Little, LeBeau finalists for Hall of Fame

CANTON, Ohio — Former Broncos running back Floyd Little and Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau are finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The hall's seniors committee on Tuesday chose the 67-year-old Little, who gained more than 12,000 total yards in the NFL, and the 71-year-old LeBeau, a star defensive back before becoming a coach.

They will join 15 modern-era candidates on the complete list of finalists for the 2010 class, which will be voted on Feb. 6 at the Super Bowl in Miami.

Little was chosen for five Pro Bowls, rushing for 6,323 yards and 43 touchdowns, making 215 receptions for 2,418 yards and nine TDs. When he retired in 1975, Little ranked seventh in career rushing.

He also was one of the league's best kick returners, leading the AFL in punt returns as a rookie in 1967.

LeBeau played for 14 years for Detroit and has been a coach for 37. LeBeau intercepted 62 passes, which ranks seventh all-time.

As Pittsburgh's defensive coordinator, LeBeau has won two Super Bowls in the last four seasons.

"I can't imagine there has ever been a person who has been at that level as a player and as a coach," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. "There have been great players who were OK coaches and vice versa, but this is someone who was a great player and then one of the most influential defensive coaches of all time."

Still, because the Hall of Fame requires a candidate to be retired five years before he can be voted in and LeBeau still is coaching, he is being considered as a player.

2 COWBOYS EMPLOYEES FILE LAWSUITS: Two Dallas Cowboys employees seriously injured in the collapse of the team's indoor practice facility filed lawsuits Tuesday against the company that designed the structure and others linked to its construction and repair.

Scouting assistant Rich Behm and special teams coach Joe DeCamillis filed lawsuits against Summit Structures LLC and others involved in building and repairing the steel and fabric facility. The 88,000-square-foot structure collapsed in a wind storm May 2 while a practice for recently drafted players was being conducted inside.

Behm, who was paralyzed from the waist down, and DeCamillis, who suffered a broken vertebrae, seek unspecified damages in the suits, which contain similar language but were filed in separate Dallas courts.