Today could be Willie Roaf’s lucky day.
The former NFL offensive lineman is one of 17 finalists on the ballot for this year’s Pro Football Hall of Fame class. NFL Network will announce the new enshrinees at 4:30 p.m. today in a show called “Road to Canton: Pro Football Hall of Fame: Class of 2012 presented by Allstate.”
This is Roaf’s second straight year as a Hall finalist. If selected, he will be inducted Aug. 4 in Canton, Ohio.
Roaf, 41, graduated from Pine Bluff High School and played at Louisiana Tech before being selected eighth overall by the New Orleans Saints in 1993. He played nine seasons for the Saints and finished his career in 2005 after a four-year run with the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to his finalist bio, Roaf played 189 games, including 16 at right tackle in his first season, in which he did not miss a snap and earned All-Rookie honors. He then moved to left tackle and made it to 11 Pro Bowls while earning two straight NFC Offensive Lineman of the Year awards. Roaf also was part of the Saints’ first-ever playoff win, a 31-28 feat over the St. Louis Rams in the 2000 season.
His former Chiefs teammate, guard Will Shields, also is a finalist. Other finalists include former running back Jerome Bettis, wide receiver Tim Brown, cornerback Jack Butler, receiver Cris Carter, center Dermontti Dawson, 49ers owner Ed DeBartolo Jr., defensive ends/linebackers Chris Doleman, Kevin Greene and Charles Haley, defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, running back Curtis Martin, coach Bill Parcells, wide receiver Andre Reed, guard Dick Stanfel and defensive back Aeneas Williams. Kennedy is a Rivercrest High graduate.