All-time NFL greats Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith were the biggest names on what had to be one of the most star-studded nominee lists in the NFL Hall of Fame history. The list of 131 players, coaches, and contributors eligible for the 2010 NFL Hall of Fame class was made public Saturday in Canton, Ohio.

Smith is the all-time leading rusher with 18,355 yards. Rice is the leading all-time receiver with 22,895 yards.

From this preliminary list of modern-era nominees, Hall of Fame selectors will choose 25 candidates to advance as semifinalists, according to a Hall of Fame press release. Those names will be announced on November 27.

A mail ballot will reduce the list to 15 finalists who will be announced January 7. The Class of 2010 will be selected from 15 modern-era finalists and two senior candidates (Floyd Little and Dick LeBeau) during voting held the day before Super Bowl XLIV.

We encourage you to continue debating the merits of these Hall of Fame candidates as you have been at Zoneblitz.com. However, the Hall is taking feedback from fans at the Van Heusen Fan’s Choice Web site, where you can vote for the players you’d like to see enshrined or interact with other football fans.

When I checked the site this evening, the early leaders were the obvious ones. Rice and Smith are virtual shoe-ins to be inducted in 2010. Cris Carter and Shannon Sharpe are next in the fan balloting followed, surprisingly (in my opinion), by Ray Guy.

The site also claims to have some big-ticket items to give away, so while we hope you keep coming back here, it could benefit you to check in there once in awhile as well.

We’re working on learning more about the site, such as whether or not the fan vote will have any sway in who does get inducted next summer. As soon as we know more we’ll post an update.

In the meantime, who do you think should join Smith and Rice as members of the class of 2010?