Aikman, Reggie White Among Hall Finalists

[kgsilvas]

Aikman, Reggie White Among Hall Finalists CANTON, Ohio (AP)

Troy Aikman and the late Reggie White were among the 15 finalists Wednesday for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

They joined Thurman Thomas and Warren Moon as finalists in their first year of eligibility. Results of the vote will be announced Feb. 4, the day before the Super Bowl in Detroit.

Aikman quarterbacked Dallas to three Super Bowl titles between the 1992-1995 seasons. White, who died on Dec. 26, 2004, was one of the NFL's dominant defensive linemen through the 1980s and '90s.

Thomas was a star running back on the Buffalo team that won four straight AFC titles from 1990-93. Moon threw for nearly 50,000 yards in the NFL after starting his career in the Canadian Football League.

The two seniors candidates, former Dallas offensive tackle Rayfield Wright and former Oakland coach and current broadcaster John Madden, were chosen by a special committee last August and went straight to the finals. The other 13 were selected from a list of 25 semifinalists.

The other finalists are: linebackers Derrick Thomas and Harry Carson; defensive ends L.C. Greenwood and Claude Humphrey; offensive linemen Russ Grimm, Bob Kuechenberg and Gary Zimmerman; and wide receivers Michael Irvin and Art Monk.

A 39-member panel will vote on the finalists. A candidate must get 80 percent of the vote to be elected with a minimum of three and a maximum of six getting in. If fewer than three get 80 percent, the candidate with the next highest percentage will be elected.

[DarkFury]

Aikman and White are probably a lock for enshrinement...

I wonder if John Madden is gonna make it in.

[VTGreg]

I think Aikman, White, Thomas and Moon are all locks for the hall.

[ialsohaveadream]

I'd say White, Aikman, and Thomas are in (with Thomas the shakiest). I loved Moon, but I don't know that he's a Hall of Famer.

[zenbooty]

I'd say White, Aikman, and Thomas are in (with Thomas the shakiest). I loved Moon, but I don't know that he's a Hall of Famer.

50,000 yards passing = lock, I would think.

[ialsohaveadream]

Nah, I don't think you can base it on stats alone. For instance, Corey Dillon is statistically one of the top 20 RBs (based on rushing yards) of all time. But I don't think you can say Dillon is a Hall of Fame guy.

[VTGreg]

Nah, I don't think you can base it on stats alone. For instance, Corey Dillon is statistically one of the top 20 RBs (based on rushing yards) of all time. But I don't think you can say Dillon is a Hall of Fame guy.

Very true, statistics don't tell the whole story. However, Moon was a top 3 or 4 QB for a long time and was an All-Pro many times as well. He could definitely be considered a top 5 QB during the time period in which he played. IMHO, he is every bit as much of a hall of famer as Thomas (who I think is also a hall of famer).

[Cubsfan]

How do they select the 39 member panel?

[DarkFury]

Congrats to Reggie White, Warren Moon, Troy Aikman, John Madden, Rayfield Wright, and Harry Carson

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2318924

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5305930

[Sirrich3]

Congrats to them all for making it into the Hall!

[MikeD]

Very true, statistics don't tell the whole story. However, Moon was a top 3 or 4 QB for a long time and was an All-Pro many times as well. He could definitely be considered a top 5 QB during the time period in which he played. IMHO, he is every bit as much of a hall of famer as Thomas (who I think is also a hall of famer).

You can always argue stats, but ~50,000 yards is a ridiculous number. Yes, he played in the CFL and in the Run-N-Shoot, but you have to be a great player to reach that kind of level.

Good to see some 'Boys get in. Wright was kinda shaky, Irvin will get his due in time.