From James Alder,
Your Guide to Football.
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The Pro Football Hall of Fame released a list of semifinalists for induction in 2004. The list, headlined by first-time nominees John Elway and Barry Sanders, will be narrowed to 13 in mid-January, and for the first time, two senior nominees will be placed on the list, making 15 total Hall of Fame finalists. Tackle Bob Brown and wide receiver "Bullet" Bob Hayes have already been named as this year's two senior candidates.

The Class of 2004 will be selected from the list of finalists, with the voting being conducted at the Selection Committee’s annual meeting held on Saturday, January 31, 2004, in Houston, Texas. The election results will be announced immediately after the meeting.

Pro Football Hall of Fame rules stipulate that between three and six new members be selected from the list of finalists. This is a change from previous years when by-laws allowed for anywhere from four to seven inductees.

2004 Pro Football Hall of Fame Semifinalists
Cliff Branch, WR - Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Harry Carson, LB - New York Giants
Richard Dent, DE - Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles
Carl Eller, DE - Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks
John Elway, QB - Denver Broncos
Randy Gradishar, LB - Denver Broncos
L. C. Greenwood, DE - Pittsburgh Steelers
Russ Grimm, G - Washington Redskins
Ray Guy, P - Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Cliff Harris, S - Dallas Cowboys
Lester Hayes, CB - Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
Claude Humphrey, DE - Atlanta Falcons, Philadelphia Eagles
Bob Kuechenberg, G - Miami Dolphins
Jim Marshall, DE - Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings
Art Modell, Owner - Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens
Art Monk, WR - Washington Redskins, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles
Barry Sanders, RB - Detroit Lions
Donnie Shell, S - Pittsburgh Steelers
Ken Stabler, QB -- Oakland Raiders, Houston Oilers, New Orleans Saints
Steve Tasker, Special Teams/WR - Houston Oilers, Buffalo Bills
Roger Wehrli, CB - St. Louis Cardinals
Ralph Wilson, Jr., Owner - Buffalo Bills
Rayfield Wright, T - Dallas Cowboys
George Young, Administrator/General Manager/Scout/Coach - NFL, New York Giants, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Colts
Gary Zimmerman, T