Dent Denied Hall of Fame Entry
By Benjy Lipsman in News on Feb 7, 2010 5:30PM
ChicagoBears.com
Richard Dent will have to wait at least one more year before being granted entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, after the list of latest inductees were announced on Saturday and his name remained off the list. The former Bears defensive lineman was a finalist for the sixth time in the last seven years, but once again failed to reach the threshold necessary for enshrinement in Canton.
What's a guy gotta do to get in? With the committee allowed to select up to five players for this year's class (Floyd Little and Dick LeBeau were elected by the senior committee), we figured a couple of spots were locks -- no way Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith wouldn't get tapped in their first years of eligibility. Offensive lineman Russ Grimm was also voted in. But Dent certainly could've been chosen over the other two defensive inductees -- John Randle and Rickey Jackson. All three played for about the same length of time, and much of their careers overlapped such that comparing their stats is comparing apples to apples. Incidentally, both Dent and Randle retired with 137.5 sacks in their careers, but Dent did so in 16 fewer games (203 to 219). Jackson recorded 128 sacks in his 227 game career. Dent also had eight interceptions -- tied for most in the modern era for defensive lineman, broke up 60 passes and forced 38 fumbles. Jackson recorded the same number of INTs, but some of his career was played at linebacker. Dent was also the most dominant player on the Bears famed defense in the mid-80's, considered by many to be the best defensive team in NFL history. While we're not saying that Jackson and Randle don't deserve entry into Canton, both getting in over Dent is an egregious error. We're thinking Jackson got a bit of a "Who Dat" bandwagon vote.
With Dent shafted by this year's selection committee, the legendary 1985 Bears team remains with just three representatives in the Hall of Fame -- running back Walter Payton, defensive tackle Dan Hampton and linebacker Mike Singletary. Maybe next year, the committee will get things right and finally elect Dent.