Former Raiders punter Ray Guy wasn't chosen for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2007 despite being among 17 finalists. He reportedly missed the cut from 17 to 11 on Feb. 3, when a 40-member media panel selected the six-man class.
A punter has never been elected to the Hall of Fame.
The Class of 2007 included wide receiver Michael Irvin, running back Thurman Thomas, offensive lineman Bruce Matthews, cornerback Roger Wehrli, offensive lineman Gene Hickerson and tight end Charlie Sanders. Hickerson and Sanders were seniors committee candidates.
Also failing to get enough votes for this year's class were wide receivers Art Monk and Andre Reed, offensive linemen Russ Grimm, Bob Kuechenberg and Gary Zimmerman, defensive ends Richard Dent and Fred Dean and former commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Monk, Tippett, Dent, Dean and Thomas reportedly advanced to the round off 11 before being eliminated.
Enshrinement of the Class of 2007 will take place on the weekend of Aug. 4-5 in Canton, Ohio.
To be elected, a finalist must receive a minimum of 80 percent of the total votes. Each year, three to six new Hall members are selected from the finalist list. To be considered, a player must have been retired at least five years.
Guy has been a finalist six times, and the first time since 2002. He has been eligible for induction to the Hall of Fame for 16 years.
Guy, who played for the Raiders from 1973 to 1986, had a career punting average of 42.4 yards. He played in seven Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro six times. The former Southern Mississippi All-America was the first punter ever selected in the first round (23rd by Oakland in 1973) of the NFL draft.
For more information on the Class of 2007, please click Pro Football Hall of Fame
