Comparing Dent To Strahan

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 25, 2009 11:07 PM CDT

With the recent endorsement of Richard Dent for the Hall Of Fame by Colts standout Dwight Freeney (as seen here), I though I'd dust off some research I did a while back for comparing Dent to Michael Strahan.

Most NFL experts are predicting Michael Strahan to be a 1st ballot Hall of Famer after his 5 year waiting period, with most experts calling his induction a no-brainer. Is he a sure thing for 1st ballot induction? I think so. He was one of the best at his position for a long time and he put up some outstanding numbers on some really good Giant defenses.

I've always thought Dent should be in the Hall, but the comparison between these two show just how good Dent's numbers are when compared to the virtual lock Michael Strahan.

Sacks:
Richard Dent - 137.5
Michael Strahan - 141.5

Double Digit Sack Seasons:
Richard Dent - 8
Michael Strahan - 6

Forced Fumbles:
Richard Dent - 37
Michael Strahan - 24

Fumbles Recovered:
Richard Dent - 13
Michael Strahan - 15

Interceptions:
Richard Dent - 8
Michael Strahan - 4

* Solo Tackles:
Richard Dent - 671
Michael Strahan - 667

* I'll only compare solo tackles because before 1994 teams recorded tackles on a team by team basis and many teams never bothered with assists, from 1994-2001 tackles were recorded by every team but not recognized as an official NFL statistic, in 2001 tackles became an official NFL statistic.

Pro Bowls:
Richard Dent - 4
Michael Strahan - 7

All Pro Teams:
Richard Dent - 2 first team / 2 second teams
Michael Strahan - 5 first teams / 1 second team

** Post Season Appearances:
Richard Dent - 7
Michael Strahan - 7

** Divisional Titles won by respective teams:
Richard Dent - 6
Michael Strahan - 3

** Conference Championships:
Richard Dent - 1
Michael Strahan - 2

** Super Bowl Rings:
Richard Dent - 1
Michael Strahan - 1

** Richard Dent was on the roster but injured for 2 additional playoff teams, the 1994 49ers & the 1995 Bears, the '94 Niners won the NFC West and went on to win the Super Bowl garnering Dent a second Ring.

Additional Awards:
Richard Dent - Super Bowl XX MVP
Michael Strahan - 2001 NFL Defensive POY, 2001 & 2003 NFC Defensive POY

They both played 15 years in the NFL, Dent from '83-'97 and Strahan from '93-'07. Strahan did his damage in 216 games while starting 205 and Dent amassed his numbers in 203 games with 150 starts. When Dent retired he was 3rd all time in sacks.

I think part of the reason Dent is overlooked was the stigma of him being a pass rush specialist and weak against the run, a label he got early in his career, but in fact he never backed down against the run as his 671 solo tackles can attest. Another reason is his last few years he was riddled with injuries, and leaving the game on your own terms like Michael Strahan makes for a better storybook ending. Had Dent gone out after his 11th season, finishing up as a pro bowl player in 1993, the Hall Of Fame voters would have looked on his career in a better light.

Without question I think Strahan should be in the Hall, but how can any one argue against Dent making it as well?

Poll

Will Richard Dent make it to the Hall Of Fame before Michael Strahan?

Yes

55 votes

No

25 votes

80 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost was written by a Windy City Gridiron member, and does not necessarily reflect the ideas or opinions of its staff or community.

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Comments

Awesome Post

Not even kidding send this to the HOF or the voting committee or something because that just shows how great Dent is and why he should be in the hall now.

by Sam Householder on Jun 25, 2009 11:51 PM CDT reply actions

Great job of researching and comparing these two.

another thing that Strahan has over Dent is the fact that he was the dominant “personality” on his team and in the media capital of the world, that gives you an advantage in popularity. Dent was a very quiet, shy, person when he came into the league and, despite his gaudy stats, took a backseat to Singletary, Hampton, Otis, Wilbur, Fencik, The Fridge and McMichael when it came to notoriety. Hell, you could even make the argument that he was overshadowed by his own coaches (Ditka and Ryan). I feel that has hurt his chances because those other names, were more synonymous with the ’85 Bears than Richard to the national audience. This Freeney article might be the jumpstart he needs to get the voters to sit up and take notice of a more than deserving candidate.

by BearFan611 on Jun 26, 2009 7:56 AM CDT reply actions

I voted No

I think Strahan will make it before Dent. Once Strahan is in, people will look at these numbers and not be able to keep Dent out.

by ddub101 on Jun 26, 2009 7:58 AM CDT reply actions

I remember a passage in Jim McMahon’s autobiography where he (affectionately, I think) described Richard Dent as “not a practice person” … that “he would line up offside and get the coaches all mad” … but also that come game day, obviously, he produced.

"They tried to take out the quarterback, and if they managed that, they tried to take out the backup." - Bears SB20 TE Emery Moorehead, on the mentality of *that* defense

by Spongie on Jun 26, 2009 8:27 AM CDT reply actions

I said yes

and agree with BearsFan611. This Freeney article will be a needed jumpstart for Dent. Please correct me if I’m wrong, didn’t he make it to the final cut this past year? Typically that would mean he is only a year or two away.

Still, what a JOKE he’s not in yet! wiltfongjr, good job!

by rdent4hof on Jun 26, 2009 8:31 AM CDT reply actions

yes he was a finalist! His time is close, hopefully…

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 26, 2009 8:33 AM CDT up reply actions

+1

You are absolutely right it is a hugh joke that Dent isn’t in the HOF already. Did he make alot of waves with reports either while playing or after his playing days were over? Cause thats the only reason an outsider like me can see why he isn’t already there. Out of curiousity guysho many players from the 85 team are already in the HOF?

by davis0169 on Jun 27, 2009 11:10 PM CDT up reply actions

It's been said that Ditka

didn’t do Dent any favors. He use to critic his motor in the press. That’s a guess. Bottom line, it’s joke. As far as 85 Bears in the Hall: Payton, Singletary and Hampton. Dent will get in, IMO.
Deserving 85 Bears that should but likely won’t: Wilber Marshall, Jay Higenberg and Steve McMicheal

by rdent4hof on Jun 28, 2009 7:52 AM CDT up reply actions

thats all?

That is a crying shame,Brad Muster could be there on principle alone, then you have one of the biggest and best DT’s at that time in the Fridge, well for that matter that whole front 7 on the D-side of the ball.

by davis0169 on Jun 28, 2009 4:08 PM CDT up reply actions

Marshall didn’t have a hall of fame career (no where near), McMichael was a beloved Bear, but not an all time great, and Hilgenberg might have a shot some day considering there aren’t a lot of great centers

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 28, 2009 6:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Wilber Marshall

Three time Pro Bowler, Three time All-Pro, 1992 NFC Defensive Player of the Year, Key defensive member of The 1985 Bears and 1991 Redskins, both Super Bowl Champions and one of only 8 players in history to record at least 20 sacks and 20 interceptions during their career.
“No where near” I disagree with that.

by rdent4hof on Jun 29, 2009 9:58 AM CDT up reply actions

well...

I loved his play, but he’s been retired since 1995 and hasn’t even sniffed the Hall… Do I think he should be in, yeah, but I don’t have a vote.

For what ever reason his numbers and achievements have been overlooked by the selection commitee

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 29, 2009 12:22 PM CDT up reply actions

like I said somewhere

I was/am still in love with that 85 teams’ D-fence I wish I would of had more time yesterday to finish but with a 2yr old and a 4 month old, time is something that I don’t have so I can’t look up stats like I would like to. I can’t beleave that the “fridge” isn’t in there either, I’m not saying that that 85 team wouldn’t have been as good without him but I would like to think that Mike Singletary was as doninant as he was that year cause he had a DT that demanded double and triple teams up front. Yes I am bias towards that team and coach Buddy Ryan who took that same scheme to philly with him and had almost as dominant D there for a few years.

by davis0169 on Jun 29, 2009 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions

Heard,

I don’t have much of an argument for McMichael. Loved his play, but lack of accolades and his attitude towards media destroyed any chance he had.
Hilgenberg, his case can be made for The Hall of Fame.

Comparison
Dermontti Dawson (Lex, Ky represent!): long time Steelers center that was inducted 05’. Seven time Pro Bowler, six time All Pro and 90’s All Decade team. No rings.

Jay Hilgenberg: long time Bears center who has similar accolades as Dawson, yet hasn’t made it to The HOF, despite retiring seven years earlier. Seven time Pro Bowler, seven time All Pro and one ring.

Folks, our Bears are not getting their due.

by rdent4hof on Jun 29, 2009 1:36 PM CDT up reply actions

Singletary, Payton, & Hampton are in

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 28, 2009 11:31 AM CDT up reply actions

Everyone knows Dent should be in by now, and the numbers just back that up

Why they’ve kept him out this long is puzzling. But he was one of the big catalysts on the ’85 Bears Super Bowl team – more so than Hampton, in my opinion.

by JimmyMack on Jun 26, 2009 9:49 AM CDT reply actions

First you got the game twisted

Lets start off by getting the headline correct that should read comparing strahan to dent not the other way around, these were 2 very good defensive ends with very similar career accomplishments so if strahan is a no brainer than you would have to say that dent is also a no brainer if not then the voting process should be looked at………..

by chitwnfnst on Jun 26, 2009 1:30 PM CDT reply actions

im sorry i voted no

i voted no because i think the voting committee are biased when it comes to voting the 80s bears team members. in fact if you look at the roster of players under mike ditka and buddy ryan you could single them all out and through their achievements be it with the bears or other teams they may eventually whent to they were remarkable. there have never been a team like it. in fact what they should do is ellect the whole team as a collective hall of fame entry (a one off). dent should really have been ellected when his 5 years eligability was up,end of.

by stepeo on Jun 27, 2009 1:05 AM CDT reply actions

+1 stepeo

only the Ravens superbowl team had as dominant D as the 85 team. And maybe if Dent would gap them front teeth as wide as stahans he would already be in. :)

by davis0169 on Jun 27, 2009 11:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Strahan sleeping with his male shrink 1 . Dent 0 . Allegedly.

by gaingrene on Jun 27, 2009 9:28 AM CDT reply actions

I'd say

that this was pretty much a ripoff of Chalk Talk. I saw this a couple months ago when Larry Mayer did it.

If you want to crown em...

by JohnnyTruant on Jun 27, 2009 1:17 PM CDT reply actions

Good Memory!

It was more than a couple of months ago, It was his chalk talk from June 23, 2008 that inspired my original post on Sporting News (a post that I of course credited Mayer with for inspiration) ckeck it out!

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/wiltfongjr/156974/

I’m sure you’ll see by my SN Blog that I went a little more in depth than the 1 paragraph answer Mayer gave the e-mailer from Oak Brook, Keith L., but here’s that Chalk Talk for purpose of reference;

http://www.chicagobears.com/news/ChalkTalkStory.asp?story_id=4819

and with the recent news from Dwight Freeney I thought it was relevant to us Bears fans to rehash the stats…

But, “ripoff”? Hardly. More than half the Blogs done on any subject in the history of the internet are inspired by some other source material.

Thanks for the feedback!

by Lester A. Wiltfong Jr. on Jun 27, 2009 1:44 PM CDT up reply actions

just giving you a hard time!

maybe “ripoff” sounds a little harsh, and man I must be getting old because that was over a year ago and I could swear I read it not too long ago.

I think it’s only a matter of time until Dent gets in, I think he’s been a finalist for the last several years and he’s slowly gaining more voters. Strahan isn’t necessarily a first ballot hall of famer though, but he will get in.

It is the offseason

If you want to crown em...

by JohnnyTruant on Jun 27, 2009 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions