By Dan Pompei
On Saturday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame board of selectors will vote in the class of 2010, and there is a good chance Bears great Richard Dent will be part of it.
I don't think anyone believes Dent does not belong, but the bigger issue in the minds of some is if he belongs ahead of other candidates.
The former Bears defensive end has been eligible for eight years and a finalist for six years. Perhaps it's finally his turn.
As one of the selectors, I have felt a momentum shift in Dent's favor this year. But it really doesn't mean anything until the voters start writing down names.
On Saturday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame board of selectors will vote in the class of 2010, and there is a good chance Bears great Richard Dent will be part of it.
I don't think anyone believes Dent does not belong, but the bigger issue in the minds of some is if he belongs ahead of other candidates.
The former Bears defensive end has been eligible for eight years and a finalist for six years. Perhaps it's finally his turn.
As one of the selectors, I have felt a momentum shift in Dent's favor this year. But it really doesn't mean anything until the voters start writing down names.
What should be considered in Dent's case is this: Dent was the
playmaker on arguably the most dominant defense ever. Without him, 1985
never happens.
If you don't think he was a key component of the Bears defense, consider this--in games in which he recorded a sack for the Bears, the team won 72 percent of the time. When he did not have a sack, they won only 39 percent of the time.
This is how I think the 15 modern-era finalists stack up heading into the meeting of selectors. This order can be jumbled once the meeting starts, however.
LOCKS: Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith.
Both players are in their first year of eligibility, and both are expected to be rubber stamped. Really, senior candidates Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little should be in this category too, but you never know with senior candidates.
STRONG CHANCE: Dent.
He has waited his turn and it appears the momentum has shifted in his favor. But I've thought that before.
PRETTY STRONG CHANCE: Russ Grimm, Shannon Sharpe.
Grimm appears to be at the front of the line for blockers. Some have been knocking Sharpe, saying he wasn't a blocker. But he never pretended to be. The discussion on him should be interesting.
DECENT CHANCE: Cris Carter, Don Coryell, Charles Haley, John Randle.
Carter has flashy numbers. There has been a groundswell of support for Coryell. He's interesting because you have to judge him on more than wins and losses. Haley is a riser. And Randle has been very underrated by the selectors up to now.
POSSIBILITIES: Tim Brown, Dermontti Dawson, Ricky Jackson, Andre Reed.
Hall voters have a tough choice between Brown, Reed and Carter. They could cancel each other out. It seems Dawson's best chance is if he and Grimm both get in. Jackson could be one to watch.
LONGSHOTS: Roger Craig, Cortez Kennedy.
They will need to gain momentum Saturday to have a chance.
If you don't think he was a key component of the Bears defense, consider this--in games in which he recorded a sack for the Bears, the team won 72 percent of the time. When he did not have a sack, they won only 39 percent of the time.
This is how I think the 15 modern-era finalists stack up heading into the meeting of selectors. This order can be jumbled once the meeting starts, however.
LOCKS: Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith.
Both players are in their first year of eligibility, and both are expected to be rubber stamped. Really, senior candidates Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little should be in this category too, but you never know with senior candidates.
STRONG CHANCE: Dent.
He has waited his turn and it appears the momentum has shifted in his favor. But I've thought that before.
PRETTY STRONG CHANCE: Russ Grimm, Shannon Sharpe.
Grimm appears to be at the front of the line for blockers. Some have been knocking Sharpe, saying he wasn't a blocker. But he never pretended to be. The discussion on him should be interesting.
DECENT CHANCE: Cris Carter, Don Coryell, Charles Haley, John Randle.
Carter has flashy numbers. There has been a groundswell of support for Coryell. He's interesting because you have to judge him on more than wins and losses. Haley is a riser. And Randle has been very underrated by the selectors up to now.
POSSIBILITIES: Tim Brown, Dermontti Dawson, Ricky Jackson, Andre Reed.
Hall voters have a tough choice between Brown, Reed and Carter. They could cancel each other out. It seems Dawson's best chance is if he and Grimm both get in. Jackson could be one to watch.
LONGSHOTS: Roger Craig, Cortez Kennedy.
They will need to gain momentum Saturday to have a chance.
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Richard Dent is the ONLY Defensive Lineman EVER to be selected MVP of the SuperBowl. If it was for that alone he should be selected.tll whenyou take into account his 137.5 sack you have to put him in te HOF!