Having caught his last pass, run his last route, scored his last touchdown and played in his last Super Bowl, Shannon Sharpe believes he did all he could possibly do in his 14-year NFL career.
But it doesn’t make the waiting any easier.
“It’s always good to be the topic of discussion when that’s the topic,” Sharpe said. “I’m going to try not to get as wrapped up in it as I was last year. You know, I’ve done all I can do, you can’t add any more to your resume, that’s it.”
Sharpe, who played 12 of his 14 seasons with the Broncos and was inducted into the team’s Ring of Fame this past season, was selected Friday as one of the 15 modern-era finalists to be considered for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010.
It is the second time Sharpe, who retired as the league’s all-time leader in receptions, yards and touchdowns for tight ends, has made the list of modern-era finalists. Last year, in his first of eligibility for the Hall, Sharpe made the cut to the final 10, but was not selected for enshrinement.
Sharpe joins a star-studded list that includes Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice and Tim Brown, who are all in their first year of eligibility.
“Obviously, these are all guys I went to a number of Pro Bowls with, guys I know and played against,” Sharpe said. “It’s tough, I know, and almost where you’re splitting hairs, do you like one guy a little more than the other on that day?”
Hall of Fame cornerback Rod Woodson, who was enshrined this past year and was a teammate of Sharpe’s in Baltimore, said Sharpe was a “guaranteed Hall of Famer.”
The Hall of Fame’s Board of Selectors will meet Feb. 6 in Miami, the day before the Super Bowl, to select the Class of 2010. Up to five modern-era candidates can be selected, with an overall maximum of seven, including seniors candidates.
Former Broncos running back Floyd Little and former Detroit Lions cornerback, and current Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau are the two seniors committee nominees. Seniors nominees are voted on independently from the rest of the class with a simple “yes” or “no” vote after presentations are made.
John Elway and Gary Zimmerman are the only players who played at least five years with the Broncos who are enshrined in the Hall of Fame.
Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 or jlegwold@denverpost.com
List of finalists
Modern-era finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010. A maximum of five can be selected for enshrinement.
WR Tim Brown
WR Cris Carter
Coach Don Coryell
RB Roger Craig
DE Richard Dent
C Dermontti Dawson
G Russ Grimm
DE Charles Haley
LB Rickey Jackson
DT Cortez Kennedy
DT John Randle
WR Andre Reed
WR Jerry Rice
TE Shannon Sharpe
RB Emmitt Smith
Seniors nominees for the Class of 2010. Both are voted on “yes” or “no. One, both or neither can be chosen for enshrinement.
RB Floyd Little
DB Dick LeBeau
