MIAMI — History suggests Andre Reed's Pro Football Hall of Fame candidacy has a great

chance for a happy ending.

The question for Reed entering the Hall's 2010 selection meeting on Saturday is: When?

The Buffalo Bills' greatest receiver made the list of 15 modern era finalists for a fourth

straight year.

A total of 83 percent of all the men who have made the finalist list eventually have been

elected.

The challenge this year in Reed's bid is the fact there are four wide receivers on the

finalist list. The others are Jerry Rice, Cris Carter and Tim Brown. Rice holds the NFL

records in virtually every category for receiving.

The last time two receivers were elected on the same ballot was 27 years ago, in 1983.

Reed, who starred for the Bills from 1985 through 1999, has impeccable credentials. He

ended his career fourth in NFL history in catches and sixth in receiving yards. Nine seasons

after his career ended, he still ranks eighth in catches and 11th in yards.

Reed's peers offer unequivocal support for his induction into the Hall.

Hall of Fame defensive back Rod Woodson said, "He had the body, he had the strength. He was

tough. He was elusive. He was hard to bring down and you better bring him down or he was gone.

To me he's everything you would want in a Hall of Fame receiver."

Woodson is now an analyst for the NFL Network. Last month Woodson was asked the question:

Since Rice is a slam dunk for induction, which of the other three receivers on the finalist

list would he say is most worthy of induction? Woodson picked Reed. Hall of Fame receiver

Michael Irvin also picked Reed in answer to the same question.

Nevertheless, it won't be easy for most of the finalists to get elected this year.

A maximum of five modern-era candidates can be inducted.

Rice and Emmitt Smith, the NFL's all-time leading rusher, are first-year eligible

finalists. Both are sure to get the minimum requirement of 80 percent of the 44 votes.

That would leave three openings for the other 13 modern-era contenders.

Just like at receiver, there is a logjam of candidates who were elite pass rushers. They

include Richard Dent, Charles Haley, John Randle and Rickey Jackson. It's very likely at least

one of them will get in. That would leave 12 candidates fighting for two spots.

It is very hard to predict who will make it.

The other modern-era finalists are: coach Don Coryell, running back Roger Craig, center

Dermontti Dawson, guard Russ Grimm, defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy and tight end Shannon

Sharpe. The two senior nominees, whose careers ended more than 25 years ago, are cornerback

Dick LeBeau and running back Floyd Little.