Darren Sharper Remains a Hall of Fame Finalist Even After Rape Conviction

Darren Sharper's rape conviction did not seem to affect his eligibility to be elected in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

TMZ reported that the former safety has pleaded no contest to drugging and raping two women in Los Angeles on March 23, 2015. His recent plea is part of a bigger plea deal in four states, namely Louisiana, Arizona, California and Nevada, that will result to him being imprisoned for nine years.

ESPN reported that Sharper also admitted that he sexually assaulted one woman and tried to attack another in Phoenix in 2013. In the case in California, he also pleaded no contest to four counts of possessing zolpidem, which is a controlled substance. He has been in jail in Arizona since February 2014.

Nola.com reported that when Sharper entered his no contest pleas in California and Arizona, it turned out that he will be serving only 10 years total in federal prison. Each of the two sentences, eight years in Arizona and 20 years in California and Louisiana, would run concurrently. Many described it as a "sweetheart deal".

Despite his conviction, however, he can still be elected into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His numbers has been stellar, making him a viable contender. Sharper played in the league for 14 seasons and was All-Pro six times. He played for the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints from 1997 to 2010. Sharper retired in 2011. The alleged assaults occurred after he left the league.

Joe Horrigan, the executive vice-president of the Selection Process for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, had said that there is no provision in the by-laws that prohibits a convicted criminal from becoming part of the exclusive list. According to Horrigan, a person becomes eligible if he has been out of the league for five years and made All-Pro team at least once. He added that voters might consider his recent conviction in their decision, but are not supposed to.

Even though his eligibility for the Hall of Fame remains unaffected, CBS reported that Hermitage High School removed Sharper from their Hall of Fame. The safety used to be an extraordinary athlete at the school during his younger days.

Chris Rollison, Director of Student Activities at Hermitage High, confirmed that they removed all of Sharper's pictures and memorabilia from the Hall of Fame wall and cafeteria after his plea. His former coaches shared their disappointment over the former star athlete's criminal conviction.