Browns linebacker great Clay Matthews made the first cut from 15 to 10, but failed to gain enough votes for induction in his final year of modern era eligibility. (Yardbarker)
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Editor's note: Tony Grossi is a Cleveland Browns analyst for TheLandOnDemand.com and 850 ESPN Cleveland.
It took Clay Matthews 20 years of eligibility to make it as a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The final step to induction is going to take additional time.
The Browns linebacker legend was not elected in his final year as a modern-era candidate.
Matthews made the first cut from 15 to 10, but not the second cut to five.
The five modern-era candidates elected by the 48-member selection committee and revealed on the NFL Honors show Saturday night were:
Colts and Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning, Raiders and Packers defensive back Charles Woodson, Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Buccaneers and Broncos safety John Lynch and Steelers offensive lineman Alan Faneca.
Manning, Woodson and Johnson were elected in their first year of eligibility; Faneca in his sixth; and Lynch in his ninth.
Now Matthews joins dozens of qualified candidates who’ve “fallen through the cracks” and must be nominated through the senior candidate process.
Each year, one senior candidate is nominated by a special sub-committee of the 48-member voting committee. The sheer mathematics can make it a longer, tougher path to induction than through the modern-era process.
Cowboys wide receiver Drew Pearson was the senior nominee this year and he also gained the required 80 percent vote to join the Class of 2021. Pearson was in his 34th year of eligibility.
Also voted to the Class of 2021 were Raiders and Seahawks coach Tom Flores from the newly-created coach category, and long-time Pittsburgh Steelers scout and personnel executive Bill Nunn from the contributor category.
The Class of 2021 will be enshrined in Canton on Sunday, Aug. 8.
The day before, Saturday, Aug. 7, the Centennial Class of 2020 will be enshrined a year late because the pandemic cancelled last year's ceremonies. Browns wide receiver great Mac Speedie is a member of the Centennial Class.