Former Raiders punter Ray Guy named HOF finalist, will he finally be inducted?

Originally published on Silver & Black Report on Jan. 12, 2014

Former Raiders punter Ray Guy has been named a finalist for the 2014 class of the NFL Hall of Fame.

Guy is the first and only punter to be selected in the first round of the NFL draft, going 23rd overall to the Raiders in 1973.

Guy is largely considered the best punter of all time finishing with a 42.4 yard average in 207 games with the Raiders. Guy also averaged over 40 yards per punt in 13 of his 14 NFL seasons.

Guy has been named a senior committee selection, giving him a better chance to be inducted after being overlooked over previous years. Seven of the last eight senior nominees have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. Guy has been a finalist seven times but has been voted down for a wide-variety of reasons.

Though he is a senior selection, Guy still must receive 80 percent of the vote to be inducted, just as the other finalists must.

The vote takes place on February 1, 2014.

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