BillBoard

TAMPA -- It was a marathon Hall of Fame selection meeting today. It lasted 6 hours, 47 minutes as 17 candidates were debated. It was the longest meeting ever. Very tiring and difficult. The debate over former NFL Commissioner lasted 51 minutes. The debate over receiver Bob Hayes seemed to last 45 minutes ... Hayes got in, Tagliabue didn't. ... After my presentation on Ralph Wilson, numerous selectors spoke out in favor of him. ... Hall of Fame rules prevent selectors from talking about anything that gets said inside the meeting room. ... The voters cut the field of modern-era finalists from 15 down to 10, then from 10 down to five. Andre Reed did not make the cut from 15 to 10. But the class was very strong. So Reed must wait another year. Obviously there is good support for Reed, because he was a finalist. I believe he will get elected. When? I don't know.

---Mark Gaughan.