Hall of Fame committee turns to trenches

INDIANAPOLIS Pro Football Hall of Fame voters honored some trench warriors Saturday, bypassing a trio of prolific receivers and the two men who generated the most discussion.

After six and a half hours of debate centered on 15 modern-day candidates, a panel of 44 voters selected running back Curtis Martin, center Dermontti Dawson, tackle Willie Roaf, defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy and defensive end/linebacker Chris Doleman.

One of the two senior candidates, Steelers cornerback Jack Butler, will also enter the Class of 2012 that will be enshrined this summer in Canton, Ohio.

The other senior nominee, guard Dick Stanfel, was denied.

Perhaps the two most high-profile candidates, coach Bill Parcells and former 49ers owner Ed DeBartolo, Jr., who resides in Tampa and was listed as a contributor, were eliminated following lengthy debates.

Parcells won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants and nurtured a coaching tree that includes today's Super Bowl coaches – New England's Bill Belichick and Tom Coughlin of the Giants.

In his third stint as a Hall of Fame finalist, Parcells was lauded as one of the most influential coaches of his generation.

But Parcells' candidacy was also questioned by several voters who noted he spurned Tampa Bay twice a decade apart after Buccaneer owners believed they had a deal in place.

Parcells was discussed for 57 minutes and DeBartolo's candidacy prompted 41 minutes of debate.

The 49ers won five Super Bowls during DeBartolo's 24-year tenure, but he was also suspended for one year by the NFL after pleading guilty to the felony charge of failing to report a bribe.

Some voters wanted more information about the NFL's decision in 2000 to fine San Francisco $300,000 and dock the 49ers two draft choices for violating the NFL's salary cap rules.

When I weighed their accomplishments and failures, DeBartolo and Parcells each advanced on my ballot when I cut my list down from 15 to 10, along with Dawson, Doleman, Kennedy, Martin, Roaf, wide receiver Cris Carter, guard Will Shields and cornerback Aeneas Williams.

Carter has made my final list for four years now, but he and fellow receivers Tim Brown and Andre Reed were turned away once again as the Selection Committee gravitated toward candidates along the offensive and defensive lines.

Doleman was a premier pass rusher, but two other sack specialists didn't muster enough support. Kevin Greene was eliminated in the preliminary reduction stage and Charles Haley - who won five Super Bowl rings during a 12-year career with the 49ers and Cowboys - didn't survive the cutdown from 10 to five.

Martin rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first 10 NFL seasons and was selected over a contemporary, running back Jerome Bettis. Martin described Parcells as his mentor and quickly tabbed him as his Hall of Fame presenter.

"He (Parcells) taught me how to be a professional and he also had a lot to do with teaching me how to be a man,'' Martin said.

The next few years promise to be intriguing for Buccaneer fans.

Warren Sapp and John Lynch are eligible for the first time in 2013, when the Super Bowl moves to New Orleans. Other notable first-time candidates next year include Giants defensive end Michael Strahan, Cowboys/49ers guard Larry Allen and Ravens tackle Jonathan Ogden.

When the Super Bowl shifts to New York in 2014, former Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks will be up for discussion for the first time, along with coach Tony Dungy and wide receiver Marvin Harrison.

I'm looking forward to making the presentations for Sapp, Brooks and Lynch, who all played pivotal roles on a dominant defense that culminated in 2002's championship season.

Ira Kaufman is the Tampa Bay representative on the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee.