By John Turney
LeClair was a three-year apprentice to Cincinnati Bengal All-Pro Middle linebacker Bill Bergey and then in 1975, when Bergy was sent to the Eagles for a pair of first-round picks LeClair was ready to take over the position.
When he was drafted he was a tall, thin linebacker our of the University of North Dakota. He bulked himself up from about 210 pounds to 235 and increased his strength as well. He was a steady, not spectacular type, but he was efficient, had good size for the era and ran pretty well.
LeClair held it the MLB/ILB job for the next nine seasons (and then was a starter in the USFL for the 1984 season. He led the Bengals in tackles from 1978-81 and had 8.5 sacks and pickoff 10 passes in the NFL (and 2 sacks and 4 picks in the USFL).
He was a Pro Bowler in 1976 and a second-team All-AFC pick in 1982 and was All-USFL in 1984. So. he had some post-season honors.
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