Missing the HOF cut

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced its initial list of 2012 modern-era nominees — the ballot starts with 101 names before getting pared down to 25 semifinalists, 15 finalists and eventually five to seven inductees. (The organization previously announced the two senior nominees — Steelers defensive back James Butler and Lions guard Dick Stanfel — whom will be voted on separately.) Although most news outlets will understandably talk about the first-year nominees, I'm curious to see who wasn't named after making last year's initial list:

Quarterbacks: Ken Anderson, Jim Plunkett, Doug Williams
Running backs: Ottis Anderson
Wide receivers: Herman Moore, Stanley Morgan, Mike Quick, J.T. Smith
Tight ends: Mark Bavaro, Ben Coates, Russ Francis, Brent Jones
Offensive linemen: Bruce Armstrong (center)
Defensive linemen: Al "Bubba" Baker (defensive end), Ray Childress (defensive end/defensive tackle)
Linebackers: Darryl Talley
Defensive backs: Bill Bates (safety), Lester Hayes (cornerback), Frank Minnifield (cornerback), Louis Wright (cornerback)
Special teams: Ray Guy (punter)
Coaches: None
Administrators: Ole Haugsrud (owner), Frank "Bucko" Kilroy (administrator), Bill Nunn (administrator). Joe Robbie (owner), Art Rooney, Jr. (administrator), Carroll Rosenbloom (owner)

My basic criterion for the Hall of Fame is dominance at your position during your era, which is especially relevant as the inflation of passing statistics continues. Evaluating all-pro nominations is extremely helpful, because it's hard to argue you deserve to be recognized among the all-time best if you were rarely recognized as best among your peers. And while most of these candidates are destined for The Hall of the Very Good, a few names do stick out:

Ken Anderson: It looks like Anderson will join the list of one-time MVP quarterbacks not in the Hall of Fame because he hasn't been a finalist since 1998. But although it's difficult to evaluate quarterbacks across eras, he led the NFL in passer rating four times, joining a select group of Steve Young, Roger Staubach and Otto Graham.

Al Baker: Considered one of the NFL's greatest pass-rushers, Baker's numbers suffer because sacks didn't become an official statistic until 1983. By that time, Baker had compiled seasons of 23, 16, 18 and 10 sacks according to unofficial research — his adjusted total of 131.5 career sacks would move him into 11th place. 

Lester Hayes: It's been an interesting path for Hayes, who was a Hall of Fame finalist from 2001 to 2004 before slipping to a semifinalist from 2005 to 2010 and not even making the preliminary list in 2012. It's likely he has been devalued because of his signature contribution: The NFL banned Stickum in 1981, one year after Hayes used it to help snag 18 interceptions (13 in the 12 regular-season games he played and five in four postseason games). 

Ray Guy: I think it's unacceptable that no punters have been inducted — it clearly is a position, and someone must be the best (Reggie Roby is the only punter on the ballot) — but some argue Guy is overrated. That position is infamously held by former Sports Illustrated writer Paul Zimmerman, who touts the unheralded Tommy Davis and explains his distaste for Guy in a 2005 story about punting:

But once again, for the umpteenth time, Ray Guy appears on the Hall of Fame ballot. His lifetime gross average was an unimpressive 42.4. I got a letter on his behalf from some lobbying agency that tried to cover this number by explaining that he made up for it by pinning the enemy deep with coffin-corner kicks. This is a flat out lie written by someone who probably spells football with a pf. Guy's big weakness was that he didn't go for the edges. He was a middle of the end zone punter, although he had the livest leg in the game and when he caught one it really hung.