CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Deion Sanders, Curtis Martin, Marshall Faulk and Jerome Bettis are among the first-year eligible candidates for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2011.
In all, there are 113 modern-era nominees. From that list, Hall of Fame selectors will choose 25 as semifinalists; that group will be announced in November.
The semifinalists will be reduced to 15 finalists and will be announced in early January. Election for the hall takes place the day before the Super Bowl in February.
Selected in August as senior nominees are former Redskins linebacker Chris Hanburger and former Rams linebacker Les Richter.
Also on the modern-era list as first-time nominees are Jimmy Smith, Willie Road and former coach Dick Vermeil.
