After this, it's Bucs time at Hall

The 2012 class of the Pro Football Hall of Fame will be introduced tonight, Super Bowl eve, in Indianapolis.

They should rent the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for balloting. As usual, with class size limited, it will be bumper to bumper. Then there's next year _ when things start getting interesting.

It's Bucs time.

That's right _ the men behind those great Tampa Bay Buccaneers teams and a Super Bowl win begin coming up for the Hall in 2013. The great Lee Roy Selmon, Hall of Fame class of 1995, is sure to get company _ but how much?

Next year, Warren Sapp and John Lynch will most likely be Hall finalists. In 2014, it will be Derrick Brooks and Tony Dungy. Assuming Jon Gruden doesn't go back to coaching, he'll be up for the Hall in 2014, too. And Ronde Barber should also be eligible five years after he retires in 2019 or 2029, whenever it is.

Let's handicap the Bucs' Hall of Fame field:

Warren Sapp: Love him, hate him, but don't deny him. The seven-time Pro Bowler was on all-decade teams in two decades. A lot of teams are still looking for the next Sapp at defensive tackle, not just the Bucs.

Sapp has more sacks than any defensive tackle in history except John Randle _ and Randle made the Hall in 2010. Sapp is one of only nine defensive players in history to make a Pro Bowl, be voted defensive player of the year and win a Super Bowl (Brooks also is one of those guys).

Sapp, more than anyone, gave the Bucs a swagger. He should be in the Hall, though he might have to wait because he rubbed more than a few people the wrong way. They need to get over it.

John Lynch: There are retired receivers and running backs whose teeth rattle when they think of Lynch. He was one heavy hitter and a nine-time Pro Bowler, four of those coming after he left the Bucs.

Then again, there are only nine safeties in the Hall of Fame. Also, Lynch doesn't have that signature moment, like Brooks' interception return at the Super Bowl or Barber's pick and run in the NFC title game. As well liked as he is by media, easy to understand, I think it's going to be tough for Lynch to get in, early or late.

Derrick Brooks: LeBron James and Blake Griffin should be able to slam dunk like this. Brooks is a first-ballot Hall of Famer _ 11 Pro Bowls, including 10 in a row, a true leader. Come 2014, if Brooks doesn't go straight in, they should begin an investigation.

Tony Dungy: His record goes way beyond teaching the Bucs how to win. Dungy was a head coach for 12 NFL seasons and his only losing record came with the 1996 Bucs. He is the first coach to take teams to the playoffs for 10 straight seasons and had 10 10-win seasons. He was the first African-American NFL head coach to win the big game. Also, he cut down a cherry tree, but could not tell a lie.

He'll get to Canton. He should go in with Brooks in 2014, really.

Jon Gruden: As red hot as he was taking the Bucs all the way, as much fun as he was then and as much as he is now on Monday Night Football, well, the numbers aren't there. He was an NFL head coach for 11 seasons, but only six were winning ones. I don't think it's enough, despite Gruden's inherent charms. He's a Hall long shot _ unless he comes back and wins another title. I wouldn't put it past the man.

Ronde Barber: Five or six years ago, who would have thought Barber had a chance at Canton? But here he is, a five-time Pro Bowler with longevity and numbers that are truly fascinating, even if he steps away now, which I wouldn't do if I was him.

He's the first player in NFL history with at least 40 interceptions and 25 sacks in his career, the first . He ranks third all-time in defensive touchdowns, and has made 14 scores in all, including one that night in Philadelphia. Barber might have a better shot than Lynch. An added bonus for voters: He's not Tiki.