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INDIANAPOLIS -- The Hall of Fame voting for the 2012 class will commence on Saturday.

Here are some thoughts on the Hall of Fame and the AFC East:

• I don't see any sure-fire locks this year, which is rare. Maybe Bill Parcells fits in that category. But the group overall is solid. I'm sure there will be plenty of tough discussions on the Hall of Fame panel, because every spot is pretty much available for the 2012 class.
• In terms of the AFC East, I like the chances of former New England Patriots and New York Jets running back Curtis Martin. He missed the cut last year, but this seems like the type of year a great, consistent player like Martin gets in. He is fourth all-time in rushing (14,101 yards), and the three ahead of Martin -- Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders -- are all in Canton.
• Former Buffalo Bills receiver Andre Reed is a tougher call. This is the sixth time he's been a finalist, and each chance the odds appeared against him. This may be his best chance Reed has. The class is wide open and Reed may be able to grab one of those slots. I am not on the Hall of Fame panel, but my prediction is Parcells, Martin and offensive lineman Will Shields will get in. I think Reed could be fighting for the remaining slots with great players like Cris Carter, Willie Roaf, Chris Doleman and Jerome Bettis.

Andre Reed and Curtis Martin received bad news about their Pro Football Hall of Fame bids.

Reed and Martin were among the 15 finalists for induction, but neither AFC East star made the cut Saturday when the next induction class was determined.

The 2011 class includes running back Marshall Faulk, tight end Shannon Sharpe, defensive end Richard Dent cornerback Deion Sanders and NFL Films patriarch Ed Sabol. Senior nominees headed to Canton are linebackers Chris Hanburger and Les Richter.

Reed has been a finalist five times. For the second year in a row, the Buffalo Bills legend finished ahead of Cris Carter and Tim Brown in the selection process, which pares down the group of finalists from 15 to 10. Reed made the top 10, while Carter and Brown did not.

But Reed didn't make the next cut to five. That's the group the selection committee makes a final yea or nay vote on, with 80 percent agreement required for induction. The committee approved all five.

Reed will have to wait to join his former teammates already honored in Canton: quarterback Jim Kelly, running back Thurman Thomas, receiver James Lofton, defensive end Bruce Smith and head coach Marv Levy.

Reed made 951 catches for 13,198 yards and 87 touchdowns and played in four consecutive Super Bowls. He's known as one of the best yards-after-catch receivers in NFL history, perhaps second to only Jerry Rice, and among the grittiest over-the-middle threats.

Reed was a seven-time Pro Bowler. He posted 13 seasons with at least 50 receptions, tied for second all-time. He's tied for third in postseason history with five 100-yard games. His 85 postseason receptions rank third.

Martin, a star running back with the New England Patriots and New York Jets, was on the ballot for the first time. His former coach, Bill Parcells, advocated Martin be a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

Martin ranks fourth in all-time rushing yardage behind Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders, a pretty good crew -- if you're into that kind of thing.

Martin rushed for 14,101 yards and scored an even 100 touchdowns, 90 on the ground and 10 more off catches. He ran for 1,000 yards in 10 straight seasons, the second-longest streak in league history. Martin was the 1995 offensive rookie of the year and made five Pro Bowl rosters.

Carter was another Hall of Fame finalist with an AFC East connection, albeit barely. Carter finished his career with the Miami Dolphins, catching eight passes over five games in 2002. His 130th and final touchdown was with Miami.

That gave every AFC East club a link to Saturday's selection process.

Curtis Martin has the credentials to justify induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But does the popular New York Jets and New England Patriots running back belong to an even more elite group that that?

Martin is on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time and will find out Saturday whether he will join the 65 other legends who've gone straight to Canton without delay.

New York Daily News writer Gary Myers examines the possibility Martin will get the Hall of Fame call Saturday. Martin's beloved coach, Bill Parcells, asserted Martin should coast into Canton.

"If the idea is to separate yourself, you got the case right there, you can't dispute it," Parcells told Myers. "Come on. That is roller skates."

Martin played 11 seasons and led his team in rushing every time. He finished with 14,101 yards (fourth all-time behind Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders) and 90 touchdowns. Martin added 484 receptions for 3,329 yards and 10 more touchdowns, giving him an even 100.

Martin was Offensive Rookie of the Year in 1995 and made five Pro Bowl teams.

Up to five modern-era candidates will be inducted. But with fellow first-timers running back Marshall Faulk and cornerback Deion Sanders almost certain to gain approval, essentially three spots are left.

The other 15 finalists include running back Jerome Bettis, receivers Andre Reed, Tim Brown and Cris Carter, tight end Shannon Sharpe, center Dermontti Dawson, tackle Willie Roaf, defensive ends Richard Dent, Charles Haley and Chris Doleman, defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy and NFL Films patriarch Ed Sabol.

"I haven't been an individual accolades type person," Martin told Myers. "But I have found myself thinking about the Hall of Fame more. I think that it speaks to the intangible qualities that I like to be associated with my name.

"To even be in consideration for the Hall of Fame, you've done a little more than just performed on the football field. It speaks to your dedication, to hard work, the level of competition, the way you compete. Even being mentioned is very humbling to me."

LaDainian Tomlinson has not accepted any kind of backup role with the New York Jets.

That may eventually be the case, but the future Hall of Famer joined the Jets with no preconceived notions heading into the summer.

Tomlinson stopped by the ESPN 1050 studios in Dallas on Thursday, sitting in with the "Ben and Skin" show and talked about a role that hasn't been finalized. He will compete for carries with sophomore Shonn Greene and rookie Joe McKnight.

"The thought process is kind of like when you go to college, when you graduate from high school and go to college, you don't look to go in and start," Tomlinson said. "If it happens, it happens. But you go in to find a role on the team, to be a part of something special. That's where I am.

"I think at this point in my career, people put this label and this title on you once you get to a certain age: 'Yeah, he has to be a backup now.' I absolutely don't believe that. You determine your role on the football field, and that's what the Jets have been so great about, allowing me to do that.

"They didn't put a label on me at all. They didn't say 'You know what? You're going to be a backup.' They said 'No, you're going to prove what you can do on the football field,' and that's all I can ask."

Tomlinson, from Texas Christian University, also takes part in a discussion about whether Emmitt Smith or Barry Sanders was the better back, shares his thoughts on the Dallas Cowboys backfield and talks about his greatest single achievement on the field and off.

With 10 days remaining in the NFL's attempt to determine the 75 greatest draft picks of all-time, the league released the top 20 candidates after fans have cast nearly 40 million votes.

The project was put together to celebrate the 75th draft, which begins April 22. NFL.com editors got us started by narrowing each team's list of candidates down to the top 10.

Fans can vote through April 18 at NFL.com. Parts of the list will be revealed on NFL.com and the NFL Network beginning April 19. The top 10 will be saved for the draft telecast.

These 20 players, listed in alphabetical order, have received the most votes so far:

• Troy Aikman, Dallas Cowboys (first overall, 1989)
• Terry Bradshaw, Pittsburgh Steelers (first, 1970)
• Tom Brady, New England Patriots (199th, 2000)
• Jim Brown, Cleveland Browns (sixth, 1957)
• Dick Butkus, Chicago Bears (third, 1965)
• Brett Favre, Atlanta Falcons (33rd, 1991)
• Ray Lewis, Baltimore Ravens (26th, 1996)
• Ronnie Lott, San Francisco 49ers (eighth, 1981)
• Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts (first, 1998)
• Dan Marino, Miami Dolphins (27th, 1983)
• Joe Montana, San Francisco 49ers (82nd, 1979)
• Randy Moss, Minnesota Vikings (21st, 1998)
• Walter Payton, Chicago Bears (fourth, 1975)
• Jerry Rice, San Francisco 49ers (16th, 1985)
• Barry Sanders, Detroit Lions (third, 1989)
• Deion Sanders, Atlanta Falcons (fifth, 1989)
• Mike Singletary, Chicago Bears (38th, 1981)
• Emmitt Smith, Dallas Cowboys (17th, 1990)
• Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants (second, 1981)
• Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh Steelers (10th, 1987)

Is it possible that during the bye week the Buffalo Bills reinvented their defense and discovered ways not to get trampled Sunday?

They rank dead last in rushing defense, allowing 173.6 yards a game and 5.1 yards per carry.

Johnson

Next, they get the Tennessee Titans at LP Field. Titans running back Chris Johnson leads the NFL with 959 yards and is maintaining an extraordinary average.

Johnson is gaining a league-best 6.7 yards per attempt.

If he can keep that pace for the rest of the season -- and he might very well improve on it against the Bills -- he will finish with the second-highest average in NFL history. Beattie Feathers averaged an obnoxious 8.4 yards a carry for the Chicago Bears in 1934.

Only four other running backs have led the league in rushing yards and averaged 6 yards a carry:

• Jim Brown, 1963 Browns: 1,863 yards, 6.4 average.
• Barry Sanders, 1997 Lions: 2,053, 6.1 average
• Joe Perry, 1954 49ers: 1,049 yards, 6.1 yards.
• O.J. Simpson, 1973 Bills: 2,003 yards, 6.0 average.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

If you were to have asked me two weeks ago to rank the most unlikely Buffalo Bills signings this offseason, these players would have comprised my top five:

Crowell

1. Barry Sanders
2. J.P. Losman
3. Angelo Crowell
4. Travis Henry
5. Terrell Owens

Steve Wyche of NFL.com has reported Crowell was expected to visit the Bills on Monday if the seventh-year linebacker wasn't able to reach terms with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers over the weekend.

Two sources close to Crowell informed me in January there was no way he would return to the Bills after they placed him on injured reserve right before last season started.

The Bills made the controversial move because Crowell waited so long to decide he was going to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery that would have sidelined him a projected four to six weeks. But the Bills erased their leading tackler for the duration.

The Bills claimed they needed the roster spot. Logic implied vindictiveness.

But the Bills probably hurt themselves in the process. If they bring Crowell back after interviewing Jamie Winborn, Cato June and Freddy Keiaho, it will only underscore how much the Bills could have used him last year.

Posted by ESPN.com's Tim Graham

	Andy Lyons/Getty Images
	Dan Marino was a rookie All Pro and the youngest quarterback to start a Pro Bowl.

Readers' pick: Dan Marino, QB

There was no way possible to get this one wrong. Dan Marino is the greatest Dolphin like the Beatles are the greatest band from Liverpool.

Marino finished with the third-highest percentage of any player in our franchise polls. Only by Barry Sanders and John Elway received higher shares.

Take a look at these numbers and then try to justify voting for Bob Griese:

Marino was a first-ballot Hall of Famer who retired as the most prolific passer in NFL history. His records, many since broken by Brett Favre, included most attempts (8,358), completions (4,967), yards (61,361) and touchdowns (420).

Marino was a rookie All Pro and the youngest quarterback to start a Pro Bowl. In his second season, he threw for 5,084 yards and 48 touchdowns. He had six 4,000-yard seasons. He passed for 400 or more yards 13 times and 300 or more yards 63 times, both NFL records. His 37 fourth-quarter comeback drives are second to Elway's 43.

OK, so Griese won a pair of Super Bowls and Marino didn't win any -- the only accomplishment missing from a stellar resume.

Marino never had the runners, never had a Larry Csonka or a Jim Kiick or a Mercury Morris. Year after year, he slung the Dolphins over his shoulder without a complete offense around him.

"The greatest disappointment as a team owner and a Dolphins fan," Dolphins owner Wayne Huizenga said at Marino's retirement announcement in March 2003, "is that you never won a Super Bowl."

That was the only disappointment.