So how exactly does the ballot work? Are you on it once and if not elected never get on it again? Are you eligible for X years? Can you get on it again whenever the nominating committee decides to put you back on it?
Each year starts with a clean slate. The nomination committee talks it over behind closed doors, and come up with three candidates. In theory the fact that you were on the ballot previously has no bearing on whether or not you are nominated in the future. You could be placed on the ballot once, and never reappear; you could also show up on the ballot every single year, for eternity.
Previous nominees named as finalists; the first one was voted in that year:
2007: Stanley Morgan, Ben Coates, Ron Burton
2008: Ben Coates, Jim Nance, Jon Morris
2009: Jim Nance, Houston Antwine, Jon Morris
2010: Sam Cunningham, Houston Antwine, Jon Morris
2011: Drew Bledsoe, Houston Antwine, Bill Parcells
2012: Troy Brown, Bill Parcells, Fred Marion
Fan voting began in 2007; Sullivan, Morris and Santos were not part of that process. Morris was chosen by the veteran's committee (over Antwine) in 2011; they get to add one player every five years. I believe it was Robert Kraft who decided to add the other two for their contributions, but I'm not positive about that.
Here is a list of who is in:
John Hannah (1991)
Nick Buoniconti (1992)
Gino Cappelletti (1992)
Bob Dee (1993)
Jim Lee Hunt (1993)
Babe Parilli (1993)
Steve Nelson (1993)
Mike Haynes (1994)
Steve Grogan (1995)
Andre Tippett (1999)
Bruce Armstrong (2001)
Stanley Morgan (2007)
Ben Coates (2008)
Jim Nance (2009)
Billy Sullivan (2009)
Sam Cunningham (2010)
Drew Bledsoe (2011)
Jon Morris (2011)
Troy Brown (2012)
Gil Santos (2013)
The nominating committee consists of:
- Ernie Adams, Patriots' research director
- Ron Borges of the Boston Herald
- **** Cerasuolo of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette (retired)
- Jim Donaldson of the Providence Journal
- Mark Farinella of The Sun Chronicle
- Glen Farley of The Brockton Enterprise
- Ron Hobson of The Patriot Ledger (retired)
- Carlo Imelio of the Springfield Union-News (retired)
- Gil Santos, retired play-by-play announcer
- Howard Ulman of the Associated Press
- Chris Price of WEEI.com
- Mike Reiss of espnBoston
- Paul Perillo of Patriots Football Weekly
- Matt Smith of Patriots All Access
- Steve Burton of WBZ
- Mike Lynch of WCVB
- John Hendry of the Patriots' statistical staff
- Bryan Morry of The Hall at Patriot Place
- Andre Tippett, Hall of Fame linebacker
Team Equipment Manager Don Brocher was also a member of the committee, but he died last January.