CANTON, Ohio – Former Cowboys wide receiver Michael Irvin and recently retired NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue are among the 17 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2007.
Also making the cut was Bruce Matthews, one of the game's most venerable blockers who played every position on the offensive line for the Oilers/Titans from 1983-2001.
Matthews, a 14-time Pro Bowler, is in his first year of eligibility.
On the final ballot for the second year is former Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas, a former NFL MVP, who helped lead the Bills to four Super Bowl appearances.
Irvin played 12 seasons with the Cowboys, catching 750 passes for 11,904 yards.
To be elected, a finalist must receive a minimum of 80 percent of the total votes by the panel of media members. The panel will vote Feb. 3, the day before the Super Bowl in Miami.
Enshrinement of the Class of 2007 will take place on the weekend of August 4-5.
HALL OF FAME FINALISTS
| Voting by a 40-member panel will be held Feb. 3 | | Name | Pos. | Team(s) | | Fred Dean | DE | 1975-81 San Diego; 1981-85 San Francisco | | Richard Dent | DE | 1983-1993, 1995 Chi.; 1994 SF; 1996 Indy; 1997 Phila. | | Russ Grimm | G | 1981-91 Washington | | Ray Guy | P | 1973-86 Oakland/LA Raiders | | Gene Hickerson | G | 1958-73 Cleveland | | Michael Irvin | WR | 1988-99 Dallas | | Bob Kuechenberg | G | 1970-84 Miami | | Bruce Matthews | OL | 1983-2001 Houston/Tennessee | | Art Monk | WR | 1980-93 Wash.; 1994 NY Jets; 1995 Phila. | | Andre Reed | WR | 1985-99 Buffalo; 2000 Washington | | Charlie Sanders | TE | 1968-77 Detroit | | Paul Tagliabue | | NFL commissioner, 1989-2006 | | Derrick Thomas | LB | 1989-99 Kansas City | | Thurman Thomas | RB | 1988-99 Buffalo, 2000 Miami | | Andre Tippett | LB | 1982-93 New England | | Roger Wehrli | CB | 1969-82 St. Louis | | Gary Zimmerman | OT | 1986-92 Minnesota; 1993-97 Denver | |
