2008 Hof

[Blaze_1UP]

Modern era semi-finalists for Class of 2008

Wide receiver Cris Carter and cornerback Darrell Green are the only first-year eligible players to make the list of 26 semi-finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2008. The Hall of Fame’s Board of Selectors chose the 26 semi-finalists from the recently announced list of 124 preliminary nominees. The list includes one more than the required 25 since there was a tie for the twenty-fifth position. Hall of Fame selection by-laws provide for the inclusion of all ties for the twenty-fifth position on the ballot.
Nominees included on the semi-finalist list for the first time, although eligible prior to this year, include linebacker Rickey Jackson and defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy. Each of the remaining 22 nominees has been on the semi-finalist list at least once prior to this year.
The list of 26 semi-finalists will be reduced by mail ballot to 15 modern-era candidates. That list will increase to 17 finalist nominees with the inclusion of the two recommended candidates of the Hall of Fame’s Seniors Committee. The Seniors Committee nominees, who were announced in August, are Marshall Goldberg and Emmitt Thomas. Goldberg, a multi-purpose back starred with the Chicago Cardinals (1939-1943, 1946-48). Thomas, an all-league cornerback played 13 seasons (1966-1978) for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The results of the modern-era reduction vote to 15 finalists will be announced in mid-January.
To be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a nominated player or coach must have been retired at least five years. A contributor, who is a nominee who has made outstanding contributions to pro football in capacities other than playing and coaching, may still be active in his pro football career.
This is the first year that coaches are affected by the mandatory five-year waiting period; one of three significant changes to the selection process by-laws approved by the Hall of Fame’s Board of Trustees effective this year. The other major changes include increasing the minimum and maximum number of nominees that can be elected from a minimum of three and a maximum of six, to a minimum of four and a maximum of seven. The Board of Trustees also approved an increase in the number of selectors on the Selection Committee from 40 to 44.
The Class of 2008 will be determined at the Selection Committee's annual meeting on Saturday, February 2, 2008, in Phoenix, Arizona the day before Super Bowl XLII. The election results are announced immediately following the meeting at a press conference at the media headquarters.

The list of modern-era semi-finalists includes:

Cris Carter, WR – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
Terrell Davis, RB – 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
Dermontti Dawson, C – 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
Fred Dean, DE – 1975-1981 San Diego Chargers, 1981-85 San Francisco 49ers
Richard Dent, DE – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
Randy Gradishar, LB – 1974-1983 Denver Broncos
Darrell Green, CB – 1983-2002 Washington Redskins
Kevin Greene, LB/DE – 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
Russ Grimm, G – 1981-1991 Washington Redskins
Ray Guy, P – 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Charles Haley, DE/LB – 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
Lester Hayes, CB – 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Rickey Jackson, LB – 1981-1993 New Orleans Saints, 1994-95 San Francisco 49ers
Joe Jacoby, T – 1981-1993 Washington Redskins
Cortez Kennedy, DT – 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks
Bob Kuechenberg, G – 1970-1984 Miami Dolphins
Randall McDaniel, G – 1988-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-01 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Art Monk, WR – 1980-1993 Washington Redskins, 1994 New York Jets, 1995 Philadelphia Eagles
Andre Reed, WR –1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Ken Stabler, QB – 1970-79 Oakland Raiders, 1980-81 Houston Oilers, 1982-84 New Orleans Saints
Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League
Steve Tasker, Special Teams/WR – 1985-1986 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills
Derrick Thomas, LB – 1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs
Andre Tippett, LB – 1982-1993 New England Patriots
George Young, GM/Administrator – 1968-1974 Baltimore Colts, 1975-78 Miami Dolphins, 1979-1997 New York Giants, 1998-2001 National Football League
Gary Zimmerman, T – 1986-1992 Minnesota Vikings, 1993-97 Denver Broncos

The top 10 that I'd select would be

Derrick Thomas, Andre Reed, Art Monk, Cortez Kennedy, Charles Haley, Cris Carter, Terrell Davis, Richard Dent, Darrell Green, Kevin Greene.

[MesaRunner]

I would hope that Terrell Davis get's the nod.

[Who Dat?]

This is before a lot of people's time on this board prolly but Ray Guy deserves to be in the HOF. When you have an award named after you, I don't care if you were the equipment mgr, you should get in the HOF. When you're the consensus best at your position to ever live AINEC, you should get in.

[Gzus]

I think Terrell Davis is a great player, but his career was way too short to be going in, Cris Carter is a lock, Tagliabue will likely be in, and I really hope Charles Haley gets in this time around.

[Jay]

Derrick Thomas (needs to get in)

Ken Stabler (the fact he's not already in is a joke)

Cris Carter (a lock best posession receiver ever)

Ray Guy (the first ever punter, definitely needs to get in)

Terrell Davis (he didn't do it long enough)

Cortez Kennedy (a beast in his day and near unblockable but played on crappy teams)

Dermontti Dawson (tough for a center to get the nod but he was 1 of the best)

Rickey Jackson (I would love to see a member of the dome patrol get the nod but I doubt it ... next up Sam Mills then Pat Swilling)

Andre Tippett (no knock on Tippett but Robert Brazile was LT before there was an LT and I haven't seen him get his props yet ... bias any?)

[Who Dat?]

Originally Posted by Jay

Rickey Jackson (I would love to see a member of the dome patrol get the nod but I doubt it ... next up Sam Mills then Pat Swilling)

I would love to see one in as well but the fact that no one cog was better than the unit itself lends to the fact that although it was one of the best LBing corps in recent memory, not a one of them singularly will be ushered in. The fact that all 4 of them made the Pro Bowl in 1992 is one of the more remarkable accomplishments in Saints history.

[SaintedBroncos24]

Originally Posted by Jay

Derrick Thomas (needs to get in)

Ken Stabler (the fact he's not already in is a joke)

Cris Carter (a lock best posession receiver ever)

Ray Guy (the first ever punter, definitely needs to get in)

Terrell Davis (he didn't do it long enough)

Cortez Kennedy (a beast in his day and near unblockable but played on crappy teams)

Dermontti Dawson (tough for a center to get the nod but he was 1 of the best)

Rickey Jackson (I would love to see a member of the dome patrol get the nod but I doubt it ... next up Sam Mills then Pat Swilling)

Andre Tippett (no knock on Tippett but Robert Brazile was LT before there was an LT and I haven't seen him get his props yet ... bias any?)

Davis didn't do it long enough? Hate to tell you but theres players who made it in for less time in the league than TD and TD was outstanding leading the Broncos to 2 Superbowls back to back (without him Elway would be another Marino) a season season rushing record WAY over 1000 yards in each of his first 4 seasons and was getting better before his injury. If not this time then next but he WILL be in there sooner or later.

[SaintedBroncos24]

Originally Posted by Who Dat?

I would love to see one in as well but the fact that no one cog was better than the unit itself lends to the fact that although it was one of the best LBing corps in recent memory, not a one of them singularly will be ushered in. The fact that all 4 of them made the Pro Bowl in 1992 is one of the more remarkable accomplishments in Saints history.

Yeah now it's the exact opposite good offense, terrible defense. If the Saints can ever get them both good in the same year........

[NFL_WIZARD]

Ken Stabler for sure. It is a travesty he isnt in already!

[Blaze_1UP]

Great QB I agree, 4 time pro bowler and a Super Bowl Champ but his stats don't look so good. 194 TD's and 222 INT's with a passing completion of 59%.

[Jay]

Originally Posted by SaintedBroncos24

Davis didn't do it long enough? Hate to tell you but theres players who made it in for less time in the league than TD and TD was outstanding leading the Broncos to 2 Superbowls back to back (without him Elway would be another Marino) a season season rushing record WAY over 1000 yards in each of his first 4 seasons and was getting better before his injury. If not this time then next but he WILL be in there sooner or later.

Sorry but in my eyes TD is a 'what could've been' ... Injuries marred his career, he only had 3 HOF worthy years and that's not enough to justify him getting in

[Goose]

Originally Posted by SaintedBroncos24

Davis didn't do it long enough? Hate to tell you but theres players who made it in for less time in the league than TD and TD was outstanding leading the Broncos to 2 Superbowls back to back (without him Elway would be another Marino) a season season rushing record WAY over 1000 yards in each of his first 4 seasons and was getting better before his injury. If not this time then next but he WILL be in there sooner or later.

I don't disagree that TD was greatness, but who are these players that are in with less time in the league? I don't know about that claim.

[Goose]

I'd vote in

Chris Carter
Ray Guy
Charles Haley
Art Monk
Derrick Thomas
Darrell Green

And Paul Tagliabue

[SaintedBroncos24]

Originally Posted by Jay

Sorry but in my eyes TD is a 'what could've been' ... Injuries marred his career, he only had 3 HOF worthy years and that's not enough to justify him getting in

Thats a fair OPINION that I just don't share and not because I'm being a homer either. Davis really only had 4 seasons he played because his last 4 were basically spent on IR, PUP what ever. So in 4 years he has 7607 yards and gets better year to year by at LEAST 200 yards and were talking just about rushing even though Davis wasn't a bad receiver either and could block. If not for his knee being bad he would have been right at the top with Emmit S. if not past.

You can't really look at how long his carrer wasn't when making a decision about whether or not he's a HOFer his stats alone merit if not this time or the next but some where down the road he's in.

[SaintedBroncos24]

Originally Posted by Goose

I don't disagree that TD was greatness, but who are these players that are in with less time in the league? I don't know about that claim.

Unlike some I don't just say things to say them. I should have gave a few examples of the many I guess, so my bad on that one.


I'l start with Gale Sayers 65'-71' who by the way has alot less yards than TD in about the same amount of games. then theres Jim Brown, Earl Cambell, Charley Tripp, Doak Walker and so on.

The average career of a RB in the NFL is 7 to 10 years so you really can't say he shouldn't be in because he didn't play long enough.