Two first-year eligible players, wide receiver Cris Carter and cornerback Darrell Green are among the 17 finalists who will be considered for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame when the Hall's Board of Selectors meets in Phoenix, Ariz. on Saturday, Feb. 2.
Joining the two first-year eligible players are 12 other modern-era players, one contributor and two players nominated earlier by the Hall of Fame's Senior Committee. The contributor finalist is former National Football League commissioner Paul Tagliabue. The Senior Committee nominees, announced in August 2007, are Chicago Cardinals back Marshall Goldberg and Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Emmitt Thomas. The other modern-era player finalists include defensive ends Fred Dean and Richard Dent, linebackers Randy Gradishar, Derrick Thomas and Andre Tippett, guards Russ Grimm, Bob Kuechenberg and Randall McDaniel, punter Ray Guy, wide receivers Art Monk and Andre Reed, and tackle Gary Zimmerman.
To be elected, a finalist must receive a minimum positive vote of 80 percent.
