The NFL announced its Hall of Fame Class of 2009 on Saturday, and the list is full of no-brainers:

– Bruce Smith: The fearsome defensive end will be inducted on his first year of eligibility. You can debate whether he or Reggie White is the best DE of all-time, but you can’t debate with this stat: 200 career sacks, an NFL record.

– Rod Woodson: The defensive back also made it in on the first try. Woodson will be remembered for all those interceptions, as well as the inspiration for filmmaker Cameron Crowe, who wrote “Jerry Maguire.”

– Derrick Thomas: Had he not died in an auto accident in 2000, Thomas might have retired as the best outside linebacker in NFL history. He posted 126.5 sacks during his career and, impressively, forced 45 fumbles.

– Ralph Wilson Jr.: Besides being the sole owner of the Bills, Wilson was was an original founder of the AFL.

– Randall McDaniel: The Vikings featured a potent offense throughout the 1990s (unlike most of this decade), and McDaniel, a guard, was a big part of that unit’s success. He played in 12 consecutive Pro Bowls.

– Bob Hayes: An Olympic gold medalist sprinter-turned wide receiver, Hayes was part of the first Cowboys dynasty. NFL.com’s bio of him says the bump-and-run defense was developed to slow him down.

Missing from this list is receiver Cris Carter, who surely will be selected next year; Richard Dent, who I think will make it someday; Shannon Sharpe, who I think is worthy but might be getting overshadowed by Tony Gonzalez’s success at tight end; and former commissioner Paul Tagliabue; who supposedly and oddly isn’t getting a lot of consideration. Wait ’til 2010, when Emmitt Smith and Jerry Rice are shoo-ins in their first year eligible.