For what seems like the entire history of sport, when there have been teams, there have been captains. But until now, only hockey had a formal on-uniform designation for the honor, with one player on each team wearing the captain’s “C” and two others with the assistant captain’s “A.”
There is a logistical reason why the NHL clearly delineates its captains; these players are the only ones who may discuss rules issues with the on-ice officials. In soccer, the captain is usually the player who is the primary conduit between the sideline manager and the other 10 players on the field.
In the NFL, it’s a little different. The quarterback is the one who commands the huddle by sharing the playcall, but for many years, he received the actual play selection from another player who rotated into the lineup, or via hand signals from the coaches on the sideline. The captain’s only formalized duty is ceremonial — to walk to midfield for the pregame coin toss.
The captain’s role won’t change, but the way the NFL denotes it will, as the NFL follows the NHL and scattered other teams in other sports (like the Boston Red Sox with Jason Varitek) by incorporating captain’s patches on its uniforms. According to UniWatch blog majordomo Paul Lukas, only three teams have designated their captains with uniform patches, lettering or insignia prior to this year: the 1983 Cowboys, the 1992 Chargers and the 1994 Patriots.
Now, everyone will have this:
“The league wanted (the patch),” Head Coach Mike Shanahan said, “and we will obviously do that.”
On the Broncos, the men wearing the patch will be …
Offense: Jay Cutler, Tom Nalen.
Defense: Champ Bailey, John Lynch.
Special Teams: Chosen game by game; this week, it’s Jason Elam.
“That is always a tremendous honor,” said Lynch, who has been one of the team’s captains in each of his four Broncos campaigns. “I don’t care how many years you played in the league; to me, it’s the greatest honor you can have, for your teammates to say, ‘We want you to represent us and be one of our leaders.’
“It’s a great honor.”
It’s also quite signifcant for Cutler, who was elected by his teammates in spite of only having five career starts to his name.
“It gives you an idea what the team thinks of him,” Shanahan said. “This is totally a team selection. The coaches have nothing to do with it. It’s strictly among the players and who they see as their leader.”
Tags: Champ Bailey, Jason Elam, Jay Cutler, John Lynch, Tom Nalen
For all 4 players, it is well deserved. And for Jay Cutler to be chosen is fantastic. This proves he is highly thought of & is respected by his teammates enough to 1 of 4 captains. They couldn’t have picked 4 better people than who they chose. Congratulations to all of them!! This is going to be our season… GO BRONCOS!!!!!!
I think the patches look dumb, there really isnt any use for them. I also thought they were going to get rid of those green stickers on QB helmets during the regular season. Do you know anything about that?
Why so negative Bronco T? Start the year off on a positive note!! Electing Jay just gives him an incintive to play hard because the team counts on him to strive for a win!! The patches are fine, makes the guys happy! You be happy for them! The green stickers on the QB helmets will most likely stay on. That means hands off SUCKER!!!! Yeah!! NO NEGATIVE!!!!!!!! Let’s go Bronco’s!
Im not trying to be negative, I just think the design of the patch is ugly. Pluse like Andrew said Captains really dont do much other than walk out for the coin toss. I am glad Cutler was elected its definitely a good sign. First thing I thought when I saw it last night was uh ohh, next are the ugly sponsor patches that NFL Europe wore!
The green stickers will stay, apparently. Teams are allowed to have one player on the field at a time with a radio transmitter in their helmet; the green sticker allows the officials to instantly identify the player and thus watch for infractions (which, I suppose, could happen — there was that play at Kansas City in ’05 when Bradlee Van Pelt and Jake Plummer lined up at the same time).
I have to admit, though, I wish the patches were done differently for each team. Why not have the “C” done in the font used for the nameplates on the back of the jersey? Some teams — including the Broncos — use different fonts for their names, and it would give a little individualism between how the teams have their captains indicated. I love the idea of a captain’s “C” on the jersey … I just wish it looked different.
Funny, but I always thought the NFL had this. Can’t think of any really glaring negatives to a big white “C” on the uni, except that it makes it that much easier to identify the whereabouts of our impact players. Funny, but these kind of remind me of Madden and the blinking white indicators.
That should be considered a non-issue though, considering our opponents do their homework, they should know who to identify anyway.
i think the captins chosen are the right players cutler cause hes a leader and is the right man for qb nalen hes been with them all his caree an is experenced bailey is sweet and the best cornerback in the league and lynch whos a leader like the others and one of the best safties in the league and i think coach shanahn see that and great leadership in those 4 players alog with the whole team!
go broncos!
Andrew, do you know what the stars indicate? Why one gold, the others white? Is it to indicate years of captainship? Two gold stars is higher ranking than one, al la two star general vs. one star?
Well the four players selected to be the captains are perfect. Elway07, I totally agree with you on Cutler. It speaks volumes that his teammates think highly of him to want him to be one of the four.
Cutler, Nalen, Bailey, and Lynch: Congrats to you guys!!!!
The stars represent the number of years that player has been Captain.
I think the Captain choices are great and for Jay Cutler to be chosen Captain shows that the team is woriking together and serious about making it work.
I’m really happy to see who the team picked for their captains. They are all great choices in my opinion. (This explains the ugly C on Payton Manning’s jersey last night.)
I really hope that this gives Jay the incentive to play harder. It’s gotta be considered a boost of confidence on his part, knowing that the team looks to you as a leader. I just hope he doesn’t let them down.
As for the others, John Lynch, Champ Bailey and Tom Nalen, it would’ve been odd to choose anyone else really. John Lynch is most definitely, to me anyway, the leader of the team on the field and sideline (without Al Wilson).
Congrats to the official four Captains and to Jason Elam for this game. (Although I bet he’ll be special team Captain a lot.)
Hey Andrew,
I must own an authentic Cutler jersey. ANy idea where i can get the patch?
Is it going to be sold with it already on?
Thanks
patches stink! i thought it was a dumb idea that the red sox have a captain. . for real get rid off them. Or if they are forced to keep them . . .at least change the font to match that of the teams official font. (like Joe Sakic’s C)
Congratulations to all the Captains. Couldn’t ask for a better group of players.
I never really saw the point of having captains. I personally think the head coach and the o+d coordinators should get to call the coin toss, since the players are the ones who get all the attention during and after the game anyway. Then the opposing coaches could shake hands like gentlemen and begin battle. The patches are most certainly a little cheesy and ugly.
c mon bronx let go and beat the sorry bills
c’mon guys, having captains on the team isnt too bad afetr all. most especially that the players themselves picked those captains! not the coaches…. after all in the field every play its they themselves who make the play (though its been strictly under coaches guidance)….. and as for the patch, so long as that the NFL shirts i will be buying doesnt have those patch its ok…. though in the game, the patch design is out of sink (wink)
i think that cutler chosen as a team captain is great it will build up his confidence great team captains i think
go broncs
I say GREAT! Now…can we finally get down to football, and stop the blogging over who’s captain…My Captain? Hmmm…sounds faintly familiar from a line/scene from “Dead Poets Society”.
Go Broncos! Go Captains…Carpe Diem???????
you guys are all wierd for talking so much about a patch. It’s fun, it gives the teams something to do for eachother. All I CARE ABOUT IS WINNING SOME GAMES THIS YEAR WITH OUR 2007BRONCO UNIT!!!!!!! THIS UNIT KICKS SOME SERIOUS SERIOUSNESS!
I was a team captain once, at Manti High School in south central Utah. This wasn’t a bad distinction for the team placekicker at a school in rural Utah.
OK patches be damned!! We have a team here that respects each other and watches each others back. That is why they are a team and that is why they are a special bunch of guys!! Lynch and Bailey to me are what you call “back bone”!! They should be team captains!! Rod and Al are very much missed!! Go Bronco’s!!!Patches and all!!!! Lets get to the Super Bowl!! Show that young QB the way boys!!
GO Bronocs!
That was just a test. Didn’t think it would work. I think it is an honor to have been voted Captain of the different teams. Go Cutler! I see him as our young Johnny Elway. He has that same look in his eyes when you see him getting ready to throw for a long one. He is our man this year. Congrats to you Jay and to all the other captains!
Hey Andrew,
I know this is off the subject, but i need to know why Tony Sheffler is listed as the #4 Tight End on the depth chart. Or anyone else that knows.
To be successfull in life or sports,you need accountability.Designating Captains is great it makes them Responsible to be leaders and accept accountability to deliver results,focus, manage the game plan. This is a small nut necessary step to our Championship Season,one game at a time. Go Broncos 27,13 Over the Bills
Just like in one of my favorite movies – Remember the Titans, “Attitude reflects Leadership, Captain.” All these guys have the attitude on & off the field which reflects their leadership. Teams have captains for a reason — the team needs leadership, someone one or a group of people are just born being natural leaders (John Lynch). You still work as a team but some people just stick out as leaders & those people should be recognized, ugly patch or not. I personally love the patch, they should have started that years ago with John Elway!!!! And it doesn’t single out all the other players who weren’t chosen, it was them that chose the 4 guys we have as captains.
Complaining over some patch is just dumb. The NFL finally decides to do something to show who the captains are for each team & all we can do is complain about them. Make up your minds people. A patch means nothing to me really, at the end of the day all I care about is that we have an AWESOME football team, who works as a team & is gonna kick butt on Sunday!! This is our season, our time, our moment & we have the next John Elway as our quarterback – give the patch a rest & cheer for the best NFL team cause we’re going to go all the way this time. It’s been almost 10 years since our first win, 10 years later we should go back again & show ‘em who’s boss. Its time for our team to own that football field. GO BRONCOS!!
Sorry, I got all excited… I think I want to win more than the players do.
WEll SAID, elway07. Cant wait till tomorrow. GO BRONCOS
So can you only be a captain for four years? There are only four stars under the C. Anyone else find that odd?
If they had to have stars, I would have allowed five, like a general.
Ah, Tibor. How many times have you saved my butt?