From the quotes offered up by Pro Football Hall of Fame Vice President of Communications and Exhibits Joe Horrigan this may technically be in the category of “Non-News News,” but the Hall of Fame appears to be considering changing the process for the election of Contributors to the game.
The change would presumably remove owners, broadcasters and other personnel (and possibly even coaches) from the regular voting process that elects players into the Hall. This would remove the need to figure out how to compare a Steve Sabol or Paul Tagliabue to a Ray Lewis or Ronde Barber, a difficult (if not impossible) task. Only three of the last 40 modern era inductees elected since 2006 have been “Contributors”–Ralph Wilson Jr. in 2009, Ed Sabol in 2011, and Bill Parcells in 2013.
What may make this non-news, though, is that it appears it isn’t the first time the idea has come up:
“I can’t tell you we’re real close to a solution, but as we do every year, we do discuss the possibility,” Horrigan told Alex Marvez and Gil Brandt on SiriusXM NFL Radio.
This could make for an interesting scenario where in theory an individual could come up for election as both a player and as a contributor–Mike Ditka and Dick LeBeau being two players inducted who some might argue could gain election as coaches. However, whether the “Contributor” label was technically a separate wing in Canton, or the individual just got a second bust (one in their youth as a player, one more aged as a coach (just envision Ditka’s bust with a cigar and/or Ricky Williams dreadlocks), would seem amenable to me.
What say you, Zoneblitz faithful? Separate category for contributors, or leave well enough alone? Vote below and give us your thoughts in the comments…
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The Basketball Hall of Fame has inducted 3 men as both a player and a coach. Lenny Wilkins, Bill Sharman and John Wooden.
I think most people would be in favour of adding a separate category and path for Contributors, like they do already for the Seniors. It would also allow the HOF to induct not only head coaches and GMs (eg Ron Wolf), but also great Offensive and Defensive coordinators to be considered, along with broadcasters like Pat Summerall, who sadly passed away recently.
There would remain a few questions that need to be answered:
1. How many get nominated each year? I’d suggest a panel nominates one name per year, to add to the two senior nominations. That would mean expanding the maximum Class each year to 8.
2. Can you be inducted twice? John Madden is already there as a coach. Would he be allowed to also be inducted again as a broadcaster? I’d prefer to just say ”once you’re in, you’re in”. I also don’t think Ditka would have any chance of being elected based solely on his coaching career.
3. What about someone who may have been a very good player and a very good coach. He might not be good enough to be considered a HOFer as either a player or as a coach but when you combine the two together you could make a serious argument he deserves a place in the HOF. Dick LeBeau would perhaps be a recent example before he got elected, as many felt he owed his Seniors nomination was as much to do with his high profile coaching career in addition to what he achieved as a player.
@boknows34:
1) I agree with you on this, 1 per year, same rules as seniors for getting in.
2) If they are lumped into the same room, I would think once you’re in, you’re in. If they had a separate “Contributor’s Room” I wouldn’t have an issue with getting into both rooms. I wondered if anyone would bring up Ditka’s coaching credentials…I will admit he would be a longshot–but he won a Super Bowl, and was a 2x AP Coach of the Year. He’s also been a long time media contributor (not that merely being in the media for a long time should get you anywhere…the day the HOF considered putting Chris Berman in as a contributor is the day I officially cross Canton off the list of places I will go again). Combined, an argument could be made for him, although I think there are plenty of contributors ahead of him.
3) This is probably one of the issues preventing the official split of contributors now…does it risk letting someone who is good but not great in a couple of ways get in? Of course, LeBeau got in anyway, so….
I’m not sure how I feel about this, but I lean toward the “once you’re in you’re in” camp, and I wonder if one contributor nominee a year would be too many. That said, I think the guy you quote, Gil Brandt, should be in, and I suppose this would help his chances.
Am also not a fan of “multiple entry” HoF-ers — am very much with Rasputin here. There are too many deserving folks waiting.
The BBHoF has no members in as broadcasters, but does recognize such folks via a special award. Might be a good idea for the PFHoF as well.
And if we lump coaches (head and assistant) into the mix, am thinking there could be plenty more than enough to justify one nominee per year. How about a list of all potentially deserving contributors? Some possible names to consider to varying degrees, upcoming and not: Bill Belichick, Tony Dungy, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan, Bill Cowher, Tom Coughlin, Clark Shaughnessy, Bill Arnsparger, Buddy Ryan, Richie Petitbon, Dom Capers, Steve Sabol, Ron Wolf, George Young, Bobby Beathard, Bill Polian, Gil Brandt, Buddy Parker, Dan Reeves, Marty Schottenheimer, Chuck Knox, Paul Tagliabue, Dick Vermeil, and Don Coryell. And that doesn’t even count owners.
PFHOF already has special media and writers awards given out at the annual Enshrinees’ Gold Jacket Dinner:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_McCann_Memorial_Award
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pete_Rozelle_Radio-Television_Award
I am of the view that there still are more deserving seniors then contributors so I would be in favor of an approach similar to the BHOF where either replace one senior slot or have a dedicated slot for a contributor (nominated by committee then votes yes/no by full committee) every 2nd or 3rd year.
I think it would be very rare case for a player to have a HOF career then followed by HOF coach/contributor career (do we have any examples of such already??), but would agree that once in you cannot be selected a 2nd time.
Also I do not think you will see the day when a member of the media is selected to the PHOF, especially considering all the other contributors waiting.
PFHOF already has two awards for the media given each year at the gold jacket dinner on the Friday evening:
“The Pete Rozelle Radio-Television Award, created in 1989 and named for the late longtime NFL commissioner, is bestowed annually by the Pro Football Hall of Fame “for longtime exceptional contributions to radio and television in professional football”.
“The Dick McCann Memorial Award is bestowed annually by the Pro Football Hall of Fame “for long and distinguished reporting on professional football”
I am of the view that there still are more deserving seniors then contributors so I would be in favor of an approach similar to the BHOF where either replace one senior slot or have a dedicated slot for a contributor (nominated by committee then votes yes/no by full committee) every 2nd or 3rd year.
“Beginning in 2012, an election for Pre-Integration Era candidates shall be held every three years at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings. ”
“Beginning in 2011, an election for Golden Era candidates shall be held every three years at the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings.”
Have no problem with not looking at “media” as part of the “Contributor” pool, although it’s a blurry line. Clearly someone who is regional media (ie, might even be a voter for the HOF) wouldn’t be appropriate, but what about announcers/broadcasters? It almost has to be included in their Contribution to the game (think of coaches who move to the booth). And what above the Sabol’s? Unique cases in that they weren’t “traditional media” and they were technically employees of the league (I think?), but their contribution was through media…
As far as I can tell Sabol is the only person selected to the HOF whose qualifications lie outside the field of play and in the area of media. Hard to say whether simply reporting or broadcasting is the same as what creating NFL Films contributed to professional football and whether other members of the media should be considered for election. In my mind I see the Sabols as exceptions and not examples in terms of electing other members of the media even as contributors as owners, GMs and coaches certainly have a more direct impact on the game on the field then someone reporting, commenting or recording the games. Given that the PFHOF already gives two media related annual awards (with plaques in the actual HOF) I am not so sure expanding the pool of candidates to include media is really needed. And I doubt that with the backlog of other contributors that we will see any interest in expanding the pool by adding members of the media.