This is Alan Faneca’s year to make the Hall of Fame

This Saturday, the field of 15 Hall of Fame finalists will be trimmed down to the latest former players and contributors to receive pro football’s highest honor.

After falling short in his first year of eligibility, the question is, can former Pittsburgh Steelers guard Alan Faneca make the cut, and be enshrined in NFL immortality?

Faneca is most certainly deserving of a bust in Canton, as are all of the finalists on the list. In fact, it’s those finalists that voters must be convinced of which Fanecas is more deserving.

Headlining the list are former Super Bowl MVP’s Kurt Warner and Terrell Davis, and former NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson.

Warner should be considered a shoe-in, as the league always has a “headliner” to end the night. Having brought two teams to the big game, I believe the former Rams and Cardinal quarterback will take one of the spots. Davis and Tomlinson are in similar territory, and it’s likely only one of the former running backs will get the nod.

Davis had a shorter career, while Tomlinson is one of the rare few non-quarterbacks to be named league MVP.

At a minimum, four players must be selected, with a maximum of eight being picked to wear the gold jackets in August. Of those names are the following:

• Morten Andersen (kicker for the Saints, Falcons, Chiefs, Vikings, and Giants)
• Tony Boselli (tackle for the Jaguars)
• Isaac Bruce (receiver for the Rams and 49ers)
• Don Coryell (coach of the St. Louis Cardinals and Chargers)
• Terrell Davis (running back for the Broncos)
• Brian Dawkins (safety for the Eagles and Broncos)
• Alan Faneca (guard for the Steelers, Jets, and Cardinals)
• Joe Jacoby (tackle for the Redskins)
• Ty Law (cornerback for the Patriots, Jets, Chiefs, and Broncos)
• John Lynch (safety for the Buccaneers and Broncos)
• Kevin Mawae (center and guard for the Seahawks, Jets, and Titans)
• Terrell Owens (receiver for the 49ers, Eagles, Cowboys, Bills, and Bengals)
• Jason Taylor (defensive end for the Dolphins, Jets, and Redskins)
• LaDainian Tomlinson (running back for the Chargers and Jets)
• Kurt Warner (quarterback for the Rams, Cardinals, and Giants)

Among those 15 names are 3 linemen other than Faneca: Jaguars tackle Tony Boselli, Jets center and guard Kevin Mawae, and Redkins tackle Joe Jacoby. Again, while all deserving of being Hall of Fame finalists, it’s Faneca who stands head and shoulders above his peers. His 9 Pro-Bowl selections are the most of this group. His 8 All-Pro selections (7 first-team) are 1 less than Mawae (in both categories). He has a Super Bowl ring (Jacoby has 3, while Mawae and Boselli never won one) and was named not once, but twice, NFL Alumni Offensive Lineman of the Year (2004, 2008).

In addition, Faneca was also named to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, and the Steelers 75th Anniversary Team.

During his first 10 years in the league he played with the Steelers, before rounding out his final three years with the Jets (2008, 2009) and Cardinals (2010). While in Pittsburgh, Faneca paved the way for Hall of Fame running back Jerome Bettis, Willie Parker (who has a Super Bowl record-holding longest run) as well as long forgotten names such as Amos Zereoue and Najeh Davenport.

Considering his achievements, the only thing that could hold him out another year is if no lineman is selected at all.

However, if they’re going to pick one lineman, as well as a player who dominated at his position to be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, you can’t go wrong Alan Faneca.