From wire reports

Middletown native and former Ohio State standout Cris Carter is headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

In his sixth consecutive year as a finalist, Carter was voted in Saturday in New Orleans.

The Class of 2013 also includes Larry Allen, Curley Culp, Jonathan Ogden, Bill Parcells, Dave Robinson and Warren Sapp.

Former Cleveland Browns owner Art Modell, whose move of the Browns to Baltimore after the 1995 season has overshadowed his accomplishments, was bypassed in his second time as a finalist.

No one was more emotional than Carter, who took six years to get in despite putting up some of the best receiving numbers in NFL history. He broke down in tears but quickly pointed out “it’s not because I’m sad.”

“This is the happiest day of my life,” Carter said. “When people said, ‘Aw, you know, it really doesn’t matter, you’re a Hall of Famer in my eyes,’ I said, ‘It’s more important that I’m a Hall of Famer in the Hall’s eyes.’

“And I really, really wanted this.”

Carter played 16 seasons with the Eagles, Vikings and Dolphins and was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection.

Philadelphia’s fourth-round pick out of Ohio State in 1987, Carter played for the Eagles for three seasons before spending 12 in Minnesota and one in Miami.

He finished his career with 1,101 receptions for 13,899 yards and 130 touchdowns. He ranks fourth in NFL history in receptions and receiving touchdowns, eighth in total touchdowns (131) and ninth in receiving yards.

The induction ceremony is Aug. 3 at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, the home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Modell, who died Sept. 6 at the age of 87, failed to make the first cut from 15 to 10 for the second time. The other four who failed to make the first cut were former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, linebacker/defensive end Kevin Greene, receiver Tim Brown, and guard Will Shields.

The debate over Modell was the second longest, behind Parcells, which lasted almost an hour. This year’s selection meeting was the longest ever, eight hours and 20 minutes.

“Art Modell was the most polarizing figure on the ballot,” said Boston Herald columnist Ron Borges, who did not vote for Modell. “You were pretty much one way or the other.”

As for Parcells, Giants president and CEO John Mara said the coach’s selection was “long overdue,” but his candidacy stirred plenty of debate — a one-hour discussion among the selection committee members, by far the longest amount of time dedicated to any finalist.

Sapp, for his part, said his stomach was churning all day:

“My feet haven’t touched the ground in about 30 minutes. This is unbelievable.”

Sapp got in on his first year of eligibility after playing 13 seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Oakland Raiders. He amassed 96.5 career sacks despite playing on the interior of the defensive line.

Allen played 203 games over 14 seasons, spending the bulk of his career with the Cowboys. He played every position on the offensive line except center and was a first-team All-Pro seven straight seasons.

Ogden played a dozen seasons with the Ravens, a lineman who led the way for Jamal Lewis to become just the fifth running back in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season. Ogden was a six-time All-Pro and was voted to 11 Pro Bowls.

Like Sapp, Allen and Ogden were first-year selections.

Ogden shared the moment with his family. He called his mother “first thing,” and also told his 7-year-old son.

“He’s real proud of his dad,” Ogden said.

He watched nervously as the announcement was made on the Class of 2013.

“It’s like going to the hospital with your wife to have a baby. You can’t do anything about it,” Ogden said. “You hear everybody say you’re a first ballot for sure, but you never really know. A lot of good well deserving guys didn’t get in on the first ballot.”