Hall of Fame Finalists Named

Reggie White dominated on defense while Troy Aikman was leading the Dallas Cowboys to three Super Bowl titles.

Now two of the 1990s best players could be entering the Pro Football Hall of Fame together.

White, who died in 2004, and Aikman were among the 15 finalists for the Hall of Fame announced Wednesday, joining Thurman Thomas and Warren Moon as finalists in their first year of eligibility.

Three to six of the finalists will be selected for the class of 2006, which will be announced Feb. 4, the day before the Super Bowl in Detroit. Enshrinement of the class will be the weekend of Aug. 5-6.

The two seniors candidates, former Dallas offensive tackle Rayfield Wright and former Oakland coach and current broadcaster John Madden, were chosen by a special committee last August and went straight to the finals. The other 13 finalists were selected from a list of 25 semifinalists.

The other finalists are: Derrick Thomas, the Kansas City linebacker who died in 2000 after a car accident; linebacker Harry Carson, who played for the New York Giants and was a member of the 1987 Super Bowl champions; defensive end L.C. Greenwood, a member of Pittsburgh’s “Steel Curtain” teams of the 1970s; defensive end Claude Humphrey, who played for Atlanta and Philadelphia from 1968 to 1981; Russ Grimm, a member of Washington’s famed “Hogs” offensive line; Bob Kuechenberg, an offensive lineman on Miami’s 1972 undefeated Super Bowl champions; Minnesota and Denver tackle Gary Zimmerman who played from 1986 to 1997; receiver Michael Irvin, who played with Aikman on Dallas’ Super Bowl teams; and receiver Art Monk, a member of three Super Bowl winners with Washington.

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The Green Bay Packers and Mike McCarthy were nearing a deal to make him their next head coach Wednesday night, a person involved in the negotiations told the Associated Press.

The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deal was not yet complete, expected the team to finalize an agreement with the San Francisco 49er offensive coordinator today.

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NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue expects the New Orleans Saints to play all of their home games next season at the Superdome.

Tagliabue also sought to reassure the community during a visit to the city that the NFL is not moving the Saints back for a single season to make the league appear sympathetic to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

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Fresno State Coach Pat Hill was interviewed by the Houston Texans on Monday, a team spokesman said.

The New Orleans Saints and the St. Louis Rams reportedly have contacted Hill for imminent interviews, and the Oakland Raiders are thought to be interested as well.

Hill, 54, makes nearly $1 million annually at Fresno State under a contract that runs through 2007.

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The Oakland Raiders will interview their first candidate to replace fired coach Norv Turner when they meet today with Kansas City Chief offensive coordinator Al Saunders.

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Quarterback Drew Brees said the San Diego Chargers would like to sign him to a long-term deal. Brees was discussing his shoulder surgery and rehabilitation during a conference call with San Diego reporters when he made the remark.

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Cleveland Brown offensive coordinator Maurice Carthon completed interviews for the head coaching opening at New Orleans.... Minnesota added Virginia Tech quarterback coach Kevin Rogers to its staff. He will serve in the same capacity for the Vikings.