As the NFL prepares to celebrate its 100th season, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has agreed in principle to a **special “Centennial Class” of inductees**.

Clark Judge of the Talk of Fame Sports Network wrote the following:

There's been a lot of speculation lately about a proposed Centennial Class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a one-time body of inductees – many of them from decades past – to join Canton as part of the NFL's 100th anniversary celebration.

Well, forget about speculation. The Centennial Class is a plan that "is going to happen," according to Joe Horrigan, the Hall's former executive director who retired this month after 42 years.

Judge quoted Horrigan, who said the Hall of Fame board of directors meets later in June.

"We'll go to them again with more detailed plans different from what we produced for them two months ago," Horrigan said. "But I will tell you this: We do not have the final blessing on it, only because we have to work out details.

"Now we just have to come down with what the size of the class would be, how they will be selected and who will do it," Horrian said.

With no more than three seniors eligible for election every two years, the list of qualified candidates can barely be scratched by the Hall's 48 selectors. According to Gosselin, there are 65 all-decade "position" choices (i.e., no kickers or return specialists) who aren't in the Hall … including 58 who haven't been discussed as finalists.

[…]

So it has come up with an idea that's as welcome as it is sensible. Celebrating the NFL's 100thanniversary in 2020 by having what some call an "amnesty class" … helps to do what voters could not – take a bite out of the ranks of qualified candidates who have been forgotten, ignored or both.

Might this be an opportunity for Vikings Legend Jim Marshall, a member of the Purple People Eaters who started an incredible 270 consecutive games, to finally don that Hall of Fame jacket?

Time will tell.

Mannion 'feels great' through 1st spring with Minnesota

Sean Mannion has finished up his first spring in Purple.

Mannion, who spent his first four seasons with the Rams, signed with the Vikings in free agency. He is one of four quarterbacks currently on Minnesota's roster, joining starter Kirk Cousins as well as Kyle Sloter and rookie Jake Browning.

Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press recently spoke with Mannion about his **confidence in the backup quarterback competition**.

"I feel great," Mannion told Tomasson. "I feel like through 13 [spring] practices, I feel like I did a lot of good stuff. Certainly, you're never perfect, so there's things I can improve off of, but I feel real proud of the 13 practices I put out there."

Tomasson quoted Vikings Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Advisor Gary Kubiak, who told Twin Cities media members that he's been "very impressed" with Mannion.

"He came from [an NFC] championship football team, and you could just see that in the way he prepares. He pushes Kirk from the standpoint of, 'Let's get here in the morning and get ready for practice,' " Kubiak said.