Dent misses Hall cut again

Richard Dent was sacked once again in his pursuit of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The former Bears defensive end was left out Saturday when finalists were named for the Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010. Dent has been a finalist six times in the past seven years.

The players who made the cut included Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, John Randle, Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith. Longtime coach Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little were named finalists by the seniors committee.

Dent recorded 124 1/2 sacks for the Bears between 1983 and 1993. The 6-foot-5, 265 pound player from Tennessee State also forced 37 fumbles, picked off eight passes and logged 641 tackles for the Bears.

Dent was one of 10 modern-era finalists for the Hall of Fame. He missed the cut along with Dermontti Dawson, Cortez Kennedy, Andre Reed and Shannon Sharpe. Each finalist had to receive at least 80 percent approval from the 44-member Hall of Fame selection committee to be selected.

– Tom Musick