By John Turney 
Seniors' Screening Committee Recommends 52 Semifinalists with a chance to be in the Class of 2026. The next step in the process is that a Seniors nine-person Blue-Ribbon committee (BRC) will reduce the list of 52 candidates to 25 in the next couple of weeks, then again to nine perhaps a month later ot so Ultimately, the BRC will choose three Finalists for the Class of 2026 and they will be presented to the full Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors.
Here are the 52 --
QUARTERBACKS (5): Ken Anderson, Charlie Conerly, Roman Gabriel, Jack Kemp, Don
Meredith.
All but Meredith have some sort of MVP award on the wall. Conely and Kemp have rings, but probably
Anderson, the final 25 for sure, likely the final 9.
RUNNING BACKS (6): Ottis Anderson, Larry Brown, Roger Craig, Chuck Foreman, Cecil Isbell,
Paul “Tank” Younger.
Larry Brown was an MVP, Craig was a Player of the Year, the first 1,000-1,000 player was key to NFL Championships and has a strong case. Isbell, to me, should be listed with the QBs, yes, he was a tailback, but he was a passer ... he just wasn't a T-formation guy ... and should be listed with them in my opinion.
WIDE RECEIVERS/TIGHT ENDS (9): Mark Clayton, Isaac Curtis, Lavvie Dilweg, Henry Ellard,
Harold Jackson, Billy "White Shoes" Johnson, Stanley Morgan, Art Powell, Otis Taylor.
I think Dilweg is the most honored end of all these players, but he was a two-way end, as good on defense as he was on offense. But his chances are small.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (11): Jay Hilgenberg, Chris Hinton, Joe Jacoby, Mike Kenn, Bob
Kuechenberg, Marvin Powell, Dick Schafrath, Jerry Sisemore, Walt Sweeney, Jim Tyrer, Al
Wistert.
It is quite a surprise that George Kunz was off the list this year after representing well last year. Just as surprising that Jerry Sisemore essentially took his place. Sisemore was a Pro Bowler twice and was a starter on a Super Bowl team once. Seems thin.
Do we dare put Jim Tyrer's name through the process again? It would be a wasted vote. Mike Kenn and Bob Kuechenberg are two that I think should make it to the Final 9. At least I will support them in that fashion.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (4): L.C. Greenwood, Ed “Too Tall” Jones, Jim Marshall, Harvey Martin.
No defensive tackles, all edge guys. That is a bit of a surprise. Greenwood has the jewelry (four rings), more than the other three ends combined. But all of then have better sack totals. But, Greenwood had the most Pro Bowls and also consensus first-team All-Pro selections.
I think L.C. is the top candidate of the four.
LINEBACKERS (8): Carl Banks, Maxie Baughan, Mike Curtis, Larry Grantham, Lee Roy Jordan,
Clay Matthews Jr., Matt Millen, Tommy Nobis.
Matt Millen? Three second-team All-AFC selections and one Pro Bowl? That is not a lot of end-of-season honors. But he does have four rings -- two with the Raiders and one each with the 49ers and Redskins.
Baughan made it to nearly the end until snubbed by the full board of voters. He has a strong chance of advancing that far again. Lee Roy Jordan, Tommy Nobis and now Mike Curtis -- how do you order them? If you had to rank them 1-2-3? Any group of people would come up with dozens of different ranks. That does not bode well for any of them.
DEFENSIVE BACKS (8): Dick Anderson, Bobby Boyd, Pat Fischer, Lester Hayes, Albert Lewis,
Eddie Meador, Lemar Parrish, Everson Walls.
Like that, Lemar Parish made it through the screening committee; his seven Pro Bowls as a cornerback and one as a returner stand out. He was a player quarterbacks avoided. Albert Lewis is right with him in terms of coverage and he had a special teams skill like Parrish, but Lewis' forte was blocking punts. The most in recent NFL history.
Among safeties, I have Meador over Anderson, even though Anderson had a high peak and played or better teams. Anderson's career was cut short by injuries. It's a tough all.
SPECIAL TEAMS (1): Steve Tasker.
I think Billy "White Shoes" Johnson belongs in this category with Tasker. As a wide receiver, he was not a Hall-worthy player, but as a returner, especially a punt returner, he has a solid case.
