The complete list of modern-era candidates for the Class of 2014 consists of 126 nominees and was announced exclusively during a one-hour special on NFL Network Wednesday night.
In all, 16 former Bills are named on the list, including Andre Reed, Kent Hull, Cornelius Bennett, Steve Tasker and Bill Polian. Reed is a multiple Hall finalist who was most recently denied a bid in 2013.
From the list, that includes 16 first-year eligible candidates, the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee will choose 25 candidates who will advance as semifinalist nominees. The list of 25 semifinalist nominees will be announced in late November. That semifinalist list will be further reduced by a mail ballot to 15 modern-era finalists and announced in early January.
The Class of 2014 will be selected from the list of the 15 modern-era finalists plus the two senior nominees (former Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders punter Ray Guy and former Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Claude Humphrey) who were selected last month by the Hall of Fame's Senior Selection Committee.
The actual voting for the Class of 2014 will be conducted at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee's annual meeting, which will be held in New York City on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014 the day before Super Bowl XLVIII. The election results will be announced at a live announcement show that evening.
Here's the complete list. The list of players with Bills ties is below:
DREW BLEDSOE – 1993-2001 New England Patriots, 2002-04 Buffalo Bills, 2005-06 Dallas Cowboys
Played in 194 career games during his 14-year career. Completed 3,839 of 6,717 pass attempts for 44,611 yards and 251 touchdowns. Named to four Pro Bowls and Second-Team All-AFC twice.
DOUG FLUTIE – 1986 Chicago Bears, 1987-89, 2005 New England Patriots, 1998-2000 Buffalo Bills, 2001-04 San Diego Chargers.
Played in 91 games during his 12-year NFL career. Completed 1,177 of 2,151for 14,715 and 86 touchdowns. Added 1,634 yards and 10 touchdowns rushing on 338 carries. Selected to one Pro Bowl.
LARRY CENTERS – 1990-98 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 1999-2000 Washington Redskins, 2001-02 Buffalo Bills, 2003 New England Patriots
Set the then-record for career receptions and receiving yards by a running back that included a single-season record of 101 catches in 1995. Named All-Pro once and voted to three Pro Bowls. Retired with 827 catches for 6,797 yards, and rushed for 2,188 yards on 615 carries in 198 career games.
ANDRE REED – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
*Helped lead Bills to unprecedented four straight Super Bowls. Seven-time Pro Bowl selection, caught 951 receptions for 13,198 yards and 87 touchdowns in 16 seasons. All-Conference four times and Second-Team All-Pro three consecutive seasons.
KENT HULL – C – 1986-1996 Buffalo Bills
Helped lead the Bills to six division, and four conference championships. Selected first-team All-Pro three times and named to three Pro Bowl teams. During 11 seasons he played in 170 games and a full 16-game schedule nine times.
FRED SMERLAS– NT – 1979-1989 Buffalo Bills, 1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991-92 New England Patriots
One of first great nose tackles, anchored the Buffalo Bills "Bermuda Triangle" defense in the early-1980s. A three-time All-Pro choice, earned five Pro Bowl selections.
TED WASHINGTON – DT/NT – 1991-93 San Francisco 49ers, 1994 Denver Broncos, 1995-2000 Buffalo Bills, 2001-02 Chicago Bears, 2003 New England Patriots, 2004-05 Oakland Raiders, 2006-07 Cleveland Browns
A four-time Pro Bowl choice and All-Pro selection in 2001, played in 236 games during his 17-year career. A regular anchor on the defensive line, logged a total of 34.5 sacks and one safety.
CORNELIUS BENNETT – 1987-1995 Buffalo Bills, 1996-98 Atlanta Falcons, 1999-2000 Indianapolis Colts
Won eight division and five conference championships during 14 seasons. The 1991 Defensive Player of the Year, was a three-time All-Pro and five-time Pro Bowl selection with 71.5 career sacks.
DARRYL TALLEY – LB – 1983-1994 Buffalo Bills, 1995 Atlanta Falcons, 1996 Minnesota Vikings
Key contributor of the Bills defense for 13 seasons. Played in 216 games in 15 total seasons. Logged career numbers of 38.5 sacks and 12 interceptions. A two-time Pro Bowl and All-Pro choice.
TROY VINCENT – CB/S – 1992-95 Miami Dolphins, 1996-2003 Philadelphia Eagles, 2004-06 Buffalo Bills, 2006 Washington Redskins
Picked off 47 passes for 711 yards and 3 TDs during 15-season career. Named All-Pro once and voted to five straight Pro Bowls. Played on five divison championship teams.
STEVE TASKER – ST/WR – 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills
Earned seven Pro Bowl invitations as a special teams player. Only person in NFL history to earn Pro Bowl MVP honors at that position (1993). All-Pro choice five times and All-AFC seven seasons.
TOM FLORES – 1979-1987 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-94 Seattle Seahawks
One of only 13 coaches who have won two or more Super Bowls. Led teams to an overall record of 105-90 record. 1982 AFC Coach of the Year, 1982.
CHUCK KNOX – 1973-77, 1992-94 Los Angeles Rams, 1978-1982 Buffalo Bills, 1983-1991 Seattle Seahawks
A three-time NFL coach of the Year and a four-time conference coach of the year recipient. Led teams to seven division championships and a 193-158-1 record in 22 seasons.
LOU SABAN– 1960-61 Boston Patriots, 1962-65, 1972-76 Buffalo Bills, 1967-1971 Denver Broncos
*Two-time AFL Coach of the Year and led the Bills to back-to-back AFL championships (1964-65). Career record after 16 seasons, 97-101-7.
MARTY SCHOTTENHEIMER – 1984-88 Cleveland Browns, 1989-1998 Kansas City Chiefs, 2001 Washington Redskins, 2002-06 San Diego Chargers
*Led three teams to a total of eight division championships. Earned 2004 NFL Coach of the Year honors. Overall record in 21 seasons was 205-139-1.
BILL POLIAN – Team President/General Manager – 1978-1982 Kansas City Chiefs, 1984-1992 Buffalo Bills, 1993-94 National Football League, 1995-97 Carolina Panthers, 1998-2011 Indianapolis Colts
Built three franchises into winners. In all, guided teams to 13 division titles, five conference championships, and one Super Bowl victory.
The complete list of modern-era candidates for the Class of 2014 consists of 126 nominees was announced exclusively during a one-hour special on NFL Network tonight.
| First-Year Eligibles |
| QB: Trent Green | RB: Shaun Alexander, Warrick Dunn | WR: Marvin Harrison | OL: Willie Anderson, Walter Jones LB: Derrick Brooks, Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, Zach Thomas ; DB: Rodney Harrison, Sam Madison, Patrick Surtain Coach: Tony Dungy, Jon Gruden, Mike Holmgren See Photo Gallery of First-Year Eligibles>>> |
The Class of 2014 will be selected from the list of the 15 modern-era finalists plus the two senior nominees (former Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders punter Ray Guy and former Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Claude Humphrey) who were selected last month by the Hall of Fame's Senior Selection Committee.
The actual voting for the Class of 2014 will be conducted at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee's annual meeting, which will be held in New York City on Saturday, Feb. 1, 2014 the day before Super Bowl XLVIII. The election results will be announced at a live announcement show that evening. - See more at: http://www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/2013/9/12/2014-modern-era-nominees/#sthash.ziORjagp.dpuf
