White, Aikman lead list of Hall of Fame finalists

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

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

Aikman and the late White 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 and 6.

Aikman quarterbacked Dallas to Super Bowl titles between the 1992 and 1995 seasons. He was one of the league's most accurate passers and his 90 wins in the 1990s make him the winningest starting quarterback of any decade.

White, who died on Dec. 26, 2004, went to two Super Bowls with Green Bay and was elected to 13 straight Pro Bowls as a member of the Packers and Eagles. The defensive lineman is second on the career sacks list with 198 and led the league twice in the category.

Former Dallas offensive tackle Rayfield Wright and former Oakland coach and current broadcaster John Madden were chosen by a special seniors committee.

A 39-member panel will vote on the finalists. A candidate must get 80 percent of the vote or finish in the top three to be elected.

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Finalists

Voting by a 39-member panel will be Feb. 4

* Troy Aikman, qb, 1989-2000, Dallas

* Harry Carson, lb, 1976-88, New York Giants.

* L.C. Greenwood, de, 1969-81, Pittsburgh

* Russ Grimm, g, 1981-91, Washington.

* Claude Humphrey, de, 1968-78, Atlanta; 1979-81, Philadelphia.

* Michael Irvin, wr, 1988-99, Dallas

* Bob Kuechenberg, g, 1970-84, Miami

* John Madden, coach, 1969-78, Oakland

* Art Monk, wr, Washington 1980-93; New York Jets, 1994; Philadelphia, 1995.

* Warren Moon, qb, 1984-93, Houston; 1994-96, Minnesota; 1997-98, Seattle; 1999-2000, Kansas City.

* Derrick Thomas, lb, 1989-99, Kansas City.

* Thurman Thomas, rb, 1988-99, Buffalo. Miami, 2000.

* Reggie White, dl, 1985-92, Philadelphia; 1993-98, Green Bay; 2000, Carolina.

* Rayfield Wright, ot, 1967-79, Dallas

* Gary Zimmerman, ot, 1986-92, Minnesota; 1993-97, Denver.