[Illusion]

CANTON, Ohio -- Reggie White dominated on defense while Troy Aikman was leading the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles.

Now two of the 1990s best players could be entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame together.

Aikman and the late White were among the 15 finalists for the Hall of Fame announced Wednesday, joining Thurman Thomas and Warren Moon as finalists in their first year of eligibility.

Three to six of the finalists will be selected for the Class of 2006, which will be announced Feb. 4, the day before the Super Bowl in Detroit. Enshrinement of the class will be the weekend of Aug. 5-6.

Aikman quarterbacked Dallas to Super Bowl titles between the 1992-1995 seasons. He was one of the league's most accurate passers and his 90 wins in the '90s make him the winningest starting quarterback of any decade.

"If I were to be selected for induction, it would be the most meaningful individual achievement of my athletic career," Aikman said Wednesday in a statement. "It's not something that I choose to spend a lot of time talking about, because I think that kind of talk is unfair to those men who have already earned their place in the Hall of Fame.

"I came into the NFL wanting nothing more than to win a championship. My career unfolded in a way that exceeded all expectations and I am grateful to those who helped me along the way and shared in that success."

White, who died on Dec. 26, 2004, went to two Super Bowls with Green Bay and was elected to 13 straight Pro Bowls as a member of the Packers and Eagles. The defensive lineman is second on the career sacks list with 198 and led the league twice in the category, including 1987 when he had 21.

Thomas was a star running back for the Buffalo Bills, when they won four straight AFC titles from 1990-93. Moon threw for nearly 50,000 yards in the NFL after starting his career in the Canadian Football League.

The two seniors candidates, former Dallas offensive tackle Rayfield Wright and former Oakland coach and current broadcaster John Madden, were chosen by a special committee last August and went straight to the finals. The other 13 finalists were selected from a list of 25 semifinalists.

Madden, known as much for his video game and commentating as his coaching, has been eligible for the Hall of Fame for 27 years.

The other finalists are: Derrick Thomas, the Kansas City linebacker who died in 2000 after a car accident; linebacker Harry Carson, who played for the New York Giants and was a member of the 1987 Super Bowl champions; defensive end L.C. Greenwood, a member of Pittsburgh's "Steel Curtain" teams of the 1970s; defensive end Claude Humphrey, who played for Atlanta and Philadelphia between 1968-81; Russ Grimm, a member of Washington's famed "Hogs" offensive line; Bob Kuechenberg, an offensive lineman on Miami's 1972 undefeated Super Bowl champions; Minnesota and Denver tackle Gary Zimmerman who played from 1986-1997; wide receiver Michael Irvin, who played with Aikman on Dallas' Super Bowl teams, and wide receiver Art Monk, a member of three Super Bowl winners with Washington.

A 39-member panel will vote on the finalists. A candidate must get 80 percent of the vote to be elected. If fewer than three get 80 percent, the candidate with the next highest percentage will be elected.

[Illusion]

Those two should have no trouble getting in.

[bigboydan]

yes, they both get in this year.

[aje]

Add power and excitement to your corporate, promotional or fund raising event with a personal appearance from Harry Carson or another great NFL player.

http://www.harrycarson.com/appearances.php

[bigboydan]

art monk is the one that suprises me, he should be in there.

[aje]

art monk is the one that suprises me, he should be in there.

I agree with that ,but the one that surprises me is Derrick Thomas. I dont know how he stacks up against other HOF's but here is his numbers.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/profiles/stats/primary/0930.html

[bigboydan]

i think he will get in eventually. but, there are so many other good canidates this year on the ballot.

when you have people like moon,monk,madden,thurman thomas, and irvin on the list, as well as and the two lead pipe sinches. you can't take them all this year. besides, minium is 3 and the max is 6 you can induct in the HOF each year.

[aje]

Yeah it is only his second year ,but i'm trying to remember how he really stacked up at his position over his career.

Here's L.T. #'s
http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/me...?player_id=212