We have said it before and we will say it again. We love how the Football Hall of Fame undergoes the process of selection to be both transparent and offer a build up. Perhaps that is why we modelled are new Fictitious Athlete Hall of Fame on their process.
Tonight, the Football Hall has now selected 25 semi-finalists. We will take a look at them in order of where they fall on our Football list.
#1 Derrick Brooks
Our new number one selection is what we believe will be a “one and done”, where as his first year on the ballot should be his last. We would be shocked if the Linebacker does not get in.
#3 Marvin Harrison
Another first year eligible player, Marvin Harrison now moves to the head of the line in great Wide Receivers who are on the ballot. This addition may impact Andre Reed and Tim Brown, who have been waiting for quite some time.
#4 Michael Strahan
We were stunned when Strahan failed to get inducted on his first year of eligibility last year. We think that the sackmaster will not be denied this year.
#7 Will Shields
A finalist the last two years, Will Shields returns again with what should be his best chance yet. As the highest ranked Offensive Lineman not yet inducted, we predict that this will be his year.
#9 Andre Reed
Constantly climbing in our annual rankings, and building internet support for his induction, Andre Reed returns after seven consecutive Finalists appearances. As mentioned above, the addition of Harrison could impede him and make him a bridesmaid again.
#10 Charles Haley
Another who is climbing our rankings due to fan support, the only man with five Super Bowl Rings is a four time Finalist. Expect him to be a finalist again, as we suspect he will once again narrowly miss out.
#13 Roger Craig
Craig has been a Semi-Finalist often, but a Finalist only once in 2010. Our suspicion is that he will have to wait for a Senior Nomination should he ever get in.
#14 Walter Jones
Another first year Offensive Lineman entering the ballot; Jones will battle Will Shields for the spot in Canton. We are not sure if both Jones and Shields will make the Finalist cut, but if it is only one, it is unlikely to be Jones. At the very least, a Finalist slot is very important to garner future induction.
#17 Tim Brown
Four year Finalist Tim Brown, returns to the Semi Finals, but the Wide Receiver finds himself in a very familiar position as there are more accomplished players in his position ahead of him. He should squeak in again as a Finalist, but that will be it.
#20 Jerome Bettis
Although we have Roger Craig ranked higher than Bettis, there is a belief we feel among many that “The Bus” is the top Running Back on the ballot. If that is true, this could be his best shot to get selected.
#23 Steve Atwater
A Semi-Finalist the last two years, Steve Atwater pulls the hat trick again this year. We have been a big supporter of Steve’s but we don’t think he is getting any farther than this.
#24 Aeneas Williams
Williams was a Finalist the last two years, but what constantly works against him is the low profile he has maintained since retiring. His play is close to being Hall of Fame worthy, but a little self promotion wouldn’t hurt. It won’t happen from him though.
#26 Terrell Davis
This is one of greatest internal debates, and we wager it is for the committee in Canton too. If only he didn’t get injured, or even had an average second half of his career. If that occurred, we wouldn’t be debating it here...he would have been inducted already. As it is now, Davis is a seven time Semi-Finalist and possibly counting.
#30 Steve Wisniewski
For the first time, Steve Wisniewski has made to the Semi Finals. We have our doubts that he can make it to the next level.
#44 Kevin Greene
Greene is not ranked that high by us but has worked his way up to being a Finalist the last two years. The odds of him regressing back to only a Semi-Finalist are not likely.
#58 John Lynch
A Semi-Finalist last year, Lynch is overshadowed by his teammates who have also reached this level. Still, with only he and Atwater as Safeties who have made it this far, it is possible that one of them could advance to the next round. Although we think that Atwater was the better player, Lynch was more popular. If one advances, our money is on Lynch.
#64 Joe Jacoby
The Hogs are represented again as Joe Jacoby is a Semi-Finalist for the fourth time in nine years. Realistically, if he has not made it to being a Finalist by now, he probably won’t this year.
#69 Karl Mecklenburg
We love the nickname of the “Albino Rhino” but as it took him a while to finally make the Semi-Finals (he made it the last two years), does he have the steam to make the next round? We have our doubts.
#100 Morten Andersen
This was a surprise. Special Teams notoriously get no love from the Football Hall of Fame, however in the year where Ray Guy will likely get in
as a Senior candidate, perhaps we should not have been surprised at all.
Please note that we do not rank Coaches and Contributors
Don Coryell
Back again on the ballot, Coryell’s impact in the NFL cannot be measured by wins and losses. His offensive innovations revolutionized the sport, and are a huge reason for the excitement that people watch on Sundays today. We don’t he will get in this year, but he should!
Edward DeBartolo Jr.
The former San Francisco 49ers owner was very successful and has the Super Bowl Rings to prove it. He has been a finalist before.
Tony Dungy
The former Super Bowl winning Coach and very popular analyst is on his first year of eligibility. He may not make it this year, but he will make it eventually.
Jimmy Johnson
The very popular former Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys is again a semi-finalist. The issue for him is the length of his tenure as a Head Coach in the National Football League, but his work as an analyst for Fox certainly helps keep his profile strong.
Paul Tagliabue
He is a former NFL Commisioner. Bank on it happening sooner or later.
George Young
A very solid, yet under the radar candidate with three Super Bowl wins as a Coach or Administrator. He is a five time NFL Executive of the Year, which makes him in our eyes a future inductee.
Our #29 and #32 ranked players, Ray Guy and Claude Humphrey are Senior Nominees and automatically are Finalists.
Other than Anderson, nothing here shocks us. The 15 Modern Era Finalists will be announced on January 8, 2014 at 10 PM.
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