On Saturday the NFL announced its 2010 class of Hall of Famers, but for seventh straight year Richard Dent was denied entry. Dent, a former defensive end of the Chicago Bears ranks sixth all-time in quarterback sacks with 137.5 in his career.
Dent is arguably the second best defender on arguably the best defense of all-time, the 1985 Super Bowl Champion Chicago Bears. During his first stint withe the Bears between 1983-1993 he had 124.5 sacks and accumulated a Super Bowl MVP and ring. Including another year with the Bears in 1995, he played for San Francisco 49er’s (1994), Indianapolis Colts (1996) and Philadelphia Eagles (1997).
When Dent retired in 1997 he was third all-time in career sacks. Over his 15 seasons he averaged an amazing .92 sacks per start, imagine averaging almost a sack per game. The only defensive end in the modern era with a higher sack per start rating was Fred Dean with 1.14. However Dean only had 93 sacks over his career which doesnt even put him in the top ten all-time, while Dent had 137.5.
Dents’ average of .92 sacks per start puts him ahead of “the Minister of Defense” Reggie White (.87), all-time sack leader Bruce Smith (.75), and ahead of Giants great Michael Strahan (.69). Richard Dent also had eight interceptions, a modern-era record for defensive linemen.
Richard Dent was a finalist for six out of his seven years of eligibility for the NFL Hall of Fame. Highlighting this years class was the best wide receiver of all-time 49er’s Jerry Rice, and career all-time leading rusher Emmitt Smith who both were enshrined on their first years. Vikings defensive end John Randle had the same amount of career sacks but was a less dominant player then Dent. Among the others that entered were Saints outside linebacker Rickey Jackson, Redskins linemen Russ Grimm and as veterans’ Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little.
The Chicago Bears have 26 players enshrined in Canton, which is the most by any single franchise. Of the Super Bowl champions Bears, Walter Payton, Mike Singletary, and Dan Hampton are the only players inducted in the Hall.
Waiting eight rounds to be drafted out of Tennessee State in 1983, Dent may find his luck in 2011, his eighth year of eligibility.
I know I'm a homer, but its hard to think of a defensive team more dominating than the Super Bowl Bears. And while the Bear's beef plowed up the middle, Dent used his speed to get around from his end position. What you don't mention is that Dent was named MVP in his only Super Bowl appearance.
ReplyDeleteI think one problem that has plagued Dent is that he never had a clear retirement celebration that allowed football to recognize the sum of his talents. Certainly he never had a "retirement" from the Bears. As opposed to the other Bears you mentioned, Dent just disappeared after several years of being sidelined with injuries.
He's the sackman! If the QB's slow, he's gonna get bent!!
ReplyDeleteRichard was the prototypical passrusher of the 80s......slender, but strong....tall and fast. Aggressive but not bully-mean. Brash and cocky but quiet.
His play warrants entry into the HOF and his stats confirm it.
I'm counting on him making it next year. We should send the committee a highlight film of his career just to "refresh" their memories.