dragondawg
09-30-2007, 12:04 AM
Broncos treasure Super Bowl mementos
By FRANK SCHWAB
ENGLEWOOD - When linebacker John Mobley knocked down a fourth-down pass to clinch Super Bowl XXXII, most of the Denver Broncos’ players erupted in joy. Defensive end Neil Smith had something on his mind.
He ran for the ball. Just before he reached it, an official picked it up, ready to place it so the Broncos could snap the ball one more time.
“That was the ball I was waiting my whole career for,” Smith said. “The referee grabbed it and I said ‘Could I have that ball, sir?’ He handed it to me with the biggest smile.”
The news that Smith has one of the extraordinary souvenirs from Denver’s first Super Bowl win gets an unbelieving and jealous reaction from many of his 1997 Broncos teammates.
“Oh, really?” linebacker Glenn Cadrez said. “That’s neat.”
“Wow, that is unbelievable,” linebacker Allen Aldridge said.
Smith said the ball will sit in his trophy case forever.
“(Brett) Favre threw it, Mobley knocked it down, but I had it last,” Smith said. “That’s how it ends.”
Many players kept memorabilia from the Super Bowl. The most common memento is their game-worn jersey, and many kept the nameplate from their locker. Running back Terrell Davis has his jersey in its original state.
“I didn’t wash my jersey,” Davis said. “It’s probably foul, too. But it air dried a little bit, so it’s not as funky.”
After the season Smith hauled off the large board that the Broncos hang near their locker room, which keeps track of the game-by-game results. He did the same thing after Denver’s second Super Bowl. Aldridge is still hoping to get the helmet he wore that season.
Linebackers coach Frank Bush grabbed it for Aldridge, who signed with Detroit the following offseason. Bush hasn’t handed it off, almost 10 years later.
Broncos fans can see some items. One of the most valuable items, quarterback John Elway’s game-worn jersey, is on display in the back corner of the bar at Elway’s steakhouse in Cherry Creek. Also in the display case is a ball from the game and his cleats from the game. Just inside the front door is Elway’s Super Bowl MVP trophy from the 1998 season.
Fans can see both of the Lombardi trophies in the lobby of the Broncos’ headquarters. Enter the doors and walk to the back right corner, where the Super Bowl trophies sit in a glass case, near all of Denver’s AFC Championship trophies.
Davis has a one-of-a-kind item from the Super Bowl, the game MVP trophy. Only one caveat — you can look but can’t touch. No, really.
“It’s in a case, and I don’t have the key to the case,” Davis said. “I need to get a locksmith or something to open it.”
http://www.gazette.com/sports/super_27883___article.html/bowl_broncos.html
By FRANK SCHWAB
ENGLEWOOD - When linebacker John Mobley knocked down a fourth-down pass to clinch Super Bowl XXXII, most of the Denver Broncos’ players erupted in joy. Defensive end Neil Smith had something on his mind.
He ran for the ball. Just before he reached it, an official picked it up, ready to place it so the Broncos could snap the ball one more time.
“That was the ball I was waiting my whole career for,” Smith said. “The referee grabbed it and I said ‘Could I have that ball, sir?’ He handed it to me with the biggest smile.”
The news that Smith has one of the extraordinary souvenirs from Denver’s first Super Bowl win gets an unbelieving and jealous reaction from many of his 1997 Broncos teammates.
“Oh, really?” linebacker Glenn Cadrez said. “That’s neat.”
“Wow, that is unbelievable,” linebacker Allen Aldridge said.
Smith said the ball will sit in his trophy case forever.
“(Brett) Favre threw it, Mobley knocked it down, but I had it last,” Smith said. “That’s how it ends.”
Many players kept memorabilia from the Super Bowl. The most common memento is their game-worn jersey, and many kept the nameplate from their locker. Running back Terrell Davis has his jersey in its original state.
“I didn’t wash my jersey,” Davis said. “It’s probably foul, too. But it air dried a little bit, so it’s not as funky.”
After the season Smith hauled off the large board that the Broncos hang near their locker room, which keeps track of the game-by-game results. He did the same thing after Denver’s second Super Bowl. Aldridge is still hoping to get the helmet he wore that season.
Linebackers coach Frank Bush grabbed it for Aldridge, who signed with Detroit the following offseason. Bush hasn’t handed it off, almost 10 years later.
Broncos fans can see some items. One of the most valuable items, quarterback John Elway’s game-worn jersey, is on display in the back corner of the bar at Elway’s steakhouse in Cherry Creek. Also in the display case is a ball from the game and his cleats from the game. Just inside the front door is Elway’s Super Bowl MVP trophy from the 1998 season.
Fans can see both of the Lombardi trophies in the lobby of the Broncos’ headquarters. Enter the doors and walk to the back right corner, where the Super Bowl trophies sit in a glass case, near all of Denver’s AFC Championship trophies.
Davis has a one-of-a-kind item from the Super Bowl, the game MVP trophy. Only one caveat — you can look but can’t touch. No, really.
“It’s in a case, and I don’t have the key to the case,” Davis said. “I need to get a locksmith or something to open it.”
http://www.gazette.com/sports/super_27883___article.html/bowl_broncos.html