Rice, Smith among 7 to get Hall call

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — All-time greats Jerry Rice and Emmitt Smith led a class of seven into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday.

The NFL’s career receiving and rushing leaders were joined in the Hall by John Randle, Russ Grimm, Rickey Jackson, Floyd Little and Dick LeBeau. Little and LeBeau were elected as senior committee nominees.

“I am just honored ... to stand up there with greatness,” Rice added before breaking down in tears.

Rice and Smith both made it in their first year of eligibility. They were elected a day before the Super Bowl, a game they each won three times.

“This is almost perfect,” Smith said. “I don’t think even Steven Spielberg could have written a script this nice.”

They will be inducted into the Canton, Ohio, shrine on Aug. 7.