Mike O’Hara

Mike O’Hara of the Detroit News
E-mail: mohara@detnews.com

Vote: Unknown (5/10)

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The Detroit News
February 1, 2007
It’s a nervous time for Sanders; Lions great and former tight end must sweat it out until Saturday, when the vote is announced
Mike O’Hara

Based on informal conversations in recent days, Sanders has a better-than-even chance to make the Hall. But it isn’t a lock.

Here are some of the factors involved in the process:

Voting is Saturday in three stages by the 40-member Board of Selectors — from 17 candidates to 10, then to six.

The third vote — the final six — is a yes or no. A minimum of 80 percent, or 32 votes, is required. A minimum of three players and a maximum of six must be voted in.

Each NFL city has one voter, and there eight at-large voters. Former Detroit News columnist Jerry Green is on the panel.

Before the vote, all candidates will be discussed in a process that takes four to five hours.

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Others on the list are receivers Art Monk, Andre Reed and Michael Irvin; defensive linemen Fred Dean and Richard Dent; linebackers Andre Tippett and Derrick Thomas; punter Ray Guy; running back Thurman Thomas; defensive back Roger Wehrli and former commissioner Paul Tagliabue.