NFL

2011 Pro Football Hall Of Fame Finalists

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Feb 2, 2011

2011 Pro Football Hall Of Fame Finalists

Marshall Faulk

The Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee announced the finalists for the 2011 class. The 44-member group will meet the day before the Super Bowl to vote on who will be inducted. Here are the 15 finalists: Regarded as one of the best dual-threat running backs in the history of the game, Marshall Faulk is the only back to run for 12,000 yards and amass 6,000 receiving yards in a career. He also holds the honor as the only back to rush for at least 70 touchdowns and catch at least 30 TDs. The former Indianapolis Colt and St. Louis Ram is a Super Bowl champion and won a league MVP award in 2000.

Curtis Martin

In only 11 seasons, Curtis Martin amassed 14,101 yards with the Patriots and Jets, retiring as the fourth all-time leading rusher. He was named to five Pro Bowl teams and logged 90 career rushing touchdowns.

Deion Sanders

One of the rarest of athletes to play the game, Deion Sanders dabbled in professional baseball at the same time that he was building a Hall of Fame career as a NFL cornerback. "Prime Time" was known for his speed, hands and return abilities. In his 13-year career, he picked off 53 passes, nine of which were returned for touchdowns, and also scored nine times as a kickoff and punt return specialist. The two-time Super Bowl champion and 1994 Defensive Player of the Year played for five teams, most prominently the Atlanta Falcons and the Dallas Cowboys.

Tim Brown

The former Heisman Trophy winner enjoyed just as prolific a career as a pro as he did at Notre Dame. Brown spent 16 years catching passes for the Raiders, where he established himself as a premiere threat, catching 100 touchdown passes and finishing with nearly 15,000 receiving yards. He also holds the NFL records for most consecutive games with at least one reception (147) and consecutive seasons with at least 75 catches (10).

Shannon Sharpe

One of the more outspoken tight ends the NFL has ever seen, Shannon Sharpe was the first at his position to surpass 10,000 receiving yards. He's second all time among tight ends in receiving yards, trailing only Tony Gonzalez. He contributed to two Super Bowl-winning Bronco teams and was a veteran leader on the Baltimore Ravens squad that won the Super Bowl in 2000.

Jerome Bettis

A bulldozing runner who excelled as a short-yardage specialist in his 13-year career, the Bus sits fifth on the career-rushing list with 13,662 yards. The first-round pick by the Rams spent the majority of his career as a staple in the backfield for Pittsburgh. The workhorse carried the ball for the Steelers over 225 times in nine of his 10 seasons and retired after Pittsburgh won the Super Bowl in 2006 in his hometown of Detroit.

Chris Doleman

A feared defensive lineman during the 1990s, Doleman has been a semifinalist on the Hall of Fame ballot the last two years. The three-time first-team All-Pro split time in the NFL between the Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons, and San Francisco 49ers and racked up 150.5 total sacks in 15 seasons.

Andre Reed

Andre Reed paid dividends for the Buffalo Bills as a surprise fourth-round draft pick in 1985. In 15 seasons with Buffalo, he finished second all time to Jerry Rice with the most seasons of 50 or more catches (13). He's 11th in career receiving yards and 12th in receiving touchdowns. In his four Super Bowl appearances, he had 27 receptions, which ranks second all time to Rice.

Charles Haley

Charles Haley is the only NFL player who can say he has a Super Bowl ring for each finger on one hand. Haley was a San Francisco 49er for two Super Bowl victories and was a member of the dominant 1992-1995 Dallas Cowboys that won three titles. Injures derailed his 13-year career but Haley still retired with 100.5 career sacks and five Pro Bowl appearances.

Ed Sabol

Sabol can be credited for starting NFL Films, the eye-opening production company that gives fans a wider glimpse inside the NFL. He revolutionized the way viewers look at football. He was the first to use such visionary concepts like putting a microphone on NFL coaches along the sidelines and in practices, and to incorporate slow-motion line of scrimmage shots. NFL Films was also the first company to receive the rights to air an hour-long sports documentary on live television.

Richard Dent

Richard Dent was a dominant pass-rushing defensive end for the Chicago Bears and four other teams between 1983-97. He led the league with 17 sacks during the Bears 15-1 season in 1985. His 3 1/2 sacks against the New York Giants in the division playoffs sparked his dominant postseason performance, as he was later named Super Bowl XX MVP. Dent finished his career with 137.5 career sacks and is the all-time sacks leader in Bears history with 124.5.

Cortez Kennedy

For the third year in a row, Cortez Kennedy has a chance to become the second Seattle Seahawk enshrined in the Hall-of-Fame. Kennedy is regarded as one of the best run stopping and pass-rushing combo linemen during the 1990's. In his 11-year career in Seattle, he won the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year award in 1992, was elected to eight Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro teams.

Dermontti Dawson

One of the all-time Steeler greats, Dermontti Dawson was a staple along the line throughout the 1990s. Dawson was elected to seven straight Pro Bowls between 1992-98, was named to six first-team All-Pro squads and was a NFL 1990s All-Decade team honoree.

Cris Carter

After three productive seasons as a Philadelphia Eagle, marred by off-field drug problems, Carter turned his career around, starting in 1990 with a new opportunity with the Vikings. During a five year stretch beginning in 1995, Carter scored 55 touchdowns. He finished the '95 season with 17 touchdown catches, tied for fifth all-time. Consecutive seasons of 122 receptions in '94 and '95 are the fourth most in a single season. He retired with 130 touchdowns, good for fourth best in NFL history.

Willie Roaf

Willie Roaf was a durable pass-blocking specialist who dominated the line through the mid-90s and early 2000s as a member of the Saints and Chiefs. Roaf made the Pro Bowl as a tackle seven years in a row with New Orleans and for all four years of his tenure as a Chief. He was named All Pro tackle in '94, '95 and '04.

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