derrick thomas hof fame inductee again

[slc chief]

he better get in this time



Derrick Thomas reaches Hall of Fame semifinals

The Kansas City Star




Former Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas is among 25 semifinal candidates on the ballot for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2009.

The 25 semifinalists were chosen from a preliminary list of 133 nominees. The list will be reduced to 15 modern-era candidates, plus two senior nominees, Bob Hayes and Claude Humphrey. Thomas, who died in 2000, is a finalist for the fifth time.

Four first-year eligible players are John Randle, Shannon Sharpe, Bruce Smith and Rod Woodson. Roger Craig, eligible since 1999, is a semifinalist for the first time.

The Class of 2008, ranging from five to seven members, will be selected on Jan. 31. The complete list of 25 modern-era semifinalists:

•CRIS CARTER, WR: 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
•ROGER CRAIG, RB: 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings
•TERRELL DAVIS, RB: 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
•DERMONTTI DAWSON, C: 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
•RICHARD DENT, DE: 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
•CHRIS DOLEMAN, DE/LB: 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers
•KEVIN GREENE, LB/DE: 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
•RUSS GRIMM, G: 1981-1991 Washington
•RAY GUY, P: 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
•CHARLES HALEY, DE/LB: 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
•LESTER HAYES, CB: 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
•CORTEZ KENNEDY, DT: 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks
•BOB KUECHENBERG, G: 1970-1984 Miami Dolphins
•RANDALL MCDANIEL, G: 1988-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-01 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
•ART MODELL, OWNER: 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2003 Baltimore Ravens
•JOHN RANDLE, DT: 1990-2000 Minnesota Vikings, 2001-03 Seattle Seahawks
•ANDRE REED, WR: 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington
•SHANNON SHARPE, TE: 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens
•BRUCE SMITH, DE: 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000-03 Washington
•KEN STABLER, QB: 1970-79 Oakland Raiders, 1980-81 Houston Oilers, 1982-84 New Orleans Saints
•PAUL TAGLIABUE, COMMISSIONER: 1989-2006 National Football League
•STEVE TASKER, SPECIAL TEAMS/WR: 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills
•DERRICK THOMAS, LB: 1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs
•RALPH WILSON, OWNER: 1960-current Buffalo Bills
•ROD WOODSON, CB/S: 1987-1996 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers, 1998-2001 Baltimore Ravens, 2002-03 Oakland Raiders