Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists

The Pro Football Hall of Fame voters whittled the 26 semi-finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2017 down to 15 finalists. Those 15 finalists were revealed last night.

LaDanian Tomlinson, RB
Jason Taylor, DE
Brian Dawkins, S
Morten Andersen, K
Kurt Warner, QB
Don Coryell, Coach
Tony Boselli, T
Isaac Bruce, WR
Terrell Davis, RB
Alan Faneca, G
Joe Jacoby, T
Ty Law, CB
John Lynch, S
Kevin Mawae, C
Terrell Owens, WR

LaDanian Tomlinson, Jason Taylor, and Brian Dawkins are in their first year of eligibility.

Tomlinson is likely the only lock of the first-years as well as the 15 finalists. In fact, they can measure him for his jacket and sit him for his bust now. Taylor and Dawkins will make it but they probably have a wait of a year or two ahead of them.

If it were up to me the Hall of Fame Class of 2017 would look something like this.

LaDanian Tomlinson
Terrell Davis
Alan Faneca
Joe Jacoby
Don Coryell

The actual Hall of Fame class will probably include Kurt Warner and Terrell Owens. The beginning and end of Warner's career were easily Hall of Fame-caliber and that's ignoring that he didn't gain any NFL traction until he was 28. It's the 4-5 years in the middle of his career that give me pause. That's a significant chunk of time that was mediocre at best. While I may waffle on Warner's candidacy I have no doubt about Owens. He should wait in the receiver line like everyone else. Everyone not named Jerry Rice waits. There's no doubt that Owens has Hall of Fame numbers. The current passing game has shot receiving numbers to ridiculous heights and his numbers are there with the best. It's not about the numbers for me. Hall of Fame receivers should have Hall of Fame hands. He didn't. Not even close. Owens made the simple act of catching a football a challenge. He's about to receive the highest individual honor bestowed upon an NFL player. He'll probably drop it but the honor will be thrown to him. It's sad that he's held in such high esteem despite being so average at the one thing he had to do.

I think that the actual Hall of Fame Class of 2017 will look something like this.

LaDanian Tomlinson
Brian Dawkins
Terrell Davis
Kurt Warner
Terrell Owens

The actual Class of 2017 will be determined when the voters convene on the eve of Super Bowl LI in Houston.

Contributor nominees Jerry Jones and Paul Tagliabue and Senior nominee Kenny Easley should round out the Hall of Fame Class.

Congratulations to all finalists.