Canton, OH (Sports Network) - First-year candidates Warren Sapp, Michael
Strahan, Jonathan Ogden and Larry Allen are among the finalists for the Pro
Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013.
Joining the four first-year eligibles are 11 others from the modern era and
two senior nominees. All 17 will be considered for election when the Hall of
Fame's Selection Committee meets on Feb. 2 in New Orleans, the day before
Super Bowl XLVII.
The other modern-era finalists are wide receivers Cris Carter, Tim Brown and
Andre Reed, running back Jerome Bettis, defensive end/linebackers Kevin Greene
and Charles Haley, guard Will Shields, cornerback Aeneas Williams, coach Bill
Parcells and owners Art Modell and Eddie DeBartolo Jr. Defensive tackle Curley
Culp and linebacker Dave Robinson are the senior nominees.
An original list of 127 preliminary nominees was whittled to 27 semifinalists
in November. Among the semifinalists that did not make the cut were first-time
eligible players John Lynch and Morten Andersen, as well as running backs
Roger Craig and Terrell Davis, and former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
The Class of 2013 will consist of between four and seven members, although
only five modern-era finalists can be elected in a given year. To be elected,
a finalist must receive 80 percent of the vote from the 46-member committee.
The Sports Network