Former Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Jonathan Ogden and late owner Art Modell were named among the 15 finalists in consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013 on Friday.
The first ever draft pick of the Ravens in 1996, Ogden was taken with the fourth overall pick and played 12 seasons in Baltimore, earning trips to 11 Pro Bowls as he was regarded as the best left tackle in the league for most of his career. Ogden was a key member of the Super Bowl XXXV championship team of the 2000 season.
This is Ogden’s first year of eligibility.
Modell was the longtime owner of the Cleveland Browns before moving his franchise to Baltimore in 1996 and maintained control of the Ravens as they raised the Vince Lombardi Trophy for the owner’s first Super Bowl title. Current Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti bought the team from Modell, purchasing a 49-percent stake in 2000 before acquiring the remaining majority stake in 2004.
Despite being regarded as a pioneer in viewing television as having a prominent role in taking the NFL to unprecedented heights, Modell’s candidacy for the Hall of Fame has been thwarted on multiple occasions in the past because of the controversial move from Cleveland to Baltimore. He was one of 15 finalists for Canton in 2001 and a semifinalist in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011.
Modell passed away at age 87 on Sept. 6, 2012.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 17 finalists (15 modern-era selections and two seniors committee nominations) for the Class of 2013:
Larry Allen (G/T), Jerome Bettis (RB), Tim Brown (WR), Cris Carter (WR), Curley Culp (DT/G), Edward DeBartolo Jr. (owner), Kevin Greene (LB), Charles Haley (DE), Art Modell (owner), Jonathan Ogden (OT), Bill Parcells (coach), Andre Reed (WR), Dave Robinson (LB), Warren Sapp (DT), Will Shields (G), Michael Strahan (DE), Aeneas Williams (CB)
