White leads list of Fame candidates nfl roundup

CANTON, Ohio -- Reggie White, a two-time NFL defensive player of the year who died last year at 43, heads a list of players, coaches and contributors eligible for induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

White is eligible for the first time along with quarterbacks Troy Aikman and Warren Moon. Other first-year eligible players include running back Thurman Thomas, wide receiver Andre Reed and offensive lineman Dermontti Dawson.

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and longtime owners Art Modell and Ralph Wilson are on the preliminary list that includes five former head coaches and 11 contributors.

From a preliminary list, Hall of Fame selectors will choose 25 candidates who will advance as semifinalists. That list will be trimmed to 13 candidates, who will join veterans committee nominees John Madden and Rayfield Wright as finalists.

The Class of 2006 will be announced on Feb. 4, the day before the Super Bowl in Detroit.

Baltimore: Ravens fullback Alan Ricard was placed on injured reserve, ending his season after six games because of chronic calf injuries. A Pro Bowl alternate in 2003, Ricard has started just two games this season after aggravating calf injuries.

Buffalo: Cornerback Terrence McGee signed a four-year contract extension Friday, allowing the Bills to lock up their No. 2 pass defender and Pro Bowl kickoff returner through 2009. The deal was worth $18 million and includes a $5 million signing bonus, McGee's agent, Terry Bolar, told The Associated Press.

Green Bay: Tight end David Martin might miss Sunday's game against Cincinnati after straining his right hamstring. Martin, second on the depth chart behind Pro Bowler Bubba Franks, was injured while running routes during a 2-minute drill near the end of practice Thursday, coach Mike Sherman said.

Oakland: Safety Derrick Gibson was placed on injured reserve Friday, five days after dislocating his left wrist. Gibson was injured in Oakland's victory over Buffalo. Oakland signed linebacker Isaiah Ekejiuba from the practice squad to take Gibson's roster spot.

Philadelphia: Pro Bowl cornerback Lito Sheppard could miss the Eagles' game at Denver after injuring his knee in practice. Sheppard was hurt when he collided with wide receiver Greg Lewis on Thursday and didn't practice Friday. He's listed as questionable for Sunday.

Notebook: The National Arbitration Forum ruled in favor of NFL career rushing leader Emmitt Smith in a dispute over emmittsmith.com, a Web site registered to a Vancouver, British Columbia-based company since 2001. Tyrus R. Atkinson Jr. found that Smith "possesses common law rights in his name based on the fame and reputation associated with his NFL career, and that the Web address was confusingly similar," the forum said in a press release. Smith filed a complaint with the Forum in September. The Web site redirected Internet users to a commercial site featuring links to third-party businesses unrelated to Smith.