SAN DIEGO, Jan. 24 (UPI) -- Marcus Allen, the Raiders' all-time rushing leader, is expected to be elected Saturday in his first year of eligibility.
Allen, who also is the first player in NFL history to rush for 10,000-plus yards and catch passes for 5,000 more, is not the only Raider eligible. The others are quarterback Ken Stabler and cornerback Lester Hayes.
The trio is among the 15 finalists for the Class of 2003.
Stabler has been eligible for election 14 years and Hayes 12. Both have previously been finalists.
Wide receivers Art Monk and James Lofton, guard Bob Kuechenberg, linebacker Harry Carson, and Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson are the other repeat finalists eligible for election.
Linebacker Randy Gradishar and General Manager George Young are among six that had been eligible for Hall of Fame election prior to this year, but had not been finalists. The others are defensive ends Elvin Bethea and Claude Humphrey, guard Joe DeLamielleure, and Coach Hank Stram, the recommended nominee of the Hall's Seniors Committee.
Tackle Gary Zimmerman joins Allen as the only first-time eligibles under consideration.
The modern era finalists were determined by a vote of the Hall's 39-member Board of Selectors. A minimum of 80 percent of the voting is required for election.
Enshrinement of the Class of 2003 will take place at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton on Sunday, Aug. 3.
Allen, a six-time Pro Bowler, rushed for 12,243 yards, added 5,411 yards in receptions, and totaled 145 touchdowns in 16 years with the Los Angeles Raiders (1982-92) and Kansas City Chiefs (1993-97). He rushed for a career-high 1,759 yards in 1985, and was named MVP of Super Bowl XVIII, rushing for 191 yards and two touchdowns in the Raiders' 38-9 rout of Washington.
Stabler, a four-time Pro Bowler, played 10 of his 15 seasons with the Raiders. At the time of his retirement in 1984, his 59.9 career pass completion percentage was second to Hall of Famer Joe Montana.
Hayes played his entire 10-year career with the Raiders from 1977-86, and was a bump-and-run specialist in man-to-man coverage. A member of two Super Bowl-winning teams, Hayes had 13 interceptions in Oakland's 1980 championship season.
Monk played 14 of his 16 seasons with the Redskins, and ranks fifth all-time with 940 receptions.
Lofton is third all time with 14,004 receiving yards on 764 receptions.
Stram led the Kansas City franchise to a Super Bowl title, one other Super Bowl appearance, and three AFL championships.
