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Kevin Greene again named finalist for Pro Football Hall of Fame

For the second straight year, Packers OLB coach Kevin Greene has been named a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Greene is one of 15 modern-era finalists to join two senior nominees — one of whom is former Packers LB Dave Robinson — for consideration for election to the Class of 2013 when the selection committee meets the day before the Super Bowl.

The selection committee will elect a class of between four and seven members. No more than five can come from the 15 modern-era finalists. A class of six or seven can be achieved if the senior nominees are also chosen.

Greene has reached the semifinalist stage since 2008 and was named a finalist for the first time last year.

Here is the complete list of finalists:

·         Larry Allen – G/T – 1994-2005 Dallas Cowboys; 2006-07 San Francisco 49ers
·         Jerome Bettis – RB – 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams; 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
·         Tim Brown – WR/KR/PR – 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders; 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
·         Cris Carter – WR – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles; 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings; 2002 Miami Dolphins
·         Curley Culp* – 1968-1974 Kansas City Chiefs; 1974-1980 Houston Oilers; 1980-81 Detroit Lions
·         Edward DeBartolo, Jr. – Owner – 1977-2000 San Francisco 49ers
·         Kevin Greene – LB/DE – 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams;  1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers; 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers; 1997 San Francisco 49ers
·         Charles Haley – DE/LB – 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers; 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
·         Art Modell – Owner – 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns; 1996-2011 Baltimore Ravens
·         Jonathan Ogden – T – 1996-2007 Baltimore Ravens
·         Bill Parcells – Coach – 1983-1990 New York Giants; 1993-96 New England Patriots; 1997-99 New York Jets; 2003-06 Dallas Cowboys
·         Andre Reed – WR – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills; 2000 Washington Redskins
·         Dave Robinson* – 1963-1972 Green Bay Packers; 1973-74 Washington Redskins
·         Warren Sapp – DT – 1995-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers; 2004-07 Oakland Raiders
·         Will Shields – G – 1993-2006 Kansas City Chiefs
·         Michael Strahan – DE – 1993-2007 New York Giants
·         Aeneas Williams – CB/S – 1991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals; 2001-04 St. Louis Rams

*senior nominee

Here are the bios on Greene and Robinson as provided in the Hall of Fame news release:

Kevin Greene
Linebacker/Defensive End … 6-3, 247 … Auburn … 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers … 15 seasons, 228 games … Selected by Rams in 5th round (113th player overall) in 1985 draft … Played primarily on special teams as rookie, only season he didn’t register a sack  … Did not have any starts in second season, but played in all 16 games and managed seven sacks … Added 6.5 sacks in 1987 and by fourth season was bona fide pass rusher for Rams, registering career-high 16.5 sacks, including career-best 4.5 sacks in win over 49ers in season finale that clinched playoff spot for Rams … Following year matched his 16.5 sacks total … Had double-digit sack totals 10 times, second in record book at the time … Only time missed recording 10 sacks in any of last eight seasons was 1995 when he had team-leading nine sacks for Steelers … Named to Pro Bowl five times (once with the Rams, twice with Steelers and Panthers) … Selected first-team All-Pro, 1989 with Rams, 1994 with Pittsburgh and 1996 with Carolina … Captured league sack title twice, 1994 and 1996 … A member of NFL’s All-Decade Team of 1990s … Played in six conference championship games and one Super Bowl … Led team in sacks 11 times and amassed 160 total sacks, third all-time at time of retirement … Also had three safeties, 26 opponent fumble recoveries, and five interceptions … Born July 31, 1962 in New York, New York.

Dave Robinson
Linebacker … 6-3, 245 … Penn State … 1963-1972 Green Bay Packers, 1973-74 Washington Redskins … 12 seasons, 155 games … Selected in 1st round (14th player overall) by Packers in 1963 NFL Draft … Chosen in 3rd round (17th player overall) by San Diego Chargers in AFL Draft … Signed with Green Bay and quickly built reputation as big-play performer on Vince Lombardi-coached Packers dynasty … Started at left outside linebacker in three straight NFL championship wins, 1965-67 … Starting OLB in Packers victories in Super Bowls I and II … Recorded two tackles, five assisted tackles, one fumble recovery and pass defensed in Green Bay’s 33-14 win over Oakland Raiders, Super Bowl II … Rebounded from Achilles tendon injury in 1970 to regain form as one of game’s finest linebackers … Intercepted 27 passes which he returned for 449 yards in career … Lone interception return for touchdown came in first season with Washington … Named All-Pro second-team in 1968 and 1969 … First-team All-NFL selection three straight seasons, 1967-69 … Elected to three Pro Bowls … Named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1970s … Born May 3, 1941 in Mt. Holly, New Jersey.