Six first-year eligible candidates are among the 27 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013.
The Hall normally forwards 25 semifinalists, but there was a three-way tie for the final slot this year, so two extras were sent on. The Hall’s selection committee will reduce the list to 15 finalists in January, from which no more than five will be inducted into the Hall.
Guard Larry Allen, kicker Morten Andersen, safety John Lynch, tackle Jonathan Ogden, defensive tackle Warren Sapp, and defensive end Michael Strahan were the newcomers to the list.
Former Chiefs and Raiders cornerback Albert Lewis is also a semifinalist for the first time, though he’s previously been eligible.
The remaining 20 have been semifinalists before, including last year’s 10 finalists who missed the final cut: Running back Jerome Bettis, wide receivers Tim Brown, Cris Carter and Andre Reed, guard Will Shields, defensive end Charles Haley, linebacker Kevin Greene, cornerback Aeneas Williams along with Bill Parcells and Ed DeBartolo, Jr.
The other 10 semifinalsts are: Safety Steve Atwater, coach Don Coryell, running backs Roger Craig and Terrell Davis, tackle Joe Jacoby, linebacker Karl Mecklenburg, owner Art Modell, former commissioner Paul Tagliabue, special teamer Steve Tasker and executive George Young.
Two senior nominees — former Chiefs and Oilers nose tackle Curley Culp and former Packers and Redskins linebacker Dave Robinson— are voted upon separately, for a maximum class of seven.