Bowlen’s nomination is not a rubber-stamp to induction but would be a giant step toward the honorGETTY IMAGES
Broncos Owner PAT BOWLEN "could receive word on Thursday that he is a contributor finalist" for the Pro Football HOF, according to Ryan O'Halloran of the DENVER POST. If Bowlen is nominated by the five-person committee, he will "automatically be included among the finalists for election." Bowlen’s nomination is "not a rubber-stamp to induction but it would be a giant step, and one those around him feel is long overdue." Broncos President & CEO JOE ELLIS said, "He should be honored. He gave this game a lot. He gave this team and organization and the NFL a lot and he deserves this honor.” Bowlen’s possible nomination led Broncos President of Football Operations & GM JOHN ELWAY, Senior Personnel Advisor GARY KUBIAK, Dir of Sports Medicine STEVE ANTONOPULOS, former VP/Corporate Communications JIM SACCOMANO and Ellis to "take a trip down memory lane." Ellis said of Bowlen's assignments for the Network, Finance, Management Council and Int'l Committees, "That was really fun for him. He saw the power of the greater good and everybody working together. ... He gained a lot of his peers’ respect early in his tenure and certainly gained the respect of Commissioner (PETE) ROZELLE.” O'Halloran wrote Bowlen’s "greatest league contribution" is likely spear-heading 'Sunday Night Football'" in '06, allowing NBC to have "flexible scheduling and giving the network a better schedule than 'Monday Night Football.'" It has been television’s "most watched show for seven consecutive years." Ellis: "He was a big advocate, proponent and cheerleader for when some people were quite skeptical. PAT and [former NBC Sports Chair DICK EBERSOL] were of the notion that it was going to work and it was going to be good for our game and good for the NFL. Dick and Pat were right" (DENVER POST, 8/19).
