Antonio Gates, Jared Allen, Eric Allen and Sterling Sharpe have been voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the smallest induction class in 20 years following offseason rule changes meant to make it harder to get inducted.

Sharpe's younger brother, Shannon Sharpe, who played tight end for the Denver Broncos, is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was in the midst of an almost-certain hall of fame career when he was forced to retire after seven seasons because of a neck injury.

Shannon Sharpe gave his big brother his first Super Bowl ring over a quarter century ago. Sharpe, who has long given credit to his older brother for helping launch his Pro Football Hall of Fame career,