Cris Carter On Track To Get Screwed By Hall Of Fame Again

The National Football League has announced the 25 semi-finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013, and there are a couple of names with connections to the Minnesota Vikings.

Obviously, the most prominent name on this list. . .again. . .is former Vikings' wide receiver Cris Carter. We've been over Carter's stats in this space ad nauseum, but it bears repeating again. Even though he retired from the game after the 2002 NFL season, he still sits fourth in the history of the National Football League in receptions (1,101), eighth in receiving yards (13,899), and fourth in receiving touchdowns (130), as well as eighth in total touchdowns (131).

The $100 that the Vikings spent on a waiver claim for him after he was released by the Philadelphia Eagles still represents the most well-spent $100 in the history of the franchise. Carter should go into the Hall of Fame this year. Of course, he should have gone into the Hall in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012, too. But he didn't. Why? Who the heck knows. . .nobody has been able to give me a compelling reason thus far. I don't expect to hear one this time around, either.

The only two other players on the list with Vikings connections are kicker Morten Anderson, who kicked for the team in 2004, and running back Roger Craig, who played in Minnesota in 1992 and 1993.

Here's the full list of individuals that are on the list of the 25 semifinalists that could potentially be part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2013. This number will be reduced to 15 in January.

Larry Allen, G/T - 1994-2005 Dallas Cowboys, 2006-07 San Francisco 49ers
Morten Andersen, K - 1982-1994 New Orleans Saints, 1995-2000, 2006-07 Atlanta Falcons, 2001 New York Giants, 2002-03 Kansas City Chiefs, 2004 Minnesota Vikings
Steve Atwater, S - 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets
Jerome Bettis, RB - 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
Tim Brown, WR/KR - 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cris Carter, WR - 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
Don Coryell, Coach - 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
Roger Craig, RB - 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings
Terrell Davis, RB - 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Owner - 1977-2000 San Francisco 49ers
Kevin Greene, LB/DE - 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
Charles Haley, DE/LB - 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
Joe Jacoby, T - 1981-1993 Washington Redskins
Albert Lewis, CB - 1983-1993 Kansas City Chiefs, 1994-98 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders
John Lynch, FS - 1993-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Denver Broncos
Karl Mecklenburg, LB - 1983-1994 Denver Broncos
Art Modell, Owner - 1961-1995 Cleveland Browns, 1996-2011 Baltimore Ravens
Jonathan Ogden, T - 1996-2007 Baltimore Ravens
Bill Parcells, Coach - 1983-1990 New York Giants, 1993-96 New England Patriots, 1997-99 New York Jets, 2003-06 Dallas Cowboys
Andre Reed, WR - 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Warren Sapp, DT - 1995-2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2004-07 Oakland Raiders
Will Shields, G - 1993-2006 Kansas City Chiefs
Michael Strahan, DE - 1993-2007 New York Giants
Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner - 1989-2006 National Football League
Steve Tasker, ST/WR - 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills
Aeneas Williams, CB/S - 1991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 2001-04 St. Louis Rams
George Young, Contributor - 1968-1974 Baltimore Colts, 1975-78 Miami Dolphins, 1979-1997 New York Giants, 1998-2001 National Football League