Julius Peppers & Steve Smith Sr. make Hall of Fame semifinalist list

Two Carolina Panthers legends are a little closer to the Hall of Fame. 

Defensive end Julius Peppers and wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. were listed among 25 semifinalists for the Hall of Fame Tuesday. 

The crop of 25 players will be reduced to 15 finalists. That group will then be voted on to pick the five modern-era players who will be enshrined into the Hall of Fame. 

Peppers is a two-time All-Decade player, and he has a good chance of making the Hall of Fame during this cycle. 

Only 29 individuals have earned two All-Decade selections. 

Peppers is in his first Hall of Fame cycle.