There Might Be a Hog Call at Canton

Russ Grimm concedes he surprised himself how he reacted to the news that he could be on his way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

“I’ve never been the type of guy that says, ‘Oh, this is great, I hope my name goes up there,’ but I’m kind of excited about it,” Grimm said Friday after hearing he was among the preliminary nominees for 1997 induction.

Grimm has been retired five years and thus was the first of the Hogs--the Washington Redskins’ dominant offensive line of the 1980s--to be eligible for the shrine in Canton, Ohio.

Owners Jack Kent Cooke and defensive lineman Dexter Manley were the other Redskins among the nominees eligible for the first time. A list of finalists will be announced in January, and the class of 1997 will be determined on Jan. 25, the day before the Super Bowl.

Don Shula, who retired as the winningest NFL coach in history, also was nominated in his first year of eligibility, as was Don Coryell, former St. Louis Cardinal and San Diego Charger coach.

The others were offensive lineman Jim Covert; defensive lineman Jerome Brown; linebackers Hugh Green, Matt Millen and Jerry Robinson; defensive back Deron Cherry; and kicker Pat Leahy.

Center Dwight Stephenson and defensive back Mike Haynes will be added to the list of 12 because they finished in the top six in voting for the 1996 class.

The 15th member of the finalists to be announced in mid-January will be former Green Bay Packer guard Jerry Kramer, who was recommended by the Seniors Committee.