Time Out: Les East column for Jan. 31, 2012

It’s Super Bowl week, which means members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee will gather Saturday in Indianapolis to choose the 2012 class for induction.

As always, there will be numerous induction-worthy candidates, some of whom will be in this class, some of whom will be part of later classes, as well as some who might never make it.

Former Louisiana Tech and New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Willie Roaf is one of those who should get in and should get in now.

It won’t be easy narrowing the list of 17 finalists to a class of no more than seven. No more than five of the 15 modern-era finalists can be chosen.

Each of the 44 voters will have their own opinion about the proper pecking order, and there will be more lobbying to sway opinions than there is at the Iowa Caucuses.

Among those nominated for their careers as players are numerous familiar names, many contemporaries of Roaf’s: Jerome Bettis, Cris Carter, Dermontti Dawson, Charles Haley, Curtis Martin and others.

Roaf isn’t the only candidate with local ties.

Former Cardinals and Rams defensive back Aeneas Williams, a New Orleans native and former Southern University star, is a strong candidate.

Former Seahawks defensive lineman Cortez Kennedy and former Cardinals and Rams guard Dick Stanfel are both former Saints assistant coaches, Stanfel having been interim head coach for the final four games in 1980.

But no one in this class, which also includes former coach Bill Parcells and former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr., has a stronger résumé than Roaf, a 13-year pro who played in 11 Pro Bowls, tied for the most ever by an offensive tackle. The only other tackle to make 11 Pro Bowls who is Hall of Fame eligible is Anthony Munoz, who sailed in as Roaf should. Roaf was first-team All-Pro four times and second team four other times.

The Hall of Fame put Roaf on its all-decade team for the 1990s quite simply because he was the best player at his position for a long time. A first-round pick of the Saints in 1993, Roaf played nine seasons in New Orleans and his last four in Kansas City.

Dick Vermeil, who was Roaf’s head coach with the Chiefs, called him “the finest offensive lineman to ever play the game.”

Jim Mora, Roaf’s head coach with the Saints, marveled at the “quickness, athletic ability and skill” that Roaf possessed at 6-foot-5, 320 pounds.

The list of finalists for the class of 2012 is extremely impressive.

It’s unavoidable that Hall-worthy candidates will be left out.

Some on the committee likely will argue against Roaf’s inclusion this year, his second year of eligibility, saying he should wait his turn.

But waiting should be left to those who require further vetting and discussion.

Willie Roaf is undeniably a Hall of Famer. Put him in now.