CANTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Defensive end Julius Peppers and tight end Antonio Gates — among the most prolific players at their respective positions — highlight the list of 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Modern Era Class of 2024. The short list was released Wednesday.

Peppers and Gates are the only players to make the list in their first year of eligibility. Nine players who made the final list in 2023 are back on the list in ’24, while four other players are finalists for the first time though not in their first year of eligibility.

Peppers, a nine-time Pro Bowl selection and three-time first-team All-Pro, finished his 17-year career with 159.5 sacks, fifth all time and the most by any player not yet in the Hall. Taken second overall by the Carolina Panthers in the 2002 draft, Peppers was named Defensive Rookie of the Year after compiling 12 sacks to go with one interception and five forced fumbles in 12 games.

After 10 seasons with the Panthers, Peppers played four in Chicago with the Bears and then finished his career in Green Bay, playing three seasons with the Packers.

On the other end of the draft spectrum, Gates went undrafted after not playing football in college. Instead, he starred in basketball in his final two years at Kent State.

Combining his height (6-foot-4) with his rebounding skills, Gates first made a name for himself in the NFL as a jump-ball specialist in the end zone. He really broke through in his second season, scoring 13 touchdowns — then a single-season record for tight ends. He finished his career with 116 career TDs, seventh all time and the most ever by a tight end.

Gates made eight Pro Bowls and was a three-time first-team All-Pro in his 16 seasons. He finished with 955 receptions for 11,841 yards and the 116 touchdowns, spending his entire career with the Chargers (14 in San Diego and the final two in Los Angeles).

The four other players making the list for the first time are cornerback Eric Allen (in his 18th year of eligibility), safety Rodney Harrison (11th year), running back Fred Taylor (ninth) and offensive lineman Jahri Evans (second).

Punt/kick return specialist Devin Hester, who holds the single-season record for total kick-return touchdowns (six) and the career mark for punts returned for a score (14) is among those back on the list from 2023. Hester, who also made history with the first opening kickoff returned for a touchdown in Super Bowl history (Super Bowl XLI), is a finalist for the third time.

Wide receivers Reggie Wayne (whose Indianapolis Colts beat Hester’s Chicago Bears in that Super Bowl) and Torry Holt (a member of the St. Louis Rams’ famed “Greatest Show on Turf”) are both finalists for the fifth time, the most of any of this year’s finalists.

The Hall of Fame selection committee will elect the Modern Era Class of 2024 the week leading up to Super Bowl LVIII, with the class announced on Feb. 8.

Up to five members can be elected to the modern class (a minimum of 80 percent of the votes is required for possible election). Finalists from the Seniors and Coach/Contributor categories may also be elected.

Modern Era Class of 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame Finalists
(Name, position, years, teams)

–Eric Allen, Cornerback — 1988-1994 Philadelphia Eagles, 1995-97 New Orleans Saints, 1998-2001 Oakland Raiders

–Jared Allen, Defensive End — 2004-07 Kansas City Chiefs, 2008-2013 Minnesota Vikings, 2014-15 Chicago Bears, 2015 Carolina Panthers

–Willie Anderson, Offensive Tackle — 1996-2007 Cincinnati Bengals, 2008 Baltimore Ravens

–Jahri Evans, Guard — 2006-2016 New Orleans Saints, 2017 Green Bay Packers

–Dwight Freeney, Defensive End/Outside Linebacker — 2002-2012 Indianapolis Colts, 2013-14 San Diego Chargers, 2015 Arizona Cardinals, 2016 Atlanta Falcons, 2017 Seattle Seahawks, 2017 Detroit Lions

–Antonio Gates, Tight End — 2003-2018 San Diego/Los Angeles Chargers

–Rodney Harrison, Safety — 1994-2002 San Diego Chargers, 2003-08 New England Patriots

–Devin Hester, Punt Returner/Kick Returner/Wide Receiver — 2006-2013 Chicago Bears, 2014-15 Atlanta Falcons, 2016 Baltimore Ravens

–Torry Holt, Wide Receiver — 1999-2008 St. Louis Rams, 2009 Jacksonville Jaguars

–Andre Johnson, Wide Receiver — 2003-2014 Houston Texans, 2015 Indianapolis Colts, 2016 Tennessee Titans

–Julius Peppers, Defensive End — 2002-09, 2017-18 Carolina Panthers, 2010-13 Chicago Bears, 2014-16 Green Bay Packers

–Fred Taylor, Running back — 1998-2008 Jacksonville Jaguars, 2009-2010 New England Patriots

–Reggie Wayne, Wide Receiver — 2001-2014 Indianapolis Colts

–Patrick Willis, Linebacker — 2007-2014 San Francisco 49ers

–Darren Woodson, Safety — 1992-2003 Dallas Cowboys

–Field Level Media

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FOXBORO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – New England’s longtime head coach Bill Belichick is widely expected to part ways with the Patriots after this season. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Chargers got a head start on their search for a new head coach by dismissing Brandon Staley on Friday.

Could the timing align for the two sides to become a fit?

Belichick, 71, has declined to address his future while focusing on the final four games of the 2023 season for the 3-10 Patriots. However, if he wants to continue coaching next season, there are already multiple openings where he is seen as a potential fit.

That includes Carolina, which fired Frank Reich earlier this season, and the Chargers. Other openings are likely to join the list in the coming weeks.

The Chargers are viewed as an appealing destination — and not just for Southern California’s weather. Franchise quarterback Justin Herbert leads a skill position group that also includes running back Austin Ekeler and wide receiver Keenan Allen.

The bigger issue — especially of late — is a defense that failed to hold leads, much less be dominant, under the defensive-minded Staley. That culminated in the Chargers allowing 63 points on Thursday night to a Las Vegas Raiders team that had been shut out just four days prior.

The 63 points allowed were a franchise record, and the tally also was the most the Chargers ever had given up. Los Angeles ranks 27th in opponents’ points scored per game with 24.6 and 29th in yards allowed with 375.3 per game.

Belichick is arguably the best defensive mind of his generation. Paired with a strong offensive coordinator, the Chargers could potentially make an immediate rebound to contender status in the loaded AFC.

SportsBetting.ag has installed Belichick as the 3/1 favorite to replace Staley. That is slightly ahead of the 4/1 odds placed on current Chargers offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith.

Ben Johnson, who oversees Detroit’s offense and has been viewed as a rising coaching candidate the past two years, is next at 7/1.

In all, the book is offering odds on 14 potential candidates, ranging from the most likely candidates all the way down to University of Colorado’s first-year coach Deion Sanders.

Chargers Next Head Coach Odds
Bill Belichick (3/1)
Frank Smith (4/1)
Kellen Moore (4/1)
Ben Johnson (7/1)
Bobby Slowik (8/1)
Brian Flores (9/1)
Jim Harbaugh (9/1)
Eric Bieniemy (10/1)
Dan Quinn (14/1)
Jerod Mayo (14/1)
Lincoln Riley (14/1)
Brian Johnson (16/1)
Raheem Morris (20/1)
Deion Sanders (40/1)

Fired along with Staley on Friday was Chargers general manager Tom Telesco. The move came less than a day after the team’s lopsided 63-21 loss to the Raiders.

“These decisions are never easy, nor are they something I take lightly — especially when you consider the number of people they impact,” Chargers owner and chairman Dean Spanos said. “We are clearly not where we expect to be, however, and we need a new vision.”

Spanos said the franchise and its fans need to take the next step.

“Doing nothing in the name of continuity was not a risk I was willing to take. Our fans have stood strong through so many ups and downs and close games. They deserve more. Frankly, they’ve earned more. Building and maintaining a championship-caliber program remains our ultimate goal. And reimagining how we achieve that goal begins today.”

Telesco, 51, was named general manager of the Chargers in 2013 after 15 years in the Indianapolis Colts organization.

(Odds are provided for entertainment purposes only. SportsBetting.ag is not a regulated sportsbook in the United States).

–Field Level Media

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LAS VEGAS – (Staff and Wire Service Report) –  Raiders reserve QB Aidan O’Connell threw for four touchdowns in the first half Thursday night and Las Vegas set an Oakland/LA/Las Vegas franchise record for most points in a game in a 63-21 evisceration of the Los Angeles Chargers in Vegas.

O’Connell completed 20 of 34 passes for 248 yards as Las Vegas improved to 6-8, keeping its slim AFC wild-card hopes alive. Los Angeles fell to 5-9 with its fifth loss in six games, clinching a losing season in a year when some picked it to win the Super Bowl.

It was a complete 180-degree turn for the Raiders, who were shut out on Sunday in a dreary 3-0 loss at home to Minnesota. But they roared out to a 42-0 halftime lead Thursday and never looked back, dropping their AFC West rivals to last place in the division.

Zamir White initiated scoring at the 8:10 mark of the first quarter with a 1-yard run, then O’Connell went to work. He found Tre Tucker for a 30-yard touchdown pass with 4:41 left, then made it 21-0 with a 22-yard connection to Jakobi Meyers. Both came right after Chargers turnovers.

Los Angeles put the game away in the second quarter. O’Connell cashed in a fumbled punt two plays later, hitting Michael Mayer for an 11-yard touchdown pass with 9:15 remaining.

Brandon Bolden ran 26 yards for a score at the 3:50 mark, and O’Connell hooked up with Tucker for a 20-yard touchdown 31 seconds before the half ended.

The Raiders made it 49-0 on their first possession of the second half as Meyers flipped a 3-yard scoring strike to Davante Adams. Their defense got into the act for their last two touchdowns as John Jenkins returned a fumble 44 yards and Jack Jones lugged an interception 16 yards.

Chargers quarterback Easton Stick, who made his first start in place of Justin Herbert (finger), hit on 23 of 32 attempts for 257 yards with three second-half touchdowns, including a 79-yard strike to Joshua Palmer.

–Field Level Media

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EAST RUTHERFORD – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Rookie Derius Davis returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown, Austin Ekeler added two more scores and the Los Angeles Chargers cruised past the New York Jets’ standout defense for a 27-6 victory on Monday night at East Rutherford, N.J.

Ekeler ran for 47 yards on 14 carries, and the Chargers (4-4) flashed some defense of their own with eight sacks while winning back-to-back games after a two-game skid. Los Angeles won with 191 total yards of offense, while the Jets had 270.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert was 16-of-30 passing for just 136 yards, the lowest total in a game in his career, while getting sacked five times. Los Angeles receiver Keenan Allen had eight receptions for 77 yards, passing the 10,000-yard mark for his career.

Zach Wilson was 33-of-49 passing for 263 yards for the Jets (4-4), who failed to score more than 10 points for the third time this season. Breece Hall had 50 yards on 16 carries for New York and Garrett Wilson had seven receptions for 80 yards.

Zach Wilson lost two fumbles for the Jets and Garrett Wilson lost another as New York saw its three-game winning streak come to an end.

After the Jets went three-and-out on their opening drive of the game, Thomas Morstead sent a punt inside the Chargers 15-yard line and Davis split traffic up the middle of the field to find the end zone. The rookie from TCU scored his first career TD for a 7-0 lead.

The Chargers’ Joey Bosa recovered a Zach Wilson fumble with 6:27 remaining in the opening quarter and Los Angeles went 50 yards in eight plays, finishing the drive with a 1-yard TD run from Ekeler.

The teams traded field goals in the final six minutes of the first half, with the Jets’ Greg Zuerlein hitting from 47 yards and the Chargers’ Cameron Dicker answering with a 55-yard kick just before the break for a 17-3 advantage.

Zuerlein added a 46-yard field goal for the Jets with 9:52 remaining in the third quarter.

Dicker struck again to give the Chargers a 20-6 lead, making good on a 38-yard kick with 9:18 remaining in the game. Los Angeles’ Khalil Mack forced another Zach Wilson fumble late in the game and Alohi Gilman returned it 48 yards to the Jets 2 yard-line. Ekeler scored on the next play with 3:22 left.

In an illustration of how the night went for the Jets, C.J. Uzomah dropped a pass in the end zone with 41 seconds remaining and Tyler Conklin was stopped at the Los Angeles 2-yard line on New York’s final offensive play.

–Field Level Media

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