Raiders: Brown, Rice & Craig among HOF finalist
Three former Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders are among the 15 modern-era finalist that will be considered for election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Tim Brown, the Silver & Black’s 6th overall pick in the 1988 draft, played 16-years for the Raiders. He was a prolific wide receiver and a threat on special teams as a returner early in his career coming out of Notre Dame where he won the 1987 Heisman Trophy.
He currently holds the team record for games played (240), season’s active (16), touchdowns (104), many other receiving marks along with marks for all purpose yards (19,431) and yards from scrimmage (14,924). Brown also has the NFL record with 10-consecutive seasons with at least 75-catches and the mark for being the oldest player (35) to return a punt for a touchdown.
Among other accolades, he was a 9-time pro bowl selection, a second team all-pro in 1997 and was on the NFL’s all decade team for the ‘90s.
Jerry Rice, who is arguably the games greatest player and the wide receiver that is known as the greatest of all-time will also be up for consideration on February 6, the day before the Super Bowl, when the next class of inductees are traditionally announced.
In three seasons with the Silver & Black, Rice tallied 238 receptions, 3,219 yards and 18 touchdowns before being traded to Seattle six games into the 2004 campaign. At that point, Rice only had five receptions, had his streak of 274 games with a catch halted with a diminished role in the twilight of his career. His arrival in Oakland boosted the Raiders offense and helped them to Super Bowl XXXVII.
Like Rice, Roger Craig gained prominence with the San Francisco 49ers, but the versatile rusher did play for the Silver & Black one season compiling 590-yards rushing and 136-receiving in 1991.
He was the first running back in the history of the NFL to run for over 1,000 yards in a season and tally 1,000 yards receiving during the same campaign.
Ray Guy and Lester Hayes were two players that did not make the final cut.
For a look at the other candidates, here is a link to the story at the official Hall of Fame web site: http://www.profootballhof.com/enshrinement/2010/1/8/one-step-closer/
