CANTON, Ohio (AP) — They blocked and tackled and got lost in those scrums at the line of scrimmage, overshadowed by the guys who handled the ball and got the moments of glory. It all changes in Canton this weekend, when linemen are the stars of the NFL's most prestigious event. Four linemen will be among the six players inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday night — Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Willie Roaf and Dermontti Dawson. Running back Curtis Martin and cornerback Jack Butler will join them. The weekend took a hit last year when the Hall of Fame game had to be called off because of the NFL lockout. It's back this year, with the Saints and the Cardinals playing in the preseason opener on Sunday night.
Linemen become the stars on Hall of Fame weekend
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FILE - In this Aug. 27, 1990, file photo, Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chris Doleman (56) brings down Houston Oilers quarterback Warren Moon for a safety during preseason NFL football action in Minneapolis. Doleman will enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame next weekend with 150½ sacks, the fourth most in NFL history. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)
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In this Oct. 29, 2000 photo, Seattle Seahawks' Cortez Kennedy calls for noise from fans during the fourth quarter of an NFL game against Kansas City, in Seattle. The spotlight was never important to Kennedy. That's why being one of the most dominant defensive linemen of his generation, yet playing for the remote Seahawks away from much national media attention, never bothered Kennedy. (AP Photo/The News Tribune, Bruce Kellman)
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In this Oct. 12, 1998 photo, Seattle Seahawks NFL football player Cortez Kennedy plays around in the training room whirlpool at the teams practice facility in Kirkland, Wa. The spotlight was never important to Kennedy. That's why being one of the most dominant defensive linemen of his generation, yet playing for the remote Seahawks away from much national media attention, never bothered Kennedy. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Rod Mar) SEATTLE OUT, USA TODAY OUT, MAGAZINES OUT, TELEVISION OUT, SALES OUT. MANDATORY CREDIT TO: ROD MAR/THE SEATTLE TIMES.
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In this Nov. 14, 1999 file photo, Seattle Seahawks' Cortez Kennedy gets a hold of Denver's Olandis Gary for a tackle in the first quarter of an NFL football game in Seattle. The spotlight was never important to Kennedy. That's why being one of the most dominant defensive linemen of his generation, yet playing for the remote Seahawks away from much national media attention, never bothered Kennedy. (AP Photo/The Seattle Times, Dean Rutz) SEATTLE OUT, USA TODAY OUT, MAGAZINES OUT, TELEVISION OUT, SALES OUT. MANDATORY CREDIT TO: DEAN RUTZ/THE SEATTLE TIMES.
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FILE - In this Dec. 28, 2003, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs' Willie Roaf, left, forces Chicago Bears' Jerry Azumah out-of-bounds during an NFL football game at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo. A mere 2 inches could have set Roaf on an entirely different career path. Fortunately for the New Orleans Saints and Chiefs, Roaf stopped growing at 6-foot-5 and figured he was better off passing up several basketball scholarship offers and focusing instead on football. This weekend, the former star left tackle will enjoy the highest individual honor in the game he chose with his induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)
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FILE - In this Sunday, Dec. 1, 2001, file phot,o , Kansas City Chiefs' Willie Roaf talks to an official during an NFL football game with the Arizona Cardinals in Kansas City, Mo. A mere 2 inches could have set Roaf on an entirely different career path. Fortunately for the New Orleans Saints and Chiefs, Roaf stopped growing at 6-foot-5 and figured he was better off passing up several basketball scholarship offers and focusing instead on football. This weekend, the former star left tackle will enjoy the highest individual honor in the game he chose with his induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner, File)
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FILE- In this Sept.1999, file photo, New Orleans Saints' Willie Roaf (77) blocks a San Francisco 49ers player during an NFL foorball game in San Francisco. A mere 2 inches could have set Roaf on an entirely different career path. Fortunately for the Saints and Kansas City Chiefs, Roaf stopped growing at 6-foot-5 and figured he was better off passing up several basketball scholarship offers and focusing instead on football. This weekend, the former star left tackle will enjoy the highest individual honor in the game he chose with his induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. (AP Photo/The Times-Picayune, Ellis Lucia) NO SALES, MAGS OUT, USA TODAY OUT
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FILE - In this Nov. 22, 1998, file photo, Pittsburgh Steelers center Dermontti Dawson (63) prepares to snap the ball top quarterback Kordell Stewart during an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh. When Dawson looks around at his fellow inductees for the Hall of Fame's class of 2012, he can't help but smile. On Saturday, the six newest members of the pro football shrine will include four linemen. To Dawson, that's nirvana. (AP Photo/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Kurt Weber) MAGS OUT; NO SALES; MONESSEN OUT; KITTANNING OUT; CONNELLSVILLE OUT; GREENSBURG OUT; TARENTUM OUT; NORTH HILLS NEWS RECORD OUT; BUTLER OUT, NO SALES. NO ARCHIVES
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FILE - In this Feb. 4, 2012, file photo, former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back Jack Butler talks about his career after he was announced as a member of the 2012 class for the Pro Football Hall of Fame during an NFL football news conference in Indianapolis. The 84-year-old Butler will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, after being selected by the senior committee for an honor he still cannot quite grasp. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy, File)
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