CANTON, Ohio -- The inclusion of former NFL safety and convicted rapist Darren Sharper on the Pro Ftballs Hall of Fame nomination list shocked some people Friday and has started a national debate over who should be eligible for induction.Sharper, a five-time Pro Bowler, appeared on the list released Thursday because at least one Hall of Fame selector nominated Sharper. He also was nominated last year -- before he pleaded guilty in a case in which he was accused of drugging and raping up to 16 women in four states. Last month, U.S. District Court Judge Jane Triche Milazzo sentenced him to 18 years in prison.Hall of Fame spokesman Joe Horrigan explained there is no character clause in the bylaws, which are approved by the Hall of Fames board of directors. To be eligible for the nominating process, a player or coach must be retired for at least five years. Forty-eight voters nominate and select the players, coaches and contributors to appear on the ballot based solely on the contributions they have made to the sport, Horrigan said.To make the first of several cuts, a candidate must be nominated by at least one selector. Horrigan said he didnt know who nominated Sharper this year or last, and that everyone must abide by the rules that are approved by the Halls board of directors.We do have a committee that reviews the process every year, not just from that kind of question, but who can be elected, the number of selections we can have and how the system worked or if it could work better, Horrigan told The Associated Press on Friday. So I would anticipate this would always be part of the question. But I dont anticipate any groundswell (to change the rules) based on this one case.Sharper, who won a Super Bowl with New Orleans in 2010 and also played for Green Bay and Minnesota, is not likely to be elected. But its certainly not the first time the character question has been raised in regard to Hall of Fame selections.One of the most notable honorees is O.J. Simpson, who has been incarcerated in Nevada for the past eight years due to robbery and kidnapping following a 1995 acquittal on the infamous double-murder. Despite calls for his removal more than two decades ago, Simpson remains a member of pro ftballs most prestigious club.And linebacker Lawrence Taylor, who has had a series of run-ins with the law -- mostly involving drugs or alcohol -- also remains in the Hall of Fame. He pleaded guilty to charges of sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute who was 16 years old. He was sentenced to six years of probation in 2011.We had to abide by our bylaws, and our bylaws do not have any provision for removal, Horrigan said, recalling the debate about Simpson. That was probably the highest-profile case that caused us to have discussions on the incident. But ultimately our board voted that it had to be determined on how he played the game.The public may not see it the same way. Fans and journalists expressed dismay with Twitter posts on Friday.This is not a character flaw, however. This is something even Sharper described at his sentencing as heinous, Sporting News columnist Mike DeCourcy wrote after the nominees were released Thursday. This is not someone who was mean to reporters or undermined his teammates or got in one t many bar fights. This is someone who has acknowledged he drugged women -- notice the plural there -- for the purpose of forcing himself on them while they were incapacitated. Cheap Yeezy China . -- Edmontons Val Sweeting is two wins away from a trip to Winnipeg to play in Canadas Road of the Rings in December. Fake Yeezy China . Shot outdrs against the stunning backdrop of Banff, Alta., the networks 30-minute original production airs tonight at 8pm et/5pm pt on TSN2. The four All-Star teams will play for $100,000 in prize money during TSNs annual skins game, airing live this weekend on TSN from The Fenlands Banff Recreation Centre. https://www.yeezychina.us/ . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. Clearance Yeezy For Sale . The deal is pending a physical, assistant general manager Bobby Evans said. Traded from Seattle to Baltimore on Aug. 30, Morse also can play first base and right field to give manager Bruce Bochy some flexibility in writing his lineup. Yeezy China . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals.UTICA, N.Y. - The American Hockey League is returning to the Mohawk Valley of upstate New York. Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the Utica Memorial Auditorium will be the new home of the Utica Comets, who will be the minor league affiliate of the National Hockey Leagues Vancouver Canucks. The Comets will kick off their inaugural season this fall at the 4,000-seat Utica Memorial Auditorium, which will be renovated witth the help of $5 million in state aid.dddddddddddd. The new franchise brings the number of AHL clubs in New York State to six, joining the Rochester Americans, Syracuse Crunch, Binghamton Senators, Albany Devils and Adirondack Phantoms in the 30-team league. Utica also has been home to the Devils of the AHL and has had franchises in the United Hockey League and North Eastern Hockey League. ' ' '