Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Jerome Bettis, Marshall Faulk, Curtis Martin, Willie Roaf and Deion Sanders — all in their first year of Hall of Fame eligibility — were among the 26 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2011, revealed Sunday by the Hall of Fame selection committee.

The 26 semifinalists were chosen from the initial list of 114 nominated candidates. That group will be further reduced to 15 finalists, who will then be considered for the 2011 Hall of Fame class — no more than five modern-era nominees can be inducted in any single year. Two Seniors Committee nominees will also be on the ballot: Chris Hanburger and Les Richter.

The list will be cut from 26 to 15 in early January, then the 2011 Hall of Fame class will be voted on and revealed on Feb. 5, 2011, the eve of Super Bowl XLV.

The complete list of 2011 semifinalists:

• Jerome Bettis, RB (1995-93 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)

• Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Owner (1979-1997 San Francisco 49ers)

• Dermontti Dawson, C (1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers)

• 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)

• Willie Roaf, OT (1993-2001 New Orleans Saints, 2002-05 Kansas City Chiefs)

• Andre Reed, WR (1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins)

• 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)

By FanHouse Staff