Damn, we love this time of year!

A month ago, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 167 Preliminary Modern candidates for the Class of 2025. This year, a special committee was tasked with reducing this group to 50, and next month, they will be reduced to 25 Semi-Finalists.

*Means they were a Finalist last year

**Means they are eligible for the first time.

Let’s examine this group by position.

Quarterbacks (2):

**Eli Manning: NYG 2005-19.  Manning went to two Super Bowls and won them, as did the Super Bowl MVPs.  A four-time Pro Bowl and Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, Manning passed for 57,023 Yards and 366 Touchdowns.  Ranked #99 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve McNair:  HOU 1995-97, TEN 1997-2005 & BAL 2006-07.  In 1999, Steve McNair quarterbacked the Tennessee Titans to their first Super Bowl appearance, and in 2003, he was the AP MVP.  A three-time Pro Bowler, McNair threw for 31,204 Yards and 174 Touchdowns and rushed for 3,590 Yards and 37 TDs.  Ranked #125 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The eight Quarterbacks eliminated were:

Marc Bulger: STL 2002-09. 

Randall Cunningham:  PHI 1985-95, MIN 1997-99, DAL 2000 & BAL 2001.  Ranked #29 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jake Delhomme:  NOR 1999-2002, CAR 2003-09, CLE 2010 & HOU 2011. 

Doug Flutie: CHI 1986, NWE 1987-89 & 2005, BUF 1998-2000 & SDG 2001-04. 

Rich Gannon:  MIN 1987-92, WAS  1993, KAN 1995-98 & OAK 1999-2002.  Ranked #290 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jeff Garcia:  SFO 1999-2003, CLE 2004, DET 2005, PHI 2006 & TAM 2007-08.  

Donovan McNabb:  PHI 1999-2001, WAS 2002 & MIN 2003.  Ranked #80 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tony Romo:  DAL 2004-16.  Ranked #326 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Chairmans Quarterback Notes:

Yep, we all knew Eli would be here, and his two Super Bowl rings clash with his .500 record, and we bluntly ask: was there ever a time when it could honestly be said that Manning was the best three any time at his position?  Shouldn’t that matter?  It feels like Eli is on a collision course for a Finalist spot (and maybe even an immediate induction), which feels wrong. 

The QB omission that worries me here is the influential Randall Cunningham, a multi-time Bert Bell Award winner whose time on the modern ballot is wasting away. An honorable mention here goes to Donovan McNabb, who, regardless of the venue or conversation, is criminally disrespected.

Running Backs (6):

Shaun Alexander:  SEA 2000-08 & WAS 2008.  Alexander went to three straight Pro Bowls (2003-05), and in the last one, he won the Rushing Title (1,880) and was named the consensus MVP.  Alexander twice led the NFL in Rushing Touchdowns and retired with 10,973 Yards From Scrimmage and 112 Touchdowns.  Ranked #81 on Notinhalloffame.com. 

Tiki Barber:  NYG 1997-06.  Barber played the entirety of his career with the Giants, where he went to the Pro Bowl in his final three seasons.  He led the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage twice, and in the second of those years (2005), he was a First Team All-Pro and fourth in AP MVP voting.  Barber rushed for 10,449 Yards and had 5,183 Receiving Yards with 67 TDs from Scrimmage.  Ranked #153 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Eddie George:  HOU 1996, TEN 1997-2003 & DAL 2004.  George went to four straight Pro Bowls (1997-2000) and was a First Team All-Pro in 2000.  He would rush for 10,441 Yards and had 12,688 Yards from Scrimmage with 78 TDs.  Ranked #174 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Marshawn Lynch:  BUF 2007-10, SEA 2011-15 & 2019 & OAK 2018.  Lynch propelled Seattle to a Super Bowl and was a two-time leader in Rushing Touchdowns.  “Beast Mode” went to five Pro Bowls, earned a First Team All-Pro, and had 12,627 Yards from Scrimmage with 94 TDs.  Ranked #29 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Fred Taylor:  JAX 1998-2008 & NWE 2009-10.  Taylor was a Pro Bowl Selection in 2007, and he accumulated 14,079 Yards from Scrimmage with 11,695 yards on the ground.   He also had 74 Touchdowns.  Ranked #167 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ricky Watters: SFO 1992-01, SFO, PHI, SEA.  Watters was a Super Bowl Champion with the 49ers and would go to the Pro Bowl in his first five years in the NFL.  He would lead the NFL in Yards from Scrimmage in 1996 and would have 14,891 in total.  Ranked #47 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 25 Running Backs eliminated were:

Terry Allen:  MIN 1991-92 & 94, WAS 1995-98, NWE 1999, NOR 2000 & BAL 2001. 

Jamal Anderson:  ATL 1994-01.

Larry Centers FB:  PHO 1990-93, ARI 1994-98, WAS 1999-2000, BUF 2001-02, & NWE 2003.  

Jamaal Charles:  KAN 2008-16, DEN 2017 & JAX 2018. 

Stephen Davis:  WAS 1996-06, CAR 2003-05 & STL 2006. 

Corey Dillon:  CIN 1997-2003 & NWE 2004-06.  Ranked #240 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Warrick Dunn:   Ranked #301 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charlie Garner:  PHI 1994-98, SFO 1999-2000, OAK 2001-03 & TAM 2004. 

Priest Holmes:  BAL 1997-2000 & KAN 2001-05 & 07.  Ranked #131 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steven Jackson:  STL, 2004-12, ATL 2013-14, NWE 2015.  Ranked #196 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chris Johnson:  TEN 2008-13, NYJ 2014 & ARI 2015-17.  

Thomas Jones:  ARI 2000-03, TAM 2003, CHI 2004-06, NYJ 2007-09 & KAN 2010-11. 

John Kuhn (FB):  PIT 2006, GNB 2007-15, NOR 2017. 

Vonta Leach (FB): GNB 2004-06, 2004-13, HOU 2006-2010 & BAL 2011-13. 

Dorsey Levens:  GNB 1994-2001, PHI 2002 & 2003 & NYG 2004. 

Jamal Lewis:   Ranked #238 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Eric Metcalf (Also WR/PR/KR):  CLE 1989-94, ATL 1995-96, SDG 1997, ARI 1998, CAR 1999, WAS 2001 & GNB 2002.  

Glyn Milburn (Also WR & KR):  DEN 1993-95, DET 1996-97, CHI 1998-2001 & SDG 2001. 

Lorenzo Neal (FB):  NOR 1993-96, NYJ 1997, TAM 1998, TEN 1999-2000, CIN 2001-02, SDG 2003-07 & BAL 08.  

Clinton Portis: DEN 2002-03 & WAS 2004-10.  

Tony Richardson (FB):  KAN 1995-2005, MIN 2006-07, NYJ 2008-10. 

Robert Smith: MIN 1993-2000.

Darren Sproles:  SDG 2005-10, NOR 2011-13 & PHO 2014-19. 

Chris Warren:  SEA 1990-97, DAL 1998-2000, PHI 2000. 

Ricky Williams: NOR 1999-2001, MIA 2002, 2005 & 2007-10, BAL 2011. 

The Chairman’s Running Back Notes:

I love seeing Alexander here, but here is a question: Am I the only one who had Taylor sixth in this group? Taylor is like Eli, as I openly ask when he was seriously considered among the top three RBs in football.  Does first ballot Back Marshawn leapfrog him?

Wide Receivers (21): (Down From 23 Last Year)

Anquan Boldin:  ARI 2003-09, BAL 2010-12 & SFO 2014-15 & DET 2016.  A three-time Pro Bowl Selection and AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, Boldin had seven 1,000 Yard Receiving seasons, tallying 13,779 in total with 82 Touchdowns.  He is also a past winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year (2015) and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #83 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Torry Holt: STL 1999-2008 & JAX 2009.  A Super Bowl Champion with the St. Louis Rams, Holt went to seven Pro Bowls and led the NFL in Receiving Yards twice (2000 & 2003).  The one-time First Team All-Pro finished his career with 13,382 Yards and 74 TDs.  Holt has been a multi-time Finalist.  Ranked #6 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jimmy Smith:  DAL 1992, JAX 1995-2005.  Smith was chosen for five consecutive Pro Bowls (1997-01), and in 1999, he led the NFL in Receptions (116).  He would retire with 12,287 Receiving Yards and 67 Touchdowns.  Ranked #165 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Steve Smith Sr.:  2001-16, CAR, BAL.  Smith led the NFL in Receptions (103), Receiving Yards (1,563), and Receiving Touchdowns (12) in 2005, and he was a two-time First Team All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowler.  Smith accumulated 14,731 Yards with 81 TDs and was a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #24 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Hines Ward:  PIT 1998-2011.  Ward won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and was the MVP in one of them.  A multi-time Semi-Finalist, he has four consecutive Pro Bowls (2001-04), 85 Touchdowns, and 12,083 Yards on his resume.  Ranked #45 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Reggie Wayne:  IND 2001-12.  Wayne was a career Colt, winning a Super Bowl there while earning six Pro Bowls and a First Team All-Pro.  He led the NFL in Receiving Yards in 2007 (1,510) and has significantly more Yards (14,345) than any other Preliminary candidate.  He also has 82 Touchdowns.  Ranked #11 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 15 Wide Receivers eliminated are:

Donald Driver:  GNB 1999-12.  

Antonio Freeman:  GNB 1995-2001 & 2003 & PHI 2002.  

Irving Fryar: NWE 1984-92, MIA 1993-95, PHI 1996-97 & WAS 1999-2000.   Ranked #143 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Joe Horn: KAN 1996-99, NOR 2000-06 & ATL 2007.  

Chad Johnson:  CIN 2001-10, & NWE 2011.  Ranked #145 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Brandon Marshall:  DEN 2006-09, MIA 2010-11, CHI 2012-14, NYJ 2015-16, NYG 2017 & SEA 2018.  Ranked #172 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Derrick Mason:  TEN 1997-2004, BAL 2005-10, NYJ 2011 & HOU 2011.  Ranked #231 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Herman Moore:  DET 1991-2001 & NYG 2002.  Ranked #333 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Muhsin Muhammad:  CAR 1996-2004 & 2008-09 & CHI 2005-07.  

Jordy Nelson:  GNB: 2008-18. 

Andre Rison:  IND 1989, ATL 1990-94, CLE 1995, JAX 1996, GNB 1996, KAN 1997-99 & OAK 2000.  Ranked #202 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Rod Smith:  DEN 1995-2006.  Ranked #61 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Wes Welker:  SDG 2004, MIA 2004-06, NWE 2007-12, DEN 2013-14 & STL 2015.  Ranked #170 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Roddy White:  ATL 2005-15. 

The Chairman’s Wide Receiver Notes:

I have no issues with the six who advanced, and the only mild disappointment is Fryar’s omission, as his time is running out.

Tight Ends (6): (Up 3 from Last Year)

Ben Coates:  NWE 1991-99 & BAL 2000.  Coates was a Pro Bowler for five straight years from 1994 to 1998 and was a two-time First Team All-Pro.  He would accumulate 5,555 Yards with 50 Touchdowns.  Ranked #106 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Antonio Gates:  SDG 2003-16 & LAC 2017-18.  Gates went to the Pro Bowl every year from 2004 to 2011 and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  A Finalist last year, he had 116 Touchdowns and 11,841 Yards.  It was a mild surprise that he was not inducted in the previous year.  Ranked #1 on Norinhalloffame.com.

The four Tight Ends eliminated were:

Vernon Davis: SFO 2006-15, DEN 2015 & WAS 2016-19. 

Jeremy Shockey:  NYG 2002-07, NOR 2009-10 & CAR 2011. 

Delanie Walker: SFO 2006-12 & TEN 2013-19.  

Wesley Walls:  1989-03, SFO, NOR, CAR, GNB.   Ranked #322 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Chairman’s Tight End notes:

None.  These two belong, and Gates will enter this year.  Bank on it.

Offensive Lineman (12):

*Willie Anderson (T):  CIN 1996-2007 & BAL 2008.  Anderson was chosen for four Pro Bowls in a row (2003-06), with his last three being First Team All-Pro worthy.  Anderson has been a Finalist for the previous two years.  Ranked #115 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lomas Brown (T): DET 1985-95 ARI 1996-98, CLE 1999, NYG 2000-01 & TAM 2002.  Brown had seven straight Pro Bowls (1990-96), and in his last season in the NFL, he would win a Super Bowl with Tampa Bay.  Ranked #152 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Ruben Brown (G):  BUF 1995-2003 & CHI 2004-07.  Brown was a nine-time Pro Bowl Selection who started his 181 Games.  Ranked #119 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Jahri Evans (G):  NOR 2006-16 & GNB 2017.  Evans went to six consecutive Pro Bowls (2009-14) and was a First Team All-Pro in the first four.  He is also a Super Bowl Champion with the Saints.  Ranked #33 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Olin Kreutz (C):  CHI 1998-2010 & NOR 2011.  Kreutz went to six straight Pro Bowls (2001-06) and was a one-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #109 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Logan Mankins (G):  NWE 2005-13 & TAM.2014-15   A seven-time Pro Bowler, Mankins started all of his 161 Games at. Left Guard.  Ranked #78 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Jeff Saturday (C):  IND 1999-2011 & GNB 2012.  Jeff Saturday won a Super Bowl with the Colts and was a six-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #75 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Joe Staley (T):  SFO 2007-19   Staley started all 181 Games as a Left Tackle with San Francisco, where he went to the Pro Bowls.    Ranked #111 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Richmond Webb (T):  MIA 1990-2000 & CIN 2001-02.  Webb was a Pro Bowl Selection in his first seven seasons, with two earning First Team All-Pro nods.  He was also named the Sporting News and the UPI Rookie of the Year.  Ranked #48 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Erik Williams (T):  DAL 1991-2000 & BAL 2001.  Williams won three Super Bowls with Dallas and went to four Pro Bowls.  He was also twice named a First Team All-Pro.

Steve Wisniewski (G):  EAI 1989-94 & OAK 1995-2001.  A previous Semi-Finalist, Wisniewski played his entire career with the Raiders, and he was an eight-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #21 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Marshal Yanda (G):  BAL 2007-19. A Super Bowl Champion with Baltimore, Yanda went to eight Pro Bowls with two First Team and five Second Team All-Pros.  Ranked #3 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 14 Offensive Linemen eliminated were:

Bruce Armstrong (T/G):  1987-00, NWE.  Ranked #209 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Matt Birk (C):  MIN 1998-2007 & BAL 2009-12.  Ranked #137 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Travis Frederick (C): DAL 2012-17 & 2019. 

Jordan Gross (T):  CAR 2003-13  

Ryan Kalil (C):  CAR 2007-18 & NYJ 2019. 

Lincoln Kennedy (T-G):  ATL 1993-95 & OAK 1096-2003. 

T.J. Lang (G):  GNB 2009-16 & DET 2017-18. 

Nick Mangold (C):  NYJ 2008-16.  Ranked #92 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tom Nalen (C): DEN 1994-07.  Ranked #132 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mark Schlereth (G/C):  WAS 1989-94 & DEN 1995-2000.  

Josh Sitton (G): GNB 2008-15, CHI 2016-17 & MIA 2018. 

Chris Snee (G):  NYG 2004-13.  

Dave Szott (G):  KAN 2990-3000, WAS 2001 & NYJ 2002-03. 

Brian Waters (G):  KAN 2000-10, NWE 2011 & DAL 2013.  Ranked #193 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Chairman’s Offensive Line Notes:

It is nice to see the Browns here (Lomas and Ruben) and Webb and Wisniewski, who have limited time left and need to become a Finalist soon.  As for the Centers, while I have no issues with Kreutz and Saturday, Nalen and Mangold feel like better choices. 

Defensive Linemen: (8)

John Abraham (DE, also LB):  NYJ 2000-05, ATL 2006-12 & ARI 2013-14.  Recording 133.5 Sacks and 148 Tackles for Loss, Abraham was a five-time Pro Bowl and two-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #62 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Jared Allen (DE):  KAN 2004-07, MIN 2008-13, CHI 2014-15, CAR 2015.  Allen twice led the NFL in Sacks (2007 & 2011) and would have 136.0 in total.  Allen also was the 2011 runner-up for the AP Defensive Player of the Year, though he did win the Sporting News DPOY.  In his first four years of eligibility, Allen was a Finalist, a five-time Pro Bowler, and a First Team All-Pro in four of those years.  Ranked #18 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Robert Mathis (DE):  IND 2003-16.  Mathis won a Super Bowl with the Colts, thrice led the NFL in Forced Fumbles, and is the all-time leader in that category with 54.  He had 123 career Sacks, leading the NFL in that category in 2013 with 19, and also earning his only First-Team All-Pro with a second-place finish in Defensive Player of the Year voting.  Mathis went to five Pro Bowls.  Ranked #108 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Haloti Ngata (DT):  BAL 2006-14, DET 2015-17 &, PHI 2018.  Ngata won a Super Bowl with Baltimore, where he went to five straight Pro Bowls (2009-13) and earned two First Team All-Pro Selections.  Ranked #39 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Simeon Rice (DE):  ARI 1996-2000, TAM 2001-06, DEN 2007 & IND 2007.  Rice won a Super Bowl with the Buccaneers and was a three-time Pro Bowler.  He would have 122.0 Sacks over his career.  Ranked #135 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Neil Smith (DE):  KAN 1988-96, DEN 1997-99 & SDG 2000.  Smith would go to six Pro Bowls and was also a First Team All-Pro in 1993 when he was the league leader in Sacks (15).  He would also win two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos and had 104.5 career Sacks.  Ranked #32 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Vince Wilfork (DT/NT):  NWE 2002-14, HOU 2015-16.  A prior semi-finalist, Wilfork won two Super Bowls with the Patriots while individually earning five Pro Bowls and one First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #140 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kevin Williams (DT/DE):  MIN 2003-13, SEA 2014 & NOR 2015.  Williams had six Pro Bowls and five First Team All-Pros in a career spent mainly in Minnesota.  He recorded 63 Sacks and 113 Tackles for Loss.  Ranked #25 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 9 eliminated Defensive Lineman were:

La’Roi Glover (DT/NT):  OAK 1996, NOR 1997-2001, DAL 2002-05 & STL 2006-08.   Ranked #212 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Casey Hampton (DT/NT):  PIT 2001-12.   Ranked #314 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Chester McGlockton (DT):  RAI 1992-94, OAK 1995-97, KAN 1998-2000, DEN 2001-02 & NYJ 2003. 

Clyde Simmons: (DE/DT):  PHI 1986-92, ARI 1994-93, JAX 1996-97, CIN 1998 & CHI 1999-2000.   Ranked #330 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Henry Thomas (DT/NT):  MIN 1987-94, DET 1995-96 & NWE 1997-2000.  Ranked #266 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Justin Tuck (DE):  NYG 2005-13 & OAK 2014-15.  

Ted Washington (NT/DT):  SFO 1991-93, BUF 1995-2000, CHI 2001-02, NWE 2003, OAK 2004-05 & CLE. 2006-07.  Ranked #246 in Notinhalloffame.com.

Jamal Williams (DT/NT):  SDG 1998-2009 & DEN 2010. 

Pat Williams (DT):  BUF 1997-2004 & MIN 2005-10. 

The Chairman’s Defensive Lineman Notes:

Two names:  They got it right with Neil Smith and Kevin Williams, two Linemen who should have been Finalists years ago, both of whom have never been Semi-Finalists.  Hopefully, they both advance.

Linebackers: (5) (Down from 25 last year)

Cornelius Bennett:  1987-00, BUF, ATL, IND.  Bennett would go to five Pro Bowls and was a First Team All-Pro in 1988.  The two-time UPI Defensive Player of the Year helped Buffalo win four AFC Championships, and he had 71.5 Sacks and 1,190 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #95 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*London Fletcher:  STL 1998-2001, BUF 2002-06 & WAS 2007-13.  A previous Semi-Finalist. Fletcher would win a Super Bowl early in his career with the Rams, and later on in his career, he would make the Pro Bowl four years in a row (2009-12) as a Redskin. He accumulated 2,039 Combined Tackles over his career, 23 Interceptions, and 39 Sacks.  Ranked #55 on Notinhalloffame.com.

James Harrison:  PIT 2002, 2003-12 & 2017 -17, CIN 2013, NWE 2017.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the Steelers and had a five-year streak of Pro Bowls from 2007 to 2011.  The two-time First Team All-Pro won the 2008 Defensive Player of the Year Award and is a previous Semi-Finalist.  Ranked #42 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Luke Kucchly: CAR 2012-19.   Kuechly is a strong contender to enter Canton on his first year of eligibility as he is a former Defensive Rookie of the Year (2012) and Defensive Player of the Year in 2013.  A two-time leader in Combined Tackles, Kuechly was a seven-time Pro Bowl and five-time First Team All-Pro.  Ranked #2 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Terrell Suggs (Also DE):  BAL 2003-18, ARI 2019 & KAN 2019.  Suggs was the 2003 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, and eight years later, he was the consensus Defensive Player of the Year.  He went to seven Pro Bowls, was a one-time First Team All-Pro, and compiled 139 Sacks, 202 Tackles for Loss, and 200 Quarterback Hits.  He was also a huge part of Baltimore’s second Super Bowl, and as a veteran, he retired, winning a second one with Kansas City.  Ranked #13 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 15 Linebackers eliminated were:

Jessie Armstead:  NYG 1992-2001 & WAS 2002-03.  Ranked #263 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brendon Ayanbadejo:  MIA 2003-04, CHI 2005-07 &, BAL 2008-12. 

NaVorro Bowman:  SFO 2010-17 & OAK 2017.   Ranked #262 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Lance Briggs:  CHI 2003-14.   Ranked #123 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Keith Brooking:  ATL 1998-2012, DAL 2009-11 &, DEN.  Ranked #285 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Tedy Bruschi:  NWE 1996-2008.  

Donnie Edwards:  KAN 1996-2001 & 2007-08 & SDG 2002-06. 

James Farrior:  NYJ 1997-2001 & PIT 2002-11.  Ranked #271 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Willie McGinest (Also DE):  NWE 1994-2005 & CLE 2006-08.  

Ken Norton Jr.:  DAL 1988-93 & SFO 1994-2000.  

Julian Peterson:  SFO 2000-05, SEA 2006-08 & DET 2009-10.  Ranked #313 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Bill Romanowski: SFO 1988-93, PHI 1994-95, DEN 1996-2001 & OAK 2002-03. 

Takeo Spikes:  CIN 1998-2003, BUF 2002-06, PHI 2007, SFO 2008-10 & SDG 2011-12.  

Jessie Tuggle:  ATL 1987-2000.  Ranked #126 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Mike Vrabel:  PIT 1997-2000, NWE 2001-08 & KAN 2009-10. 

Lee Woodall:  SFO 1994-99, CAR 2000 & DEN 2001. 

The Chairman’s Linebackers Notes:

I am thrilled that Bennett is here, as he is also among my most wanted defensive players to at least get into the Finalist room to have a deep discussion.  Kuechly is no surprise, and I expect him to enter immediately.   If there were any other former players, I would have liked to see advance would be Jessie Tuggle and Lance Briggs.

Defensive Backs: (6)

*Eric Allen (CB):  1988-01, PHI, NOR, OAK.  Allen secured 54 Interceptions and 787 Tackles and would have six Pro Bowl Seasons, with one earning a First Team All-Pro Selection and a UPI Defensive Player of the Year Award.  He was a Finalist last year.  Ranked #46 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Kam Chancellor (S):  SEA 2010-17.  Chancellor won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks while going to do four Pro Bowls over his career.  He compiled 12 Interceptions with 607 Tackles.  Unranked on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Rodney Harrison (S):  SFG 1994-2002 & NWE 2003-08.  Harrison won two Super Bowls with the New England Patriots and was a Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro twice.  He would have 34 career Interceptions, 30.5 Sacks, and 1,206 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #150 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Earl Thomas (S):  SEA 2010-18 & BAL 2019.  A seven-time Pro Bowler, Thomas was selected for three straight First Team All-Pros (2012-14) and won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks.  The Safety had 30 Interceptions and 713 Tackles.  Ranked #8 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Troy Vincent (CB):  MIA 1992-95, PHI 1996-2003, BUF 2004-05 & WAS 2006.   Vincent’s five Pro Bowls would all come consecutively (1999-2003) when he was with the Eagles. He earned First Team All-Pro honors in 2002 and had 47 Interceptions and 893 Combined Tackles.  In 2002 he also won the Walter Payton Man of the Year and Alan Page Community Award.  Ranked #259 on Notinhalloffame.com.

*Darren Woodson (S):  DAL 1992-03.  Woodson was part of the Cowboys’ three Super Bowl Titles in the early 90s, a five-time Pro Bowl and three-time First Team All-Pro.  He has been a Semi-Finalist multiple times before and has 23 career Interceptions with 11 Sacks and 967 Combined Tackles.  Ranked #70 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 12 Defensive Backs eliminated were:

Eric Berry (DB): KAN 2010-18.   Ranked #162 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Antoine Bethea (S): IND 2006-13, SFO 2013-16 & ARI 2017-19. 

Dre Bly (DB):  STL 1999-2002, DET 2003-06, DEN 2007-08 & SFO 2009. 

Nick Collins (S):  GNB 2005-11.  

Antonio Cromartie (CB):  2006-16, SDG, NYJ, ARI, IND.  

DeAngelo Hall (CB):  ATL 2004-07, OAK 2008 & WAS 2008-17

Eugene Robinson (DB):  Ranked #241 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Samari Rolle (CB):  TEN 1998-2004 & BAL 2005-08. 

Allen Rossum (CB):  PHI 1998-99, GNB 2000-01, ATL 2002-06, PIT 2007, SFO 2008-09 & DAL 2009.  

Bob Sanders (S):  IND 2004-10 & SDG 2011.  

Aqib Talib (CB): TB 2008-12, NEW 2012-13, DEN 2014-17 & LAR 2018-19.  Ranked #108 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Charles Tillman (CB):  CHI 2004-14 & CAR 2015.   Ranked #220 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The Chairman’s Defensive Backs Notes:

I was surprised to see Chancellor here, as I would have Eric Berry or Charles Tillman in this spot.  Thomas has had his past issues, and despite being (in my opinion) the best DB on the list, they could hold him back in favor of Allen.

Special Teams: (3)

Gary Anderson PK:  PIT 1982-94, PHI 1995-06, SFO 1997, MIN 1998-2002 & TEN 2003-04.  Anderson went to four Pro Bowls and was the all-time leader in Points Scored and Field Goals Made at the time of his retirement.  A member of the 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team, Anderson is currently third all-time in Points (2,434).  Ranked #206 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Brian Mitchell (Also RB): WAS 1990-99, PHI 2000-02, NYG 2003.  Mitchell was a one-time Pro Bowl recipient and a four-time leader in All-Purpose Yards. He totaled 23,330 in APY and is second all-time in that statistic.  He also won a Super Bowl with Washington.  Ranked #151 on Notinhalloffame.com.

**Adam Vinatieri PK: NWE 1996-2005 & IND 2006-19.  Entering his first year on the ballot, Vinatieri was a clutch performer who won four Super Bowls and was a three-time First Team All-Pro.  He is the all-time leader in Points Scored (2,673) and Field Goals Made (599). Ranked #93 on Notinhalloffame.com.

The 18 Special Teams players eliminated were:

David Akers PK:  WAS 1998, PHI 1999-2010, SFO 2011-12 & DET 2013.  Ranked #280 on Notinhalloffame.com.

Darren Bennett P:  SDG 1995-2003 & MIN 2004-05. 

Jason Elam PK:  DEN 1993-2007 & ATL 2008-09.  

Jeff Feagles P:  NWE 1988-89, PHI 1989-93, ARI 1994-97, SEA 1998-2002 & NYG 2004-09.  

Jason Hanson PK:  DET 1992-12.

Sean Landeta P:  NYG 1985-93, RAM 1993-94, STL 1995-9 & 2003-046, TAM 1997, GNB 1998 & PHI 2000-01 & 05.  

Shane Lechler P:   Ranked #110 on Notinhalloffame.com.

John Kasay PK:  SEA, 1991-94, CAR 1995-2010 & NOR 2011.  

Pat McAfee P:  IND 2009-16.  

Josh Cribbs PR/KRWR:  CLE 2005-12, NYJ 2013 & IND 2014.  

Brian Moorman P: BUF 2001-13 & DAL 2012. 

Matt Stover PK:  CLE 1991-95, BAL 1996-2008 & IND 2009. 

Matt Turk P:  WAS 1995-99, MIA 2000-01 & 2003-03, NYJ 2002, STL 2006, HOU 2007-11, JAX 2011.  

Mike Vanderjadt PK:  IND 1998-2005 & DAL 2006. 

The Chairman’s Special Teams Notes:

Only one thing:  Will Vinatieri make it in year one? 

This group will be pared down to 25 in November and reduced to 15 in January.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate this group of former players who made it to this stage.

The problem with running a Hall of Fame-related website is that many of the big ones we cover all have announcements within months of each other.  The backbone of what we do is list-related, so this results in a long push to revise what we already have; specifically, now with our Football and Basketball Lists.

At present, we have a minor update as we have completed the twelfth ten of the 2024 Football List, which you can comment on and vote on:

The new 111 to 120:

111. Joe Staley
112. Robert Mathis
113. Larry Brown
114. Erich Barnes
115. Willie Anderson
116. Jack Kemp
117. Rick Casares
118. Billy “White Shoes” Johnson
119. Ruben Brown
120. Wilber Marshall

Rankings are impacted annually based on your comments and votes.

Thank you all for your patience. We will soon unveil more changes to the football and basketball lists.

One of the best football players, regardless of the position that Central Michigan ever produced, has to be Joe Staley.

The 2007 28^thOverall Draft Pick from Central Michigan, Joe Staley started at Right Tackle in his rookie year for San Francisco before being moved to Left Tackle, where he remained their starter for well over a decade.