Football Hall of Fame passes on Dent for seventh time

For the sixth time in seven years former Bears defensive end Richard Dent, the franchise's all-time leading sacker, made it to the finals but not into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The final list of 15 modern-era nominees, including Dent, was pared down to 10 by the 44-member Hall of Fame selection committee Saturday morning at the Super Bowl XLIV media center. Dent made the first cut along with center Dermontti Dawson, defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, wide receiver Andre Reed and tight end Shannon Sharpe and the final five of guard Russ Grimm, linebacker Rickey Jackson, defensive tackle John Randle, wide receiver Jerry Rice and running back Emmitt Smith.

Each of the final five received the minimum positive vote of 80 percent needed for induction, and they will be joined by seniors committee nominees Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little as the Class of 2010.

Dent spent 11 seasons with the Bears and was the MVP of the 46-10 Super Bowl XX victory over the Patriots. In a 15-year NFL career that included brief stints with the Eagles, Colts and 49ers, Dent finished with 1371/2 sacks, including 1241/2 with the Bears. Dent, an eighth-round draft pick out of Tennessee State in 1983, had double-digit sacks for five straight seasons from 1984-88. Dent had 171/2 sacks in 1984 and 17 in the Super Bowl season of '85.