[Buckskin86]

Coordinator of the year: Dick LeBeau, Steelers
Thurs., Jan. 22, 2009

Player's comments:
"He has that grandfather wisdom. When he speaks, we listen. He treats the last guy on the team like the first guy on the team. He treats Pro Bowlers and free agents the same way. A lot of coaches I had in the past, they feel like it's us and them. With him, it's just us. There isn't a line between player and coach. We're one unit, one heartbeat." -- Linebacker Larry Foote

"I don't think there's any coach in the business who can scheme like he schemes and game plan like he does. His wisdom and knowledge of the game give him a great advantage over teams and over coaches. Our schemes are very intricate. ... We definitely try to dictate what teams can do against our defense. I don't see anybody outfox him." -- Linebacker James Farrior

"He is never keeping secrets on the game plan, why he chooses certain things. In doing that, he's always teaching us. We've been playing this defense for a long time. Guys have taken this defense to other places and haven't been as successful, but they also have not had Dick LeBeau." Safety Troy Polamalu
-- Gerry Dulac for Sporting News

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28797232/

RUMORS FLY THAT LEBEAU IS READY TO RETIRE
Posted by Mike Florio on January 23, 2009

There are mounting rumblings in league circles that Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau could be retiring after next weekend?s Super Bowl.

We first caught wind of the talk on Thursday, and our initial snooping didn?t result in anyone telling us that it was a crazy suggestion ? especially since LeBeau is 71. (I hope I look as good as LeBeau when I?m 71. Hell, I?m only 43 and I don?t look as good as LeBeau at 71.)

We opted to post the item because a reader advises that Tim Ryan and Pat Kirwan of Sirius NFL Radio were talking on-air about the rumors today.

LeBeau, whose NFL playing and coaching career spans half of a century, deserves serious consideration for the Hall of Fame if the Steelers win another Super Bowl on his watch.

And the strong possibility that Super Bowl XLIII could be the final game of a distinguished career might motivate one or more Steelers defenders to attempt to pummel Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner into retirement, too.

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