Former Eagles Brian Dawkins and Terrell Owens will again have their cases heard by Hall of Fame voters.
On Tuesday, both were named among the 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 2018 class. The Hall of Fame voters will plead their cases for each finalist before this year's Super Bowl on Feb. 3 in Minnesota.
Dawkins and Owens making the list of finalists isn't a surprise. This is Dawkins' second year as a finalist and Owens' third. There are five players who are finalists for the first time this season.
Here's the full list of modern-era finalists: Dawkins, Owens, OT Tony Boselli, WR Isaac Bruce, OG Alan Faneca, OG Steve Hutchinson, OT Joe Jacoby, RB Edgerrin James, CB Ty Law, LB Ray Lewis, S John Lynch, C Kevin Mawae, WR Randy Moss, LB Brian Urlacher and CB Everson Walls.
The original list of 108 nominees was cut down to 27 semifinalists and now 15 finalists. The group of 48 Hall of Fame voters will cast their votes after discussions on Super Bowl Saturday.
There are also two senior finalists (LB Robert Brazile, OG Jerry Kramer) and one contributor finalist (GM Bobby Breathard).
Hutchinson, Lewis, Moss and Urlacher are finalists in their first years of eligibility.
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Traditionally, it has been difficult for pure safeties to get inducted and Dawkins is competing with another safety in Lynch. But it might be important for him to get in this year because more top safeties are coming up. Ed Reed will eligible next year and Troy Polamalu the year after that.
Based on numbers alone, Owens is a no-doubt-about-it Hall of Famer. But he was known to be a difficult personality and it seems that aspect of him has kept him out. We'll see if this is the year he'll break through. But Moss might be in his way; he seems like a no-brainer to get in on his first try.
