This Sunday, the Gameday program handed out to fans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High doesn’t feature a player on the roster.
Rather, it highlights one of the best Broncos of all time — the team’s newest Ring of Famer, wide receiver Rod Smith.
The cover story — titled “Undrafted, Unmatched” — takes the reader through Smith’s heralded career from an unheralded beginning.
Here’s a snippet from the story:
Despite a standout college career at Missouri Southern State University, Smith went undrafted in the spring of 1994 and signed with the Broncos as a college free agent.
It was Smith’s unyielding work ethic that fueled his unprecedented rise from an undrafted free agent to one of the top receivers in NFL history.
Smith said that because of the way his career began as an undrafted player out of a Division-II school, he always had the mindset that he’d have to work harder than other players for his spot on the roster.“I knew where I wanted to go and I knew I was going to outwork everyone else,” Smith said. “When they were gone, I was still working. When they were asleep, I was still working. I tell people that all the time — work works. I wanted to be the best teammate I could be. I knew if I was better, it made our team better.
“You have to clock in and sometimes you don’t clock out,” he continued. “In the NFL, I never clocked out. The day I clocked out was the day I retired.”
The program also features an exclusive Q&A with Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway, as well as a coach Q&A with Assistant Special Team Coach Keith Burns. Both were once teammates with Smith.
If you’re headed to the game on Sunday, be sure to grab a program on your way through the gates.
The Gameday cover can be seen below:
Tags: Assistant Special Teams Coach Keith Burns, Executive Vice President of Football Operations John Elway, gameday, Ring of Fame, Rod Smith
Prediction:
Texans: 24
Broncos: 21
Can we buy one online?
Anyone else think this game is going to be extra super tough and we might lose?
Oh, hey there The Dane. I didn’t see your prediction. Sol I’m not the only one then.
Turtle-
Score prediction: Broncos 27/Texans 13.
Rock on Bronco on!
C
*BRONC ON! LOL!
I’ll be cheering from behind the 40 yard line next Sunday (but from the upper deck with all of the rowdies)! Can’t wait!!
Go Broncos!!
Jealous, Cam. Have fun!!
Ah, how well I recall those glory days when John would hurl the ball across the field, and receiver Rod Smith was always in the right spot to catch it on the run, without breaking his stride as he ran it into the end zone! This honor is well deserved… Congratulations, Rod! You’re a true “famer”!
Yes cat, this game will be tough, maybe the toughest on our schedule. They have a good run game, Schaub is not a bad passer and ofc a great defense. With all that said Houston haven’t played a “good” team yet, beating Miami with a raw rookie QB (Tannehill) and The Jags isn’t something to brag about. This will be a great game with alot of great matchups. Let’s see how they play in the mile high air.
GO BRONCOS!!
Turtle, what was the space you said you’d be in tomorrow? I remember RV lot and TD and JE painted on the side of the bus/van
Prediction: Gonna be a long start to the Broncos season. Very difficult games before the bye. I would be happy with a 3-3 start. Then a 7-3 finish is very possible. Strong defense, unproven but potentially great offense. One of the few teams with dual threat wide outs, a solid slot receiver, with a decent tight end, and an underrated but injury prone running back. If we can stay healthy, Fox, Elway and our fans could lead us deep in the playoffs!
I think a lot of fans are going to learn to love Joe Mays this week!
I need some help finding the prediction blog.
Anyone know how to get there?
I don’t know how to get there either …
So – I’ll leave my prediction here …
Broncos 27 – Texans 26
On a last second field goal …
Here’s hoping, anyway …
MJW
Hey Wiemin – how’s the season going for you? I had to take much of this one off. I’ve got a knee that is giving me trouble. It dropped me flat on a turn to throw the ball to 1st. Hasn’t been good since. I did pitch the other night and then went 4/4. I was hitting bloopers between the infield and outfield, off the top of the bat. Funny what you can get by with sometimes and then a well hit ball gets caught.
Gonna be a tough game Sunday – it looks like all the predictions are coming in tight like yours. I’m hoping we shut down the run and force them to pass. With Harris back, Porter and Champ – good chance we will get our picks.
daddy, i used the link from the old blog from last week. My prediction got accepted so it must have been reset for this week
The old blog:
http://blog.denverbroncos.com/denverbroncos/broncos-blog-scoring-contest-week-2/
Thanks Dane – that worked for me too.
Gray – is there a way we could have a ‘button’ added?
tlc I picked us to loose by four points
1st LeBeu , then Nolen , now Phillips. Man we are getting a taste from the best DCs in the game. Den 26-Hou 24
Broncos 31
Texans 24
B.F.E.
PFM will redeem himself today,he is like 11-4 against the Texans….I don’t see him having 2 bad games in a row!!!
Afterall the Texans are Denver Central……..we know how to shut them down…stop Foster and we’ll win!!!!!!!!!
DB….I agree having Harris back is our best shot at beating the Texans….Tony Carter sucks!!!!
Shut down Foster and play good coverage in the secondary,and we WILL win!!!!!!!!
Although its quality isn’t desirable, this is definitely fitting. Maybe blog administration can find a better version.
In Rod We Trust!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L81lws_yN2I&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Broncos Country Strong 2012!
Texans are 0-2 in Denver; Manning is 18-2 against the Texans; Fox is 0-2 against the Texans.
Bread always lands buttered side down; cats always land on their feet. What happens when you tie a piece of buttered bread to the back of a cat?
Something’s got to give.
Foster is averaging 3.5 yards/carry…McGahee is averaging 4.5 yards/carry. Andre Johnson only has 11 receptions and 1 TD; Thomas has 13 receptions and 3 TDs. Peyton has also thrown 3 TDs while Schaub has thrown only 1. I believe the Texans defense has scored a couple times and the fact they’re ranked #1 in points allowed and yards allowed doesn’t hold much validity considering they played Tannenhill in his first pro game and an inept Jags offense.
Should be a close game…
Gameday!
SEC Peyton is 16-2 against the Texans and he’s never lost in Denver. But I’m still a bit nervous. But he is mad. I hope he is an assassin and slices up that defense like they don’t know what hit them!
Sure , the Texans are 2-0 with convincing wins, but against who? This will be their first real challenge of the season and I don’t think they will win this afternoon. The Broncos will be ready to play today after the loss to Atlanta, a game that may have had a different out come with better officiating even with the three picks and a fumble early in the game. The twelfth man will come through again and help the Broncos gain a victory today! Go Broncos!
This is going to be a fun clean game. Just as long as the refs stay out of it, we win.
Happy Game day Broncos!!!!!!
Great video Sndvl! Congratulations to Rod for making the Ring of fame on the way to the HOF!!!
I think the Broncos are going to SPANK the Texans today!!!!!!!!!
Broncos 41
Texans 23
GETCHA SOME OF THAT!!!!!!!!
!!!!!ILMSDB!!!!!
http://youtu.be/yr447PP-qT8
Rod Smith , one of the greatest Broncos ever to take field! Hail Rod Smith! Against all odds he worked himself into one of the best receivers to ever play the game and prabably the best undrafted player in the NFL of all time! Hail Rod Smith! It was a privilege to see him work his craft, amazing how he beat his defends time and time again. Hail Rod Smith! Today , he gets a well deserved place in the Broncos “Ring of Fame”. A true team players still contributing to the success of the Denver Broncos. Thank you Rod Smith!
Good Morning Broncos Cournty!
Game Day at SAFAMH!! What’s up strand? How you doing bro?
It’s going to be a dogfight today !! Looking forward to this matchup!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!
O_C long time no see… good to see you back on again!
Happy game day Royal! Life is good!
Gonna have that music going through my head all day Sndvl, impressive! Hail Neck!
That’s a pretty radical score OC! Looks good to me! HaHa!
Royal, you heading on up to the game today?
Same to you Strand…. it’s going to be a beautiful day in Denver!
Autumn is for perfect weather in Colorado for football.
Yup – we sure are, getting ready to head over to the light rail station in Littleton in about an hour and a half!
I’m jealous bro! HaHa. I’m heading over to a buddy’s house for the game. It’ll be a blast.
Oh, and have a great time bro, 12th man!
No word on the inactives just yet I guess…..was wondering if we finally get a chance to see Hillman today!
Some plays called with his speed vs 3-4 D would be nice to see !!
Ain’t nothing wrong with that at all…. you won’t miss a play!! Some good grub and refreshments and let’s get it started!
That would be ideal. I’ve been curious about that young man. There just bring Hillman along slowly I imagine.
Yeah, he’s a true Bronco fan too. Good food n good fun!
Good to see you to rbf1! Have a great time at the game today!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!
It may not be for little awhile but I’m looking forward to seeing him as well.
I’m hoping to make it to one game this year. LOL
Thanks O_C !! Sure will! Them Texans are in for fight today!!!