Former New York Jets running back Curtis Martin is on the list of 17 finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the league announced today. Martin is in his first year of NFL Hall of Fame eligibility. Four other finalists are also eligible for the first time -- Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, Willie Roaf and Deion Sanders.
Here are the 17 finalists (*-denotes senior nominee):
- Jerome Bettis, RB (1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Tim Brown, WR/KR (1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
- Cris Carter, WR (1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins)
- Dermontti Dawson, C (1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers)
- Richard Dent, DE (1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles)
- Chris Doleman, DE/LB (1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers)
- Marshall Faulk, RB (1994-98 Indianapolis Colts, 1999-2005 St. Louis Rams)
- Charles Haley, DE/LB (1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys)
- *Chris Hanburger, LB (1965-78 Washington Redskins)
- Cortez Kennedy, DT (1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks)
- Curtis Martin, RB (1995-97 New England Patriots, 1998-2005 New York Jets)
- Andre Reed, WR (1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins)
- *Les Richter, LB (1954-62 Los Angeles Rams)
- Willie Roaf, OT (1993-2001 New Orleans Saints, 2002-05 Kansas City Chiefs)
- Ed Sabol, Contributor (1964-1995 NFL Films)
- Deion Sanders, CB/KR/PR (1989-1993 Atlanta Falcons, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-99 Dallas Cowboys, 2000 Washington Redskins, 2004-05 Baltimore Ravens)
- Shannon Sharpe, TE (1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens)
Martin is fourth on the all-time list with 14,101 career rushing yards and 11th in all-purpose yards with 17,430. He spent eight of his 11 NFL seasons with the Jets and gained 10,302 yards rushing with New York.