HUNTSVILLE, Alabama - Walter Jones is one step closer to becoming one of only 70 men to have been selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
Ex-Auburn standout Kevin Greene now a Packers' assistantMeanwhile, Kevin Greene, after seven years of reaching the semifinalist stage, will be on the final ballot for induction for the third consecutive year.
Jones, an Aliceville native and part-time Huntsville resident who was a nine-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle for the Seattle Seahawks, and Greene, a former Auburn linebacker who hails from Oxford, were among 15 finalists announced Thursday night.
Jones played two seasons at Holmes Community College in Mississippi before signing with Florida State, where he played one year and was second-team All-SEC.
Greene, now an assistant with the Green Bay Packers, played for the Rams, Steelers, Panthers and 49ers during his 15-year pro career, was a five-time Pro Bowl pick and two-time All-NFL selection. He twice led the NFL in sacks.
The 2014 Hall of Fame class, which will include five inductees from the modern category and two from the old-timers category, will be decided in a vote on Feb. 1, on the eve of the Super Bowl. The electors include writers from each NFL city as well as at-large members.
The other 13 modern era finalists are kicker Morten Andersen, running back Jerome Bettis, receiver Tim Brown, defensive back Aeneas Williams, receiver Marvin Harrison, safety John Lynch, defensive lineman Michael Strahan, guard Will Shields, linebacker Derrick Brooks, defensive end Charles Haley, receiver Andre Reed, owner Eddie DeBartalo and coach Tony Dungy.
Walter Jones was great tackle for Seattle SeahawksThe 10 semifinalists who didn't make the cut were coach Don Coryell, linebacker Karl Mecklenburg, guard Steve Wisniewski, safety Steve Atwater, running back Roger Craig, running back Terrell Davis, coach Jimmy Johnson, offensive tackle Joe Jacoby, former commissioner Paul Tagliabue and general manager George Young.
Jones is considered by many observers to be an obvious first-ballot selection.
Writes Clare Farnsworth, a long-time Seahawks beat writer now with seahawks.com, "It's laughable to even imagine that Jones will not be a slam-dunk member of the 2014 Class, in his first year of eligibility, and that includes advancing as one of the 15 finalists....
"Jones was so dominant at the pivotal left tackle position from his rookie season, after being the sixth pick in the 1997 NFL Draft, that the only standard he can be measure against is the one he established. His nine Pro Bowl selections are the Seahawks' franchise record - more than the Hall of Fame duo of defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy (eight) and wide receiver Steve Largent (seven). Jones also was voted All-Pro six times, including first-team status in 2001, 2004, 2005 and 2007. In 2005, The Sporting News ranked Jones at No. 1 in its annual list of the 101 best players in the league.
"'No question about it, Walter is a no-brainer,' said Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon, who played for the Seahawks in Jones' first two seasons. 'He's one the best left tackles to play during his era. He was All-Pro many times. He was a Pro Bowler many times. ... And he was one of the most dominating players at that position for that 10-12 year period.'
"'He was the whole package.'"