected for sure. How strongly the voters feel about Sam Mills will be interesting, as he only has a couple years of eligibility left (his 4/5/none profile is decent at the position, which is under-represented in Canton for this time period).

My guess for now:

Polamalu
Atwater
Faneca
James
Boselli.

But Mills, Bruce, Seymour, or someone else could surprise.

[JohnTurney]

My guess for now:

Polamalu
Atwater
Faneca
James
Boselli.

But Mills, Bruce, Seymour, or someone else could surprise.

I think that;s a good guess---Faneca could lose a bit with Palomalu (2 steelers)
Seymour (with Bill B's influence) might supplant Atwater---

but your guess could be money

[Bryan]

ranks in order of grades by Proscout

Troy Polamalu
Bryant Young
Tony Boselli
Richard Seymour
Steve Hutchinson
Leroy Butler
Edgerrin James
Isaac Bruce
Sam Mills
Steve Atwater
Zach Thomas
Alan Faneca
John Lynch
Torry Holt
Reggie Wayne

Interesting rankings...its pretty much how I'd rank them with a couple exceptions. I loved Polamalu, and I thought Boselli and Hutchinson were among the very best at their position when they played. Surprised that Hutchinson hasn't been inducted yet, and Boselli's short career is keeping him out. Bryant Young is definitely a sleeper. Not sure if a DT without a pass rush reputation like Randle or Sapp can get into Canton, even if Young only has 7 fewer sacks than Sapp.

Always thought Butler was superior to Atwater and Lynch because Butler could do it all. Thought Faneca was a tad bit overrated and not on the level of Hutchinson. Reggie Wayne and Torry Holt were very good WRs, but somewhat a product of their surroundings and not HOF caliber, IMO.

I was surprised to see Mills ranked over Zach Thomas. Perhaps Mills was a heavier hitter (22 FF vs. 16 FF for Thomas), but Thomas is superior to Mills in almost every counting stat and honor/award. I would be interested in knowing what areas Proscout felt Mills was better than Thomas.

As for the list of 15 finalists, I think they did a great job in paring down the 25 semifinalists. These are really the best 15 of that group, IMO.