While the current New England Patriots will attempt to climb above .500 by beating the Baltimore Ravens in their home opener Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium, some of the franchise's former stars can officially begin dreaming of becoming immortal.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame on Tuesday released its list of candidates for the Class of 2023, and the Patriots are well-represented. Of the 129 players eligible for Canton, 24 (18.6 percent) have connections to the Pats. Among New England's most qualified hopefuls are offensive lineman Logan Mankins and a quartet of defenders that helped win multiple Super Bowls in the 2000s: Tedy Bruschi, Willie McGinest, Rodney Harrison and Vince Wilfork.