By Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/?m=1
Richard Sheinwald/Associated Press
The Vikings' Dave Osborn is tackled by Lions defensive back Dick LeBeau during a game in Detroit Nov. 1, 1970.
Modern-day professional football fans, especially those in Pittsburgh, have a keen understanding of Dick LeBeau's contributions to the game as a coach. He is regarded as one of the finest defensive coordinators of all time and is credited with perfecting the zone-blitz defense that has revolutionized the way teams have played the past generation.
But how many of those same fans have a true appreciation for Ricky LeBeau, the defensive back for the Detroit Lions from 1959-72 who was regarded as one of the finest players of his time?
LeBeau was known as Ricky, or sometimes Dickie-Bird, among his Lions teammates. In George Plimpton's best-selling book, "Paper Lion: Confessions of a Last-String Quarterback," LeBeau is described as a young player in the following passage:
"Thin-hipped, built like a high school basketball player, his hair worn longer than most of the others', he was called Ricky, less a diminutive of Richard than derived from a crop of teenage movie stars and singers of the time, all of that name, whose manner and attitude he seemed to cultivate," Plimpton wrote.
It is hard to picture the humble and reserved LeBeau, who will turn 73 next month, in that context, but it is one glimpse into a long forgotten playing career that will finally be recognized today with the game's highest honor: induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
LeBeau and six others, including former Pitt stars Russ Grimm and Rickey Jackson, will be honored in a ceremony today in Canton, Ohio.
Before he became the mastermind behind the zone-blitz defense, LeBeau was one of the best defensive backs of his era. He finished his career with 62 interceptions and started 171 consecutive games, most of them at cornerback.
Not bad for someone who was cut by the Cleveland Browns in his first training camp in 1959. It was something legendary coach Paul Brown would later say was the worst decision of his career.
"He was so intelligent, he was so quick, could cover, and, oh boy, was he a hitter," said Bill Priatko, LeBeau's roommate in Browns camp 51 years ago and still one of LeBeau's close friends. "He was the type of player that over the years, 10, 15, 20 years after he was done playing, I would say, 'Dick, why aren't you in the Hall of Fame?' And he always said playfully that I should be his PR agent. Maybe it had something to do with Night Train Lane and Lem Barney playing in the same defensive backfield. I don't know. Whatever happened, this is way overdue."
Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau.
It has been 38 years since LeBeau retired. His name has stayed relevant in recent years because he has coached some of the league's best defenses and helped the Steelers win their fifth and sixth Super Bowls.
His players tried to do their part to help LeBeau get noticed by the veterans committee. Several members of the Steelers honored LeBeau by wearing Lions throwback jerseys with LeBeau's No. 44 on them when the Steelers arrived in Detroit for Super Bowl XL in 2006. They did it again in 2007 when the Steelers played in the Hall of Fame game in Canton.
It was their way of repaying the man many of them call Coach Dad. When LeBeau is enshrined today, the Steelers will be there in full force. Coach Mike Tomlin is making the induction ceremony a field trip. The team will bus from Latrobe this afternoon in time to watch LeBeau give his induction speech.
LeBeau would not have it any other way.
"I wouldn't even want to be there unless they were there," he said.
The players are equally enthused about being present for LeBeau's special day, even though they probably won't be able to honor him by wearing his jersey again. Tomlin is asking his players to dress in more formal attire with slacks and a collared shirt.
"We're definitely happy that his time has come, and he's going to be honored this weekend," said linebacker James Farrior, a team captain who has played for LeBeau since 2004. "We feel like it's a long time coming. It's well-deserved.
"If you look at his stats, he's right up there with everyone who is in the Hall of Fame. It's good to see him finally go in and definitely go in as a player because that's the ultimate goal once you're finished as a player. You look back at your career and you want to be recognized, and that's the highest honor."
Even though LeBeau last played in the league in 1972, his players are well-versed in his playing career. LeBeau has to be prodded to speak publicly about his playing days, but he does talk to his players about it.
"In the defensive meeting room, he'll talk to us about it," Farrior said. "He'll always be showing us some of his highlights, some of his old interceptions. He's got 62, so he's got plenty of tape to show us. He's always talking to the DBs, telling them they have a long way to go. It's all in fun. But you'll never hear him talk about it out in public."
LeBeau knows many of the players who have played for him are partly responsible for him making the Hall of Fame. He has received quite a boost in recent years by coaching so many spectacular defenses, including the 2008 defense that is regarded as one of the best in recent history and paved the way to a sixth Super Bowl title.
But it's special for LeBeau to be recognized for his achievements as a player. He will join fellow Lions teammates, Lane, Barney, Yale Lary and Joe Schmidt in the Hall of Fame.
The only regret is that his mother won't be in attendance today to see him inducted. Beulah LeBeau died in September, three months before the Pro Football Hall of Fame made the announcement that her son would be part of the 2010 class. She was 96.
"She knew I had been nominated," LeBeau said. "The last thing she said to me in person, she stuck her finger out and said: 'You're going in Dick LeBeau. You're going in.' I said, 'Mom, just because you're nominated doesn't mean you're going in.' And then she said, 'Oh no, you're going in.' She knew it, I think. Somehow she knew."
PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION l 7 P.M. TODAY, CANTON, OHIO l ESPN
Ray Fittipaldo: rfittipaldo@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1230.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10219/1078421-66.stm#ixzz0vwEMII00
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