(Photo: WireImage.com)
The Broncos have another Hall of Famer.
Offensive tackle Gary Zimmerman was elected to join the ranks of the sport’s hallowed elite on Saturday after being a perennial finalist for induction in recent years.
In recent years, Zimmerman had been the only player with two all-decade selections eligible for the Hall of Fame to not be in the shrine.
Linebacker Randy Gradishar was eliminated in the first round of voting.
A short video on Zimmerman is below.
More to follow …
Tags: Gary Zimmerman, Hall of Fame
Randy was robbed, yes I am happy for Zim but Gradishar was robbed. The guy average 200 tackles a season. If he played in New York he would have been a Hall of Famer. He was and is the best Short Yardage run stopper in NFL History.
GO BRONCOS!
Congrats to Zim, but it should have happened years ago. Randy Gradishar belongs in the Hall. Until the Broncos get several other players in, the Hall remains a Hall of Shame.
Still only one Bronco in. Zim will probably go in as a Viking. Gradishar is more deserving than any of the Steeler LBs of the era.
Okay, first things first Mr. Colorado69, with John Elway enshrined at Canton there is NO WAY its the Hall of Shame. Yes, I strongly agree many of our former Broncos continue to get robbed by whoever votes for this but Elway alone makes it still the Hall of Fame. My favorite #7 is in no place that you call Hall of Shame, dude!!
As far as this year goes, I’m just thrilled that even one of our Broncos got a second look let alone get into the Hall. Gradishar deserves to be in there too no doubt about it but so does Terrell Davis and they didn’t let him get to be a finalist. They’ve been robbing our players for years but again as long as Elway is in the Hall – his name, his career doesn’t even belong in the same sentence as a ‘hall of shame.’ I’m not offended I just can’t believe someone in Broncos Country would say that.
GO BRONCOS!!!!
Hi Mason,
I found this on the HOF website http://www.profootballhof.com/hof/positions.html . I wonder why they list Gradishar as already inducted?
He belongs there. I am so sick of all these Chiefs going in! It seems like every other year at a minimum they have some nobody going in! What have they done in the last 25 years? Jack squat! How many SBs? A big FAT 0. Come on now!
Oh well. We have the very biased, terrible writers in Dr Z and Peter King to thank! Those two yahoo’s cant set their east coast love aside (nor their man crush on Brady) to see the facts.
I encourage every Bronco fan to send Z and King an email telling them in as many 4 letter words as you can to piss off!
GO BRONCOS!
While stopping short of calling it the Hall of Shame, the fact that the Broncos have 1 1/2 players in the Hall(Zim played for the Vikings longer than for the Broncos) is the biggest injustice in sports. Period.
2 World Titles
6 AFC Championships
The Broncos continually get overlooked because of the era’s the played in.
60′s – The Broncos were awful so Floyd Little gets screwed.
70′s – So many of the Dolphins/Steelers/Raiders have gotten in from the AFC that guys like Little and Gradishar get screwed.
80′s – A bunch of Super Bowl trips, but because the Broncos got blown out, those guys get overlooked.
90′s – The Broncos won alot of games in the 90′s, and only now are some of those guys coming up for consideration. Sharpe will get in next year. T.D. will always be on the cusp.
The thing that infuriates me about it is there are alot of “fringe” player from other teams that have gotten in while the Broncos have yet to see a guy get the benefit of the doubt. Today is a great example. Andre Tippett??? Are you serious?
TSG
http://www.milehighreport.com
Thank you Guru!!!! Tippett was a decent pass-rusher, but there is NO WAY he was a better defensive player than Gradishar! If we were to tell any of today’s GMs they could have either Gradishar or Tippett for their D, I doubt many would take longer than 10 or 15 seconds to say “Randy”! This really sucks, but congrats to Zimmerman. Does anyone know the HOF rules? Does he go in listed under one team, or both?
The Broncos will get HOF’s with time, eventually we’ll be seeing them get in. Shannon’s going to get in, Atwater and all the others will get in eventually just look at how long it took for Art Monk to get in.
I am sorry to say that Terrell Davis will sadly never get in the Hall, let’s get real. His knee blew out and he wasn’t a 10,000 yard rusher so do even get emotionally attached to the idea of TD getting in the HOF. It won’t happen.
This is a great day for Bronco fans everywhere. I am pretty sure Zim can choose his affiliation as far as the team he wants to be associated with. There is no doubt in my mind he will go in as a Bronco.
As far as TD never making it there is precident for him to go, in my opinion. Gale Sayers career was cut short by injury and he did not amass 10k rushing and receiving yards combined. (And only a six year career I believe) Again just my opinion.
Regardless congradulations to Gary Zimmerman. All I can add is it’s about time.
well congrats zim. as for td he better make it he was damn good him and eddie george. maybe one day we will watch smith make it in too along with lepsis
Of course TD belongs in the Hall. Even if he never amassed 10k yards, there is no disputing he was the most dominant player in the NFL for 2-3 years. Short career or no, he still owns records for consecutive playoff games over 100 yards, and he would be the only player with a 2000 yard rushing season not to make the HOF once eligible.
jhildebrand,
It looks like they made a mistake. They added Randy, but left Zim off the list.
Congrats to Zim. It’s an honor way overdue.
Congrats to Zimmerman but as many of you have pointed out, there are many deserving Broncos who have been and will continue to be overlooked simply because they played in Denver. Perhaps the most overlooked player is the original “franchise”, Floyd Little.
The Hall of Fame is a marvelous place to visit and I’m hapy for Zimmerman, but there needs to be more Broncos enshrined in Canton, no doubt about it. The day I went, I remember conversing with a lady who was a Buccaneers fan, who told me there were just as many Broncos as Bucs in the Hall of Fame (until Zim’s induction, this was the case). For a team that rarely won before Tony Dungy’s arrival, it’s deplorable that we were disrespected like that. Please, let’s have more Broncos in!
Floyd Little, for the time and the team he played for, he should be a shoe in for the Hall of Fame. He was the seventy all time rusher when he retired in 1975, the Broncos first superstar, five time Pro Bowler, and a great Humanitarian. Floyd Little was the savior of the Broncos in 1967, when fans realized that as the first round draft choice the team was staying put in Denver. The beginnings of Broncomaina, sold out stadiums and two eventual Super Bowl wins. The fans, the Broncos organization, and the NFL owe Floyd Little a nod, and induction into the Hall of fame. There are many former Broncos who deserve to be in the Hall. If Zimm choses to be a Bronco, which he should, that is two down and many to go. But Give Floyd Little his due!
It’s a day of mixed emotions for all Bronco fans. Zim got in on his 5th year of elegibility instead of the first year he deserved. Randy missed out on his last regular chance. What other Broncos should be in the HOF but never will be?
Terrell Davis. Totally dominanant for the few years he played, but, the shortness of his career will be the deceding factor.
1) Rich Jackson. His head slap technique so totally destroyed O linemen his technique was made illegal. The NFL Network has shows on older players. I’ver seen the story on Rich several times. The talked to some linemen who opposed him. The comment from one hit ther nail on the head, “He’s the best defensive lineman who’ll never make it into the Hall of Fame”.
2) Lyle Alzado. Lyle admitted he’d used steroids. He even blamed he brain cancer on it. His admission wiped out any change of ever even being a nominee.
3) Keith Bishop. A dominating O lineman who never even made a pro bowl.
4) Wahoo McDaniel. An interception machine.
5) Jim Turner. When Jim retired he’d scored the most points for the Jets and Broncos.
6) Steve Atwater. His legendary hit on the Nigeran Nightmare says it all.
7) Floyd Little. He saved ther Broncos, but, because of how bad the Broncos were, he doesn’t have the numbers. Maybe the old-timers will see him in a kinder light.
Plus many others whose names elude me for the moment.
Thanks oldsouthstander for your mention of Rich Jackson. He made SI’s list as the best defensive end in the NFL’s first fifty years. Deacon Jones said he learned his technique from Jackson. Al Davis (when he was still lucid) said Jackson was the best defensive end ever to play.
How about these names:
Tommy Nalen. As dominant a center as Mike Webster
.Jason Elam- Keeps breaking scoring records and had one of his best seasons ever. Thanks Wade Phillips for having the smarts to draft him!
John Lynch- He’s a shoe-in but as a Bronco or a Buc?
Dennis Smith- As good as Ronnie Lott but no rings
We’ll get Sharpe next year for sure, and TD sometime after that. After those two, it’s just a matter of waiting for Randy to get in, and waiting for Rod, Nalen and Elam’s first year of eligibility to see where they stand.
It’s truly a shame that so many great Broncos are left out year in and out. Zim deserved it a long time ago, and he is a TRUE Bronco, just ask him if he considers himself a Bronco or a Viking and he’ll tell you Denver was his football home. Tony Jones is another player that doesn’t get enough attention, he stoned the greatest pass rusher in the NFL history on the biggest stage. T.D. will always have the “numbers” arguement against him, but the truth is that for a 4 year period he was the most dominant back in the NFL. He’s the only player to rush for 100+ yards in every playoff game he played in, 8 straight. Another name that never gets mentioned is the great Mecklenburg. He played 3 positions every game for this team and was a perinial Pro-Bowler. He was the blood, guts and talent of the defense in the 80′s.
Just a classy guy. Whoever says this guy isn’t a true Bronco needs to apologize.
“The reason I want to go in as a Bronco is I feel that’s my family,” Zimmerman said. “Minnesota had kind of cast me off, and Mr. Bowlen and the whole organization has been nothing but first class to me. I’m a man of loyalty and my loyalty lies with Mr. Bowlen.”
Wow!!! I just needed to get this off of my chest, but I cannot believe how classless “Baby” Belicheck is… First a cheater, then a poor sport on the biggest stage (that he has been to before)… I’m thankful that our organization has more class!!! Go Broncos. The ’08-’09 season begins NOW!!!!!!!
I guess the other 3 SB wins for the Patriots are tainted now. Looks like Belicheck can’t win one without cheating!
happy for Zimm. he was the best left tackle to ever play, yes better that anthony munoz. sickened so badly that i cried when randy was snubbed. as a life time bronco fan he was the best middle linbacker in denver history, and in the top five of all time. my dad said he was the best to ever play. im only 29 so i didnt see him but if my ol man said he was good then he was. BONES1965 do you know how or where i could fing randys stats? or anyone else that reads this? thanks a million… shelbo
Floyd Little, Rich Jackson, Louis Wright, Steve Atwater, Dennis Smith, Billy Thompson, Jim Turner, Riley Odoms, Randy Gradishar, Tom Jackson, Bob Swenson, Paul Smith, Barney Chavous, Goose Gonsoulin, Karl Mecklenburg, Keith Bishop, Mark Schlereth…,but especially Floyd Little.
Zimmerman did his job with extreme quality with consistency and toughness for many years; he had to go up against the biggest and meanest of defensive ends and other defensive players, and never let them through at the wrong time. I hope he goes in as a Bronco! I was so sad to see Michael Irvin get in last year over him!
John Elway was a lock,
We all knew that,, ofcourse lineman, defensive or offensive will have trouble getting in, Gradishar one of the best ever in his position, catastrophy on him, Zimmerman send a ty, card to TD.. Td will get in before 2010, as well s Atwater, and Sharpe… Hopefully Brandon Marshall, and Jay Cutler are on their way… Don’t worry Bronco fans we;ll get our due… Congrats to Zimmerman…
Floyd Little, Rich Jackson, Louis Wright, Steve Atwater, Dennis Smith, Billy Thompson, Jim Turner, Riley Odoms, Randy Gradishar, Tom Jackson, Bob Swenson, Paul Smith, Barney Chavous, Goose Gonsoulin, Karl Mecklenburg, Keith Bishop, Mark Schlereth…,but especially Floyd Little.
“samparnell” you are right about each one…
Randy Gradishar denied again???!!! it is a disgrace to not let him in…I remember watchin him when i was little..he was my favorite..i made a home made jersey with his number and name..when I was 7…..it’s a shame….it’s horse-puckey…that they won’t let him in…
mecklenburg..#77…another great…he came from my home state…..south dakota….he was a underrated..over acheiver..he had heart….
Dennis smith…..another all-time great…#49….Troy polamaou is this generation version of Dennis smith….
steve sewell…if u know who he was….
if any bronco running back deserves to be in the hall of fame…it’s of course Floyd little…not TD…as we see now it’s the system…..not TD….plus the workhorses who blocked for him…Floyd Had neither……no disrespect intended..just truth…