PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : SUPER BOWL : Dent Determined Not to Miss This One

Defensive end Richard Dent, whose injured knee kept him from playing in San Francisco’s 38-28 victory in the NFC title game, says he should be ready for the San Diego Chargers in the Super Bowl.

Dent, the NFL’s second-leading active sacker, missed 14 regular-season games after surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right knee. He returned to play his former teammates in the 49ers’ 44-15 playoff victory over Chicago but only played three plays before leaving after “tweaking” his knee in soggy turf.

Dent said he could have played against Dallas but the 49ers decided to hold him out because of the risk of re-injury and the availability of other, healthier players.

Dent, the 1986 Super Bowl MVP in the Bears’ victory over New England, said nothing would keep him from playing Jan. 29 against the Chargers at Miami.

“It really doesn’t matter if it’s rain, sleet or snow in Miami. I’m planning to play,” Dent said.

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San Francisco Coach George Seifert said groundskeepers at the 49ers’ Santa Clara training headquarters were optimistic they could get the team’s waterlogged practice fields in shape for crucial workouts on Friday and Saturday.

If not, Seifert said there is a chance the team could leave for Miami before its scheduled Sunday departure. The 49ers practiced last week in Arizona because of soggy fields.