In a half-an-hour, Rod Smith will hold a press conference. Stay with this blog, as we’ll bring you live updates as the presser gets underway.
1:54 P.M. MST: The room is all set up, awaiting the start of the conference. There are 13 video cameras, photographers, reporters and Broncos staffers filling up the team meeting room. Former teammate and current coach Keith Burns is in attendance as well. We should be starting things soon.
1:57 P.M. MST: D.J. Williams just showed up along with Mike Leach and Brandon Stokley. More and more Broncos are strolling in to attend the conference.
2:02 P.M. MST: Vice President of Public Relations Jim Saccomano speaks to begin the press conference. He introduced Rod’s family and invited them to sit in the front of the room.
2:04 P.M. MST: Mr. Bowlen and Coach Shanahan walk into the room, followed by Rod, who is wearing a suit, both Super Bowl rings and a pair of sunglasses. “Obviously the greatest wide receiver to ever play for the Denver Broncos,” Mr. Bowlen says of Rod.
2:06 P.M. MST: Mr. Bowlen tells Rod he appreciates the leadership he displayed throughout his career. “I hope there’s a way that we can keep you involved in this organization, that’s something that I’m a very strong proponent of.”
2:07 P.M. MST: Coach Shanahan steps to the podium. “Rod’s the only person that I have ever been around on a consistent basis, day in day out, that never cared about a stat. All Rod Smith talked about was winning.”
2:08 P.M. MST: Rod sits quietly in the corner, listening to Coach Shanahan speak about him to the crowd. “People ask me should Rod Smith be in the Hall of Fame — you’re darn right he should,” Shanahan says. “He put as much pride in blocking for the runningbacks than he did catching the football. I’m just so proud to have a guy like this that I hope is with this organization for a long time.”
“You’ve always got a job here,” Shanahan said.
“YES,” said Rod, with a fist pump.
“We’ll have to talk about salary,” Shanahan joked and the crowd laughed.
2:10 P.M. MST: Rod steps to the podium. He says he’ll certainly take up the team’s offer to be a part of the organization. “I’ve been able to play for the best owner in sports, not just professional football. I’ve been able to play for the best coach in sports. I’ve been blessed.”
2:12 P.M. MST: Smith begins to tear up. “I knew this was going to happen, that’s why I’m prepared.” He pulls out a tissue and tells the crowd he’s going to start cracking some jokes to lighten the mood, then asks Keith Burns for some good ones. That cracks up the crowd.
2:14 P.M. MST: Rod is telling a story about wanting to prove Woody Paige wrong after he read an article that called him out for fair catching two punts on the 7-yard line. “It turned out great for me because it really inspired me to go out and work even harder to prove that if the Broncos threw me the football I was going to catch it. So, thank you Woody for the first time, and the last time.”
2:16 P.M. MST: “I’m always going to be in Denver. I’ve rooted myself in this city for a reason,” Rod says. “I never wanted to and I never got the opportunity to go anywhere else. And I appreciate that … the market for me has always been right here.”
2:18 P.M. MST: “When my son was born, the first football I ever bought him was an orange and blue Nerf football. That was in college and it just so happens that was the uniform I’ve been wearing ever since,” says a teary-eyed Smith. “Fate put me here, and I’m glad.”
2:19 P.M. MST: “I gave them everything I had,” Smith says. “I don’t want to take up a whole lot of time. I had some amazing mentors in my life. A few of them just passed recently, I wish a few of them could have been here.”
“I’m going to miss being in that seat right there. I’m going to miss the locker room. If I didn’t do anything else I hope I was a great teammate. That’s all I ever wanted to do, was win. And being a part of this organization was great. That’s all I’ve got.”
2:21 P.M. MST: “I’m done,” Rod says. “Thank you very much.”
2:22 P.M. MST: Rod starts taking questions. Asked what’s next for him: “Some yardwork,” he jokes. He also said he’s going to write a book. “All the projects I’ve been dreaming up the past 6, 7 years, now I get to actually go screw them up by being in the way.” The crowd laughs.
2:23 P.M. MST: “There’s four other organizations that I want to thank. The San Diego Chargers, the Oakland Raiders, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Seattle Seahawks. Those people and those other teams obviously make the NFL everything it was meant to be. It was just amazing to be a part of the Black Hole, part of Kansas City with all the fans chopping and going crazy, and the Chargers. Going into those environments with our groups was amazing, and our group coming on top the majority of the time was obviously better.”
2:24 P.M. MST: Rod says he knew he was going to retire on December 31st, last season — the last game of 2007. “I knew it was pretty much a 90 percent chance. But I’m happy with it. I know I’m crying so it doesn’t seem like I’m happy with it, but I am. I’m happy that I even had the opportunity.”
2:26 P.M. MST: Asked about the fact that Coach Shanahan said he should be a Hall of Famer, what does he think? “I think Mike’s a brilliant man. That just adds to his legacy. Honestly I don’t know how they measure who goes in the Hall of Fame. I want to congratulate Gary Zimmerman … I think (Broncos are) overlooked. I don’t know if you just base it on wins and losses or what, but I did everything I could and I would love to have a speech there someday.”
2:28 P.M. MST: Smith says Tom Nalen is a Hall of Fame center — he was on the practice squad with Rod. “I don’t like drafted guys,” he jokes. “Even Keith, he’s my boy but I don’t like him because he got drafted.”
2:30 P.M. MST: Asked about wearing both Super Bowl rings: “I was just going to wear one, but both of them are special. The type of organization we have is represented by these rings.”
On this year’s team: “Tomorrow begins their quest, and I expect them to do very well. They’re family to me.”
On the fans: “Anybody I didn’t sign an autograph for I’m sorry. I tried to do all of them. I appreciate the fans. The Bronco fans are special to me, I appreciate all you guys really supporting me and I love when I see little kids and they have on a No. 80 jersey, it just makes me smile. They don’t know how much that means to me. I’m letting you know, if I don’t come up to you personally, I appreciate you, every single one of you.”
2:34 P.M. MST: Coach steps back to the podium. “That’s how you measure, in my opinion, how great a player is. When no one knows what you’re doing except your teammates,” talking about how much Smith cared about blocking.
2:36 P.M. MST: Coach on when he thought Rod could step up and play in 1995 — “When you first come in as a head coach, you try to look at film all the time, and you’re watching the WRs go against the defense … and you keep on looking at a guy, saying, ‘Can’t they cover this guy?’ You’re going, ‘Holy cow, I’ve got myself a football player and I’ve got myself a winner.’”
2:38 P.M. MST: Thanks for reading, that’s all from the press conference. We’ll have more on the main site soon.
Share your memories of Rod’s career below.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Gray Caldwell, Live Press Conference, Mike Shanahan, Pat Bowlen, Retirement, Rod Smith, Wide receivers
Is there anywhere we can watch this live?
Maybe on the internet somewhere as I live in California???
I was wondering the same thing, Hopefully I will get to see the video after work at least.
yeah, it would be nice to see everyone
Damn I’ll be hoping to watch this from NZ…
Surely, video from one of those 13 cameras will end up on the site in the next day or less.
For us junkies, this blog is the next best thing.
Do these minutes seem like hours to anybody else?
Rod is my favorite athlete of all time. This is a tough day.
We all saw this coming, but it didn’t feel real till today. We’ll miss ya, Rod.
Thanks Mr. Smith!!!
Rod will be a great leader and coach on this team depending on what role if any he wants to take on. WR coach seems like a no brainer, everyone will look up to him and what better person to learn the position from then an undrafted rookie that worked his tail off to become a cog of the offense through the 90’s and into the 2000’s and could catch anything that came his way. In Rod we Trust!
I just wish we could have seen him suit up in the orange and blue just one more time, catch one more pass.
Thank you for letting me read this… I look forward to seeing video later.
I knew Rod would make me laugh even when I wanted to cry.
Thanks for everything Rod! We love you!
Excellent press conference. We will miss Rod, the player, but especially we’ll miss Rod, the man.
I wish we could see him play one more time, too. I wish we could see THIS! I am sure there will be a video on this site later today. I’m sure there will be a big ceremony first game of the season for Rod… they should put him in the Ring right away!
Every time I’ve seen Rod Smith run a deep post over the middle I get a flash back to the 2nd Superbowl against the falcons when John Elway kinda threw the pass a little behind him and Rod adjusted to it and took it to the house. This is my earliest memory of football and the moment when I became a Bronco fan forever.(despite living in Los Angeles which is dangerous due to all the Raider fans lol)
Thanks for the live blog. It kept us going when the live feed didn’t pop up at the main site.
I met Rod in 1996 in Rock Springs, Wyoming doing a charity basketball game. He was new to the team, and became my fav player since then-hes a great guy, a great player! Sad to see him retire, but his life will just be beginning-good luck to ya!
I still remeber his first catch. He is truly missed. The Broncos will surely have his live feed pretty soon. Take care Rod….
The #80 should be retired along with the legacy of Rod Smith. Nobody can and will ever be Rod Smith, so it’s appropriate that Rod Smith stays a part of Broncos history forever. I hope he becomes a WR coach for the Denver Broncos. Look what he did for Brandon Marshall after taking him under his wing.
Hmm…..Rod Smith the successor to Mike Shanahan??? Just an idea. lol
Thanks Rod Smith for everything you have done for my Denver Broncos!
My #80 jersey will forever hang in my house.
Thanks for everything Rod. It was an honor to have such a person become an icon for our team. Your presence on the field is already sorely missed.
May the future bring you peace and happiness!!
Salute!
Rod is a class act by himself. I remember his second season as a full time Bronco, we were playing the Cincinnatti Bengals and TD has his first game of over 200 yards rushing. My friends and I all mulled around the locker room under the South Bleachers after the game, waiting for our favorite Broncos to come out of the locker room and perhaps give us an autograph. There must have been at least 50 people still there when Rod came out of the locker room. I will never forget that day and I (well my son does actually, I gave it to him when I got home from the game) had my game day book in my hand. I was standing next to the rope that was used to keep a walk way path open for the team members to exit after they had dressed. Rod came out of the locker room along with Jason Elam and Rod McCaffery. I asked all of them if they would please give me their autographs and they all obliged me, but Rod even stayed and chatted with me some about the game. I remember him remarking to me that I must really love and understand the game because my recollection of certain events that happened that day were very clear and I guess I must have articulated them well. He said he appreciated my supporting the team and asking him for his autograph. He said that giving an autograph was the most sincerest form of repayment to his fans for all the support he gave to them and he never wanted to forget that it was the fans who made this a game to appreciate because of their endless support After all, without the fans, who would the Broncos play for? He then gave me a hug and walked on, I guess to get to his car, but that memory still is as strong today for me as it was the day it happened, and I am so glad I have his autograph and that memory. He was then and is now a class-act.
The #80 and the #7 will forever be connected as one of the GREAT QB-Receiver tandems of all time…. I agree retire the #80…. I can’t imagine a player coming along even asking to wear the Orange and Blue #80…. At both of the Fan fairs I was at I was amazed at the attention and time he gave to the kids and thought it was incredible how he only would sign for the kids… the line for him was practically around the stadium and he stayed for pretty much every kid… Unlike some others that are there and then gone in a flash…. There is a lot current players can learn from Rod…. Maybe I will get a #80 tatooed on my arm…. Just to show my dedication to him as he showed to all the fans!
Rod Smith was one of my favorite players. It was an honor and a priviledge to watch him play. Rod is a shoe-in for the Ring of Fame and should be a hands down candidate for the Hall of Fame. I would like to see #80 be retired because of what Rod Smith brought to the team and his dedication to the game. I’m glad that he got to play his entire career in Denver.
Class Act.
http://www.nfl.com/videos;jsessionid=9A483C80C6447F7FAEAD0642B8D01AD0?videoId=09000d5d8097abfc great video by NFL Network on Rod
Rod Smith…. Where to start?
You have been my favorite Denver Bronco of all time since I really started following during the 96 season.
You are the true definition of a football player and teammate. You have worked your way to where you are today, through your blood, sweat, and tears.
Seeing and hearing you officially retire today took a little piece out of me. I have been following you throughout your career and it’s just sad to see such a beautiful thing come to an end.
I will keep you jersey hanging in my room, along with a Bronco helmet, signed by you and Eddy Mac. I will treasure my Super Bowl tapes, and remember how important of a player you were… catching a pass in the Super Bowl, or not catching a single one, yet being important in every other aspect of the game.
You are a class act, and one of my great idols. You have meant so much to my athletic life.. I wanted to be just like you. I wish I could meet you someday, and shake your hand.
Your whole career has been overlooked by everyone outside the Denver area… It’s so unfair to see such a thing happen. You deserve more than some of the fools that get all of the camera time today, but I know that you could care less… because you have the most important thing of all, your 2 well earned Super Bowl rings.
So Rod Smith, if you are reading this, I will always remember you and tell people what a great individual you are on and off the field. I will know deep down, that the NFL will have a hard time to find another player with such a work ethic, mindset, and heart.. like you’ve had throughout your career.
I hope you have a wonderful second stage of life not dealing with football. Believe me, you have DESERVED every minute of it.
Rod Smith, you are my favorite ever. Thank you for giving it your all. My childhood football memories will always remember you, the under-appreciated receiver out of Missouri Southern Stat… who went on into the classic gridiron of the NFL, and became the best undrafted player, in the HISTORY of the NFL. :salute:
Rod Smith is MORE than a Class Act, more than a role model, more than a man who overcame extreme odds to become the best wide receiver that the Broncos have ever had. He deserves immediate entry to the Ring of Fame, and if he is overlooked by the NFL Hall of Fame, it will be one of the most egregious slights to a highly deserving player that I have seen in fifty years of watching Professional Football.
It is always hard when one of your favorite players retires, but when the retiree is a man like Rod Smith, you always wish that he could play one more game, make one more remarkable catch, throw one more block to spark a long play downfield.
Rod, we will miss you and I hope your life is as successful going forward as it has been during your career with the Broncos (Uniform Number 80 should be retired).
RodSmithRules Says:
July 24th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
I just wish we could have seen him suit up in the orange and blue just one more time, catch one more pass.
You forgot, “or Throw one more crushing block to spring whoever is carrying the ball for a long gain.”