Earlier this month, on the Friday before Labor Day weekend, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced a significant overhaul to the selection process, which was undoubtedly sparked by the inexplicable failure of Bill Belichick to secure enshrinement in his first year of eligibility.
Among the changes, the Hall of Fame said it will reduce the panel of voters from 50 to 28. (Of the 28, 25 will be voters and three will be non-voting participants.)
The Hall of Fame said that the new group of voters would be announced after the 50 existing members were informed of their status.
Many of them have been informed. Paul Kuharsky (one of the 50 who wonâÂÂt be returning) has posted a list of 19 voters who will not be voting on the 2027 class.
Removed from the panel, in addition to Kuharsky, were Rick Gosselin, Frank Cooney, John McClain, Tony Grossi, Ron Borges, Darin Gantt, Clark Judge, Geoff Hobson, Jason Cole, Armando Salguero, Mary Kay Cabot, Matt Maiocco, Tony Dungy, Bill Polian, Lisa Salters, Joel Bussert, Paul Gutierrez, and Rich Cimini.
As Kuharsky notes, the 19 departures account for 280 combined years of experience as Hall of Fame voters.
Kuharsky lists nine persons who will return: Charean Williams, Calvin Watkins, Jim Trotter, Jeff Legwold, Ira Kaufman, Howard Balzer, Gary Myers, Vahe Gregorian, and Mike Sando.
Gregorian made waves by disclosing that he didnâÂÂt vote for Belichick, opting instead to give the senior player candidates the opportunity to make it through in what likely was their last chance to do so.
There are 16 spots still to be determined, along with the three non-voting members.
ItâÂÂs unclear why or how fewer voters will make the process better. Frankly, itâÂÂs unclear how any of the changes will improve the imperfect process of determining who does and who doesnâÂÂt get a bronze bust in Canton.