DeBartolo, Haley among Hall finalists
Former 49ers owner Edward DeBartolo Jr., ex-49ers defensive end and linebacker Charles Haley and former Raiders receiver Tim Brown are among the 15 modern-era finalists named Thursday for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
A 46-member selection committee will vote Feb. 1 in New York, with a minimum 80 percent required for induction.
First-year nominees were Derrick Brooks, Tony Dungy, Marvin Harrison and Walter Jones. Also selected were Michael Strahan, Kevin Greene (who played one season for the 49ers), Andre Reed, Jerome Bettis, John Lynch, Will Shields, Aeneas Williams and Morten Andersen.
Senior nominees Ray Guy (Raiders) and Claude Humphrey were announced in August.
Harvin OK to play: Seahawks coach Pete Carroll announced that wide receiver Percy Harvin will play Saturday against New Orleans in an NFC divisional playoff game.
There will be no limitations on how Seattle can use its biggest offseason acquisition, brought to Seattle in a trade with Minnesota. Harvin was a spectator for most of the 2013 season because of a hip injury, but now could make his biggest impact in the playoffs as a wide receiver and kick returner.
Washington hires Gruden: Jay Gruden, the less-famous younger brother of broadcaster and former Raiders and Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden, finally got a head-coaching job when he became the choice to replace Mike Shanahan in Washington — becoming owner Dan Snyder’s eighth coach in 16 seasons.
“I don’t know what happened last year,” Gruden said. “I know that interviewing with Dan Snyder and Bruce Allen and everybody here that the passion for excellence is there. All they want to do is win, and they’re going to provide me with every avenue to win.”
Gruden, 46, who spent the past three seasons as the offensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals, was given a fiveyear contact for his first NFL head coaching gig, taking over a 3-13 team that has finished last in the NFC East in five of the past six seasons.
The man who developed Andy Dalton will be given the keys to franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III.
To replace Gruden, the Bengals promoted running backs coach Hue Jackson to offensive coordinator. Jackson coached the Raiders to two 8-8 seasons before being fired and replaced by Dennis Allen. Briefly: Giants top running back David Wilson needs neck surgery, and his future in football is uncertain. New York general manager Jerry Reese said Wilson will have a fusion of the vertebrae to repair the herniated disc in his neck, injured Oct. 6 against the Eagles. …. Third-year Ohio State defensive line coach will join new Texans coach Bill O’Brien’s staff. … The Titans now have interviewed both of Cincinnati’s coordinators in their coaching search, having interviewed Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer two days after interviewing Gruden before he was hired by Washington. Tennessee has also interviewed Baltimore offensive coordinator Jim Caldwell, and San Diego offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt is reportedly set to interview next.