CANTON, Ohio (AP)
Chicago Bears sackmaster Richard Dent, star tight end Shannon Sharpe, Washington Redskins linebacker Chris Hanburger and NFL Films founder Ed Sabol were inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night.
They were to be followed by Marshall Faulk, the late Les Richter, and Deion Sanders.
Dent was a dynamic pass rusher on one of the NFL's greatest defenses, the 1985 NFL champions. He was the MVP of that Super Bowl and finished with 137 1/2 career sacks, third all-time when he left the sport.
He epitomized the Monsters of the Midway: fast, fierce and intimidating.
''Richard was like a guided missile,'' Joe Gilliam, Dent's college coach, said during his introduction.
''You must dream and you must be dedicated to something in your life,'' added Dent, who asked everyone in the audience to rise in applause for Gilliam, then thanked dozens of people, including many from the '85 Bears who also were in the stadium. He saved his highest praise for the late Walter Payton.
''When you have dreams, it is very tough to say you can do everything by yourself,'' Dent said. ''It's all about other people.''
Sabol made a life out of telling other people's stories.
An aspiring filmmaker, Sabol approached Commissioner Pete Rozelle offering to double the rights fee for filming the 1962 NFL championship game between the Packers and Giants. Rozelle accepted the $3,000 and a wildly successful marriage was formed.
Seated in a wheelchair, the 94-year-old Sabol said he ''dreamt the impossible dream, and I'm living it right at this minute.''
''This honor tonight really goes to NFL Films, I just happen to be accepting all the accolades,'' Sabol added.
Sabol's son, Steve, who replaced him as president of the company, introduced his father, about whom he said, ''My sisters used to say my dad was two stooges short of a good routine. He loved to entertain.''
Hanburger called his induction ''one of the greatest moments in my life and I mean that from my heart. I am just overwhelmed by this.''
Hanburger never let his job with the Redskins overwhelm him. He was the signal-caller for George Allen's intricate defenses in Washington, which included dozens of formations.
He also was a physical player. Nicknamed ''The Hangman,'' Hanburger stood out for one violent move he practically patented in 14 seasons with the Redskins: the clothesline tackle, which eventually was outlawed.
A senior committee nominee, Hanburger made nine Pro Bowls in his 14 seasons, although he never won a championship. The linebacker's knack for finding the ball helped him to 19 interceptions and three fumble returns for TDs, a league mark when he retired after the 1978 season.
Hanburger stared into the face of his bust before saying induction is ''something that I never gave a thought to.''
Sharpe won two Super Bowls with Denver and one with Baltimore as one of the best pass catchers at his position in league history. At the time of his retirement in 2003, his 815 career receptions, 10,060 yards and 62 TDs were all NFL records for a tight end, and three times he went over 1,000 yards receiving in a season — almost unheard of at that position.
In a 1993 playoff game, Sharpe had 13 catches against Oakland, tying a record.
Sharpe patted his bust on the head Saturday before saying, ''All these years later, it makes me proud when people call me a self-made man.''
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