Baltimore on the Ballot

[vmax]

Thanks for all the hard research Joe!

From a lazy slob,

 

 

 

BALTIMORE ON THE BALLOT

The yearly Pro Football Hall of Fame preliminary ballot is out, and there are several among the 108 Class of 2016 nominees with local connections.

Among the 15 coaches to be considered is former University of Maryland head coach Lou Saban, who went on to coach running back O.J. Simpson and the early-1970s Buffalo Bills.

Only six quarterbacks are on the ballot -- including first-time-eligible Brett Favre -- but two of them are former Ravens Vinny Testaverde (1996-97) and Steve McNair (2006-07).

Testaverde directed the Ravens' most potent offense in team history until last year, earning his first career Pro Bowl berth in 1996. McNair directed the team to a 13-3 mark in 2006, still its best regular-season record.

Two of the 15 running backs are ex-Ravens runners Jamal Lewis -- the franchise's all-time leader with 7,801 yards -- and Priest Holmes, the undrafted ex-Texas star who won a Super Bowl ring as a Ravens backup in 2000.

Among the offensive linemen up for selection are former Baltimore Colts guard Chris Hinton, who came to town in the John Elway trade, and ex-Oakland Raider Steve Wisniewski, son of former Baltimore Colt Leo Wisniewski.

The diminutive-yet-powerful ex-New Orleans Saint, Sam Mills, who played in the United States Football League with the Baltimore Stars, is one of the 13 linebackers on the ballot.

Former Loch Raven High and Towson State punter Sean Landeta makes another appearance, with ex-Ravens kicker Matt Stover set to join the list when he becomes eligible next year.

Also up for election beginning a year from now are former Ravens wideout Derrick Mason and running back Ricky Williams.

The list will be winnowed down to 25 semifinalists in November and 15 modern-era finalists in January.

Those finalists will be put to a vote Feb. 6, 2016 -- the day before the Super Bowl -- and they will likely join the two Senior nominees (Ken Stabler, Dick Stanfel) and the Contributor nominee (Eddie DeBartolo).

Nominees must receive 80 percent of the vote from the 46-person Board of Selectors. Representatives come from every NFL city, including WJZ-FM (105.7) afternoon drive co-host Scott Garceau.

DeBarolo's inclusion as this year's lone Contributor nominee means late Ravens majority owner Art Modell will not be considered until 2017, when two Contributor nominees will be selected.http://www.pressboxonline.com/2015/09/18/eugene-monroe-likely-out-but-ravens-appear-mostly-healthy-for-game-in-oakland

[cravnravn]

Id really like to see Landetta make it. To say you went up against a hof kicker and git beat for a job aint bad at all.