This is the NFL hall of fame, not the MLB hall of fame of stats...
^ This is one of the only two relevant points-of-discussion concerning players getting voted into the Hall. The ironic thing is too many selectors also use statistics primarily to push the players they want enshrined into the Hall and that is
not their assigned job and responsibility.
The other relevant point is specific to Drew Pearson himself. At the time, the Selection Committee named Pearson as one of the best NFL players of the 1970's. That is irrefutable fact. Being named to an all-decade team does not necessitate any player will be inducted into the Hall though.
However, the fact, almost every member of Pearson's all-decade team has been inducted into the Hall, established whatever criteria for fame allotted to a player by a past Selection Committee, has been acceptable to recent Selection Committee members. Pearson and several other teammates of the 1970s all-decade team are exceptions held by the recent/current Selection Committee UNTIL they judge otherwise. Harold Carmichael is the latest example of this goalpost constantly moving exception.
The irrationally should be addressed sooner than later. There is zero need for former players, coaches or contributor, who have been RECOGNIZED by a past Pro Football Hall of Fame selection committee as the pinnacle of fame during their time, to
die before a current selection committee finally sets their goalposts in concrete.
It is an unfair, unwarranted, illogical and basely cruel practice. It should be corrected. Players like Pearson should enjoy their moment of glory like his peers per the standard whatever particular selection committee had already judged them to be.