Aikman, White Top Candidates

Former Dallas Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman and perennial All-Pro defensive end Reggie White head a list of 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The board of selectors chose them from a list of 112 preliminary nominees, the hall said Tuesday. A list of 15 finalists will be announced in mid-January.

The class of 2006 will be determined at the selection committee’s annual meeting Feb. 4 in Detroit, the day before the Super Bowl.

Aikman, a former UCLA quarterback, led the Cowboys to three Super Bowl victories and was selected to six straight Pro Bowls.

White, who died last December, finished second in career sacks with 198 and was a two-time NFL defensive player of the year.

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Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is expected to return Monday night in Indianapolis, a big lift for a Pittsburgh Steeler offense that faltered in a loss to Baltimore on Sunday.

Roethlisberger, who is 18-1 as a starter but has sat out three consecutive games and four of six because of knee injuries, is listed as probable.

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A decision on Terrell Owens’ grievance hearing against the Philadelphia Eagles is expected today.

The Eagles maintain the four-game suspension, for conduct detrimental to the team, is fair and are willing to pay Owens about $1 million to stay home the final five games.

Owens’ side said the penalty is excessive and the team’s plan to deactivate him is too severe.

Meanwhile, Eagle quarterback Donovan McNabb is officially done for the season after the team put him on injured reserve because he needs surgery for a sports hernia.

Cornerback Lito Sheppard, an All-Pro last season, also was put on injured reserve because of severely sprained ankle.

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Bronco tailback Tatum Bell practiced Tuesday and was listed as questionable because of a bruised chest for Denver’s Thanksgiving Day game against Dallas.

Bell hurt himself in the third quarter of Denver’s win against the New York Jets on Sunday.