Matthews is top addition to Hall ballot

Bears' Dent among 17 finalists waiting for word today

Matthews spent 19 seasons with the Oilers/Titans franchise, playing more games than any position player in NFL history when he retired in 2001. He did it as a guard, tackle and center.

He did it so well that he is the only first-time eligible player to make the final cut in this year's Pro Football Hall of Fame balloting. Matthews is one of 17 finalists, including former Bears defensive end Richard Dent. From that group, at least three but no more than six candidates will be chosen today by a panel of 40 voters.

Matthews is one of five offensive linemen being considered this year. Unlike tackle Gary Zimmerman and guards Bob Kuechenberg, Russ Grimm and Gene Hickerson, Matthews was multidimensional. He made 99 starts as a left guard, 67 at right guard, 87 at center, 22 at right tackle and 17 at left tackle. His 14 consecutive Pro Bowls is tied for the most ever with Hall of Fame defensive end Merlin Olsen.

Dent, who was selected by the Bears in the eighth round of the 1983 draft with the 203rd overall pick, became a full-time starter early in 1984, beginning a 10-year period in which he had 10 or more sacks in eight of 10 seasons.

Dent twice had 4½ sacks in a game (both times against the Raiders, in 1984 and 1987) and ended his career with 137½ sacks, which ranked third all-time at his retirement. He was the MVP of Super Bowl XX.

Two mainstays of the Buffalo teams that dominated the AFC in the early 1990s also are finalists: running back Thurman Thomas and wide receiver Andre Reed. Other nominees are defensive end Fred Dean, linebackers Andre Tippett and Derrick Thomas, punter Ray Guy, receivers Michael Irvin and Art Monk, cornerback Roger Wehrli and tight end Charlie Sanders.

From the non-player's category, former commissioner Paul Tagliabue is the only nominee.

AP