CANTON, Ohio (Ticker) -- Wide receiver Cris Carter and cornerback Darrell Green are the only first-year eligible players among the finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2008. The field of 17 players to be considered for election into the Hall on February 2 - the day before Super Bowl XLII - was announced Tuesday.
An eight-time Pro Bowler, Carter had 1,110 receptions for 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns during a 16-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins. Carter's touchdown total rank fifth all-time, and in 2000 he became only the second player in NFL history to catch 1,000 career passes.
Green spent his entire 20-year career which spanned three decades as a member of the Washington Redskins and is widely considered to be one of the best cornerbacks to ever play the game. He registered 54 interceptions during his career, returning six of those for touchdowns. Retiring at age 42 following the 2002 season, Green helped the Redskins win a pair of Super Bowls during his legendary career.
A pair of Green's teammates, wide receiver Art Monk and guard Russ Grimm, also made the final cut. The other finalists are linebackers Derrick Thomas, Andre Tippett and Randy Gradishar; defensive ends Richard Dent and Fred Dean; guards Bob Kuechenberg and Randall McDaniel and tackle Gary Zimmerman; wide receiver Andre Reed and punter Ray Guy. Monk, Dean, Dent, Thomas and Tippett made it to the list of 11 finalists last year. Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue is on the ballot as the contributor finalist, while the Senior Committee nominees are cornerback Emmitt Thomas of the Kansas City Chiefs and halfback Marshall Goldberg of the Chicago Cardinals.
Tagliabue served as the NFL's commissioner from 1989-2006. His reign was highlighted by record-setting television deals, labor peace and a massive stadium building program. Last February, Tagliabue failed to receive the needed 80 percent vote from the 40-member Board of Selectors required for Hall of Fame election. Under Tagliabue's leadership, the NFL grew from 28 to 32 teams and revised its divisional alignment and scheduling formula. During this time, the NFL also expanded its international appeal. A minimum of four candidates and a maximum of seven can be selected.