Pro Football Hall of Fame to consider adding contributor category
The Pro Football Hall of Fame will consider on Friday an amendment to create a contributors category, a move that could potentially raise the number of inductees in each class from a max of seven to a ceiling of at least eight, reports the Denver Post.
The Hall of Fame voting process currently has two categories: modern-day candidates and a senior category for those whose active career has been over for at least 25 years.
Hall of Fame president Dave Baker says that these parameters make it difficult for those who weren't players or coaches but who contributed a lot to the game -- such as owners or other pioneers -- to be chosen for induction.
"Obviously, during the last 30 years there has more been growth in the game than ever before," Baker said. "There are a lot of people who are responsible for that, but unfortunately, what often happens is a contributor gets compared to a modern-day player (on the ballot) and it's not really a fair comparison. It's apples and oranges."
Since 1967, only eight contributors have been elected to the Hall of Fame. There are 19 contributors in the Hall overall, and 11 of them are owners.
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On Saturday, the 2014 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class will be enshrined, which includes Derrick Brooks, Andre Reed and Michael Strahan.
- Molly Geary
