Chuck HowleyThe Dallas Morning News has reported that Chuck Howley and Bob Hayes have been named as two of the finalists for the senior slots of the Hall Bob Hayesof Fame. Both of these players are members of the Ring of Honor, and both are very deserving of selection. Thus, this is very good news for Cowboys fans.

This is from the DMN piece:

Bob Hayes and Chuck Howley, two mainstays on the Cowboys in the 1960s, are among the 17 finalists for the two senior slots in the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2008.

Players must be retired from the NFL for 25 years to become eligible for seniors consideration. The two senior nominees will join the 15 modern-era candidates on a slate that will be voted on Feb. 2. As many as eight of the 15 candidates – six modern-era and two seniors – could comprise the Class of 2008.

Rayfield Wright was inducted into the Hall of Fame in the Class of 2006 as a seniors candidate, and Bob Hayes was an unsuccessful seniors candidate in 2004. The seniors committee will select the two finalists next week at a meeting in Canton, Ohio.

Hayes is in a small handful of players in NFL history to average 20 yards per catch, and he scored a touchdown every 5.2 receptions. Howley was the MVP of Super Bowl V and went to six Pro Bowls in his 15-year career.

I am not at all sure how Cliff Harris was left off the list this time. By my calculations, Drew Pearson and Harvey Martin should become eligible for seniors consideration next year, since both retired after the 1983 season. You might be able to tell that I am not giving this up any time soon.