Current Bronco HoFers

[Jesterhole]

So I got to talking with another fan about who the current Broncos were that had very good shots to be in the hall of fame. No projections of young careers like Jay's or Bell's.

Right now, I'd say Denver has three slam dunk hall of famer's in Jason Elam, Champ Bailey, and John Lynch. Not sure if Lynch would go in as a Bronco, especially if he doesn't win a ring here. Champ will, and Jason has a good chance to end up the top scoring player of all time when he's done.

On the brink we have Rod Smith and Tom Nalen. Smith should without a doubt be in the hall, I just hope he can play 1-2 more years and tack on more numbers. Nalen has 'the system' tag working against him, but he's been regarded as one of the top 3 centers in the game year in and year out. Just look at the production of the offensive lines that he has anchored for 10 years. Wow. He better make it, but interior guys get so screwed...if someone wants to 'waste' a spot on o-line to get in, it better be a left tackle type.

Pretty sure we can count Shanahan too, though he might have to win one more SB to be considered a sure thing. But since Jay Cutler is going to win the Super Bowl every year from now on, he'll get his shot.

Anyone else?

[Jason in LA]

I'd say that Shanahan should get in. Champ is a couple more years away from being HOF level. He's on the right track, just not there yet.

Out of the others, I'd say Nalan has the best shot. Jason Elam isn't getting in. Isn't there only one kicker in the HOF? I know there are no punters. Some people say that Ray Guy should be in.

I don't know about Lynch. Very good, for a very long time. But HOF? That may be a reach.

I'm as big of a Rod Smith fan as anybody, but he's not getting in. It looks like his career is about to end. There are a number of WRs who have better numbers that are still waiting to get in, and probably won't. By the time he's eligible there were be some current WRs who passed him up on the numbers list.

[atomicbloke]

Tom Nalen should definitely get in. He is a very underrated player in the NFL. He has anchored the O-line for the last decade and a half and we have had the best running game in the league in that span.

Whenever Nails has missed games through injury, we have lost. The reason he doesn't get any love is because we take him for granted. He has been our real MVP for several seasons. He deserved to go to several more than 5 pro bowls.

The Hall will lose all credibility if Big Nails doesn't get in.

[bendog]

No more kickers. I dunno on Lynch. He's gotten a lot of press ... unlike Grads ... so despite a "non great career" maybe. If Champ keeps playing like a top 3 corner for five years, I don't see how he can be denied.

After Sharpe goes in, I can see some support for Smith and Nails.

[spdirty]

Tom Nalen should definitely get in. He is a very underrated player in the NFL. He has anchored the O-line for the last decade and a half and we have had the best running game in the league in that span.

Whenever Nails has missed games through injury, we have lost. The reason he doesn't get any love is because we take him for granted. He has been our real MVP for several seasons. He deserved to go to several more than 5 pro bowls.

The Hall will lose all credibility if Big Nails doesn't get in.

absolutely. But I think the hall has already lost a ton of cred already.

[BigPlayShay]

In Lynch's case, if he goes in, he would not go into the Pro Football Hall Of Fame as a Bronco, or a Buc. Players don't have to choose a team to represent when they are inducted.

[MileHighMagic]

Shanahan is a lock. Oh, and why does everyone keep saying he has only two SB rings? He has three. I understand people realize this for the most part but just because he wasn't the head coach doesn't take away from the fact that he played a major role in the 49ers success.

[Garcia Bronco]

Rod Smith Is Not Dead

[Garcia Bronco]

Jason Elam is already in the HOF. His shoes from his 63 yarder, his 10,000th point on MNF ball is there...which was his 1000th point I believe.

[-Slap-]

Shanahan and possibly Champ Bailey.

Nobody else has a snowball's chance in hell.

[Tredici]

Shannon Sharpe better get some votes.

[B-Love]

When I see people write Tom Nalen down, I wonder if they remember he doesn't talk to the people who vote.

[Jens1893]

absolutely. But I think the hall has already lost a ton of cred already.

Well, the fact a team with a record 5 AFC Titles only has one HOFer speaks volumes.

[want2bAbronco2]

Champ if he keeps it up, Shanahan, and Rod is a lock (everyone loves him, owns every undrafted record + 2 rings). Lynch I think will get in, not sure which team he picks or if NFL picks it. Nails should get in, but it is so hard for a Oline to get in, maybe if he plays 2 more years and gets 1 more ring.

[B-Love]

Peter King's waffling on Art Monk is all the proof you need to know that the 39 man committee is a "good ole boy" network.

"Hey I'll waffle and change my mind on your candidate, if you change your mind on my guy. Deal?"

"Sure Pete, you got it, you big bloated slob."

[Jason in LA]

The Broncos during the Shanahan era have had one of the most dominant running games ever. But there is not one individual gets any credit. Zimmerman is still waiting. TD may not get in. Nalan should, but he might not get in. How can a rushing attack rack up so many yards over a 10+ year period, but not produce any HOFers? It's silly.

[-Slap-]

Peter King's waffling on Art Monk is all the proof you need to know that the 39 man committee is a "good ole boy" network.

"Hey I'll waffle and change my mind on your candidate, if you change your mind on my guy. Deal?"

"Sure Pete, you got it, you big bloated slob."

That's why its utterly meaningless to me.

At least when the Baseball Writers screw Andre Dawson year after year, I know its out of ignorance, not some you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours bull****.

[MileHighMagic]

Well, the fact a team with a record 5 AFC Titles only has one HOFer speaks volumes.

Try 6...don't forget 77. :thumbsup:

[Stuck In Texas]

How many sportswriters talked last year about how Michael Irvin was a sure thing and that only his off the field troubles kept him from being voted in last year? If that's true, there is no reasonable argument for keeping Rod Smith out. Of course, I believe Randy Gradishar was a MUCH better linebacker than Harry Carson so what do I know?

Michael Irvin
Wide Receiver
Ht/Wt: 6-2, 207
Born: 3/5/1966
College: Miami (Fla.)
Drafted: 1988, round 1, by the Dallas Cowboys
5-time Pro Bowler: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

Game-by-game data | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 |


+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Rushing | Receiving |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Year TM | G | Att Yards Y/A TD | Rec Yards Y/R TD |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| 1988 dal | 14 | 1 2 2.0 0 | 32 654 20.4 5 |
| 1989 dal | 6 | 1 6 6.0 0 | 26 378 14.5 2 |
| 1990 dal | 12 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 20 413 20.6 5 |
| 1991 dal | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 93 1523 16.4 8 |
| 1992 dal | 16 | 1 -9 -9.0 0 | 78 1396 17.9 7 |
| 1993 dal | 16 | 2 6 3.0 0 | 88 1330 15.1 7 |
| 1994 dal | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 79 1241 15.7 6 |
| 1995 dal | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 111 1603 14.4 10 |
| 1996 dal | 11 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 64 962 15.0 2 |
| 1997 dal | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 75 1180 15.7 9 |
| 1998 dal | 16 | 1 1 1.0 0 | 74 1057 14.3 1 |
| 1999 dal | 4 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 10 167 16.7 3 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| TOTAL | 159 | 6 6 1.0 0 | 750 11904 15.9 65 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+


Seasons among the league's top 10
Receptions: 1991-2, 1992-7, 1993-3, 1995-5
Receiving yards: 1991-1, 1992-2, 1993-2, 1994-8, 1995-4, 1997-8t
Receiving TDs: 1991-9t, 1992-8t, 1993-9t, 1995-10t, 1997-6t
Yards from scrimmage: 1991-4, 1992-10, 1993-8, 1995-9


Among the league's all-time top 50
Receptions: 20t
Receiving yards: 14
Receiving TDs: 37t
Yards from scrimmage: 39


Postseason data
Please read this fine print before using this data or sending questions or corrections.

Year Opp Result | RSH YD TD | REC YD TD
---------------------+-----------------+-----------------
1991 chi W,17-13 | 0 0 0 | 4 83 0
1991 det L,6-38 | 0 0 0 | 5 84 0
1992 phi W,34-10 | 0 0 0 | 6 88 0
1992 sfo W,30-20 | 0 0 0 | 6 86 0
*1992 buf W,52-17 | 0 0 0 | 6 114 2
1993 gnb W,27-17 | 0 0 0 | 9 126 1
1993 sfo W,38-21 | 0 0 0 | 2 23 0
*1993 buf W,30-13 | 0 0 0 | 5 66 0
1994 gnb W,35-9 | 0 0 0 | 6 111 0
1994 sfo L,28-38 | 0 0 0 | 12 192 2
1995 phi W,30-11 | 0 0 0 | 1 9 1
1995 gnb W,38-27 | 0 0 0 | 7 100 2
*1995 pit W,27-17 | 0 0 0 | 5 75 0
1996 min W,40-15 | 0 0 0 | 8 103 0
1996 car L,17-26 | 0 0 0 | 1 22 0
1998 ari L,7-20 | 0 0 0 | 4 32 0
---------------------+-----------------+-----------------
TOTAL | 0 0 0 | 87 1314 8

Rod Smith
Wide Receiver
Ht/Wt: 6-0, 191
Born: 5/15/1970
College: Missouri Southern State
Drafted: ---
3-time Pro Bowler: 2000, 2001, 2005

Game-by-game data | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |


+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Rushing | Receiving |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| Year TM | G | Att Yards Y/A TD | Rec Yards Y/R TD |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| 1995 den | 16 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 6 152 25.3 1 |
| 1996 den | 10 | 1 1 1.0 0 | 16 237 14.8 2 |
| 1997 den | 16 | 5 16 3.2 0 | 70 1180 16.9 12 |
| 1998 den | 16 | 6 63 10.5 0 | 86 1222 14.2 6 |
| 1999 den | 15 | 0 0 0.0 0 | 79 1020 12.9 4 |
| 2000 den | 16 | 6 99 16.5 1 | 100 1602 16.0 8 |
| 2001 den | 15 | 3 27 9.0 0 | 113 1343 11.9 11 |
| 2002 den | 16 | 6 9 1.5 0 | 89 1027 11.5 5 |
| 2003 den | 15 | 10 98 9.8 0 | 74 845 11.4 3 |
| 2004 den | 16 | 5 33 6.6 0 | 79 1144 14.5 7 |
| 2005 den | 16 | 1 7 7.0 0 | 85 1105 13.0 6 |
| 2006 den | 15 | 1 -5 -5.0 0 | 47 453 9.6 3 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+
| TOTAL | 182 | 44 348 7.9 1 | 844 11330 13.4 68 |
+----------+-----+--------------------------+-------------------------+


Seasons among the league's top 10
Receptions: 1998-3t, 2000-4, 2001-1, 2005-9
Receiving yards: 1997-8t, 1998-4, 2000-2, 2001-6
Receiving TDs: 1997-2t, 2001-3
Yards from scrimmage: 2000-10
Rush/Receive TDs: 1997-5t, 2001-7t


Among the league's all-time top 50
Receptions: 11
Receiving yards: 17
Receiving TDs: 30t
Yards from scrimmage: 42


Postseason data
Please read this fine print before using this data or sending questions or corrections.

Year Opp Result | RSH YD TD | REC YD TD
---------------------+-----------------+-----------------
1996 jax L,27-30 | 0 0 0 | 1 15 0
1997 jax W,42-17 | 0 0 0 | 3 99 1
1997 kan W,14-10 | 0 0 0 | 2 19 0
1997 pit W,24-21 | 0 0 0 | 6 87 0
1998 mia W,38-3 | 0 0 0 | 4 71 1
1998 nyj W,23-10 | 0 0 0 | 3 37 0
*1998 atl W,34-19 | 1 1 0 | 5 152 1
2000 bal L,3-21 | 2 3 0 | 3 58 0
2003 ind L,10-41 | 0 0 0 | 5 66 1
2004 ind L,24-49 | 0 0 0 | 7 99 1
2005 nwe W,27-13 | 0 0 0 | 6 96 1
2005 pit L,17-34 | 0 0 0 | 4 61 0
---------------------+-----------------+-----------------
TOTAL | 3 4 0 | 49 860 6

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/IrviMi00.htm

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/SmitRo01.htm

[KipCorrington25]

If Tiki Barber gets in than we should seriously get about 25 guys in.

[B-Love]

Ottis Anderson should get in before Tiki Barber.

[B-Love]

That's why its utterly meaningless to me.

At least when the Baseball Writers screw Andre Dawson year after year, I know its out of ignorance, not some you-scratch-my-back-I'll-scratch-yours bull****.

The Pro Football HOF is a great dichotomy.

I agree with your sentiment, but at the same time, I am an NFL historian/freak. I have been to the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies several times now and I am addicted.

It is the Woodstock of Football; Peace Love and Football.

[Man-Goblin]

Lynch I think will get in, not sure which team he picks or if NFL picks it.

Players in the Pro Football Hall of Fame don't go in with any team affiliation.

[broncsyanks]

ealm is a "shoe" in

[Killericon]

Elam? HAH!

Lynch, Shanahan, Champ.

[Jesterhole]

Elam is tied for the longest FG in history, and when he is done kicking will probably be the highest scoring player of all time. He'll be a sure fire Hall of Famer, I don't see how people don't agree on that. Oh well.

Lynch has been to enough Pro Bowls and has enough rings, and there aren't a lot of great safeties during his career to content with, so I think he'll go in pretty easy. Plus everyone loves Lynch, and that helps in the highly political picking process.

Just for fun, based on talent alone, I'd say Jay could be HoF caliber, especially with Mike as his coach. I mean, we've all mentally masturbated to the idea of having Mike coach Elway his entire career. Name something Elway had that we don't see in Jay already? Mobility, moxie, a top 5 arm, leadership, intelligence, hell...even the crappy college program!

[Jason in LA]

How many kickers are in the HOF? One. That's why Elam won't get in. Not that he isn't deserving. They just don't really let kickers in.

[Atlas]

Shanahan and possibly Champ Bailey.

Nobody else has a snowball's chance in hell.

Nalen will get in. The voters will look at Denver's running game during his tenure, They will look at his pro bowls and his length of service and he'll make it.

[GonzoLays]

All I got to say is that somebody from our offensive line better make the hall of fame after leading the world in rushing for the past 10 seasons.

[missingnumber7]

Nalen should get in, but if you look a lot of the linemen that are getting in now are guys that are getting voted in by the veteran committee. Looking at the superstars that get in I think that the Defense needs some more representation league wide.
Shanny will get in as soon as he's eligible. What he did in SF and with Elway before he left and after he came back.

[Tredici]

No one from our O-line will get in. Dr. Z will write a bunch of cutblock articles and then sit back and stroke his flaccid nose.

Only one kicker in gives Elam a better chance. After all the widdle fellas are a part of the game.

[broncocalijohn]

I'd say that Shanahan should get in. Champ is a couple more years away from being HOF level. He's on the right track, just not there yet.

Out of the others, I'd say Nalan has the best shot. Jason Elam isn't getting in. Isn't there only one kicker in the HOF? I know there are no punters. Some people say that Ray Guy should be in.

I don't know about Lynch. Very good, for a very long time. But HOF? That may be a reach.

I'm as big of a Rod Smith fan as anybody, but he's not getting in. It looks like his career is about to end. There are a number of WRs who have better numbers that are still waiting to get in, and probably won't. By the time he's eligible there were be some current WRs who passed him up on the numbers list.
Cant argue with this one. There is one kicker and no punters (if Guy isnt in, no punter will be) and RBs get all the love in the HOF (QBs too). Rod wont be close in voting. Ring of Fame? Hell YES!

[gunns]

Pretty sure we can count Shanahan too, though he might have to win one more SB to be considered a sure thing.

If Hank Stram and Marv Levy are in the Hall, Shanahan just needs to decide where to put the bust.

Right now, I'd say Denver has three slam dunk hall of famer's in Jason Elam, Champ Bailey, and John Lynch.

There's only one slam dunk there, Bailey. There is only one kicker in the HOF and it isn't Dempsey. Lynch hasn't really "outdone" anyone in any area to put himself in.

How many sportswriters talked last year about how Michael Irvin was a sure thing and that only his off the field troubles kept him from being voted in last year? If that's true, there is no reasonable argument for keeping Rod Smith out.

Beat me to it. But it's basically just another argument for how incredibly short sighted the Hall has become.

[The Moops]

It's true players go into the HOF with no team affiliation, but the HOF web site does indicate if a player was tied to one team more than another by using ALL CAPS. It's also followed by this: "The numbers inside of the parentheses following the team's name indicates the number of primary Hall of Famers followed by the number of Hall of Famers who spent a minor portion of their career with the team."

Here is what the Broncos section of the HOF web site looks like: www.profootballhof.com

Denver Broncos (1/2)
Willie Brown (1984) - 1963-1966
Tony Dorsett (1994) - 1988
JOHN ELWAY (2004) - 1983-1998

That said, I think John Lynch has a decent chance to make it, but he will not get ALL-CAPS; they'll say he spent "a minor portion" of his career with Denver.

The problem with skill position-players like Rod Smith, is he has to wait 5 years before he gets the chance. More rules to aid the offense every year makes it difficult for RBs and Receivers to make it because RBs and Receivers continue to put up bigger numbers. Plus, there's such a backlog of receivers still waiting, Art Monk, Andre Reed, etc. Rod might be one of those guys who falls between the cracks. Not saying he won't get in, it will probably take a number of years though.

That said, I think Tom Nalen and Champ Bailey have the best chance. Nalen will get credit not only for the 2 Super Bowl victories, but anchoring line with multiple 1,000-yard rushers. Speaking of Bailey, he'll have to play a number of more years with Denver to be considered an ALL-CAPS Bronco.

[Atlas]

No one from our O-line will get in. Dr. Z will write a bunch of cutblock articles and then sit back and stroke his flaccid nose.

Only one kicker in gives Elam a better chance. After all the widdle fellas are a part of the game.

Zimmerman will get in.

[Tredici]

Zimmerman will get in.

Ah.. but he had work on other olines now didn't he? You know, probably squeaky clean ones that offset the Gibbs' curse.

[Jason in LA]

The problem with skill position-players like Rod Smith, is he has to wait 5 years before he gets the chance. More rules to aid the offense every year makes it difficult for RBs and Receivers to make it because RBs and Receivers continue to put up bigger numbers. Plus, there's such a backlog of receivers still waiting, Art Monk, Andre Reed, etc. Rod might be one of those guys who falls between the cracks. Not saying he won't get in, it will probably take a number of years though.



That's the reason why I'm of the opinion that a like Tim Brown won't get in, even though many people in the media tagged him with the "future HOFer" lable. By the time he can be voted in he won't be 3rd on the receptions and yards list. There are a few WRs who look like they'll blow right past him.

Harrison will pass him and Chris Carter in both receptions and yards by the end of next year. If Issac Bruce plays two more years he'll pass both of those guys up too. If Randy Moss decides to play football again he'll pass both of them up in yards within three years. Moss is only 29. Torry Holt will also pass them up. If TO sticks around, and starts catching the ball, he'll pass them up too.

The thing that hurts Rod Smith is that all of those WRs will have greater numbers than him.

As for Michael Irvin, there will be WRs with greater numbers, but he's being judged on his impact to his teams. That's not to say that those other guy's didn't have an impact, or that Irvin was the player that made those Cowboys teams go, but he was a major player on those title teams. He was the "go-to-guy".

[FADERPROOF]

I don't think any OL will. Nalen has been great, but has always been overlooked and has never been looked at as the best C in the gamer to the sportswriters and media(Dermonti Dawson, Damien Woody, Olin Kreutz, Kevin Mawae have all been more popular during Nalen's tenure.)

I'd love for Rod Smith to get in, but he's an "art Monk" type, a very good WR but the knock is that he's never been a dominant WR in the league, a guy that you can say is quite possibly the best WR in the game. If thats the knock on Monk and the reason that hes not in, then Rod Smith won't be in anytime soon.

Champ is in, he's the clear cut best CB in the game and will be remembered as a very dominant defensive player in general, not just a great CB.

[kappys]

Aren't there still a few players left from the 73 Steelers that still need to be inducted? Sounds like our guys don't have a chance until the entire starting 22 of that team is inducted first.

[Circle Orange]

Personally I'd like to see more original Broncos eligible, not just the imports.