[Elvis]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap300000 ... 2016-class

Semifinalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2016 class

The Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2016 was trimmed down to 25 on Tuesday during NFL Network's Gold Jacket Semifinalists special.

Hall of Fame voting

The original field of 108 nominees and these selections will be cut to 15 in early January. The group of semifinalists includes 22 players and three coaches, with 15 players on offense alone. Two of the biggest names are in their first year of eligibility: Brett Favre and Terrell Owens. Favre is certain to be a first-ballot choice, while T.O. will be one of the more fascinating case studies in recent history. The third player in his first year of eligibility, Alan Fancea, also has a real chance to make it to Canton.

The Class of 2016 then will be selected on Jan. 31 from the list of 15 modern-era finalists plus three senior nominees. The 2016 Senior Finalists are Ken Stabler (QB with Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints) and Dick Stanfel (Guard with Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins).

Former Broncos running back (and current NFL Network analyst) Terrell Davis and former Rams linebacker Kevin Greene have made the semifinalist list ten times, the most of any of the nominees. Marvin Harrison, Tony Dungy, Don Coryell, and Ty Law are also among the most fascinating names that will be debated in January.

A look at the complete list is below, and NFL Media's Elliot Harrison ranks the 25 players right here:


1) Morten Andersen, K -- New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings (Times as a Semifinalist: 4)

2) Steve Atwater, S -- Denver Broncos, New York Jets (times as a semifinalist: 5)

3) Tony Boselli, T -- Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans (times as a semifinalist: 1)

4) Isaac Bruce, WR -- Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, San Francisco 49ers (times as a semifinalist: 2)

5) Don Coryell, Coach -- St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Chargers (times as a semifinalist: 8)

6) Roger Craig, RB -- San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Raiders, Minnesota Vikings (times as a semifinalist: 8)

7) Terrell Davis, RB -- Denver Broncos (times as a semifinalist: 10)

8) Tony Dungy, Coach -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Indianapolis Colts (times as a semifinalist: 3)

9) Alan Faneca, G -- Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals (times as a semifinalist: 1)

10) Brett Favre, QB -- Atlanta Falcons, Green Bay Packers, New York Jets, Minnesota Vikings (times as a semifinalist: 1)
11) Kevin Greene, LB/DE -- Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers (times as a semifinalist: 10)
12) Marvin Harrison, WR -- Indianapolis Colts (times as a semifinalist: 3)
13) Torry Holt, WR -- St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars (times as a semifinalist: 2)
14) Joe Jacoby, T -- Washington Redskins (times as a semifinalist: 6)
15) Edgerrin James, RB -- Indianapolis Colts, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks (times as a semifinalist: 2)

16) Jimmy Johnson, Coach -- Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins (times as a semifinalist: 3)
17) Mike Kenn, T -- Atlanta Falcons (times as a semifinalist: 2)
18) Ty Law, CB -- New England Patriots, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos (times as a semifinalist: 2)


19) John Lynch, FS -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos (times as a semifinalist: 4)
20) Kevin Mawae, C/G -- Seattle Seahawks, New York Jets, Tennessee Titans (times as a semifinalist: 2)

21) Karl Mecklenburg, LB -- Denver Broncos (times as a semifinalist: 5)

22) Sam Mills, LB -- New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers (times as a semifinalist: 1)

23) Terrell Owens, WR -- San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals (times as a semifinalist: 1)

24) Orlando Pace, T -- St. Louis Rams, Chicago Bears (times as a semifinalist: 2)

25) Kurt Warner, QB -- St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, Arizona Cardinals (times as a semifinalist: 2)

Visit the Pro Football Hall of Fame's website for more information on the 2016 nominees. Who do you think should be in the Hall? Vote now!

[Elvis]

[moklerman]

I hope Kurt makes it in this year but I fear he will not. The only reason he didn't make it in last year is because the writers didn't want him to be first ballot. Which I don't get. A player is either good enough to be in or he isn't. Holding someone out because it's "too soon" just makes me not even value these awards. The more I learn about writers, the more worthless they seem.

Since Favre is going in automatically, they'll fall back on "two QB's can't go in this year" so Kurt's going to have to wait again IMO.

Pace should already be in. Bruce should already be in.

I think Stabler will get in because he just died. I think he was already worthy but it takes something like dying for the writers to take the stick out of their ass and elect someone who's actually deserving.

Obviously Favre.

T.O. should get in but I'm not sure. He might fall victim to the "first ballot" unwritten rule.

Faneca's probably in but not deserving. He played much of his career for Pittsburgh though and that's all it usually takes.

I'd put Jimmy Johnson and Don Coryell in there but I have no idea why they still haven't made it.

Which leads me to my biggest gripe about the whole process. How can one talk about the fame of the history of the NFL and not have guys like Stabler, JJ, Coryell, Warner, T. Davis, etc.? Sure, they may not have the longevity and durability aspects but they were STARS. It's the Joe Namath/Gale Sayers rule. Some guys shone too bright to be left out.