Ronn Torossian Ronn Torossian
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the pinnacle of gridiron achievement, home to such luminaries as Aikman, Landry, Shula, Unitas, Csonka, Marino, Tittle, Strahan, and Gifford. But there are a few others in the Hall that may give people pause: names like OJ Simpson and Lawrence Taylor. The former beat a murder rap only to wind up in prison anyway on another charge. The latter, a standout NY Giant, battled substance abuse problems for years.

But the 2016 nominee class has reached a new level of scrutiny after former safety Darren Sharper was included in the list of potential nominees. Last year, Sharper pleaded guilty to multiple counts of drugging and raping women in four different states. As part of a plea deal, Sharper will serve 18 years in federal prison.

Sharper’s inclusion, made after the rape trial and subsequent conviction, rankled many fans as well as those who don’t care about the NFL but do care about women’s rights.

There’s little argument that Sharper’s accomplishments on the field make him worthy of consideration. Multiple Pro Bowls, a longtime top-rated defender, Sharper was a scourge on the field, preying on receivers and quarterbacks. Off the field, though, he preyed on unsuspecting women whom he admitted to drugging and raping.

As entrepreneur David Milberg recently noted, “The NFL does not have a Hall of Fame ‘character clause’ that would prevent Sharper’s inclusion by statute. Critics say this is different. Sharper is not an already enshrined player, like Simpson. But even his consideration has some folks up in arms.”

The inevitable comparison has been made across sports, wondering how Sharper is getting football’s consideration when Pete “Charlie Hustle” Rose is still blackballed by baseball. But others are saying Taylor is in, and not all of his crimes were victimless. In one instance, Taylor pleaded guilty to charges of sexual misconduct and soliciting a prostitute who was only 16 years old. Taylor was given six years of probation.

The argument has resurrected the age-old question: what would it actually take to be pushed out of the NFL’s — and the fans’ — good graces? Opinions are often split on the subject. Pick a player or a name and you will likely get vociferous pro and anti factions: Ray Lewis, Ray Rice, Andre Rison; each has faced controversy that split fans and media.

So, what happens with Sharper? Probably nothing. Most think he won’t get the votes to get enshrined, and the NFL is likely hoping the controversy will die there, but they’d better not bet on it.

* * *

Ronn Torossian is CEO of 5WPR.