Seniors Finalists (3): Ken Anderson, Roger Craig, L.C. Greenwood
Anderson, a third-round draft choice (67th player overall) from tiny Augustana (Ill.) College in the 1971 NFL Draft, started four games at quarterback for the Cincinnati Bengals as a rookie before becoming their full-time starter in his second season. He played exclusively for the Bengals, 192 games overall through the 1986 season, and finished his career with four Pro Bowl nods, a League MVP award for the 1981 season and 32,838 passing yards with 197 passing touchdowns.
Craig might be best-known as the first player in the National Football League to total 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season (1985), a feat matched by only two other players in the following 40 seasons (Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk and Christian McCaffrey). Craig won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers, where he spent eight seasons before a year with the Los Angeles Raiders and two with the Minnesota Vikings. For his career, he totaled 13,100 yards from scrimmage and scored 73 touchdowns. He was named the league’s Offensive Player of the Year in 1988, when he also finished third in MVP voting.
Greenwood, a member of the famous “Steel Curtain” defensive units in the 1970s, played his entire 170-game career over 13 seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Drafted in the 10th round (pick 238 overall) in the 1969 NFL Draft out of Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Greenwood won four Super Bowl rings, was named a first-team All-Pro defensive end twice and was selected to play in six Pro Bowls. He was credited with 78 sacks (an unofficial stat during his playing career) and 14 fumble recoveries.
Also advancing to the semifinalist stage in the seniors category were Henry Ellard, Joe Jacoby, Eddie Meador, Stanley Morgan, Steve Tasker and Otis Taylor. Players in this group last could have appeared in a professional game in the 2000 season.