The Patriots announced Mike Vrabel, Logan Mankins and Bill Parcells as the three finalists for induction into the team’s Hall of Fame.
That trio emerged from a slate of 11 candidates. All three have been nominated before.
Now fans will get to vote on who they believe is worthy of a red jacket and enshrinement as the 30th member of the Patriots Hall of Fame.
This marks Vrabel’s seventh time as a finalist. He hasn’t been able to break through with the necessary fan vote.
He lost out last year to Vince Wilfork. Richard Seymour, Rodney Harrison, Matt Light, Raymond Clayborn and Kevin Faulk before that.
Will he finally break through this time?
Vrabel was part of three championship teams. The linebacker epitomized the type of versatility Bill Belichick craves in players, as he also contributed on special teams and offense. He caught 10 touchdown passes lining up as a tight end down by the goal line.
As for the other candidates, this is Mankins second time in the finalist circle.
He was a force at left guard. He was durable, and tough, once playing on a torn ACL. He was a first round draft choice, and played nine seasons in New England. He is considered by Dante Scarnecchia as one of the greatest players he’s ever coached.
As for Parcells, this marks his fifth time as a finalist (2011, 2012, 2014, 2020). Like Vrabel, he hasn’t gotten enough votes to put him over the top. He’s lost out to other worthy candidates (Drew Bledsoe, Troy Brown, Ty Law, Richard Seymour).
Now 81, Parcells is largely responsible for bringing the franchise back to relevance after taking over as its head coach in 1993. By his fourth season, he took the Patriots to the Super Bowl.
His drafts (Willie McGinest, Ty Law, Ted Johnson, Lawyer Milloy, Tedy Bruschi, Troy Brown) basically set the course for their early championship teams under Bill Belichick.
Parcells’ stay in New England, however, was short-lived, as he left the team after their Super Bowl loss to the Green Bay Packers.
Wes Welker, Lawyer Milloy, Mosi Tatupu, John Smith, Russ Francis, Julius Adams, Pete Brock, and Chuck Fairbanks were also nominated, but weren’t voted into the top three by the nominating committee.
Fans can vote on the Patriots website https://www.patriots.com/hof through midnight EDT on May 2. The team will announce the fans’ selection of the 2023 Patriots Hall of Famer later that week.