Wide Receivers

	Eagles receiver Harold Carmichael in action against the Raiders in Super Bowl XV. Walter Iooss Jr./SI

They're lining up four deep. There are 13 of them, and more will come from year to year because the numbers will be overwhelming, almost meaningless after a while. I have four names penciled in: Harold Carmichael, Henry Ellard, Michael Irvin and Andre Reed. If I'd have to predict which one will go all the way, I'd say Irvin. Art Monk again will provide spirited debate, for those of us who manage to remain awake throughout this old reprise. Please, Redskins fans, no e-mails at this particular time. Save 'em for January.

Tight Ends

Well, you've got Seniors candidate Sanders against the Giants demon blocker, Mark Bavaro, and the Raiders catch-machine, Christensen, as the serious standouts in a five-man field. I don't know why the Seniors Committee chose Sanders as one of its two reps, since his credentials are inferior to those of both of the other tight ends. I mention this because the rules were changed a few years ago, and Seniors now have to go head to head against the moderns. Bavaro's blocking caused Bill Parcells to name him as one of the greatest players he'd ever coached. Plus he had more catches than Sanders did, in fewer seasons. Christensen had one four-year span in which he averaged 87 catches a season. No other tight end in history ever has done this. Sanders caught 42 in his most productive season. A puzzler. I'm very sorry, Charlie was a fine player, but I like the other two better.

Offensive Linemen

I'll vote for the other Seniors candidate, Hickerson, if Kuechenberg goes in first. I'm all for the Seniors ... Lord knows, it's a vicious quicksand in which they're trapped, but everything I ever saw told me Kooch was a better player. Bruce Matthews, with his 19 seasons in the bag, is the leading candidate among first-year eligibles, and yeah, he'll be on my 25-man list. He might not bump holdovers such as Irvin and Thomas and the other Thomas, Derrick, the linebacker, when crunch time comes. I like O-linemen, so three others, Dermontti Dawson, Kent Hull and Russ Grimm, get my preliminary vote of the grand total of 17 linemen listed.

Defensive Linemen

Ten names listed, and my top choice among them is Joe Klecko, who excelled at three positions for the Jets. No one else likes him as much as I do. I don't care. I'll keep plugging away. Maybe he'll make it in the next world. Oh yes, Richard Dent is another of my choices for top 25. So let's see, I'm up to 15 already. Ten to go.

Linebackers

Put Sam Mills down, please, in red pencil. A great and underrated MLB. A genius on the field, a leader. How much more do you need? Derrick Thomas, Clay Matthews and Rickey Jackson fill out my hand here. There were 15 names listed.

Defensive Backs

Might as well say cornerbacks because my five choices, out of the 15 names provided, all manned the corners -- Lester Hayes, Albert Lewis, Roger Wehrli and a pair of consistently overlooked Bengals, Lemar Parrish and Ken Riley, the Rattler. Who was the best of this group? My choice would be Lewis, a Mike Haynes clone.

Special Teams

Steve Tasker, probably the greatest player ever to run downfield under a punt, is a freak choice. If the selectors are in a generous mood, he'll somehow get pushed up to the finals. Then I'll have to take a long, serious look at the nominations and life in general. A lot of hearts will be gladdened if little Steve somehow gets enshrined. Mine would be among them.

Coaches, Contributors

Well, I'd say Eddie DeB was the greatest contributor -- to salaries, to parties, especially the one he threw in Vegas. My man Shaughnessy logically can't be considered because the Seniors Committee stiffed him, and if I couldn't convince those guys, what chance would I have with the room in general? I've always been a George Young man, and I guess I'll ride with him again. Paul Tagliabue's name will produce a lively debate, with a lot of things being said in bad taste. I'll be the major one saying them. Stay tuned.