With the results just announced on the NFL Network on Saturday afternoon, former Chicago Bears great Richard Dent learned once again that he will not be entering the NFL Hall of Fame this summer in Canton, Ohio. Instead the six inductees will be former Dallas Cowboys receiver Bob Hayes, Minnesota Vikings lineman Randall McDaniel, Buffalo Billsdefensive end Bruce Smith, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas, Buffalo Bills founder and owner Ralph Wilson Jr, and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Rod Woodson.
While we went over all the reasons that Dent should be in the Hall of Fame on Friday, this doesn't come as a surprise either. It would be hard to argue that the six men who will be inducted into Canton this year don't deserve the honor, but that still doesn't mean it's a shame that Dent is once again excluded.
What should be pointed out though is that if Bruce Smith is in the Hall of Fame, then Dent belongs in just as much. While Smith had a lot more sacks in his career than Dent, 200 to 133.5, Smith was a one-dimensional player. During his years as a Buffalo Bill and Washington Redskins the only thing that Smith ever did was rush the quarterback. Whether the defensive play call was to defend the rush or the pass, Smith put the blinders on and saw nothing but the quarterback.
Dent, on the other hand, was the more complete player. Not only could he sack a quarterback, but he could stuff the run, drop into coverage, and was a turnover machine. Oh, and he was also the MVP of Super Bowl XX. Smith reached four Super Bowls with the Bills, but never got to hold the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
This is not meant to disparage Smith's career, as he is more than worthy of the honor, but to see him make it while having Dent excluded seems unfair.
Along with writing for NBCCHICAGO.com, Tom Fornelli can be found contributing at FanHouse, SPORTSbyBROOKS, and his own Chicago sports blog Foul Balls.
