NFL Hall of Fame: Who Will Get the Call?

It's that time of the year again. The Super Bowl is on the horizon and that means that a new class of Hall of Famers for the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be elected. This year's class has two of the biggest slam dunks possible: the all time leading rusher and the man who probably has every major receiving record. There are men who have been finalists multiple times and some who are fairly new to the process. Either way by the end of Saturday, there will be between 4 and 7 new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Here is my breakdown and predictions.

Tim Brown, Wide Receiver/Kick Returner
Brown spent the majority of his career with the Raiders before one last year with the Bucs. He played in 255 games over 17 seasons. As a rookie, he led the NFL in kickoff returns, return yards, and yards per return average. Led the NFL in catches in 1997. Set records for receptions, receiving yards, and punt return yards for the Raiders' franchise. He retired with the second most receiving yards with 14,934, the third most receptions with 1,094, and tied for third with 100 touchdowns. He netted 3,320 punt return yards and 1,235 kickoff return yards. He was voted nine times to the Pro Bowl. There is no questioning his resume is well beyond worthy. The only problem is Jerry Rice, the man whose records eclipse all of Brown's and it is not very close. Voters tend to make their selections sort of diverse and will also look hard at other receivers from previous years. For all these reasons, someone who should be in will have to wait another year at least. PREDICTION: NO

Cris Carter, Wide Receiver
Carter spent his early years with the Eagles, the bulk of his career with Vikings, and the last year with the Dolphins. He played in 234 games over 16 seasons. He was the second receiver ever to catch 1,000 balls. He retired with the second most receptions with 1,101 and touchdowns with 130. Set a then NFL record for receptions with 122 catches in 1994. A member of the 1990s All Decade Team. He was voted eight times to the Pro Bowl. His numbers are beyond solid and Hall worthy. The last two years he has not gotten in because other top players have including another wide receiver in Art Monk. Carter will face a similar problem as Tim Brown with Jerry Rice on the ballot. He will be looked at with the other receivers and might miss the cut again. Other top receivers and players took three or so years to get like a Michael Irvin. I think he slides in, but would not be surprised if he doesn't get in. PREDICTION: YES

Don Coryell, Head Coach
Coryell coached 14 years and 195 games with the St. Louis Cardinals for 5 and 9 with the Chargers. His record was 111-84-1 with a 3-6 post season record. Won two divisional crowns with the Cardinals. Coach of the Year in 1974. His Chargers teams led the NFL in passing from 1978 to 1983 and he captured three divisional crowns during that time. His resume is good, but I'm not sure if it is Hall worthy. At least yet. His offenses with the Chargers certainly revolutionized the way the passing game was used. PREDICTION: NO

Roger Craig, Running Back
He spent 11 seasons and 165 games playing for mostly the 49ers before a few years with the Raiders and Vikings. He was one of the most versatile backs in the 1980s and throughout his career. His first year he combined for over 1,000 yards and was a big part of the 49ers' Super Bowl XIX win with his three total touchdowns. He was the first player to gain 1,000 yards on ground and through the air in the same season (1985) and led the league in catches with 92. When he retired, he ranked as the 13th leading rusher of all time with 8,189 and had the 19th most receptions with 566. He had 56 touchdowns on the ground and 17 through the air. He was voted to four Pro Bowls. Before the Marshall Faulks and LaDanian Tomlinsons, there was Roger Craig. He was the dual threat, but he still lacks that something extra. His resume may gain steam in future years, but I don't see him getting the votes this year. PREDICTION: NO

Dermontti Dawson, Center
Dawson played 13 seasons; all with the Steelers. He played in 170 consecutive games and was the replacement for future Hall of Famer Mike Webster. He was voted to seven Pro Bowls and was part of an offensive line that won 5 straight divisional titles and went to Super Bowl XXX. Dawson is certainly one of the best centers of the last 20 years. He had speed and size and had a very good career. I think he might get in down the road, but don't see this as his year. PREDICTION: NO

Richard Dent, Defensive End
Dent played 15 seasons and 203 games mostly with the Bears, but also played a year each with the 49ers, Colts, and Eagles. For a ten span to start his career, he recorded 10 or more sacks 8 out of 10 times. He was one of the most feared pass rushers. He recorded 4.5 sacks in a game twice. He finished his career with the third most sacks with 137.5 sacks with 17.5 in 1984 and then recorded 17 in 1985 on the way to being a major part of the 46 defense that ran through the NFL on their way to a Super Bowl title that included him winning MVP honors. He was voted to four Pro Bowls. There have been defenses that have defined football. The Purple People Eaters, the Steel Curtain, etc. One such that was part of possibly one of the best teams ever was the fierce 46 and Dent was a major cog in its machine. Mike Singletary was the hard hitting middle linebacker and he has a place in Canton and now it might be time for the man who rushed that outside to get the call. This is still 50/50 to me, but I think this is finally his year. PREDICTION: YES

Russ Grimm, Guard
Grimm played for 11 seasons and 140 games with the Redskins as part of the "Hogs" offensive line. During the 1980s, there were few offensive lines as dominating as the Redskins and Grimm was a huge part of that. He was voted to four Pro Bowls and went to 5 NFC Championship games and 4 Super Bowls and won three rings. He was a member of the 1980s All-Decade team. Grimm's resume is very strong. In recent years, he has been utterly close. I cannot tell if this is the year that he gets over or not. He is sort of a 50/50 to me and could interchange with one of the other borderline candidates I think will get in. He should be in very soon, but I think he misses out this year. PREDICTION: NO

Charles Haley, Defensive End/Linebacker
Haley played 12 seasons and 169 games mostly with the 49ers and the Cowboys. He came around at the right time and was an important part of 5 Super Bowl teams. No other player has a full hand of Super Bowl rings. He led the 49ers in sacks every year during his first stint with them. He had four years of double digit sacks with a high of 16 in 1990 during his time with the 49ers and then added two more such seasons with the Cowboys. He retired with 100.5 sacks and was twice the NFC Defensive Player of the Year. He was voted to five Pro Bowls. During a seven year span, he played in six NFC championship games. Only twice during his career was he not on a division champion. If rings are the thing that many are judged on, then Haley passes with flying colors. He was not some role player either as he was a difference maker throughout his career. He has been on the border for a few years now and to me is sort of in the mold of Richard Dent; a worthy candidate who should be in, but something is still missing. For that reason, I cannot be sure if voters will vote Haley in this year. I think either he just misses or just makes it. PREDICTION: NO

Rickey Jackson, Linebacker
Jackson played 15 seasons and 227 games mostly with the Saints, but ended his career with the 49ers. He was a big part of turning the Saints around during the 1980s and had six seasons of double digit sacks. He was voted to the Pro Bowl six times. He was a member of the Saints' first winning team in 1987 and first divisional champion in 1991. He retired with 128 career sacks; not including his rookie total as it was not a statistic yet. I will honest, I have not heard of Jackson as much as the rest of the ballot nominees. However, after looking at his career, I see his numbers and career are comparable with many in the Hall. It also seems fitting that Jackson is a finalist the same year as the Saints are in their first Super Bowl. For that reason, I think Jackson's chances get a boost, but I am not sure if he gets over the edge. He will probably battle with both Dent and Haley among voters and one or two of the group will most likely get in and Jackson seems like the odd man out despite his stellar career. PREDICTION: NO

Cortez Kennedy, Defensive Tackle
He played 11 seasons and 167 games with the Seahawks. He hardly missed a game throughout his career and played in 116 straight games including starting in 100 straight. He was voted to 8 Pro Bowls and was the Defensive Player of the Year in 1992 on a 2-14 team. Kennedy was a force in the middle on a team that wasn't very good for much of his tenure. Very good career, but not sure if he has enough at least this year. PREDICTION: NO

Dick Lebeau, Cornerback
Lebeau played 14 seasons and 185 games with the Lions. Most see Lebeau as the creative and crafty Defensive Coordinator of many great Steelers teams. However, Lebeau was one of the best cornerbacks of his era if not all time. He started 171 consecutive games; a record for cornerbacks. He had 12 straight years with three or more interceptions. He was voted to three Pro Bowls. His best year in terms of interceptions was 1970 with 9 and retired with 62 interceptions, which ranked second among pure corners and third overall. To tell you how good he was, he only fell one place in the near 40 years since his retirement. This selection is probably long overdue, but Dick Lebeau will finally have his big day. Of the two senior committee selections, this one seems the most likely to result in selection. PREDICTION: YES

Floyd Little, Running Back
Little played nine seasons and 117 games with the Broncos. He was a return specialist early on and then became a dual threat and the Broncos' first 1,000 yard rusher in 1971. From 1971 to 1973, he scored 32 total touchdowns either on the ground or threw the air. He was voted twice to AFL All Star games and three Pro Bowls. He retired with 12,000 all purpose yards that included 6,323 rushing yards and 2,418 receiving yards from 215 catches. His career wasn't long, but he made the most of it. His numbers don't jump off the page, but during his career he was one of the better backs in the league for much of it. He was a triple threat and a lesser version of Gale Sayers. Both had short careers. Sayers got in right away; Little has had to wait. He is one of the senior nominees and he is a slightly harder one to choose. I think he gets just enough because of his versatile career. PREDICTION: YES

John Randle, Defensive Tackle
He played 14 seasons and 219 games mostly with the Vikings before going to the Seahawks to finish his career. He finished his career with 137.5 sacks and had 8 straight seasons with 10 or more followed by a ninth the following year. He was voted to 7 Pro Bowls. He was a major part of the Vikings' defensive line during the 1990s. He was a disruptive force who reigned havoc on quarterbacks and offensive lines. He is a tricky one for me, but I think voters will be high on his career. His numbers are solid and will probably get the call. PREDICTION: YES

Andre Reed, Wide Receiver
Reed played 16 seasons and 234 games with mostly the Bills before going to the Redskins. He basically rewrote the Bills' receiving record book. He retired with the third most receptions with 951 and 13,095 receiving yards, which include 36 games with 100 plus yards. He had 13 seasons, which included 9 straight, where he had at least 50 receptions. That is only bested by Jerry Rice. Until Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison passed him, Reed along with Jim Kelly had the most receptions (663) between a quarterback and receiver. He was voted to seven straight Pro Bowls. He was a member of four Bills teams that went to the Super Bowl in consecutive years; losing all four. In any other year, his numbers might have a great chance. But he is competing with other receivers who will most likely steal votes from him; especially Rice. This year will be tough and thus he will fall short. PREDICTION: NO

Jerry Rice, Wide Receiver
Rice spent 20 years and 303 games mostly with the 49ers before going to the Raiders and Seahawks. In 1987, he set a then single season record for touchdown catches with 22. He had four seasons of 100 or more catches. He set an NFL record for receiving yards in a season in 1995 with 1,848 yards. He finished his career with 1,549 receptions, 22,895 receiving yards, 14 1,000 yard receiving seasons, 208 total touchdowns, and 23,546 combined net yards. These are all records for a career. In addition, he holds many playoff and Super Bowl records for a receiver. During his career, he played in 8 conference championships and four Super Bowls including 3 wins and an MVP. He was voted to 13 Pro Bowls. He was voted a member of both the All Decade teams of the 1980s and 1990s as well as the NFL's 75th Anniversary team. There are few slam dunk candidates like Rice. The man virtually rewrote the record books for a receiver. He was one of the best receivers for over a decade. Age was the only thing that truly caught him otherwise he might still be making catches today. This is an easy prediction. PREDICTION: YES

Shannon Sharpe, Tight End
Sharpe played 14 seasons and 204 games mostly with the Broncos, but also played a couple years with the Ravens. He retired with 815 receptions, 10,060 receiving yards, and 62 touchdowns. These were all records for a tight end. Had over 1,000 yards in a season three times. He was voted to 8 Pro Bowls and was a major part of two Broncos championship teams and one Ravens championship team. Sharpe raised the standards for tight ends and ranks among the best pass catchers overall. Sharpe's resume is certainly Hall worthy, but some off the field antics with the media could hurt him. He will get in one year, but not this year. PREDICTION: NO

Emmitt Smith, Running Back
Played 15 seasons and 226 games mostly with the Cowboys before ending his career with the Cardinals. He won four rushing crowns during the Cowboys' dominant years. He was crucial in 3 Super Bowl winning teams over the period of 4 years and won an MVP in one of those. He had 11 straight seasons of at least 1,000 yards rushing. He was selected as a member of the All Decade team of the 1990s. He finished his career with 18,355 rushing yards and 164 rushing touchdowns; both most by a running back. He also racked up 3,224 receiving yards and 11 receiving touchdowns. Along with Jerry Rice, Smith is one of the easiest picks in recent years. He wasn't always the biggest back, but he was one of the smartest and injury-free. That certainly assisted him greatly racking up the numbers he did. Smith will join Troy Aikman and Michael Irvin in Canton and the Triplets will be reunited again. PREDICTION: YES

The list of 17 candidates each has a worthy argument for being enshrined among the greatest of all time. However, some of the greatest of the last 25 years will have to wait at least one more year. The day before the Super Bowl, I see 7 men getting the call. Cris Carter, Richard Dent, Dick Lebeau, Floyd Little, John Randle, Jerry Rice, and Emmitt Smith should get the call. The latter two are pretty much locks; the 2 senior choices will probably get in; the other 3 are a toss up. Either way I'm excited to see who gets the call.