DALLAS -- Two of the most electrifying players of their generation are going to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, along with the man who chronicled their exploits.
First-year eligibles Deion Sanders and Marshall Faulk were voted to the Hall of Fame on Saturday, along with NFL Films founder Ed Sabol.
Joining them in the seven-man class selected in a 71/2-hour meeting were defensive end Richard Dent, tight end Shannon Sharpe and seniors committee candidates Chris Hanburger and Les Richter, linebacker stars of previous eras.
The most spirited debate in the discussion concerned Sabol, who turned a small film company into a legacy-building empire.
NFL Films, with its extreme slow-motion shots, dramatic music and the booming baritone of announcer John Facenda, shaped the way many football fans view the game.
His supporters insisted the 94-year-old Sabol set the stage for the dramatic growth of the NFL's popularity, pushing it far beyond baseball and college sports.
Sanders and Faulk were considered favorites and proved to be, pushing through the lengthiest meeting in the committee's history.
While not all favored his cover-first style, Sanders defined the cover corner position at a time when he hopscotched between the NFL and major league baseball and became a cross-cultural icon.
Faulk's recognition stemmed from his exploits as the backbone of "The Greatest Show on Turf," the St. Louis offenses from the 1990s. Faulk is ninth on the league's all-time rushing list and 16th all-time in receptions, showing the kind of versatility that made those Rams teams so dangerous.
Dent pushed through in his ninth year of eligibility, finally being recognized for his defining pass rush in an era that was only beginning to quantify it. His 137.5 sacks rank sixth all-time, but his tough defense against the run made him one of the stalwarts of one of the league's great defenses. He was named MVP of Super Bowl XX after forcing two fumbles and registering 1.5 sacks in the Bears' win.
Sharpe changed the way the tight end's role was viewed. Though he was an able blocker, he left the game as the leader in receptions (815), yards (10,060) and touchdowns (62) by a tight end.
Hanburger and Richter were chosen by the veterans committee, which brings forgotten stars back for discussion. Hanburger played at North Carolina before his stellar career with the Washington Redskins, while Richter was one of the league's original enforcers for the Los Angeles Rams in the 1950s and early '60s.
In addition to the seniors committee candidates, 15 players were finalists.
Wide receivers Cris Carter and Tim Brown, defensive ends Chris Doleman and Charles Haley, and running back Jerome Bettis were eliminated in the first cut to 10.
When the list was reduced to the final five candidates, center Dermontti Dawson, defensive tackle Cortez Kennedy, running back Curtis Martin, wide receiver Andre Reed and offensive tackle Willie Roaf fell by the wayside.
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