Carter, McDaniel await Hall of Fame class list

PHOENIX - Count former Vikings receiver Jake Reed among those who think they'll be congratulating former teammates Cris Carter and Randall McDaniel when the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee announces the Class of 2008 today.

"They're the best two ballplayers at their position to ever play the game," said Reed, now the owner of the Frisco [Texas] Thunder indoor football team. "Both of them should be shoo-ins. Both were great guys to play with and very deserving."

Carter and McDaniel are two of four former players among the 17 finalists with connections to the Vikings. The others are offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman and Senior Committee nominee Emmitt Thomas, a former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback and Vikings defensive coordinator from 2000 to '01.

To be elected, a finalist must receive at least 80 percent of the 44 votes. A minimum of four and a maximum of seven are chosen each year.

Carter, a wide receiver who played for the 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, the 1990-2001 Vikings and the Miami Dolphins in 2002, ranks second behind Hall of Famer Jerry Rice in career receptions (1,101) and touchdown receptions (130). Carter also had eight consecutive seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving and was a member of the 1990s NFL All-Decade Team.

New England Patriots receiver Randy Moss, who teamed with Carter as the Vikings' top two receivers from Moss' rookie year in 1998 to 2001, gave credit to Carter for helping him develop and mature as an NFL player.

"Cris was a veteran who knew what it took to prepare himself to play in the NFL," said Moss, who will be playing in Super Bowl XLII against the New York Giants on Sunday. "I wish those guys in Minnesota, like Cris Carter, could be here with me on this stage."

Carter, McDaniel, Moss and Reed were members of the 1998 Vikings offense that scored a then-record 556 points en route to a 15-1 season. The team eventually lost to the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC title game that year.

"That was my biggest disappointment in football," said Moss, who helped New England break that scoring record with 589 points this season.

McDaniel also was a member of the NFL's 1990s All-Decade Team. The former first-round draft pick played for the Vikings from 1988 to '99 and the Tampa Buccaneers from 2000 to '01. He made the Pro Bowl 12 times and was all-pro 11 times. He is in his second year of eligibility.

Carter and cornerback Darrell Green, who played 20 seasons with the Washington Redskins, are the only first-year finalists.

Zimmerman, eight-time all-pro and perennial finalist, played his first seven NFL seasons (1986-92) with the Vikings before moving to the Denver Broncos for 1993-97 and finished his career with a Super Bowl victory.

The other 12 modern-era players who are finalists are defensive ends Fred Dean and Richard Dent; linebackers Randy Gradishar, Derrick Thomas and Andre Tippett; guards Russ Grimm and Bob Kuechenberg; punter Ray Guy; and receivers Art Monk and Andre Reed.

Former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is a finalist in the contributor category. The other Senior Committee nominee is former Chicago Cardinals back Marshall Goldberg.

The enshrinement ceremony is Aug. 2 in Canton, Ohio.