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Dick LeBeau — the player and longtime defensive back for the Detroit Lions — was voted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday.



But make no mistake: it was LeBeau’s lengthy and stellar coaching career which, directly or indirectly, helped get LeBeau over the hump.



LeBeau, 72, was a senior committee nominee. He will join an impressive 2010 class that includes Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Russ Grimm, John Randle, Rickey Jackson and fellow senior nominee Floyd Little.



For many years, the Hall of Fame panel debated the merits of LeBeau’s playing career, which is fair. He recorded 62 interceptions and made three Pro Bowls during his 14-year career.



But LeBeau, a first-time finalist, didn’t become a better player since he retired in 1972. It was LeBeau’s continual contributions to pro football after retirement that made his induction into Canton undeniable.



LeBeau is the most accomplished defensive coordinator in NFL history. He invented the “zone blitz,” which helped win Super Bowls with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2005 and 2008. LeBeau also made it to three additional Super Bowls as a coach with Pittsburgh in 1995 and the Cincinnati Bengals in 1981 and 1988.



When the Hall of Fame panel had to vote “yes” or “no” on LeBeau the player, LeBeau the coach and overall contributor had to weigh in the back of voters’ minds whether they admit it or not.



I remember covering last year’s Super Bowl between the Steelers and Arizona Cardinals when conversations about LeBeau and the Hall of Fame really began to heat up.



The talk had nothing to do with LeBeau’s playing career, which ended more than three decades ago. But it had everything to do with LeBeau once again coaching an elite defense into the Super Bowl and how much he added to the game throughout his career. Ending the week by winning his second championship as defensive coordinator only added to his resume.



As a player and coach, a strong case can be made that no one has dedicated more of his life to pro football than Dick LeBeau. This summer pro football will return the favor and give its highest honor by inducting LeBeau into the Hall of Fame.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Cortez Kennedy made the final 10 for the first time in voting for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Kennedy

He should feel good about that, and he did. I spoke with him Saturday night and he expressed no complaints with the process, showing respect for what appears to be one of the strongest classes of finalists in recent memory.



Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith were obvious choices. That left only three spots for the remaining 13 modern candidates.



Kennedy and another ex-Seahawk, John Randle, were the only defensive tackles among the 15 finalists. Kennedy commanded enough respect in the room to earn a place among the final 10. If some voters were split on Randle and Kennedy, Randle’s enshrinement could conceivably give Kennedy a clearer path next year.



Of course, it’s tough to predict the dynamics that will come into play. I was privileged to participate in the process for the first time this year and look forward to participating in the future.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Five of the seven members of the 2010 Pro Football Hall of Fame class have ties to current NFC West teams:

• 49ers receiver Jerry Rice was an obvious choice. There wasn’t much discussion in the room because Rice’s credentials spoke so loudly.
• Cowboys mainstay Emmitt Smith, who finished his career with the Cardinals, was another obvious choice. Again, there wasn’t much discussion here.
• Former Saints linebacker Rickey Jackson, who finished his career with two strong seasons in San Francisco, broke through as a less obvious choice, beating out several other outside pass-rushers with strong credentials. Jackson started 14 games for the 49ers’ 1994 Super Bowl team. He then collected 9.5 sacks in 1995 in his final season. Jackson missed only two games to injury during his 15-year career, and one of those missed games came only after a car wreck. Jackson never wore knee pads or thigh pads and he didn’t even tape his ankles. I have no idea how he held up and produced at such a high level for so long.
• Defensive tackle John Randle, who earned Pro Bowl honors with Seattle after a long career in Minnesota, earned enshrinement. Randle was arguably one of the most dominant inside pass rushers in NFL history and I suspect voters couldn’t ignore his staggering sack numbers in the end.
• Cardinals assistant coach Russ Grimm earned enshrinement for his work as the Redskins’ best offensive lineman on the teams that won three Super Bowls under Joe Gibbs. Grimm has come close to earning enshrinement in the past. He becomes the first member of the fabled “Hogs” to earn enshrinement.

Seniors-committee nominees Floyd Little and Dick LeBeau also earned enshrinement.



Logjams at certain positions might have split votes for some candidates, particularly among wide receivers and outside pass-rushers.

MIAMI — Let’s go ahead and consider this an omen for the Super Bowl. Times really have changed for the New Orleans Saints.



Rickey Jackson has been selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.



That announcement came moments ago and it’s another sign that a franchise that has spent most of its existence as loveable losers no longer fits that image. The day before the Saints play in their first Super Bowl, they’ve got their first Hall of Famer.



Coincidence?



Maybe, maybe not. We don’t know exactly what was on the minds of voters. But the fact is Jackson never had even made it to finalist stage before this year. The fact that “Who Dat Nation” suddenly became more than a regional thing might have had some sort of subconscious impact on the voters and it certainly increased Jackson’s visibility.



But the fact is Jackson has deserved this honor for a long time. He was part of the famed “Dome Patrol’’ of the late 1980s and early ‘90s. Before this magical season, the Saints of Jackson’s era were the only truly proud time in franchise history. That era’s finally getting the recognition it deserves.



Maybe this won’t be the only truly memorable event of the weekend for the Saints and their fans.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Andre Reed deserves to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.



He just has to wait his turn.



For the fourth time, the legendary Buffalo Bills receiver was a semifinalist who didn’t make the cut. Receiver Jerry Rice, running backs Emmitt Smith and Floyd Little, guard Russ Grimm, defensive tackle John Randle, linebacker Rickey Jackson and cornerback and esteemed coach Dick LeBeau were selected Saturday for the class of 2010.



Nobody expected Reed to be honored with Rice and Smith on the ballot for the first time. That left two fewer spots available for the others.



But there were some interesting developments in this year’s selection process that bode well for Reed’s candidacy in 2011.



There had been a belief among Hall of Fame voters Cris Carter would have to inducted before Reed could make it. But for the first time, Reed finished ahead of Carter in the process.



When the list of 15 semifinalists was pared down to 10, Carter and Tim Brown (in his first year of eligibility) didn’t advance. Reed did after failing to make the final 10 last year.



And as Reed’s career numbers continue to slide down the all-time list each season — a tight end passed him this year, and Randy Moss, Torry Holt and Hines Ward probable will knock him out of the top 10 next year — there was concern Reed’s credentials would dim.



Maybe that won’t be the case.



Reed caught 951 passes for 13,198 yards and 87 touchdowns. He went to four straight Super Bowls. Had the Bills won one of them, the chances for his induction would be moot. He’d probably already be in.



“It’s not just about how many you caught, but when you caught them,” Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irvin said on the NFL Network’s induction show. “To go to four Super Bowls, that means all of your catches meant something. So hopefully he will be here one day.”

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Jerry Rice, Russ Grimm, John Randle, Emmitt Smith and Rickey Jackson made the list of five final candidates for enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.



Of the five, only those receiving 80 percent approval from the committee will qualify for enshrinement. Those results are scheduled to be announced on NFL Network about 25 minutes into a program that begins at 5 p.m. ET.



Cortez Kennedy, Richard Dent, Dermontti Dawson, Andre Reed and Shannon Sharpe survived the cut from 15 to 10 finalists. Charles Haley, Roger Craig, Cris Carter, Don Coryell and Tim Brown were eliminated in the cut from 15 to 10 finalists.



The status of the two seniors-committee candidates, Dick LeBeau and Floyd Little, will be announced with the other enshrinees.



This was my first year as a voter. Rules prevent me from revealing which candidates received my votes. Rules also prevent me from disclosing specifics of conversations.



Kennedy, arguably the best defensive player in Seahawks history, took a step forward in the process by making the cut to 10. And if Randle is enshrined, Kennedy could emerge next year as the top defensive tackle eligible for consideration.



Rice’s selection was a formality. Grimm’s inclusion among the final five candidates marks a big step forward for him. Harry Carson once made the cut to five, but failed to receive the necessary 80 percent support, so nothing is final until the announcement is made. But it is looking pretty good for Grimm.



Carter took a step back by missing the cut to 10. Look for Kennedy, Dent, Dawson, Reed and Sharpe to receive strong consideration in 2011.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The Pro Football Hall of Fame selection process has ended after seven-plus hours of mostly invigorating discussion.



Those of us on the committee are free to release what we know — the names of the five remaining candidates — once the announcement show begins on NFL Network at 5 p.m. ET.



The five remaining candidates are not necessarily Hall of Famers yet because each had to receive at least 80 percent approval in yes-no voting — conducted as the meeting ended. We do not know results of the voting and we do not know results of the voting on the seniors-committee nominees.



I’ll blog analysis here at 5 p.m. ET. The final results will be announced during the NFL Network show at about 5:25 p.m. ET.

Jon Gruden and Steve Young discuss Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and the other nominees for induction into the NFL Hall of Fame.

The Colts’ official pool report on practice, filed by Charles Robinson on behalf of the Pro Football Writers Association:

DAVIE, Fla. — Not a great deal changed in the health department for the Indianapolis Colts on Saturday, as the team held its final practice of the week before Super Bowl XLIV. Defensive end Dwight Freeney sat out once again, making his absence a clean sweep for the week as he spent Saturday’s entire session on a golf cart. Cornerback Jerraud Powers once again did light work, and wideout Reggie Wayne returned to his duties with the first team offense, showing no effects of a minor fat pad injury to his right knee on Thursday.



The light 35-minute walkthrough was held in gentle breezes and the mid 70’s, and the Colts moved swiftly through their final tune-up. Freeney spent the session circling different personnel groupings in a cart, wearing his standard practice dress, including cleats. After practice, he exited his cart and walked gingerly into the locker room, however his right ankle was not wrapped and he didn’t receive treatment of any form during the short session. Colts coach Jim Caldwell said that Freeney had improved since Thursday, but wouldn’t comment on his availability for Sunday’s game.



“He’s better than yesterday,” Caldwell said. “He and Powers both are better than yesterday. It’s still day to day.”



Powers was limited to light work.



Wayne left Friday’s practice 20 minutes early after injuring the fat pad in his right knee, but he was available for the full session Saturday. The fat pad is the soft tissue below the kneecap. Wayne has been playing much of the season with some irritation in the pad. But he moved without restriction Saturday, and at the conclusion of practice ran about 40 yards to the locker room without favoring the knee in any way.



With the slate of practices wrapped, Caldwell said he was pleased with the week and that all of the work “went according to plan.” Caldwell also said the team’s overall health had improved during the course of the week, and was pleased with the slightly varying conditions, which included some gusting wind and rain at various times.



“The weather has been great,” Caldwell said. “Obviously yesterday we got a little taste of rain, which was good, just in case we have some. A shower could pop up at any time. The wind has been fairly consistent. We got a chance to throw with the wind, against the wind. That’s all been good.”



“We’ve done extremely well and been attentive. The [players] have been very, very focused and our practices have been sharp as well. Overall we’ve been moving in the right direction.”

MIAMI — Five nuggets of knowledge about Super Bowl XLIV between the New Orleans Saints (15-3) and Indianapolis Colts (16-2):

Al Pereira/Getty ImagesColts quarterback Peyton Manning is more than capable in adapting to an opponent’s defense.

1. Peyton Manning should expect to see a defensive plan A, B and C. In the AFC Championship Game, the Jets brought some early blitzes that were unfamiliar and confused the Colts. But once Manning and offensive coordinator Tom Moore had some time on the sidelines to sort things out, they solved the puzzle. Once they did, they seemed to deflate New York, which failed to make any major counter moves.



Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams should have multiple plans and when he senses the Colts have figured something out, he’ll flip the switch on some major alterations and be prepared to do so multiple times. If Manning wins on smarts, odds are he will be challenged more than he was two weeks ago.



2. Indianapolis doesn’t run it well, but watch how it runs once it’s inside the 20. The Colts finished last in the league in rushing the ball this year with 1,294 yards. However, they did score 16 rushing touchdowns and ESPN Stats & Information says they had a nice balance of rush-to-pass play calls down in the red zone (74-78). Their predictability on offense before reaching the red zone may have caused Manning’s numbers to suffer on play-action passes.



In red-zone play-action he had six touchdowns and no interceptions in 12 pass attempts this season, posting a 124.3 passer rating. Outside of the red zone his rating on play-action was only 79.7 and his five touchdowns are measured against nine interceptions. His completion percentage is 63.3 outside the red zone on play action, 20 points lower than inside it.



3. The Colts secondary depth is their weak spot. Even if Jerraud Powers is fine to play after recent foot surgery, if the Saints can force the Colts to use six defensive backs, that last man is a shaky piece of the defense. Kelvin Hayden and Powers are quality starters, and while Jacob Lacey got torched on an 80-yard touchdown against the Jets he’s a capable player too.



But if the Colts need to rely much on Tim Jennings or go deeper than that to someone like Aaron Francisco or T.J. Rushing, I expect Sean Payton and Drew Brees will target them as quickly and as often as possible. They should.



4. For all the grief about his post-season failures, Manning’s got some good numbers. Break down the top five players in postseason passing yardage by the game, and Manning’s the best of them with an average of 284 to Joe Montana (251), Dan Marino (251), Brett Favre (244) and John Elway (226). No one has more playoff 300-yard passing games than Manning’s seven.



But his counterpart’s got an amazing number going this season when it comes to facing top postseason quarterbacks. The Super Bowl will mark the fourth time this season Brees has faced a former Super Bowl MVP. The three quarterbacks he faced before Peyton Manning were Eli Manning, Tom Brady and Kurt Warner. Brees has been unreal in those games, posting a combined passer rating of 152.8 with three wins, 12 touchdowns and no interceptions.



5. With or without Dwight Freeney, the Colts might be wise to blitz. This defense is far different than the one on the 2006 championship Colts. That was a Cover 2 team that rushed four almost every snap. This is a group that is willing to blitz.



The Cardinals and Vikings rarely tested Brees with an additional pass rush in New Orleans’ first two postseason games, ESPN Stats & Info says. Against four or fewer rushers, he’s thrown five touchdown and no interceptions, averaged 8.2 yards an attempt and posted a passer rating of 127.3. Against five or more rushers he’s thrown one touchdown and no interceptions, averaged 4.3 yards an attempt and posted a rating of 90.2.