I was just gonna write about this on Twitter, but didn’t know if anyone would see it. (Does anyone read that?) The Broncos are letting you pick your 50th anniversary Broncos team on their website, and it’s AWESOME. (Thanks, Lindsay.)
Some of the choices are great. Because I know Elway’s going to win at quarterback, I was tempted to vote for Frank Tripucka (whose No. 18 is one of the team’s three retired jerseys), or maybe Jake Plummer. And now that I know that the all-time team is going to be honored at a Broncos’ game this year, I really, really hope Jay Cutler wins it. But, in the end, I decided I’d rather be part of the 96.2% or whatever who go with Elway.
Some positions are really, really hard, because we’re so loaded. It’s funny that the Broncos spent the first part of the decade looking for the next Steve Atwater, who was just one in a long tradition of great Denver safeties (Dennis Smith, Billy Thompson, Austin Gonsulin). Leaving Smith off was tough, but I literally had to vote for Atwater (they show you some highlights before you see the candidates, and you can guess which Atwater hit made the reel) and Tyrone Braxton has always been a favorite of mine, the undersized, supposedly-slow D-back who was terrific in pass coverage.
We’ve had enough memorable linebackers that I would have gone with a 3-4 lineup, personally, though you don’t get the choice. I thought Simon Fletcher and Rich “Tombstone” Jackson had to be my bookends on the defensive line, but Rulon Jones caught my eye.
On the offensive side of the ball, running back is surprisingly tough even without Howard Griffith or the Human Bowling Ball, but T.D. and Floyd Little (his No. 44 joins 18 & 7, if you’re wondering) are the safe picks. Wide receiver is really, really difficult. I ended up going with Ed McCaffrey opposite Rod Smith but I think that’s going to keep me up nights, especially since I think they’re both gonna win, too. Lionel Taylor was the first pro receiver ever to catch one hundred passes in a season and Haven Moses was huge in bringing us to our first Super Bowl.
Anyway, if you like the Broncos, you have to try it!
The rest of my team: Shannon Sharpe (duh), a line of Gary Zimmerman-Mark Schlereth-Tom Nalen-Keith Bishop-Tony Jones, Louis Wright and Champ Bailey on the corners, with Trevor Pryce and Rubin Carter attacking in front of Randy Gradishar, Tom Jackson and Karl Mecklenburg. Jason Elam and Mike Horan are my kicking team, and Rick Upchurch edged the terrific Darrien Gordon as a return man.
Comments
QB: John Elway
RB: Terrell Davis and Floyd Little
WR: Rod Smith and Floyd Little (with Ed McCaffrey and Haven "Holding it like a loaf of bread" Moses as a close 3-4)
TE: Shannon Sharpe
OL: Tony Jones-Mark Schelereth-Tom Nalen-Keith Bishop-Gary Zimmerman
DE: Simon Fletcher and Rulon Jones (because I actually met him)
DT: Trevor Pryce and Rubin Carter
CB: Champ Bailey and Louis Wright
LB: Randy Gradishar, Tom Jackson, Karl Mecklenburg
S: Steve Atwater and Dennis Smith
K: Jason Elam
P: Mike Horan
KR: Rick Upchurch
I did play the Mormon card to go for Rulon Jones - although I didn't play it for Paul Howard at OG. But then again, Paul Howard never rode in Old Reliable to Youth Conference . . .