Richard Dent: January 2009 Archives

TAMPA, Fla.--Richard Dent's disappointment today at missing the Pro Football Hall of Fame might linger for a little while.

But the Super Bowl XX MVP could be in good shape moving forward. It's a good sign that Dent made the cut from 15 to 10 for the second consecutive year. It was the fifth time in six years that he was among the final 15.

Two pass rushers have been selected in the last two classes--Bruce Smith and Derrick Thomas this year and Andre Tippett and Fred Dean in 2008. What bolsters Dent's chances are the fact that there are not any more elite pass rushers coming on to the ballot in the coming seasons. Without more competition at defensive end, Dent could be aided. Of course, he needs to get one of the five modern-era slots and Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith will be slam dunks at this time next year. Some of the first-year eligible players in 2011 are also impressive.

TAMPA, Fla.--A long wait for Richard Dent will continue.

The defensive end, who spent the majority of his career with the Bears, was denied in his fifth bid as a finalist on the ballot for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Bruce Smith was elected in his first year on the ballot as was cornerback/safety Rod Woodson, who spent the majority of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The others who will be inducted in ceremonies Aug. 8 in Canton, Ohio, are Randall McDaniel, Derrick Thomas and Ralph Wilson Jr. Wide receiver Bob Hayes, a senior player, was also elected.

RIchard Dent is one of the Bears' all-time draft finds, selected in the eighth round out of Tennessee State in 1983. The franchise's all-time sacks leader with 124 1/2, and the MVP of Super Bowl XX, doesn't think highly of the drafting that is going on these days at Halas Hall however.

Appearing on The Monty Show on Sporting News Radio, Dent criticized the drafting that has been done by the Bears in recent years, particularly the double first-round flops of Michael Haynes and Rex Grossman from 2003, the year Dent was an assistant on Dick Jauron's staff.

"The judging of talent is not great,'' Dent said. "When I look at, you know you bring in a quarterback and you give him 1,000 shots and now you say you want to compete and you've got a kid [Kyle Orton] that's playing well but you want someone to compete against him. Obviously, you know Rex came in, you got him in the first round with Michael Haynes and you lose two first rounders and we're not doing anything without draft picks.