Mike Singletary wonders if the impregnable Bears defenses he played with in the 1980s and early ’90s made a strong enough impression to vault former teammate Dan Hampton into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Hampton, a stalwart defensive tackle and end on a unit that dominated significant defensive statistical categories, is among the 15 finalists for the selection that will be announced Saturday.
“Let’s be serious–[making the Hall of Fame] is very political,” Hampton, 44, said Thursday. “There’s a lot of grass-roots networking going on. I have never been very proficient at any of that.”
The other finalists are linebacker Harry Carson, tight end Dave Casper, defensive end L.C. Greenwood, punter Ray Guy, defensive backs Lester Hayes and Donnie Shell, quarterback Jim Kelly, offensive lineman Bob Kuechenberg, and wide receivers Art Monk, James Lofton and John Stallworth. The owner making the list of finalists is Art Modell, CEO of the Baltimore Ravens. The coaches are Bill Parcells and George Allen.
The Bears won Super Bowl XX against the New England Patriots 46-10 but have failed to get past the NFC championship game since then.
Linebacker Singletary and running Walter Payton are the only Hall of Fame players from Mike Ditka’s Super Bowl XX team. Richard Dent, the Bears’ all-time leader in sacks, is likely to receive serious attention when he becomes eligible for induction.
Since the Hall of Fame opened in Canton, Ohio, on Sept. 7, 1963, there have been 204 NFL players and coaches inducted. On Aug. 2, 1998, Singletary became the 24th Bear enshrined, the most of any team in the league.
Hampton, a first-round draft pick (fourth overall) out of Arkansas in 1979, was one of the keys on a 1985 Bears defense that allowed just 198 points and shut out two playoff opponents before walloping the Patriots in the Superdome.
Many observers think the induction of former Raiders defensive lineman Howie Long in 2000 enhanced Hampton’s chances of making the Hall of Fame this time around.
“You see guys who go in and you think, `Maybe I have a chance.’ Who knows?” Hampton said.
Hampton’s versatility as a tackle and end meant he did not have as many quantifiable statistics as a pass rusher such as Lawrence Taylor, for instance. But his influence on the defensive unit was undeniable. Despite 12 surgeries on his knees, he was named first- or second-team All-Pro six times as either a defensive end or tackle.
“As a defensive tackle, you’re not going to have flashing lights,” Hampton said. “I think it’s more your impact on the team as a whole. Wherever you lined me up, my job was to get after them.”
The 6-foot-5-inch, 265-pound Hampton, nicknamed “Danimal” because of his ferocious play, was named the league’s defensive MVP by Pro Football Weekly in 1982. He equaled his career high of 11.5 sacks in 1984.
– Before arriving in New Orleans, Hampton was arrested Monday for drunken driving just outside Cabot City, Ark., state police said.
He was charged with driving while intoxicated, refusing to submit to a blood-alcohol test, careless and prohibitive driving and failing to register his vehicle, all misdemeanors.
Hampton was released on bond. If convicted, he could get up to a year in jail, a fine of up to $3,000 and a suspension of his driver’s license.
