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By SHELDON MICKLES
Advocate sportswriter

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — On the eve of their first Super Bowl appearance, the New Orleans Saints organization achieved another first Saturday evening when former linebacker Rickey Jackson was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A six-time Pro Bowl pick who was arguably the best defensive player in franchise history, Jackson is the first Saints player to gain entrance into the Canton, Ohio, shrine after playing the majority of his career in New Orleans.

Jackson was one of seven men voted into the Hall by the 44-member Board of Selectors at its annual meeting in the Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. The Class of 2010 also includes Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Russ Grimm, John Randle, Floyd Little and Dick LeBeau.

Jackson, 51, was unable to attend the announcement as he was in Tallahassee, Fla., following the death of a member of his extended family.

“I’m very happy, it means everything in the world to me,” Jackson said when reached by phone. “It means you’re one of the best in the world. And you proved that you’re one of the best in the world.”

Jackson proved it after being chosen in the second round of the 1981 draft, the 51st player chosen. One of the most feared players in the NFL during a 15-year career with the Saints (1981-93) and San Francisco 49ers (1994-95), he made his mark immediately after cracking the lineup as a rookie.

The Pahokee, Fla., native helped transform the Saints from a 1-15 team in 1980 the year before he arrived to 11- and 12-win seasons in 1991 and ’92, respectively.

With a rare combination of size at 6-foot-2 and 243 pounds and quickness, he became one of the premier pass rushers in the league under Bum Phillips and Jim Mora while playing on all three downs.

“I think it’s great, I’m very happy for Rickey,” said Mora, whose defense ranked first in fewest points allowed and second in total yards in 1991 and ’92. “It’s well-deserved. He was a tough player who you could count on.

“He was something special because he could do it all. “Rickey could stop the run, he could rush the passer, and could drop into coverage. He really was a complete football player. It’s well-deserved because it’s hard to get into the Hall of Fame.”

Jackson was voted to the Pro Bowl in 1983 after recording 12 sacks and made five more trips to Hawaii for the annual all-star contest. He also was named as an All-Pro four times in 1986, 1987, 1992 and 1993.

He played 15 NFL seasons and appeared in 227 regular-season games. Not surprisingly, some of the Saints’ best seasons coincided with monster seasons by Jackson.

In their first winning season in 1987, he had 9 1/2 sacks, 74 tackles, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions. When they won their first division title in 1991, he collected 11 1/2 sacks, 59 tackles, three forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and broke up three passes.

2theadvocate.com | Saints | Jackson named to Hall of Fame — Baton Rouge, LA

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