Who should be the next member inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame?

[montrose]

Keep in mind this list of players and coaches meets the 5-year eligibility rule. The following candidates are NOT YET eligible: Mike Shanahan, Rod Smith, Al Wilson, Jake Plummer, Tom Nalen, Matt Lepsis, Trevor Pryce, John Lynch and Jason Elam.

[TheReverend]

I really think Fletcher is the ONLY one in that group that should go in. Maybe Reeves too. The rest I love but don't belong, imo.

[SouthStndJunkie]

It is time to finally honor Rick Upchurch and give him a spot in the Ring of Fame.

[Doggcow]

Josh McDaniels

[crush17]

Ed McCaffrey.

period.

[montrose]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

I really think Fletcher is the ONLY one in that group that should go in. Maybe Reeves too. The rest I love but don't belong, imo.

One of the issues is the precedent that has been set by the guys already in the ROF. With names like Tripucka, Johnson, Smith and Turner in the Ring (and yes I know what some of those guys meant to the franchise in their time), I find it hard to turn away players who had equally or more impressive careers for the Broncos.

My other issue is that of the 22 men in the group, they breakdown like so:

AFL era: 5
1977 AFC Title Team: 8
Super Bowl Championship Teams: 5
Other: 4

To me the late 90's, far and away the greatest stretch in the history of the franchise, should be the most represented. I also think that adding Reeves (and eventually Shanahan) helps legitimize the team's success pre-Shanahan, Shanahan-era and post-Shanahan.

Personally, I think Bob Swenson is possibly the most underrated Bronco of all-time and should be on the Ring with his fellow Orange Crushers but I'll agree that Fletcher is currently the most deserving to be added.

[TheReverend]

Originally Posted by montrose

One of the issues is the precedent that has been set by the guys already in the ROF. With names like Tripucka, Johnson, Smith and Turner in the Ring (and yes I know what some of those guys meant to the franchise in their time), I find it hard to turn away players who had equally or more impressive careers for the Broncos.

My other issue is that of the 22 men in the group, they breakdown like so:

AFL era: 5
1977 AFC Title Team: 8
Super Bowl Championship Teams: 5
Other: 4

To me the late 90's, far and away the greatest stretch in the history of the franchise, should be the most represented. I also think that adding Reeves (and eventually Shanahan) helps legitimize the team's success pre-Shanahan, Shanahan-era and post-Shanahan.

Personally, I think Bob Swenson is possibly the most underrated Bronco of all-time and should be on the Ring with his fellow Orange Crushers but I'll agree that Fletcher is currently the most deserving to be added.

I won't argue with any of that.

My worry is that outside of Fletcher, it's a ton of fan favorites who were awesome players, but are all roughly on that same level. Put them all in and where's the room for more GREAT players on that Little, Elway, Gradishar, Smith, Atwater, Zimm, etc level.

[montrose]

Originally Posted by TheReverend

I won't argue with any of that.

My worry is that outside of Fletcher, it's a ton of fan favorites who were awesome players, but are all roughly on that same level. Put them all in and where's the room for more GREAT players on that Little, Elway, Gradishar, Smith, Atwater, Zimm, etc level.

I totally hear you there, again my issue is the precedent that was previously set. As f'ed up as this may sound, I wish we could take some of those guys out of the ROF to make it more exclusive. I voted for Swanson as I wish more Broncos fans were aware of his skills but this is based on the criteria I see from the names presently on the Ring.

[TheReverend]

Had Romo's entire career been in Denver, or had Mobley not gotten into that accident... those two names could EASILY belong up there with Fletcher, imo.

[cutthemdown]

Sorry at this point in Denvers history it will be really hard to get in. Eddie Mac just not quite great enough, good player no doubt and worthy of our admiration, but I don't think ROF worthy at this point. Same with a lot of the other players. Especially ones like Braxton and Romo who did too many questionable things. IE Vance Johnson as well.

Rick upchurch a decent wr but more a special teamer, although a great one, no ROF great.

Don't worry over next 20 yrs we will have some more players like Elway, Sharpe, Zimmerman, TD, etc that dominated there positions, the division, and the NFL. If we go back and put in all these good players from the past what do we do in 20 yrs when we need numbers and space in the ring of fame.

Don't water it down, or it will become meaningless like pro bowls.

[cutthemdown]

Problem with Simon Fletcher is he didn't play big in big games. You want ROF to be for players like Atwater, who intimidated every team, not just some teams, who made plays in regular games, big games, and the biggest games.

Fletcher IMO would get 3-4 sacks vs a bad team, then 0 vs the some big NFC team when it mattered. Not ROF worthy but worthy of mention as a good Broncos player. He did get his 10-13 sacks a yr, but they were quiet sacks IMO.

[TheElusiveKyleOrton]

I really believe that Bowlen should waive the waiting period and induct Shanahan this season. Get some goodwill, good JuJu and good Karma back in that stadium.

[CBF1]

Rulon Jones. I can not believe he is not getting any love from you knuckleheads

[broncosteven]

Bowlen is not going to allow anyone from before the beginning of his reign so therefore I voted for Eddie Mac.

[Northman]

Stinky

[bowtown]

I voted for Fletcher because I think of all those names, he is the one that belongs the most, but I don't think anyone should go before Tom Nalen (even though he's not yet elegible).

[uplink]

Give Reeves a little respect for taking the broncos to 3 superbowls!, almost 4 thinking of the Buffalo game. He might get in the HOF one day as he has the
wins.

[phillybroncosnut]

I think Eddie will win a poll like this becaue people remember recent alot more then 25 years ago but, I still can't believe Simon is not in the ROF. I raised the question in a thread a few years ago asking why Fletch isnt in the ROF.... IIRC, people were telling me he left Denver and burned some bridges.

[Popps]

Fletcher is our all-time leading sack leader and one of our best linemen ever, factoring in guys who played for us for a long period of time.

Reeves probably won't ever be inducted, but he really should be.

[bombay]

Al Wilson.

The day he went down is the day the defense died.

[PaintballCLE]

david treadwell, rich karlis, Mike Horan, and tom rouen

[Sacked by Croel]

Riley Odoms has as good of a case as anybody outside of Dan Reeves.

From 1973-74, he was the best tight end in all of football, being voted to the first-team NFL All-Pro team twice.

[phillybroncosnut]

Originally Posted by Popps

Fletcher is our all-time leading sack leader and one of our best linemen ever, factoring in guys who played for us for a long period of time.

Reeves probably won't ever be inducted, but he really should be.

Agree about Reeves. On the Fletcher topic, it's arguable (maybe Floyd, Meck, Shannon, or TD), but, Fletcher IMO is the 3rd greatest Broncos ever.

1-Elway
2-Gradishar
3-Simon

[titan]

I always thought Upchurch was the most glaring omission from the Ring of Fame. Probably because he played before Bowlen owned the team. Upchurch was such a key part of the first Bronco Super Bowl team. He deserves to get in for his return magic alone - one of the most exciting players in Bronco history. Jim Turner is in the Ring, and in my opinion Upchurch was a more important member of the 77 team than Turner.

[HAT]

#73 hands down......

I loved easy Ed as much as the next guy but no way should he be in the ROF.

Reeves? GTFO