Bob Hayes and Claude Humphrey were chosen by the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s seniors committee as finalists for election into the Class of 2009, the Hall announced today.

Both Hayes and Humphrey have been finalists in the past, only to be voted down. Hayes was the seniors committee’s candidate in 2004, and Humphrey was a modern-era finalist in 2003, 2005 and 2006.

Hayes, an Olympic gold medalist in 1964, took the NFL by storm as a rookie receiver for the Cowboys in 1965, averaging 21.8 yards a catch and catching 12 touchdown passes. He finished his career with 371 catches for 7,414 yards and 71 touchdowns, plus 104 punt returns for 1,158 yards and three touchdowns.

Humphrey, a pass-rushing defensive end, suffers in comparisons with more recent players because when he played, the sack was not an official statistic. But Hall of Fame research indicates, unofficially, that he had 122 sacks during his 11 years with the Falcons (1968-1978) and three with the Eagles (1979-1981). He was a six-time Pro Bowler.

The two will be among the 17 finalists the full selection committee vote on the day before the Super Bowl. The 15 modern-era candidates have not yet been selected. Hall of Fame rules say that up to two senior candidates and five modern-era candidates can be inducted each year, for a class no smaller than four or larger than seven.