The Cincinnati Enquirer

CANTON, Ohio - Quarterback Boomer Esiason and running backs Marcus Allen and Herschel Walker are among the first-timers on the list of 74 former players, coaches and contributors listed Wednesday as nominees for induction to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

They are joined on the list by special teams/wide receiver Steve Tasker, tight end Brent Jones, offensive lineman Gary Zimmerman, defensive lineman Richard Dent and linebacker Sam Mills.

Three other former Bengals also were named Wednesday: quarterback Ken Anderson (now the Bengals' quarterbacks coach), cornerback Ken Riley and wide receiver Isaac Curtis.

Esiason was the league's Most Valuable Player in 1988. He led the Bengals to a 12-4 record and Super Bowl XXIII.

Anthony Munoz is the only Bengals player in the Hall of Fame.

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is also up for consideration.

Twelve finalists will be determined in voting by the hall's board of electors. They will be joined by offensive lineman Bob Kuechenberg and coaches Bill Parcells and Hank Stram. Kuechenberg and Parcells are automatically included among the finalists because they finished in the top six in last year's balloting for induction. Stram is the nominee of a seniors committee.

The induction class will be decided in a vote of the selection committee Jan. 25, 2003, the day before the Super Bowl in San Diego. As many as seven and as few as four members will be selected.

Among the others on the list of nominees are James Lofton, Art Monk, L.C. Greenwood, Harry Carson, Donnie Shell, Lester Hayes, Ray Guy and Art Modell - all of whom were among last year's list of 15 finalists.

First-time Nominees

Quarterback-Boomer Esiason. Running Backs-Marcus Allen; Herschel Walker. Tight End-Brent Jones. Tackle-Gary Zimmerman. Defensive End-Richard Dent. Linebacker-Sam Mills. Special Teams/Wide Receiver-Steve Tasker.

Additional Nominees

Quarterbacks-Ken Anderson; Jim Hart; Jim McMahon; Jim Plunkett; Phil Simms; Ken Stabler. Running Backs-Ottis Anderson; Roger Craig; Chuck Foreman. Wide Receivers-Cliff Branch; Isaac Curtis; James Lofton; Art Monk; Drew Pearson; Sterling Sharpe; Wesley Walker. Tight Ends-Raymond Chester; Todd Christensen.

Offensive Linemen

Centers-Ray Donaldson; Jay Hilgenberg; Rich Saul; Jeff Van Note. Guards-Joe DeLamielleure; Russ Grimm; Bob Kuechenberg. Tackles-Jim Covert; Joe Jacoby; Mike Kenn; Jim Lachey.

Defensive Linemen- Elvin Bethea; Dave Butz; Ray Childress; Fred Dean; L.C. Greenwood; Claude Humphrey; Ed ``Too Tall'' Jones; Sean Jones; Joe Klecko; Harvey Martin.

Linebackers - Harry Carson; Randy Gradishar; Wilber Marshall; Clay Matthews; Karl Mecklenburg; Matt Millen; Jerry Robinson; Al Smith.

Defensive Backs - Lester Hayes; Ken Riley; Donnie Shell; Jack Tatum; Roger Wehrli.

Punter - Ray Guy

Coaches - Don Coryell; Tom Flores; Jimmy Johnson; Chuck Knox; Bill Parcells.

Contributors - Ed DeBartolo Jr.; Ben Dreith; Art Modell; Art Rooney Jr.; Paul Tagliabue; Ralph Wilson Jr.; Ron Wolf; George Young.