Schefter: Bowlen snub a ‘disgrace,’ belongs in HOF ‘yesterday’

No offense to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones –– who’s deserving of a Pro Football Hall of Fame induction, certainly –– but now was Pat Bowlen’s time for enshrinement, says Adam Schefter.

The ESPN NFL Insider, who covered the Broncos for the Denver Post during the franchise’s first Super Bowl victories in the late 1990s, told “Schlereth and Evans” Thursday that Jones should be a Hall of Famer “one day,” but that “in no way” should Bowlen have to wait.

Jones and former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue were named contributor finalists up for election to the 2017 Hall of Fame class this week despite an effort by some to nominate the longtime Broncos owner.

“That is unfortunate. That is wrong. That is incorrect,” Schefter said. “Mr. Bowlen belongs in the Hall of Fame yesterday.”

Schefter called the snub “embarrassing” because of Bowlen’s accomplishments on the field, in growing the league and giving back to his community.

“The fact that Pat Bowlen would be bypassed at this time with what he has meant to that league and this city and everything else is embarrassing,” Schefter said. “It’s embarrassing.”

Bowlen’s teams on the field netted 300 victories within his first 30 years as an owner, the quickest to that mark in NFL history. And during Bowlen’s tenure as Denver’s owner, the team’s been to more Super Bowls (7) than has had losing seasons (5).

Bowlen also helped preside over lucrative television rights negotiations and was responsible for the “explosion of the popularity of this sport,” Schefter said.

“That guy has had much influence and impact on this sport as almost any other owner, and the fact that he is as sick as he is and gets bypassed now is a disgrace,” Schefter said.

However, Beth Bowlen Wallace is hoping to channel some of the frustrations expressed by Bowlen’s supports, like Schefter and many other fans and media members alike this week, into a cause for good.

Pat’s second-oldest daughter told “The Drive” Wednesday that the initial reaction after receiving word her father was not nominated was “one of disappointment.”

However, Bowlen Wallace said she and her family are trying to see the silver lining in the situation and focusing their disappointment into a positive effort.

Denver’s Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s takes place Sept. 17 in Denver, and Bowlen Wallace encouraged those “frustrated, disappointed, or simply want to show support” to join or donate to Team Super Bowlen.

The group has participated in the walk since Bowlen ceded control of the Broncos and announced he was battling the neurodegenerative disease in June 2014.

“I think that will really put a strong message out there, the support he deserves in this community for what he’s given to this community,” Bowlen Wallace said.

This year’s walk takes place at Denver’s City Park, west of the Museum of Nature and Science, and runs 2 miles starting at 9 a.m.

Fans can also go to the Team Super Bowlen page on the Alzheimer’s Association website to donate.

Follow 104.3 The Fan digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @johnnyhart7.