Former Steeler assistant Grimm is Hall finalist

No former Steelers are among the 15 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame that were named today.

However, former Pitt player and Steelers assistant coach Russ Grimm again made the list. Grimm, who played guard in the 1990s for the three-time Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins, left the Steelers to become assistant head coach of the Arizona Cardinals this year.

There are a total of 17 candidates, including the two previously announced Seniors nominees -- former Pitt back Marshall Goldberg and former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Emmitt Thomas.

Two first-year eligible candidates made the list -- wide receiver Cris Carter and cornerback Darrell Green. All but former commissioner Paul Tagliabue are former players.

A vote on Feb. 2 will pick the hall of fame class for 2008.

The complete list:

Cris Carter -- Wide Receiver -- 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins

Fred Dean -- Defensive End -- 1975-1981 San Diego Chargers, 1981-85 San Francisco 49ers

Richard Dent -- Defensive End -- 1983-1993, 1995 Chicago Bears, 1994 San Francisco 49ers, 1996 Indianapolis Colts, 1997 Philadelphia Eagles

Marshall Goldberg -- Back -- 1939-1943, 1946-48 Chicago Cardinals

Randy Gradishar -- Linebacker -- 1974-1983 Denver Broncos

Darrell Green -- Cornerback -- 1983-2002 Washington Redskins

Russ Grimm -- Guard -- 1981-1991 Washington Redskins

Ray Guy -- Punter -- 1973-1986 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders

Bob Kuechenberg -- Guard -- 1970-1984 Miami Dolphins

Randall McDaniel -- Guard -- 1988-1999 Minnesota Vikings, 2000-2001 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Art Monk -- Wide Receiver -- 1980-1993 Washington Redskins, 1994 New York Jets, 1995 Philadelphia Eagles

Andre Reed -- Wide Receiver -- 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins

Paul Tagliabue -- Commissioner -- 1989-2006 National Football League

Derrick Thomas -- Linebacker -- 1989-1999 Kansas City Chiefs

Emmitt Thomas -- Cornerback -- 1966-1978 Kansas City Chiefs

Andre Tippett -- Linebacker -- 1982-1993 New England Patriots

Gary Zimmerman -- Tackle -- 1986-1992 Minnesota Vikings, 1993-97 Denver Broncos