Three former Giants greats - defensive end Michael Strahan, coach Bill Parcells and the late general manager George Young - are among the 27 semifinalists being considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2013.
Strahan, whose entire career was spent with the Giants from 1993-2007, is the franchise leader in games played (216) and sacks (141.5), as well as the NFL's single-season sacks record-holder with 22.5 in 2001. He is one of six first-year eligible candidates, joining guard/tackle Larry Allen, kicker Morten Andersen (who was the Giants' kicker in 2001), safety John Lynch, tackle Jonathan Ogden and defensive tackle Warren Sapp.
Parcells was the Giants' head coach from 1983-90. He was 77-49-1 in the regular season and 8-3 in the postseason, including victories in Super Bowls XXL and XXV. Parcells later coached the New England Patriots, the Jets and the Dallas Cowboys.
Young was the Giants' general manager from 1979-1997. During his tenure the Giants made eight postseason appearances and won four NFC East titles and two Super Bowls. He was named NFL Executive of the Year five times. After leaving the Giants, Young was the NFL's senior vice president of football operations until his death on Dec. 8, 2001.
The Hall of Fame's Selection Committee chose the 27 semifinalists from the previously announced list of 127 preliminary nominees. The list of semifinalists is typically limited to 25 names, but this year there are 27 resulting from a three-person tie for the final position. The Hall of Fame's By-laws provides that the list shall consist of "twenty-five nominees plus all ties."
In addition to the six first-year eligible nominees, one other previously eligible candidate, cornerback Albert Lewis has made it to the semifinalist list for the first time. Each of the remaining 20 nominees on the Selection Committee's list has been a semifinalist at least once prior to this year.
The complete list of modern-era semifinalists is as follows:
• Larry Allen, G/T - 1994-2005 Dallas Cowboys, 2006-07 San Francisco 49ers
• Morten Andersen, K - 1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006-07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings
• Steve Atwater, S - 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets
• Jerome Bettis, RB - 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
• Tim Brown, WR/KR - 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Cris Carter, WR - 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
• Don Coryell, Coach - 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
• Roger Craig, RB - 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings
• Terrell Davis, RB - 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
• Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Owner - 1977-2000 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
• Charles Haley, DE/LB - 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
• Joe Jacoby, T - 1981-1993 Washington Redskins
• Albert Lewis, CB - 1983-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-98 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
• John Lynch, FS - 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos
• Karl Mecklenburg, LB - 1983-1994 Denver Broncos
• Art Modell, Owner - 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2011 Baltimore Ravens
• Jonathan Ogden, T - 1996-2007 Baltimore Ravens
• Bill Parcells, Coach - 1983-1990 New York Giants, 1993-96 New England Patriots, 1997-99 New York Jets, 2003-06 Dallas Cowboys
• Andre Reed, WR - 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
• Warren Sapp, DT - 1995-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Oakland Raiders
• Will Shields, G - 1993-2006 Kansas City Chiefs
• Michael Strahan, DE - 1993-2007 New York Giants
• Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner - 1989-2006 National Football League
• Steve Tasker, ST/WR - 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills
• Aeneas Williams, CB/S - 1991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 2001-04 St. Louis Rams
• George Young, Contributor - 1968-1974 Baltimore Colts, 1975-78 Miami Dolphins, 1979-1997 New York Giants, 1998-2001 National Football League
The list of 27 semifinalists will be reduced by mail ballot to 15 modern-era finalists. That list increases to 17 finalist nominees with the inclusion of the two recommended candidates of the Hall of Fame's Seniors Committee. The Seniors Committee nominees, who were announced in August, are defensive tackle Curley Culp, (1968-1974 Kansas City Chiefs, 1974-1980 Houston Oilers, 1980-81 Detroit Lions) and linebacker Dave Robinson, (1963-1972 Green Bay Packers, 1973-74 Washington Redskins).
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