updated 7:44 p.m. ET Nov. 28, 2007

CANTON, Ohio - Wide receiver Cris Carter and cornerback Darrell Green were the only first-year eligible players among 26 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s class of 2008.

Carter starred for the Minnesota Vikings from 1990-2001 and also played for Miami and Philadelphia. Green spent his entire career with the Redskins, from 1983-2002.

The 26 advanced from a list of 124 preliminary nominees. Because of a tie for 25th, one more player than usual made the semifinals.

Twenty-two of the nominees have been in the semifinals before. Other than Carter and Green, the new semifinalists are linebacker Rickey Jackson and defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy.

The inductees will be decided the day before the Super Bowl on Feb. 2, 2008 . The induction ceremonies are in early August.

Other semifinalists:

Defensive ends Richard Dent, Fred Dean and Charles Haley; linebackers Randy Gradishar, Kevin Greene, Derrick Thomas, and Andre Tippett; cornerback Lester Hayes; center Dermontti Dawson; guards Russ Grimm, Bob Kuechenberg and Randall McDaniel; tackles Joe Jacoby and Gary Zimmerman; running back Terrell Davis; wide receivers Art Monk, Andre Reed and Steve Tasker; quarterback Ken Stabler; punter Ray Guy; former commissioner Paul Tagliabue; and administrator George Young.

The seniors committee nominees, who were announced in August, are Marshall Goldberg and Emmitt Thomas.

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