It is time to put the nonsense of the Baseball Hall of Fame continuing fiasco behind us (for awhile anyway). Today, the Football Hall of Fame, which continues to do so much right has announced their finalists and we are going to take a quick look at them in order of their ranking on Notinhalloffame.com.
#1 Derrick Brooks
Brooks moved into our number spot in his first year of Hall of Fame eligibility, and there remains little reason to think that he is not going to Canton immediately.
#3 Marvin Harrison
Harrison is the top rated Wide Receiver in our eyes and is also a first year candidate. Harrison’s emergence on the ballot makes it harder for Tim Brown and Andre Reed, who have been multi-time finalists in the past and are again this year.
#4 Michael Strahan
Strahan is one of the busiest men in show business, and we think he will busy Hall of Fame weekend. Frankly, he should have his dance card punched last year.
#7 Will Shields
The Hall of Fame loves its Offensive Linemen, and this is the best one on the ballot (though we all know Jerry Kramer should be in) and this looks like an excellent shot.
#9 Andre Reed
Back again as a Finalist, Andre Reed finds himself with this very familiar spot, and again with a higher rated Wide Receiver (Harrison) on the ballot. We believe that he has separated himself from Tim Brown, and could sneak in as the second Wide out. If not, he will be right back here next year.
#10 Charles Haley
Every time Charles Haley gets passed over, twitter goes crazy with “#5SuperBowls”. On our list, he keeps rising as does his support from journalists across the country.
#14 Walter Jones
Jones is another first ballot Finalist, but is he the best Offensive Lineman on the ballot? They have inducted two Linemen before, but we don’t this will happen again.
#17 Tim Brown
Look who is back! We will stand with what we said regarding Andre Reed and that if a second Wide Receiver spot is offered it will be to Reed. There won’t be three.
#20 Jerome Bettis
Bettis may not be our highest rated candidate but unlike past years, he has the Running Back spot to himself. Without Roger Craig or Terrell Davis on the list of Finalists, this is his best chance ever.
#24 Aeneas Williams
Honestly, Williams is such a good guy we are pulling for him. It won’t make a difference, this is far as he is going to get.
#29 Ray Guy
Honestly, we thought for sure this was his year. That was until Morten Andersen was also named a Finalist. Guy is a Senior Finalist for the first time after multiple Semi-Finalists spots. With all due respect to some of the other uncertain choices, if Guy does not get in, expect there to be more articles on that than anyone else.
#32 Claude Humphrey
The second of two Senior Nominees is a real wild card here. More than sixty percent of the Senior Nominees get in, so the odds are actually for him.
#44 Kevin Greene
Back again as a Finalist, he still seems like he is on the second tier of great defensive players on a ballot.
#58 John Lynch
Wouldn’t it be a nice story if he got in with his long time teammate Derrick Brooks? That is all it will be is a story, as it isn’t happening.
#100 Morten Andersen
What is with the love of this ballot for Kickers? Did anyone see this coming, and regardless of whether you did or didn’t, isn’t this a nice surprise? The only one who should be upset is Ray Guy, as this is the best shot he realistically had, and Andersen could easily split support, as there is no way two Kickers are going in. Of course, we would have lost our house on these two being Finalists.
Our highest rated snub is Roger Craig (#13) who is likely to have to wait for a Veterans look.
As you have noticed, we do not rank contributors. First year nominee Tony Dungy and former San Francisco owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. have also been named as Finalists. Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue failed to make it to this round.
The Class of 2014 will be announced on Super Bowl Weekend.
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