Modern Era Nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class

[JohnTurney]

Modern Era Nominees for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2016
(108 nominees)
*Finalist in 2015; CAPS UNDERLINED indicate first year of eligibility

QUARTERBACKS (6)
Drew Bledsoe, BRETT FAVRE, Steve McNair, Phil Simms, Vinny Testaverde, *Kurt Warner

RUNNING BACKS (15)
Shaun Alexander, Ottis Anderson, Tiki Barber, Roger Craig, Stephen Davis, *Terrell Davis, Eddie George, Priest Holmes, Edgerrin James, Daryl Johnston, Jamal Lewis, CLINTON PORTIS, Herschel Walker (also KR), Ricky Watters, BRIAN WESTBROOK

WIDE RECEIVERS (9)
Isaac Bruce, Gary Clark, Henry Ellard (also PR), *Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, TERRELL OWENS, Sterling Sharpe, Jimmy Smith, Rod Smith

TIGHT ENDS (2)
Mark Bavaro, Jay Novacek

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (19)
Tony Boselli (T), Jeff Bostic (C), Jim Covert (T), ALAN FANECA (G), Jay Hilgenberg (C), Chris Hinton (G/T), Kent Hull (C), Joe Jacoby (T), Jon Jansen (T), Mike Kenn (T), Jim Lachey (T), Kevin Mawae (C/G), Mark May (G/T/C), Tom Nalen (C), Nate Newton (G), *Orlando Pace (T), Chris Samuels (T), Mark Schlereth (G), Steve Wisniewski (G)

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6)
Dexter Manley (DE), Charles Mann (DE), Leslie O’Neal (DE), Simeon Rice (DE), Fred Smerlas (NT), Bryant Young (DT)

LINEBACKERS (13)
Cornelius Bennett, Tedy Bruschi, KEITH BULLUCK, *Kevin Greene (also DE), Ken Harvey, Levon Kirkland, Clay Matthews, Willie McGinest (also DE), Karl Mecklenburg, Matt Millen, Sam Mills, Zach Thomas, MIKE VRABEL

DEFENSIVE BACKS (14)
Eric Allen (CB), Steve Atwater (S), Joey Browner (S), LeRoy Butler (S), Rodney Harrison (S), Ty Law (CB), Albert Lewis (CB), *John Lynch (S), LAWYER MILLOY (SS), DARREN SHARPER (FS), Shawn Springs (CB), Troy Vincent (CB/S), Everson Walls (CB), Darren Woodson (S)

KICKERS/PUNTER(6)
*Morten Andersen (K), Gary Anderson (K), JOHN CARNEY (K), Jason Elam (K), Sean Landeta (P), Nick Lowery (K)

SPECIAL TEAMS/POSITION PLAYERS (3)
ETHAN ALBRIGHT (LS), Brian Mitchell (KR/PR also RB), Steve Tasker (also WR)

COACHES (15)
*Don Coryell, Bill Cowher, *Tony Dungy, Tom Flores, Mike Holmgren, *Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Richie Petitbon, Dan Reeves, Pete Rodriguez, Lou Saban, Marty Schottenheimer, Clark Shaughnessy, Dick Vermeil

[Gary Najman]

It's a shame that Deron Cherry couldn't crack the preliminary list in his final year of eligibility. He was more worthy to be included in the list than others.

Again Richmond Webb (7 Pro Bowls, 2 1st All-Pro, 2 2nd All-Pro) isn't included while fellow tackle Jon Jansen (0 Pro Bowls, 0 1st All-Pro, 1 2nd All-Pro) is on the list. I have wrotten to the HOF in the past to have Webb included, but they have ignored me. I don't know if Webb is HOF material, but he deserves at least to be in consideration with the other 108 candidates.

[bachslunch]

Agreed with Teo on both counts.

Also wondering how Pete Rodriguez made the list when the likes of Buddy Ryan, Bill Arnsparger, and Richie Petitbon did not.

[Bryan]

The best RB in that group is Terrell Davis. The best WR in that group is Sterling Sharpe. The best OL in that group is Tony Boselli. Mark Bavaro is the equal of any TE who has played, and IMO was better than two TEs already in (Sanders and Ditka). If we are giving out "lifetime/Dick LeBeau" selections, Richie Petibon would be an excellent choice. An elite safety who was a full-time starter for 13 years, followed up by a distinguished defensive coordinator career.

I doubt any of those five get much consideration.

[bachslunch]

Agreed with Teo on both counts.

Also wondering how Pete Rodriguez made the list when the likes of Buddy Ryan, Bill Arnsparger, and Richie Petitbon did not.

My mistake -- Petitbon did make the list. The other two didn't.

[bachslunch]

The best RB in that group is Terrell Davis. The best WR in that group is Sterling Sharpe. The best OL in that group is Tony Boselli. Mark Bavaro is the equal of any TE who has played, and IMO was better than two TEs already in (Sanders and Ditka). If we are giving out "lifetime/Dick LeBeau" selections, Richie Petibon would be an excellent choice. An elite safety who was a full-time starter for 13 years, followed up by a distinguished defensive coordinator career.

I doubt any of those five get much consideration.

Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if TDavis gets in a few years down the road. That all decade team membership won't hurt him any with the voters.

Davis, Sharpe, and Boselli definitely are excellent options for peak. Otherwise, we're talking Edgerrin James at RB, Marvin Harrison at WR, and Orlando Pace or Alan Faneca at OL.

I can see an argument that Bavaro is better than Sanders, who is probably the weakest TE in the HoF. You're going to have to convince me he was better than Ditka, though.

[Gary Najman]

Another glaring omissions are 6-time Pro Bowler safeties Tim McDonald and Dennis Smith.

[Gary Najman]

As for the quarterbacks, I am surprised neither Randall Cunningham or Boomer Esiason made the cut.

[Bryan]

I can see an argument that Bavaro is better than Sanders, who is probably the weakest TE in the HoF. You're going to have to convince me he was better than Ditka, though.

Once Ditka left the Bears, his career was pretty unremarkable, and his time away from the Bears accounts for 6 of his 12 seasons. He averaged about 15 receptions for 200 yards during those years. But when I looked at Bavaro's career, I didn't realize how short his "peak" was. It was essentially 1986-1988, and including 1988 might be generous. Ditka had a longer time at the top of his position. So upon further review, maybe my memory of Bavaro is a bit cloudy.

[rhickok1109]

I can see an argument that Bavaro is better than Sanders, who is probably the weakest TE in the HoF. You're going to have to convince me he was better than Ditka, though.

Once Ditka left the Bears, his career was pretty unremarkable, and his time away from the Bears accounts for 6 of his 12 seasons. He averaged about 15 receptions for 200 yards during those years. But when I looked at Bavaro's career, I didn't realize how short his "peak" was. It was essentially 1986-1988, and including 1988 might be generous. Ditka had a longer time at the top of his position. So upon further review, maybe my memory of Bavaro is a bit cloudy.

Bavaro was a good blocker. Ditka was a great blocker.