Rice, Smith headline HOF inductions

Associated Press

Jerry Rice was the 16th name called in the 1985 NFL draft. Emmitt Smith saw 16 players selected before he was taken in 1990.

Their wait to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame was nowhere near as excruciating.

On Saturday night, Rice and Smith will be inducted together in the Canton shrine as the top receiver and top rusher in league history. They were slam-dunk choices back in February, having proven through so many years how unwise so many teams were for bypassing them.

“There was no way I was going to be denied,” Rice said. “I kept working hard and my dream came true. I tell kids do not let any obstacles stand in your way. If you want to achieve something, go for it. I’m living proof with my background and where I came from. I didn’t give up and I wanted to be the best football player I could possibly be in the NFL and I was able to accomplish that.”

As was Smith.

“I was always taught to try not to focus on what people are saying about you,” Smith said. “Obviously you hear it, and you can’t help but think about it to some degree. But it won’t affect how you approach the game. You will continue to work had, study hard and approach the game from a professional standpoint that will afford you the opportunity to go on the football field and do the best you can.”

Joining them in the hall will be Detroit Lions defensive back Dick LeBeau, who has been even more successful as a defensive coordinator, particularly in Pittsburgh; Washington guard Russ Grimm — also a top NFL assistant coach; New Orleans linebacker Rickey Jackson; Minnesota defensive tackle John Randle, and Denver running back Floyd Little.

Rice had the fortune to be drafted by the 49ers when coach Bill Walsh traded three draft picks to New England to move up to the 16th spot. The Niners were coming off their second Super Bowl victory, and all Rice added was, well, the perfect receiver.

“When I first stepped into that locker room I looked across and there was Joe Montana and Ronnie Lott, all of these Hall of Famers,” Rice said. “At first it was like a deer in the headlights.”

Rice became an uncatchable deer. He had a record streak of 274 consecutive games with a catch; 11 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons; 22 touchdown catches in 12 games of the strike-shortened 1987 season; and final totals of 1,549 receptions for 22,895 yards and 197 touchdowns.