It's Pro Football Hall of Fame nomination time again, with 103 players, coaches and contributors eligible for a bust in Canton that may or may not look like them.
Running back Tiki Barber, quarterback Drew Bledsoe, wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson, guard Will Shields, and coaches Bill Cowher, Bill Parcells, and Marty Schottenheimer are among the 11 first-year eligible modern-era candidates for the Class of 2012.
The fresh meat must contend with returning nominees who were finalists last year. That list includes: Running backs Curtis Martin and Jerome Bettis; wide receivers Andre Reed, Tim Brown, and Cris Carter; and defensive linemen Chris Doleman, Charles Haley, and Cortez Kennedy.
From the initial of nominees, the selection committee will choose 25 candidates who will advance as semifinalist nominees. The list of 25 semifinalists will be announced in mid-November.
The list of 25 semifinalists will be further reduced by a mail ballot to 15 modern-era finalists and announced in early January.
The final list of nominees that will be considered for election will consist of the 15 modern-era finalists and the two senior nominees, former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jack Butler and former Detroit Lions guard Dick Stanfel, who were selected this last month by the Hall of Fame's Senior Selection Committee.
Finally, the Class of 2012 will be selected from the list of 17 finalists (15 modern-era and two senior nominees). The actual voting will be conducted at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee's annual meeting, which will be held on Feb. 4, the day before Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, Ind.
The election results will be announced that evening on NFL Network.
The complete list of nominees can be found at the official site of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
