Michael Irvin and Charles Haley survived the cut to 25 semifinalists Thursday for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2007.
Irvin advances for the third consecutive year – every year that he has been eligible. Haley is the only player in history to win five Super Bowls, including three with the Cowboys.
Candidates with Dallas connections who were eliminated in the cutdown were executives Gil Brandt and Jerry Jones, coach Jimmy Johnson and players Ed "Too Tall" Jones, Drew Pearson and Herschel Walker.
The Class of 2007 is considered soft because of the scarcity of quarterbacks and running backs.
Ken Stabler, who has been a finalist three times, is the only quarterback in the Final 25 and Thurman Thomas and Terrell Davis the only running backs.
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File photos Charles Haley (left) and Michael Irvin are among the final 25 candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. |
There are six offensive linemen – seven if you include seniors candidate Gene Hickerson – and six pass rushers among the semifinalists, including Haley.
The slate of 25 will be pared to 15 finalists in January. There also will be two senior candidates on the ballot.
The Class of 2007 will then be selected on Feb. 3, 2007, in Miami, Fla., a day before the Super Bowl. A minimum of three and a maximum of six finalists will comprise the class.
E-mail rgosselin@dallasnews.com
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME CANDIDATES
A list of the 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 15 finalists will be selected in January.
Quarterbacks:
■ Ken Stabler, QB, 1970-79 Oakland Raiders, 1980-81 Houston Oilers, 1982-84 New Orleans Saints
Running backs:
■ Terrell Davis, RB, 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
■ Thurman Thomas, RB, 1988-99 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Miami Dolphins
Wide receivers:
■ Michael Irvin, WR, 1988-99 Cowboys
■ Art Monk, WR, 1980-93 Washington Redskins, 1994 New York Jets, 1995 Philadelphia Eagles
■ Andre Reed, WR, 1985-99 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Offensive linemen:
■ Dermontti Dawson, C, 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
■ Russ Grimm, G, 1981-91 Washington Redskins
Bob Kuechenberg, G, 1970-84 Miami Dolphins
■ Bruce Matthews, G/T/C, 1983-2001 Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Titans
■ Randall McDaniel, G, 1988-99 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
■ Gary Zimmerman, T, 1986-92 Minnesota Vikings, 1993-97 Denver Broncos
Defensive linemen:
■ Charles Haley, DE/LB, 1986-91, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Cowboys
■ Fred Dean, DE, 1975-81 San Diego Chargers, 1981-85 San Francisco 49ers
■ Richard Dent, DE, 1983-93, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
Linebackers:
■ Randy Gradishar, LB, 1974-83 Denver Broncos
■ Kevin Greene, LB/DE, 1985-92 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
■ Derrick Thomas, LB, 1989-99 Kansas City Chiefs
■ Andre Tippett, LB, 1982-88, 1990-93 New England Patriots
Secondary:
■ Lester Hayes, CB, 1977-86 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
■ Roger Wehrli, CB, 1969-82 St. Louis Cardinals
Special teams:
■ Ray Guy, P, 1973-86 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Contributors:
■ Paul Tagliabue, commissioner, 1989-2006 NFL
■ Art Modell, owner, 1961-95 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2003 Baltimore Ravens
■ George Young, GM, 1968-74 Baltimore Colts, 1975-78 Miami Dolphins, 1979-97 New York Giants, 1998-2001 NFL
