I assure you, we didn’t know that Matt Lepsis was going to tell The Denver Post that he would be retiring when we decided to put him on the cover of the most recently published Gameday magazine, sold at Sunday’s season-ending win over the Minnesota Vikings.
In retrospect, though, it proved to be a prescient choice, and a magazine cover seems a splendid complement to such an occasion, even if such a distinction runs contrary to the offensive line’s collective policy of shirking attention in exchange for public silence and devotion to its handiwork.
His style encapsulated the entire Broncos offensive line for the past dozen years. Strong, stoic and silent — at least to the media, until new league regulations released the padlock that bolted shut the lips of the linemen, a proud tradition that dated back a dozen years. Sure, it flummoxed hacks like myself, since these men deserve applause and recognition for their work in helping create 11 1,000-yard rushing seasons, and I would have only been eager to share their stories.
But silence said so much more, because when Lepsis did speak publicly, it was with authority, intelligence and an underlying emotion that could betray his stoic countenance.
That bore itself out in the mid-evening hours of Christmas Eve, moments after the 23-3 loss to the Chargers when I asked him about the importance of winning the season’s last game.
“It’s going to be real important,” replied Lepsis as he leaned back into his locker, his 6-foot-4, 290-pound frame seeming to spill out of the cramped stall. “A lot of people look at that last game and say, ‘It doesn’t mean anything,’ but I think it definitely means a lot. To end with a win — even if you don’t have a losing record — it’s real important just for going into the offseason, guys getting together and working out and not ending on a losing streak.”
And it’s real important when that is your farewell, as Lepsis says it was.
So as darkness and snow fell upon INVESCO Field at Mile High on the next-to-last day of 2007, a football spun end over end in between a pair of canary-yellow metal poles, ensuring that No. 78 would go out a winner — which is precisely what he is, both in his years at the University of Colorado and his decade of service with the Broncos.
That is an appropriate coda for a man who always let his play and its results speak with far more resonance than words.
Tags: Matt Lepsis, Offensive linemen
Congratualations on a great career Lepsis. Wish you’d have come back for a couple more years. Best of wishes for the future
Matt Lepsis your an amazing role model, all broncos fan could agree you’ll be well missed as a bronco and i wish you a great retirement.
-Matt Kass-
Man I can’t believe he’s leaving, that’s just rough. A guy that made himself into something, those are rare to find in this world. Best of luck Matt, maybe you can join Stinky now?
Mason, Do you think Lepsis is “Ring of Fame” Material?
the man brought consistency to the position and protected our QBs blindside so well for so long, our recent tradition as a running powerhouse has been in part because of Matt Lepsis’ play….I think the man deserves to be up there with the rest of the Bronco greats.
The Bronco’s offensive line is legendary, so much so that every commentator looks at them in awe, and every coach wants to emulate them. Matt Lepsis has been a central figure in this historic line and deserves all the plaudits that comes his way. His hard work, intelligence and dedication to the cause will forever be part of Bronco’s folklore.
Congratulations Matt – you have done us proud and will be fondly remembered as one of the Bronco’s all time greats.
Best wishes for a happy, healthy and enjoyable future.
It sucks to see another great player go. Congrats, and i’m sure its nice to leave on your own terms and be able to live a pain free life. I know this is unrelated, but I didn’t get a chance to comment on the last blog about Javon Walker. I hope its just frustration and the emotion of a failed season, after all we all thought this was going to be big year for Denver and Javon. I would truley hope he decideds to stay and Denver keeps him. I agree with him 100% we have not used him to the best of his abilites. I konw we all remember the pass in Arizona last year, Cutler rolls across his body and slings it 65yrds. perfect strike to Walker. Twice in New England, Cincinnati, Oakland, and Pittsburg all games where he showcased his talent. I know Marshall will be awsome, that doesn’t mean we get rid of the other. Did Indy trade Harrrison when Wayne started to come into his own? It all comes down to play calling, we had no guts this year. KEEP JAVON!
I think he is a ring of fame material… and maybe even HoF.
Asian orange your f’ing crazy HOF…..r u kidding me….Zimmerman, Habbib, Scherleth, bishop, Kartz, Swayne….every one of them is 10 times better then lepsis…..there not even in the ring of fame…so i dont wanna here about Matt Lepsis….are kidding me…..dude is good but not ROF or HOF worthy sorry to all u Matt Lepsis fan club members. tell me one game he started in the playoffs that we won that meant anything????
matt lepsis most famous for diving really late trying to make a stupid play and blowing Terrell Davis’s knee out!!!
i agree , we really need 2 weapons on WR , Stockley is a good player but he’s not a threat , he’s a slot receiver , whith him , marshall and Walker , our offfense will be feared league wide , not to mention the running game and the TE , we need to keep oour best polayer and Javon is one of them , when healthy , he needs to stay and be used !!!!
it would be great if we could keep javon but if he really wants out let him go. Hes injury prone anyway. we could trade him and get some defensive help and replace him with desean jackson out of Cal. He could be a hester-like return man and is a pretty decent receiver that could give us a deep threat.
This is very cool for Lepsis – CONGRATULATIONS! However, as much as I appreciated the o-line, I wished he would have stayed one more year. Not to sound like it’s all about something else, and not Lepsis, but Denver needed to really draft defensively again this year. Now there is this new dilemma of what to do with the o-line. They did ok for the most part of the year, but now they need another guy again. I still think that Denver can get by with drafting defensively again in the first couple rounds, then get a o-line guy in the 3rd or 4th round, and start him. Train him up and get him into the loop early so he can be great someday. I still say they need to draft a MLB in the 1st and a safety in the 2nd. Trade Henry (or somebody else who they don’t really need – Young and Hall are both great) for a great DT and fire Jim Bates so that the defensive scheme can become great again. But that is just my opinion. Hopefully, but probably not other people’s opinions. Anyway, Great job Lepsis, and maybe you will be a Hall of Famer someday.
And also, something I didn’t mention in my last post, if Walker AND Smith leave this offseason, then it is imperative that Denver gets a new WR in the draft. But they should make sure to wait until later on in the draft to get him. Marshall was a 3rd round pick so the talent could be out there regardless of what round they are in.
well good bye to you wish you well and i hate to say it but i do believe that Rod Smith is next followed by John Lynch.
Yeah, but hopefully not all at once! Hopefully Smith and Lynch leave next year or after that (not that I want to see then go at all). Denver needs SOME continuity to help this team they turn it around next year. If they lose several key players, you think they say they have a lot of young players now, just wait until that happens. And then what, keep Bates and have not only a lousy scheme for defense but a lot of young talent that will go to waste. They better get rid of Bates and at least Lynch hopefully stays.
http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_7867034?nclick_check=1
Read it, i don’t think i have anythin to say…
James, i can’t get on that site, what’s it say?
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/rumors
here you can see many d-coords who got fired
Hope this poor season doesn’t overshadow saying goodbye to Matt Lepsis and possibly other great Broncos. Classy way to leave! Thanks Matt for a excellent career!! Sucks gettin old.
jwalkbmarsh, the site says that Viks DT spencer johnson will explore freeagency. Also i found this site that talks about Dcoords who got fired
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/rumors
balls
OK just got home from work. Why has Bates not been canned? Seriously are we not about winning anymore?
Lepsis, thank you for everything. I’m sure Brian, Jake, and Jay appreciated you much more that I did. Congrats on a spectacular career, rising froom undrafted status to the elite of the NFL. We’ll miss you.
well i think that rob ryan would be a great dcood to pick up. but im not sure. it all depends on what they do with what they got. i dont want them all to go at once either but who knows. if lynch reads this plz stay another year and take us to the SUPER BOWL.
Thanks for all the great play Matt!
Thank you Matt Lepsis !!! You had a great career. I will miss seeing you in orange and lue on sundays .
This whole Champ situation is killing me he is my favorite player of all time. I hope he is a Bronco his whole career. Give him what he wants PLEASE !!
Thank you Matt for everything
O.K Ramboskit, On the previous page you provided me some nice “stats” but you know the one stat that distinguishs Al from DJ. Wins, what you have to show for your “stats”. It’s the difference between Peyton Manning and Tom Brady. Who has alot of the big records and who will finish his career with almost every passing “stat” there is? Peyton right? Now to what matters. Who is going to finish his career with more W’s. Who’s already known as the best clutch Quarterback of all time? And finally when #12 hangs it up, tell me honestly who is going to have more rings? It’s about what you have to show for your stats that matters not just stats themselves. That’s why I say D.J belongs on the outside where he was already one of the best in the league.
And you are very, unbelievably wrong about Matt Lepsis. He might have ended TD, but he made up for it with years of pro bowl caliber blocking, what do you want him to do, hide his head under a rock crying about one play in his life where he made a mistake, on accident, or make up for it by blocking all-pro for years to come. TD’s been done for almost ten years(his prime is what i mean) so stop crying about it.
Good job Matt. We need to trade Javon and Champ to get some decent Offensive linemen and Defensive linemen. Look what happened to San Diego’s corners this year. Their defensive line put exceptional pressure on opposing offenses and forced QB’s to throw prematurely and they ended up with a league high 30 interceptions. Their corners were basically average. Great D-line pressure makes average corners look pretty good. Same thing on the O-line. We need to protect Cutler and give him more time. EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT THE LINE OF SCRIMMAGE. I’m getting tired of educating everyone on this.
Oops, I forgot to mention letting go of Travis Henry. We can do much better with Young and Hall. Can I mention one more time to bring in a new athletic trainer. Greek sucks and needs to move onward. I’m being polite here.
With Lepsis gone should we have kept George Foster and Tatum Bell?
Yes or No?
Foster couldn’t even start in Detroit, that’s all that needs to be said about him. Bell was not an every down back and stayed in the training room entirely too much. D.J. is going to be fine no matter where he gets placed on the field. I’d like to keep him at the middle spot and draft a guy like Adibi in the 2nd round for the weakside. Seriously dude, you want to trade our best player for an offensive lineman? Dude you need to walk away from the pipe, crack kills. And what the hell is everyone’s problem with Greek, I mean get a grip people. Think before you type, my GOD!
SORRY MATT IS RETIRING I WANT TO THANK HIM FOR EVERYTHING HE DID. HE IS A CLASS ACT. ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT.!!! JAVON PUT YOUR ENERGY INTO GETTING HEALTHY I KNOW YOU COULD HELP US. GET WELL AND THINK ABOUT BEING PRODUCTIVE. WITH PROTECTION FOR JAY I CAN STILL SEE YOU GUYS HOOKING UP ON SOME BOMBS!1! . LIKE THE ONE AT ARIZONA LAST YEAR1!!
Why is everyone calling for Bates’ job? I know, lets get rid of a proven success who now has a year in Denver with the players, and hire ANOTHER defensive coordinator so that the players have to learn and adapt to a new system. Maybe they’ll catch on to it by December 2008.
It’s not the system, it’s the players in the system. Get some guys in here that are physically built for the system and let the returning guys have another off season and preseason to get comfortable.
A couple good two gap DT’s might help some too.
Someone said to trade Champ and Javon for O-linemen?
Wow.
I’m glad you’re not the GM of the Broncos.
yah and its been damn near 2 years since Lepsis did anything productive….I think we will move Erik Pears over to his side,, he did a nice job over there when Matt blew out his knee…all be it he was rookie….and played the right side this year..he has what it takes…if not lets get a huge left tackle to protect his side for years to come…DJ’s stats are amazing at MLB….i just wish we had dj in middle and two others on each side that play like him we would rule the running game that way!!
Sorry there sickness, but Bates “system” sucks! The defense didn’t suddenly just fall off the map, we stopped attacking. A lot of it had to do with all the new players and positions, but I didn’t see us attack very much at all. His system looked like a “read and react” style, that’s a recipe for getting your @$$ whipped week in and out. As for Pears, HE IS TERRIBLE! Graham had to constantly stay in and help the guy out and it’s not as if he was facing the greatest pass rushers on a weekly basis on that side. Harris to LT, Kuper at RT and let Meyers and Hamilton battle it out for the guard spot. Flozell Adams may be available as well, GET HIM! He might come cheap with his injury issues.
Get an OL for Javon and then go get Bernard Berian so we could get a great OL and have another deep threat to help BMarsh. We would get rid of Javon and his injuries. I think thats the move we could do because if we get an OL for Javon, Spencer Johnson (DT) and Berrian out of FA, then we could get a safetyand a LB out of the draft.
What do you think guys
If the broncos traded champ i would be pissed hes so good he could be washed up and still be a top 10 DB. We need jamie silva from BC.
Just got in. Why is Bates still part of the Broncos? Someone please explain why we have not canned him yet?
thanks Matt for everything…big shoes to fill!!
Lepsis was a great LT for us, and did a nice job. He will be missed. I hope Lynch looks at his level of play as honestly as Lepsis did, because he’s done, I hope he retires. We must first and foremost address the OLB and safety positions in my opinion, throught the draft. I’d like to see them trade down this year and get more picks to address all the defensive needs. DT is another major need area. If Lance Briggs is available I’d make a run at him.
Lepsis was fantastic!! But it takes 2 years for a knee to heal – I know, I
have a knee that was scoped. Too many players are pressured into
playing on it after 1 year. Probably factors into Javon Walker’s scenario, too.
I hope Matt sits out for a year, lets his knee heal, then comes back…he is
truly a winner.
Trade Javon! He is crying over what agian? 7.5 on our cap needs to be somone that bleeds orange and blue. I hope Phillips falls to 12 in the draft and we grab Hanysworth in FA. The next gen of our OL is here… I hope Harris can stay heathly cause he is a beast. What do you guys think of over paying Singletary as DC and switching to 3-4? Elvis would be a monster at OLB is the 3-4.
Lepsis your the man!! Stay for another year…it will be worth it!
lepsis see ya…dumerville at OLB are u crazy yah im sure all 5’10 of him will do really well covering TE’s outta the back field…great on the rush but what about coverage!?!?!?!
sad to see you go lepsis its the beggining of a new era in broncos linemen lepsis gone nalen on his way out ben hamilton probably never be the same with his injuries oh well
You guys shouldn`t be dissing ole` Lepsis. 14 years in the league after coming outa CU as a tight end? Don`t tell me he hasn`t worked his ass off. All these new linemen should take a clue from this guy. Letting Cleveland get Eslinger was a total retard moment. Him and Cutler had chemistry, something this years line absolutely didn`t have. Oh GOD don`t get me started……..
I’m sorry to see Lepsis go, He gave Denver good years. It doesn’t seem that there is going to be any news on Hamilton and Nalen isn’t getting any younger. I predict that Denver will use a few late draft picks to add some depth and maybe a starter since most teams don’t look for the type of O-lineman Denver employs.
Free agents of interest- DT Albert Hayneworth, LB Lance Briggs, LB Jonathan Vilma, S Ken Hamlin. These players woud make an immediate impact.
Trade-WR Javon Walker, LB Ian Gold, RB Travis Henry. Gold has lost his edge and Selvin Young and Hall are Young and better. If Javon changes his tune, it would be nice to have the trio- Marshall/Stokley/Walker with Scheffler & Graham. If not, he might be a great way to pull Hayneseworth out of TN.
QB-Jay Cutler, Patrick Ramsey
RB-Selvin Young, Travis Henry, Andre Hall
TE-Daniel Graham, Tony Scheffler
WR-Brandon Marshall, Brandon Stokley, Taylor Jacobs
WR-Javon Walker?, Donnie Avery (KR-Houston/draft), Glen Martinez
LT-Ryan Harris
LG-Chris Kuper
C- Tom Nalen/Chris Myers
RG-Ben Hamilton (Late RD draft pick)
RT-Erik Pears
RE-John Engelberger (run), Elvis Dumervil (pass)
RT-Albert Haynesworth/ (2nd RD pick-so many good ones in this draft)
LT-Marcus Thomas/ Josh Mallard
LE-Tim Crowder (run), Jarvis Moss (pass)
WLB-D.J.Williams/Ian Gold/ Elvis Dumervil?
MLB-Lance Briggs (FA-Trade)/Nate Webster
SLB-Jamie Winborn/Jonathan Vilma (FA-Trade)/ Jarvis Moss?
CB-Champ Bailey/Karl Paymah
CB-Dre Bly/Dominique Foxworth
SS-Kenny Phillups (1st RD pick)/Nick Ferguson
FS-Ken Hamlin (FA-Trade)/Hamza Abdulla
Draft RD1-S/DT Kenny Phillups/Sedrick Ellis-Kentwan Balmer
RD2-DT/S Frank Okam-Dre Moore/Craig Steltz
RD4-WR-KR Donnie Avery
RD4-DT-Trevor Laws-Roy Miller
Rest of picks-O-Lineman
Wishful thinking!