Ninety-three former members of the National Football League were nominated this week for the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Among them is admitted serial rapist Darren Sharper.
The former defensive back played 14 years with the Packers, Vikings and Saints and he’s currently serving an 18-year prison sentence after being convicted of drugging and raping women in four different states, with accusations from 16 different women in all, according to the New Orleans Advocate.
This is the second consecutive year Sharper’s name has been among the nominees, and the fact that he’s been behind bars through both nominations is drawing the ire of many. The question: How in the world could anyone nominate a former player turned rapist?
According to Sporting News, the Pro Football Hall of Fame is supposed to ignore character or off-the-field issues when nominating players.
The Hall of Fame’s website simply says anyone who hasn’t played or coached for five full years can be nominated. That’s all it takes, thus Sharper’s name remains on the list.
Sporting News’ Mike DeCourcey thinks something has to change when it comes to the nomination process.
“In this case, no voter with a conscience is compelled to do anything, and it’s true of those who typed up this list of nominees. Was Darren Sharper so great a player his achievements supersede his crimes? No one ever has been that great a player. No one ever will be.”
Only 4-8 nominees can be elected on “Selection Saturday,” which takes place the day before the Super Bowl.
Even though Sharper’s name is on the list he still needs 80 percent of the 48-member panel’s votes to get elected.
