LANDOVER, MD. -- Former Vikings Cris Carter, Roger Craig and Chris Doleman are among the 26 semifinalists for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Carter, the NFL's number two receiver of all time, was one of 15 finalists for the Hall in 2008 but has yet to gain entry. Doleman, a defensive end and linebacker, played for the Vikings from 1985 to 1993 and again in 1999. Craig, a running back, had his best years with the San Francisco 49ers before finishing his career with the Vikings in 1992 and 1993.

Here's a portion of the press release from the Pro Football Hall of Fame:

The list of 26 semifinalists will be reduced by mail ballot to 15 modern-era finalists. That list increases to 17 finalist nominees with the inclusion of the two recommended candidates of the Hall of Fame's Seniors Committee. The Seniors Committee nominees, who were announced in August, are linebacker Chris Hanburger, Washington Redskins (1965-1978) and linebacker Les Richter, Los Angeles Rams (1954-1962). The results of the modern-era reduction vote to 15 finalists will be announced in early January. Although there is no set number of Enshrinees for any Hall of Fame Class, the Pro Football Hall of Fame's current ground rules do stipulate that between four and seven new members will be selected each year. No more than five modern-era nominees can be elected in a given year and a class of six or seven Enshrinees can only be achieved if one or both senior nominees are elected. The Class of 2011 will be determined at the Selection Committee's annual meeting on Feb. 5 in North Texas the day before Super Bowl XLV. The election results will be announced at 6 p.m. during a one-hour NFL Network special, live from the Super Bowl media headquarters. Here's the complete list:

  • Jerome Bettis, RB – 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Tim Brown, WR/KR – 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Cris Carter,WR – 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
  • Don Coryell, Coach – 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
  • Roger Craig, RB – 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings
  • Terrell Davis,RB – 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
  • Dermontti Dawson, C – 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Owner – 1979-1997 San Francisco 49ers
  • Richard Dent, DE – 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles
  • Chris Doleman, DE/LB – 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers
  • Marshall Faulk, RB – 1994-98 Indianapolis Colts, 1999-2005 St. Louis Rams
  • Kevin Greene, LB/DE – 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
  • Ray Guy, P – 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
  • Charles Haley,DE/LB – 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
  • Lester Hayes, CB – 1977-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
  • Cortez Kennedy, DT – 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks
  • Curtis Martin, RB – 1995-97 New England Patriots, 1998-2005 New York Jets
  • Art Modell, Owner – 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2003 Baltimore Ravens
  • Andre Reed, WR – 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
  • Willie Roaf, T – 1993-2001 New Orleans Saints, 2002-05 Kansas City Chiefs
  • Ed Sabol, Contributor – 1964-1995 NFL Films
  • Deion Sanders, CB/KR/PR – 1989-1993 Atlanta Falcons, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1995-99 Dallas Cowboys, 2000 Washington Redskins, 2004-05 Baltimore Ravens
  • Shannon Sharpe, TE – 1990-99, 2002-03 Denver Broncos, 2000-01 Baltimore Ravens
  • Paul Tagliabue,Commissioner – 1989-2006 National Football League
  • Aeneas Williams, CB/S – 1991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 2001-04 St. Louis Rams
  • George Young, Contributor – 1968-1974 Baltimore Colts, 1975-78 Miami Dolphins, 1979-1997 New York Giants, 1998-2001 National Football League