August 12, 2007

All-time Bears greats have their say

2007 8-17: Wolfe in Bears 8-17: Tightends 8-16: 'Peanut' 8-16: Linebackers 8-15: D-Day 8-15: Madden '08 gets 8-15: Mannelly known 8-15: Cornerbacks 8-14: A step ahead 8-14: Offensive guards, 8-13: Benson has clear More

Sayers, Dent still enjoy watching 'Monsters'

With NFL preseason games already underway, Caleb Benoit sat down with two Chicago Bears all-time greats, Gale Sayers and Richard Dent, to talk about, among other things, Devin Hester on offense, why Super Bowl losers struggle the next season, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Caleb Benoit: Gale, how much do you follow the NFL and the Bears now that you've been out of the league as a player for 35 years?

Gale Sayers: I enjoy pro football. I really do. I kind of like college better than pro now because of all the antics that the pros do. I don't really like that, but I have season tickets and I still enjoy going to the games. I go to as many games as I can. When it's cold I don't because I have bad knees, so I don't do that. But I follow the game.

The Bears had a great season last year. I think Indianapolis had a better team in the Super Bowl and the (Bears) lost the ball game. Hopefully they can come back last year, and I think they can. I hate to see them lose Thomas Jones, but I guess they think that Cedric Benson going to do the job. And I hope he does the job. He hasn't done it in three years, so we'll see what happens.

Benoit: The poor record of Super Bowl losers the next season. Is that just a coincidence?

Richard Dent: You have 16 games and everybody's coming after you. Everyone sets their season on you. There's no going to sleep. (Last year's team) was a little sneaky somewhat, although I think people realized who they were, but now when you're been there, everyone's trying to knock you off because you are their season. For 16 weeks, you have people trying to knock you out.

The next year (after 1985), we came back and lost two games, the year after that we lost three games, the year after that we lost four games, but then we get in the playoffs and we could never win the first game. You can put yourself in a position to get there, but still that first game is the most important game of the playoffs. To have home-field advantage three or four years in a row and not get back to the Super Bowl is a sick feeling. It's still a sickening feeling.

Benoit: Devin Hester was so good on special teams last year and now they're integrating him into the offense. As someone who played both running back and kick returner, how do you find that balance and what should be a priority for the team?

Sayers: It's really hard to say. Anyone can look good in practice. He used to hit people. Now he's going to get hit. Let's see how it likes it. He may not like it. He may say, "Hey, I want to do back to defensive back so I can hit people." He has a lot of speed. He's got a lot of talent, but the jury is still out. Coming across the middle and a free safety weighing 220 taking a shot at you, you're going to take a second thought. I hope he does well. They want to put him on offense? Let's see what happens. He may be great, but we just don't know right now.

Benoit: Richard, you've been a finalist for the Hall of Fame several years now. Does it comes as a surprise you haven't gotten in yet?

Dent: Not surprised but somewhat disappointed. But I know who I am and I know what I've done, and my records have been standing there for quite some time. For other people who come up to me, for (fans), I'd like to see it happen for them. They're the ones who made me want to play. As long as people come up and acknowledge you that way, that's what you appreciate.