:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/27885759/20140201_rnb_al2_032.0.jpg)
Many of the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters (media members) noted that Saturday's process took about nine hours, but decisions were made on the next class to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio. Five modern day players made the cut along with two senior inductees. For those who watched pro football the past two or three decades, many should agree that the names who made it from the modern day list were very deserving.
Perhaps the most notable was former Bills receiver Andre Reed. He joins many other Buffalo teammates from that dynasty that was built in the late 1980s and early 1990s with names like Bruce Smith, Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas. As a neat personal story, Mickey Mentzer and I met Reed, who was very cordial, back at the NFLPA Bowl a couple of weeks ago. We addressed him as a "future Hall of Famer", which now brings a smile to my face, given the results.
The other modern day players to join Reed were former Buccaneers linebacker Derrick Brooks, former Seahawks offensive lineman Walter Jones, former Arizona Cardinals defensive back Aeneas Williams and former Giants defensive lineman Michael Strahan. Brooks and Strahan are the only Super Bowl Champions of the five.
The two other senior members included a player at a position that has never been enshrined in Canton. Raiders punter Ray Guy, long-viewed as the best ever at his position, finally made his way into the Hall. Former Falcons defensive end Claude Humphrey also made the list as a senior member.
Some very big names barely missed the cut as well, including Marvin Harrison, Jerome Bettis, Kevin Greene, Charles Haley, and Will Shields. It's these names that likely sparked the nine-hour day by the writers, which happens to include current Cincinnati Enquirer writer, Joe Reedy.