CANTON, Ohio -- Wide receiver Cris Carter and cornerback
Darrell Green were the only first-year eligible players among 26
semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's class of 2008.
Carter starred for the Minnesota Vikings from 1990-2001 and also
played for Miami and Philadelphia. Green spent his entire career
with the Redskins, from 1983-2002.
The 26 advanced from a list of 124 preliminary nominees. Because
of a tie for 25th, one more player than usual made the semifinals.
Twenty-two of the nominees have been in the semifinals before.
Other than Carter and Green, the new semifinalists are linebacker
Rickey Jackson and defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy.
The inductees will be decided the day before the Super Bowl on
Feb. 2, 2008 . The induction ceremonies are in early August.
Other semifinalists:
Defensive ends Richard Dent, Fred Dean and Charles Haley;
linebackers Randy Gradishar, Kevin Greene, Derrick Thomas, and
Andre Tippett; cornerback Lester Hayes; center Dermontti Dawson;
guards Russ Grimm, Bob Kuechenberg and Randall McDaniel; tackles
Joe Jacoby and Gary Zimmerman; running back Terrell Davis; wide
receivers Art Monk, Andre Reed and Steve Tasker; quarterback Ken
Stabler; punter Ray Guy; former commissioner Paul Tagliabue; and
administrator George Young.
The seniors committee nominees, who were announced in August,
are Marshall Goldberg and Emmitt Thomas.