PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT

The greatest achievement for any player, coach or club executive is to be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. So why is it that the announcement of such a prestigious honor is tantamount to a footnote during Super Bowl hype week?

The annual Hall of Fame voting is conducted the morning before the Super Bowl by a panel of 36 voters, and results are announced on a day when most fans are more concerned with who’s buying the chips ‘n’ salsa for the Super Bowl party than who’s going to Canton.

The leading nominees: Former Washington Redskin Coach Joe Gibbs, Steeler wide receivers Lynn Swann and John Stallworth and center Mike Webster, Patriot and Raider cornerback Mike Haynes and Cardinal tackle Dan Dierdorf.