Hall of Fame ceremony kicks off NFL season

CANTON, Ohio, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Bob Hayes, whose world-class sprinter's speed helped revolutionize his sport, will be among those inducted Saturday into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The induction ceremonies on the steps of the Hall of Fame will precede by one day the first of the 332 preseason, regular season and playoff games that will make up the 2009 National Football League campaign.

Buffalo and Tennessee will play in the Hall of Fame Game Sunday. The season will end Feb. 7 with the playing of Super Bowl XLIV in Miami.

Because of his speed, Hayes required double coverage on almost every play during his days as a wide receiver with the Dallas Cowboys. His last game was 34 years ago. Hayes died in 2002.

Also being inducted Saturday will be offensive guard Randall McDaniel (Minnesota and Tampa Bay), defensive end Bruce Smith (Buffalo and Washington), the late Kansas City linebacker Derrick Thomas, Buffalo Bills owner and AFL co-founder Ralph Wilson and defensive back Rod Woodson (Pittsburgh, San Francisco, Baltimore and Oakland).

Hayes won the Olympic gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo. After his career with the Cowboys, Hayes served 10 months in prison for selling drugs, an event that long delayed his entry into the Hall of Fame.