Just one day before Super Bowl XLVI, the NFL will announce the 2012 class of inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 2012 class will be enshrined in August just before the NFL season gets underway. The finalists for the honor include several candidates with deep ties to Los Angeles, both with the Raiders and Rams franchises.
Superstar running back Jerome Bettis is best known for his dominant seasons with the PIttsburgh Steelers, but he began his career with the Los Angeles and St. Louis Rams from 1993-1995. He put up 1,000 rushing yards in two seasons with the Rams before heading to Pittsburgh. He is a virtual shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, ranking fifth all-time in career rushing yards.
Wide receiver and kick returner Tim Brown was with the Los Angeles and Oakland Raiders from 1988-2003. He is second all-time in receiving yards and third all-time in touchdown catches, although those numbers are threatened more each year. This is his third time on the Hall of Fame ballot, so this may be his year while those numbers are still at their most impressive.
Kevin Greene served as a linebacker and defensive end with the Los Angeles Rams from 1985-1992. He was a five-time Pro Bowl selection (although only once as a Ram), a three-time First-Team All-Pro and was named to the 1990s All-Decade Team. He won the UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year award in 1996 and his 160 sacks are the record for a linebacker. He led the NFL in sacks twice and was in the top 10 in sacks in ten separate seasons.
It seems likely that at least one of these three representatives will be part of the 2012 Hall of Fame class and speak to the rich NFL history in Los Angeles.