Elam celebrates his game-winning field goal against the Bills in Buffalo in 2007. (Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, Jamie Germano)
The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its preliminary list of 99 players and 14 coaches as modern-era candidates for its class of 2015.
The Broncos are well represented with eight players and coach Dan Reeves. The eight Bronco players: Receiver Rod Smith, running back Terrell Davis, center Tom Nalen, guard Mark Schlereth, linebacker Karl Mecklenburg, safeties Steve Atwater and John Lynch, and kicker Jason Elam, who is eligible for the first time.
Former Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith pulls in a pass in front of Raiders safety Ray Buchanon and heads in for a touchdown on Nov. 28, 2004 in Denver. (Jack Dempsey, The Associated Press)
Also making the cut of 99 players are offensive tackle Tony Boselli, who played at Boulder Fairview High School, and Chris Hinton, who was drafted by the Broncos with the No. 4 overall pick in 1983 but was quickly dealt to the Baltimore Colts as part of a deal that delivered quarterback John Elway to Denver.
The Hall of Fame candidates list will be whittled to 25 semifinalists in late-November, and then 15 finalists in early January. On the eve of Super Bowl XLVIX in Arizona, the Hall of Fame committee will select no more than five modern-era candidates, a senior candidate (Mick Tingelhoff is the only nominee) and two not-yet named contributor candidates for its class of 2015.
Oren Lomena speaks to former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis, center left, with Peter Burns and Mark Kiszla of the Press Box radio show on Radio Row at the Sheraton Hotel in Times Square on January 30, 2014, in New York. (Daniel Petty, The Denver Post)
Atwater, Davis and Mecklenburg each made it to the round of 25 last year and Lynch was a top 15 finalist. Two-time finalist Randy Gradishar, by the way, has been moved to the pool of senior candidates.
