15 Finalists + 3

[JuggernautJ]

From NFL.com:
(Edited by me)
Morten Andersen, Kicker -- 1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006-07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings

Steve Atwater, Safety -- 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets

Don Coryell, Coach -- 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers

Terrell Davis, Running Back -- 1995-2001 Denver Broncos

Tony Dungy, Coach -- 1996-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2002-08 Indianapolis Colts

Alan Faneca, Guard -- 1998-2007 Pittsburgh Steelers, 2008-09 New York Jets, 2010 Arizona Cardinals

Brett Favre, Quarterback -- 1991 Atlanta Falcons, 1992-2007 Green Bay Packers, 2008 New York Jets, 2009-2010 Minnesota Vikings

Kevin Greene, Linebacker/Defensive End -- 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers

Marvin Harrison, Wide Receiver -- 1996-2008 Indianapolis Colts

Joe Jacoby, Tackle -- 1981-1993 Washington Redskins

Edgerrin James, Running Back -- 1999-2005 Indianapolis Colts, 2006-08 Arizona Cardinals, 2009 Seattle Seahawks

John Lynch, Free Safety -- 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos

Terrell Owens, Wide Receiver -- 1996-2003 San Francisco 49ers, 2004-05 Philadelphia Eagles, 2006-08 Dallas Cowboys, 2009 Buffalo Bills, 2010 Cincinnati Bengals

Orlando Pace, Tackle -- 1997-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Chicago Bears

Kurt Warner, Quarterback -- 1998-2003 St. Louis Rams, 2004 New York Giants, 2005-09 Arizona Cardinals


The 15 Modern-Era Finalists join three other finalists to comprise 18 finalists under consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2016.

Two Senior Finalists:
Ken Stabler, Quarterback -- 1970-1979 Oakland Raiders, 1980-1981 Houston Oilers, 1982-1984 New Orleans Saints
Dick Stanfel, Guard -- 1952-55 Detroit Lions, 1956-58 Washington Redskins
A Contributor Finalist:
Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Owner -- 1977-2000 San Francisco 49ers

[JohnTurney]

Tony Dungy, Coach -- 1996-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2002-08 Indianapolis Colts
Brett Favre, Quarterback -- 1991 Atlanta Falcons, 1992-2007 Green Bay Packers, 2008 New York Jets, 2009-2010 Minnesota Vikings
Kevin Greene, Linebacker -- 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
Marvin Harrison, Wide Receiver -- 1996-2008 Indianapolis Colts
Orlando Pace, Tackle -- 1997-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Chicago Bears
Ken Stabler, Quarterback -- 1970-1979 Oakland Raiders, 1980-1981 Houston Oilers, 1982-1984 New Orleans Saints
Dick Stanfel, Guard -- 1952-55 Detroit Lions, 1956-58 Washington Redskins
Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Owner -- 1977-2000 San Francisco 49ers

[Jeremy Crowhurst]

I know they're going to make Owens wait a while to punish him for his petulance, but if he's not a first-ballot Hall of Famer then I don't know who is. He checks all the boxes -- he was really good early, stayed really good to a ripe old age, was elite for many years, #2 all-time receiving yards, #3 all-time receiving TDs, but can't be accused of being a compiler. Then there's the category they really don't care about but should -- put up great numbers with multiple QBs of varying quality and levels of experience.

I never used to think of the other Terrell as being Hall of Fame worthy, but Reaser has sold me on that one.

I'm predicting Favre, Harrison, Pace, and Lynch, and I'd like to see Davis as the last one.

[bachslunch]

Interesting that Jimmy Johnson didn't make the finals list this time.

The three new names are Atwater, Jacoby, and James. Good news for Jacoby, not good news for Roger Craig, Mike Kenn, and Karl Mecklenburg, all of whose time is running out.

[Bryan]

Dick Stanfel better make it this year, otherwise it seems pointless that his name keeps resurfacing in the Senior pool. I think there are other Senior candidates more deserving than Stanfel, FWIW.

[74_75_78_79_]

Favre, Atwater, and Pace I personally IMO feel the most strongly about for 2016 as well as...Alan Faneca. Get him in already; why not? As HOF-worthy Kenn & Jacoby are, Alan has as many Pro Bowls under his belt as those two combined; and that "block heard around the world" SBXL...

As for who else in addition to those mentioned above? It's tough to pick one over the other. Stabler should have made it long ago but as some of you on this site have said, it wouldn't feel right that he now gets in the year after his death.

[Reaser]

Dick Stanfel better make it this year, otherwise it seems pointless that his name keeps resurfacing in the Senior pool. I think there are other Senior candidates more deserving than Stanfel, FWIW.

It's already been pointless so if he doesn't make it this time it's just is worse than it's already been. Definitely more deserving candidates. Personally, I'm not sure he's deserving at all.

[bachslunch]

Favre, Atwater, and Pace I personally IMO feel the most strongly about for 2016 as well as...Alan Faneca. Get him in already; why not? As HOF-worthy Kenn & Jacoby are, Alan has as many Pro Bowls under his belt as those two combined; and that "block heard around the world" SBXL...

As for who else in addition to those mentioned above? It's tough to pick one over the other. Stabler should have made it long ago but as some of you on this site have said, it wouldn't feel right that he now gets in the year after his death.

I'm not at all convinced Stabler belongs in. He's borderline at best with only one SB win and just very good level stats (about like Phil Simms or Joe Theismann) and that doesn't even address possible questions about point shaving related issues late in his career. As far as I'm concerned, the best reason to elect him is that there's no reason not to induct Ken Anderson, who is an elite level stat guy. And Reaser's point about Dick Stanfel is fair to make -- he doesn't grade out that well on Ken Crippen's film study site despite a 5/4/50s profile.

Re Alan Faneca, I agree he belongs in but he'll wait a few years like every other guard did except Larry Allen and John Hannah. Orlando Pace is ahead of him in seniority, and if Joe Jacoby is ever going to be elected, it's this year or next year or forget it. Faneca will certainly go in soon enough and it's no crime if he waits a couple years.

[bachslunch]

More thoughts:

--no way Roger Craig makes it in as a regular candidate now barring a sheer miracle. Next year is his last eligible year, and both Terrell Davis and Edgerrin James have now jumped over him into the finals. Not that I'm broken up about that, as I'm not convinced he belongs in anyway.

--have been thinking all along that the regular candidate electees will be Favre, Pace, Greene, Harrison, and Dungy. But with Jacoby becoming a finalist for the first time and with time running out on his candidacy, that could change. Jacoby could just spin his wheels and fall into the Senior pool like Randy Gradishar did, but he might also make a Rickey Jackson like run straight in -- and if so, it will likely be at the expense of Dungy or Pace. It's not unheard of for a surprise candidate to sneak in, and this year it might be Jacoby.

[bachslunch]

Also kind of interesting that of the five second-tier worthies from two years ago (Law, Holt, Bruce, Mawae, James), it's the last of these who broke through. Wasn't sure who would do so, myself.