Aikman, White among Hall of Fame finalists

CANTON, Ohio, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Troy Aikman and the late Reggie White Wednesday were among the 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2006.

Aikman was a Super Bowl quarterback and MVP with the Dallas Cowboys. White was a two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year during his career with the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.

They were joined by quarterback Warren Moon and running back Thurman Thomas as first-year candidates.

Other modern-era finalists include wide receivers Art Monk and Michael Irvin; linebackers Harry Carson and Derrick Thomas; defensive ends L.C. Greenwood and Claude Humphrey; and offensive linemen Russ Grimm, Bob Kuechenberg and Gary Zimmerman.

The senior committee's finalists are offensive tackle Rayfield Wright and coach/television analyst John Madden.

The Hall of Fame's Board of Selectors will meet in Detroit on Feb. 4 -- the day before Super Bowl XL -- to determine this year's Canton inductees.

The 15 finalists were trimmed from an original list of 112 preliminary nominees. That group was reduced to 25 semifinalists.