Supersized collection of NFL legends inducted into Hall of Fame

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Monday, August 9

Peyton Manning snuck in a Tom Brady joke during his Hall of Fame speech.

Supersized collection of NFL legends inducted into Hall of Fame

Peyton Manning got in a Tom Brady joke, and Charles Woodson got emotional as 28 new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame were enshrined.

Between the 2021 class and the expanded 2020 Centennial class, the Pro Football Hall of Fame welcomed 28 new members over the weekend.

Peyton Manning managed to get in a Tom Brady joke. The normally super-cool Charles Woodson got emotional.

The big weekend in pro football's birthland started with the Hall of Fame Game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys last Thursday. The first full weekend of preseason action kicks off with two games on Thursday night.

Friendly reminder: The NFL preseason is three weeks after the regular season was expanded to 17 games. So, after three preseason games (four for the Cowboys and Steelers), teams get an extra week off before the 2021 season kicks off for real in the second weekend of September.

Steelers wide receivers Tyler Simmons (82) and Anthony Johnson celebrate after a touchdown by Simmons against the Cowboys in the Hall of Fame Game.

Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports

•	PHOTOS: Best of NFL training camps

Hall of Fame enshrinement

Here are some of the highlights from the weekend's Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony in Canton:

•	Peyton Manning: How the Hall of Fame quarterback became the superstar the Colts desperately needed in Indianapolis.
•	Charles Woodson: Former Raiders and Packers great bubbled with emotion during his Hall of Fame speech.
•	Calvin Johnson: Lions legend grateful for Detroit fans sticking with the team even during an 0-16 2008 season.
•	Edgerrin James: Hall of Fame running back dubs himself "inmate No. 336" at enshrinement.
•	Jimmy Johnson: During his Hall of Fame speech, Johnson showed off the charisma and ability to motivate that helped him win two Super Bowls in Dallas.
•	Tom Flores: The Raiders legend enters the Hall of Fame in a monumental moment for Latinos, whose NFL contributions have often been ignored.
•	Paul Tagliabue: Former NFL commissioner opens up about concussions, his battle with Parkinson's disease and the NFL's future.
•	Duke Slater: His long-delayed Hall of Fame call provides an "uncomfortable" history lesson.

Charles Woodson got emotional during his Hall of Fame speech.

Scott Heckel, Canton Repository

•	PHOTOS: Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2020

NFL news, notes and analysis

•	The Indianapolis Colts made Darius Leonard the highest-paid linebacker in the NFL with a new five-year, $99.25 million deal.
•	Green Bay Packers wide receiver Devin Funchess apologized for using an anti-Asian slur during a Saturday night news conference.
•	After opting out of last season to work as a doctor, the Kansas City Chiefs' Laurent Duvernay-Tardiff views even the most undesirable aspects of football in a new light.
•	Did the Chiefs find an answer to resolve their Super Bowl fiasco by acquiring Orlando Brown Jr.?
•	Cue David Robidoux's iconic "Hard Knocks" theme, the HBO series kicks off Tuesday night, and here is why you should tune in as NFL Films follows the Dallas Cowboys as they prepare for the 2021 season.

Cowboys tight end Dalton Schultz runs with the ball against Steelers cornerback Tre Norwood during the first quarter of the Hall of Fame Game. The Steelers won the game, 16-3.

Ken Blaze, USA TODAY Sports

NFL preseason Week 1

Thursday

•	Washington Football Team at New England Patriots, 7:30 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
•	Pittsburgh Steelers at Philadelphia Eagles, 7:30 p.m. ET

Friday

•	Tennessee Titans at Atlanta Falcons, 7 p.m. ET
•	Buffalo Bills at Detroit Lions, 7 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
•	Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals, 10 p.m. ET (NFL Network)

Saturday

•	Miami Dolphins at Chicago Bears, 1 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
•	Denver Broncos at Minnesota Vikings, 4 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
•	New Orleans Saints at Baltimore Ravens, 7 p.m. ET
•	Cleveland Browns at Jacksonville Jaguars, 7 p.m. ET (NFL Network)
•	New York Jets at New York Giants, 7:30 p.m. ET
•	Cincinnati Bengals at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 7:30 p.m. ET
•	Houston Texans at Green Bay Packers, 8 p.m. ET
•	Kansas City Chiefs at San Francisco 49ers, 8:30 p.m. ET
•	Seattle Seahawks at Las Vegas Raiders, 9 p.m. ET
•	Los Angeles Chargers at Los Angeles Rams, 10 p.m. ET (NFL Network)