Owner joins Cowboys on candidates list
By CHAREAN WILLIAMS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is among the 111 former players, coaches and contributors on the Pro Football Hall of Fame's preliminary list of modern-era candidates.
"Just to be mentioned with these other names is a wonderful honor," Jones said in a statement. "These are the best of the best, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be considered."
He is joined by several former Cowboys players, including first-time eligible candidates Mark Stepnoski and Randall Cunningham, as well as Herschel Walker, Michael Irvin, Drew Pearson, Charles Haley and Ed "Too Tall" Jones. Gil Brandt, the Cowboys' former player personnel director, also made the preliminary list as did Tennessee Titans national coordinator of college scouting C.O. Brocato, an Arlington resident.
Irvin, who played for the Cowboys from 1988-99, has the best chance to represent Dallas in the Class of 2007. He made it to the final six in his first year of eligibility and was in the final 10 in February.
Hall of Fame selectors will choose 25 modern-era semifinalists next month. Those 25 candidates will be reduced to 15 in a mail vote, joining seniors candidates Gene Hickerson, a guard with the Browns, and Charlie Sanders, a tight end with the Lions, on the Class of 2007 ballot.
For the first time, the finalists list will number 17. It previously was limited to 13 modern-era nominees and the two senior candidates for a total of 15.
Selectors meet Feb. 3, the day before Super Bowl XLI, with induction requiring 80 percent voting support on the final ballot. The Class of 2007 will have between three and six members.
To be considered for Hall of Fame election, players must be retired at least five years. There is no mandatory retirement period for contributors, but a coach must be retired before he is eligible.
In addition to Cunningham and Stepnoski, other first-year eligible players are Terrell Davis, Ricky Watters, Bruce Matthews, Randall McDaniel, Steve Wisniewski, Eric Allen, LeRoy Butler and Carnell Lake.
In the Know
Pro Football Hall of Fame nominees
Class of 2007 preliminary list
Nominees in first year of eligibility
Quarterback -- Randall Cunningham
Running backs -- Terrell Davis, Ricky Watters
Offensive linemen -- Bruce Matthews (G/C/T), Randall McDaniel (G), Mark Stepnoski (C/G), Steve Wisniewski(G)
Defensive backs -- Eric Allen, LeRoy Butler, Carnell Lake
Other nominees
Quarterbacks -- Ken Anderson, Bernie Kosar, Jim Plunkett, Phil Simms, Brian Sipe, Ken Stabler, Joe Theismann
Running backs -- Roger Craig, Greg Pruitt, *Thurman Thomas, Herschel Walker
Wide receivers -- Cliff Branch, Harold Carmichael, Gary Clark, Mark Clayton, Isaac Curtis, Mark Duper, Henry Ellard, *Michael Irvin, *Art Monk, Drew Pearson, Andre Reed
Tight ends -- Mark Bavaro, Todd Christensen, Ben Coates, Brent Jones, Steve Jordan
Offensive linemen -- Jim Covert (T), Dermontti Dawson (C), *Russ Grimm (G), Jay Hilgenberg (C), Chris Hinton (G/T), Kent Hull (C), Joe Jacoby (T), Mike Kenn (T), *Bob Kuechenberg (G), Jeff Van Note (C), *Gary Zimmerman (T)
Defensive linemen-- Fred Dean (E), Richard Dent (E), Chris Doleman (E/LB), Charles Haley (E/LB), Ed "Too Tall" Jones (E), Joe Klecko (E/T/NT), Dexter Manley (E), Charles Mann (E), Fred Smerlas (NT)
Linebackers - Cornelius Bennett, Robert Brazile, Randy Gradishar, Kevin Greene, Ken Harvey, Rickey Jackson, Clay Matthews, Karl Mecklenburg, Sam Mills, John Offerdahl, Darryl Talley, *Derrick Thomas, Andre Tippett
Defensive backs -- Steve Atwater (S), Joey Browner (S), Raymond Clayborn (CB), Kenny Easley (S), David Fulcher (SS), Lester Hayes (CB), Albert Lewis (CB), Lemar Parrish (CB), Ken Riley (CB), Donnie Shell (S), Roger Wehrli (CB), Louis Wright (CB)
Kicker/punter -- Ray Guy (P), Nick Lowery (K), Reggie Roby (P)
Special teams/WR -- Steve Tasker
Coaches -- Don Coryell, Tom Flores, Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Clark Shaughnessy, Dick Vermeil
Contributors -- Bud Adams, Jr., Gil Brandt, C. O. Brocato, Joe Browne, Ed DeBartolo Jr., Jerry Jones, Bucko Kilroy, Art Modell, Bill Nunn, Lee Remmel, Ed Sabol, Steve Sabol, Rex Stuart, Paul Tagliabue, Ralph Wilson, Jr., Ron Wolf, George Young
*on 2006 15 finalists list
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is among the 111 former players, coaches and contributors on the Pro Football Hall of Fame's preliminary list of modern-era candidates.
"Just to be mentioned with these other names is a wonderful honor," Jones said in a statement. "These are the best of the best, and I am grateful for the opportunity to be considered."
He is joined by several former Cowboys players, including first-time eligible candidates Mark Stepnoski and Randall Cunningham, as well as Herschel Walker, Michael Irvin, Drew Pearson, Charles Haley and Ed "Too Tall" Jones. Gil Brandt, the Cowboys' former player personnel director, also made the preliminary list as did Tennessee Titans national coordinator of college scouting C.O. Brocato, an Arlington resident.
Irvin, who played for the Cowboys from 1988-99, has the best chance to represent Dallas in the Class of 2007. He made it to the final six in his first year of eligibility and was in the final 10 in February.
Hall of Fame selectors will choose 25 modern-era semifinalists next month. Those 25 candidates will be reduced to 15 in a mail vote, joining seniors candidates Gene Hickerson, a guard with the Browns, and Charlie Sanders, a tight end with the Lions, on the Class of 2007 ballot.
For the first time, the finalists list will number 17. It previously was limited to 13 modern-era nominees and the two senior candidates for a total of 15.
Selectors meet Feb. 3, the day before Super Bowl XLI, with induction requiring 80 percent voting support on the final ballot. The Class of 2007 will have between three and six members.
To be considered for Hall of Fame election, players must be retired at least five years. There is no mandatory retirement period for contributors, but a coach must be retired before he is eligible.
In addition to Cunningham and Stepnoski, other first-year eligible players are Terrell Davis, Ricky Watters, Bruce Matthews, Randall McDaniel, Steve Wisniewski, Eric Allen, LeRoy Butler and Carnell Lake.
In the Know
Pro Football Hall of Fame nominees
Class of 2007 preliminary list
Nominees in first year of eligibility
Quarterback -- Randall Cunningham
Running backs -- Terrell Davis, Ricky Watters
Offensive linemen -- Bruce Matthews (G/C/T), Randall McDaniel (G), Mark Stepnoski (C/G), Steve Wisniewski(G)
Defensive backs -- Eric Allen, LeRoy Butler, Carnell Lake
Other nominees
Quarterbacks -- Ken Anderson, Bernie Kosar, Jim Plunkett, Phil Simms, Brian Sipe, Ken Stabler, Joe Theismann
Running backs -- Roger Craig, Greg Pruitt, *Thurman Thomas, Herschel Walker
Wide receivers -- Cliff Branch, Harold Carmichael, Gary Clark, Mark Clayton, Isaac Curtis, Mark Duper, Henry Ellard, *Michael Irvin, *Art Monk, Drew Pearson, Andre Reed
Tight ends -- Mark Bavaro, Todd Christensen, Ben Coates, Brent Jones, Steve Jordan
Offensive linemen -- Jim Covert (T), Dermontti Dawson (C), *Russ Grimm (G), Jay Hilgenberg (C), Chris Hinton (G/T), Kent Hull (C), Joe Jacoby (T), Mike Kenn (T), *Bob Kuechenberg (G), Jeff Van Note (C), *Gary Zimmerman (T)
Defensive linemen-- Fred Dean (E), Richard Dent (E), Chris Doleman (E/LB), Charles Haley (E/LB), Ed "Too Tall" Jones (E), Joe Klecko (E/T/NT), Dexter Manley (E), Charles Mann (E), Fred Smerlas (NT)
Linebackers - Cornelius Bennett, Robert Brazile, Randy Gradishar, Kevin Greene, Ken Harvey, Rickey Jackson, Clay Matthews, Karl Mecklenburg, Sam Mills, John Offerdahl, Darryl Talley, *Derrick Thomas, Andre Tippett
Defensive backs -- Steve Atwater (S), Joey Browner (S), Raymond Clayborn (CB), Kenny Easley (S), David Fulcher (SS), Lester Hayes (CB), Albert Lewis (CB), Lemar Parrish (CB), Ken Riley (CB), Donnie Shell (S), Roger Wehrli (CB), Louis Wright (CB)
Kicker/punter -- Ray Guy (P), Nick Lowery (K), Reggie Roby (P)
Special teams/WR -- Steve Tasker
Coaches -- Don Coryell, Tom Flores, Jimmy Johnson, Chuck Knox, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Clark Shaughnessy, Dick Vermeil
Contributors -- Bud Adams, Jr., Gil Brandt, C. O. Brocato, Joe Browne, Ed DeBartolo Jr., Jerry Jones, Bucko Kilroy, Art Modell, Bill Nunn, Lee Remmel, Ed Sabol, Steve Sabol, Rex Stuart, Paul Tagliabue, Ralph Wilson, Jr., Ron Wolf, George Young
*on 2006 15 finalists list
posted by The Gryphon at 10:03 AM
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