In voting announced Thursday night, Michael Strahan also was selected a modern-era finalist along with Charles Haley, Kevin Greene, Andre Reed, Jerome Bettis, Tim Brown, John Lynch, Will Shields, Aeneas Williams, Morten Andersen and Edward DeBartolo Jr. Senior nominees Ray Guy and Claude Humphrey were announced in August.

The 46-member selection committee will vote Feb. 1 in New York, with a minimum 80 percent required for induction.

Strahan, Andersen and Lynch are in their second year of eligibility. Shields is in his third year, Bettis his fourth, Brown and Williams their fifth, Reed his ninth, and Greene and Haley their 10th.

The modern-era finalists were chosen by the selection committee from a list of 126 nominees who were reduced to 25 semifinalists. Each finalist received a minimum vote of 80 percent.

To be eligible, modern-era players and coaches must have last played or coached more than five seasons ago.


HARVIN WILL PLAY FOR SEAHAWKS


Pete Carroll told Percy Harvin that the Seattle Seahawks were considering placing him on injured reserve to open up a roster spot ahead of the postseason.

Harvin's response: "Coach I'm ready to play ball."

That conversation less than two weeks ago was the start of a return that took another significant step on Thursday when Carroll announced Harvin would play on Saturday against New Orleans in an NFC divisional playoff game.

"We're excited about him going and excited for him. It's been a long, long haul for a guy that's such a great competitor and it means so much," Carroll said. "For him to have the opportunity to join us now is really exciting, I know, for him and us, too."

There will be no limitations on how Seattle can use its biggest offseason acquisition, brought to Seattle in a trade with Minnesota. Harvin ended up a spectator for most of the 2013 regular season, but now could make his biggest impact in the playoffs as a wide receiver and kick returner.

Harvin missed the first 2½ months of the season following hip surgery in early August. He returned in Week 11 against Minnesota and caught one pass and had a 58-yard kickoff return. Harvin was then sidelined again by what Carroll called "soreness."


VRABEL HEADING TO TEXANS


Third-year Ohio State defensive line coach Mike Vrabel is jumping back to the NFL to rejoin new Houston Texans coach Bill O'Brien.

Vrabel, who played at Ohio State and went on to a 14-year career in the NFL, will coach linebackers, he confirmed in a post on Twitter.

O'Brien, the head coach at Penn State the past two years, had been a top assistant with the New England Patriots in 2007-08 when Vrabel was a player. Vrabel won three Super Bowls with the Patriots.


GIANTS' WILSON TO HAVE SURGERY


New York Giants top running back David Wilson needs neck surgery and his future in football is uncertain.

Giants general manager Jerry Reese disclosed the news Thursday during a radio interview with WFAN in New York City.

New York's first-round draft pick in 2012, Wilson was hurt on Oct. 6 after being tackled coming out of his own end zone in a home game against Philadelphia.

Wilson will have a fusion of the vertebrae to repair the herniated disc in his neck. The procedure will be performed by Dr. Frank Cammisa at the Hospital of Special Surgery on Jan. 16.

"You have to look at him differently, because he's got the whole neck issue hovering over him right now," Reese said. "So he's got to come back and be healthy, No. 1. He's planning to have surgery, and we'll see how that comes out. Our medical staff feels like he'll be ready to play this fall, but the neck and back — that's pretty tricky. So you never know."

Wilson played five games this past season. He was eventually put on season-ending injured reserve Nov. 7.

Wilson finished with 44 carries for 146 yards and a touchdown. He caught two passes for 8 yards and had nine kickoff returns for a 24.7-yard average.


DOLPHINS OWNER SAYS NEW GM WILL REPORT TO HIM


Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross says the team's next general manager will report to him and will have autonomous responsibility for building the roster.

In a statement Thursday, Ross also said former Kansas City Chiefs general manager Carl Peterson will advise him on the choice of a GM but will not have a role with the team after that.

The first interview will be Friday in the search to replace Jeff Ireland, who departed this week after six seasons with the Dolphins. There had been speculation the team's organizational structure might change, but the general manager and coach Joe Philbin will both continue to report directly to Ross, he said.

Candidates include Ray Farmer, assistant general manager for the Cleveland Browns this season after seven seasons in Kansas City's front office.


BENGALS PROMOTE JACKSON


The Bengals didn't wait long or look far for their next offensive coordinator, promoting Hue Jackson on Thursday shortly after Jay Gruden was introduced as the next head coach in Washington.

Jackson has brought his career full-circle in Cincinnati, where he coached the wide receivers from 2004-06. He was Oakland's head coach in 2011 and pushed for the trade that brought quarterback Carson Palmer from Cincinnati at midseason in exchange for a first-round and second-round draft pick.

The Raiders finished 8-8 and failed to reach the playoffs that season, resulting in Jackson's firing. He returned to Cincinnati as an assistant, and coached the running backs last season.


JURY SELECTION BEGINS IN BRENT TRIAL


Jury selection has begun in the intoxication manslaughter trial of former Dallas Cowboy Josh Brent, charged in the 2012 car wreck that killed a teammate.

Jurors on Thursday reported to court in Dallas. Brent was present for the start of jury selection in the trial over the accident that killed his best friend, Jerry Brown. Brown was on the team's practice squad.

Prosecutors say Brent was driving drunk during the one-vehicle rollover accident in Irving. Police have said Brent's blood-alcohol level was more than twice the legal limit for driving. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted in the Dec. 8, 2012, accident.

Contributors: Jason O. Boyd, The Associated Press

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