(Sports Network) - Jerry Rice, the NFL's all-time leading receiver, and Emmitt Smith, the league's all-time leading rusher, are among 131 players, coaches and contributors on the list of modern-era nominees for the 2010 Class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Rice and Smith are eligible for the first time, as are wide receiver Tim Brown, quarterback Rich Gannon, running back Eddie George, defensive back Aeneas Williams and kicker Gary Anderson.

Other previous finalists again on this year's preliminary ballot are wide receivers Cris Carter and Andre Reed; tight end Shannon Sharpe; offensive linemen Dermontti Dawson and Russ Grimm; defensive linemen Richard Dent, Cortez Kennedy and John Randle; and former commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

Noteworthy nominees include Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Phil Simms, Joe Theismann, Doug Williams and Jim Plunkett; Super Bowl MVP running backs Ottis Anderson and Terrell Davis; and Super Bowl-winning coaches Tom Flores and Jimmy Johnson.

The preliminary list will be whittled down to 25 semifinalists to be announced November 27. Those semifinalists will be reduced to 15 modern-era finalists that will join the two previously announced senior nominees -- cornerback Dick LeBeau and running back Floyd Little -- to be considered for election.

The Class of 2010, which will consist of between four to seven new members, will be determined at the Selection Committee's annual meeting on Saturday, February 6, 2010 in South Florida the day before Super Bowl XLIV.



Copyright 2009 The Sports Network
All rights reserved

 Email To Friend