The New England Patriots Have The Best Team Hall Of Fame Rules

I hate the Yankees but there is no team I despise more than the Patriots. Living in New England for most of their dynasty while being a Jets fan was a torturous sports fan existence. So as much as I both hate and fear the Pats, I have to give credit where credit is due. They have the best team hall of fame rules.

I love how simple this process is. 

-A panel of people who cover the team and people who work for the Pats put out a list of three former player/coaches. People can be nominated multiple times.

-Fans can then vote on who they want to be inducted.

-Whoever gets voted in by the fans gets honored at at halftime of a regular season game.

-Most importantly, it's one player every single year. 

-Finally, the Hall of Famer gets a cool red jacket.

Boston Globe. Getty Images.

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All of that is simple and awesome. So why does it seem like every other team fucks it up?

Look at the Mets Hall of Fame. Some years they induct multiple players. Then they will go a few years and not induct anyone. It all seems wildly random and makes it less special. Not only that but the fans don't get a voice at all. 

Look at these induction years:

Why did they have to wait seven years after Piazza to induct three guys (all of whom were long retired by 2013)? 

I am happy the Mets have a team Hall of Fame. I know some teams don't even have that. It's a great way to honor guys like Jon Matlack or Jerry Koosman who would never make it to the actual Hall of Fame but still had massive influence on their team.

The newer expansion teams like the Marlins, Rockies, Rays and Diamondbacks don't have team Hall of Fames. Here's who I would expect their first inductions to be:

Marlins: Jeff Conine (This might be the toughest one. You'd think winning two titles would make this easier)

Rockies: Todd Helton (Maybe they will wait to create one after Helton makes it to the real Hall of Fame?)

Rays: Evan Longoria

Diamondbacks: Randy Johnson (They would be the easiest team of these four to do this for. Luis Gonzalez, Brandon Webb, Paul Goldshimdt and Curt Schilling can all make a valid case)

MATT YORK. Getty Images.

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Back to the NFL, it's all about ownership. Robert Kraft is the best owner is all of sports. It's no surprise he has the best team Hall of Fame. He used to be a fan and used those same perspectives to help with decisions like this. It should also come to no shock that the Jets don't even have a team Hall of Fame. 

I know it's an easy reflex for people to say the Jets suck and don't deserve one but that's obviously bullshit. Joe Namath. Curtis Martin. Darrelle Revis. Don Maynard. Those guys are all actual Hall of Famers but there should be a place to honor guys like Mark Gastineau, Wayne Chrebet and Al Toon. This should be a lay up for owners to show they care about the fans and if done right can even be an opportunity to sell more merchandise.

When you have a great owner like Robert Kraft, you get great ways to honor the history of the team you root for. When you have an owner like Woody Johnson, you get to share a stadium with no identity and the fan is nothing more than walking dollar signs.