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
There’s no rush probably in Foxy’s eyes.
Gotta lot of respect for Kubiak!
Not going to get drunk with you guys again on Friday night. I’m sure I accumulated a lot of points to get me kicked off the blog again. LOL Last week was a tough one after not being able to watch the game Monday night. Missing that game put me in a bad funk all week. All will be right in the world again when I get to watch the Broncos take the field this afternoon. The Broncos are a part of my life every day, 365 days a year. However, one good thing may have come of it. If I don’t like the commentator’s call on the TV I know I can always get a call I’ll enjoy listening to Dave Logan and Eddie McCaffery on the radio while watching to Broncos. Excited for the game today! Go Broncos!
I’m hoping to NOT see Moreno today…..
I would love to find out what kind of fuel Hillman has in the tank….
KEEP THE DRIVE ALIVE BRONCOS!!!!!!!
ALL HAIL THE NECK!!!!
Well I better get some breakfast grub!
You guys enjoy game day and let’s get ready rock the house!!!
Have a great day guys!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Imready, your a true Orange n Blue Bronco and winning is the cure. LOL
Laters Royal!!
NO MORENO PLEASE! PRETTY PLEASE!!
imready, when I listen to Logan on the radio they always call the play a second or two before it happens on the tv. It kind of ruins the excitement for me but I would rather hear the guys on the radio call the game. Do you have that problem? Do you know a way to fix it? Thanks….
OC, I have that same problem and it bugs me to death. I’d rather listen to Dave Logan and Eddie Mac than the bias commentators on TV. Maybe one day they’ll fix that glitch!
Goodmorning Bronco Country!!!!!
What up Stran and RBF1, OC?? OC: you could be right this could be a blowout if the Broncos get off to a quick start.
We will need the 12th man to be loud and proud today! This will be a hard fought game going against some good former Broncos. Third tough defensive coordinator in a row and solid running game is what you want on the road.
We need to have a solid showing on all three phases of the game…O, D and special team.
Stiking with my prediction from the other day.
Broncos: 27
Texans: 20
I have to put up with the commentators doing the game because of that noise. blah, the idiots on tv ruin the game because they hate the Broncos, It’s one sided with their verbiage.
Hey HP1, it’s Broncos game day. This 12th man will be watch it on the tube. I can hardly wait.
Just got a 50″ Samsung LED 120hrz TV hooked up for the game….cant wait for the game!
Should be a fun game to watch and i agree would much rather hear Eddie Mac and Logan.
I think the Neck is errrrr determined and will take it out on Gary and his gang of Texans:
Broncos: 28
Texans: 17
Congrats to IN ROD WE TRUST going into the Ring of Fame.
ILMSDB!!!!
LONG LIVE THE NECK!!!
Everyone have a safe a fun game if your going!
FTR
Should be a great Mile High football day!!!
Definetly a congrats to Rod…well deserved and a true Bronco!
Going to put on tunes and try and get some chores done before the game today.
Peace out Bronco Country!!!
Go…………………Broncos!!! Go………………….Broncos!!!!!!! Go………………….BRONCOOOOOOOOOSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!
Here’s Woody Paige’s Prediction from the Denver Post:
Broncos 30
Texans 23
Good morning Broncos Country. well its game day. im beleiving in a win today. so lets go Manning and D. Defense needs 3 n outs. shut down shaub.
horse sounds like you got a good tv. i do audio/video for living and Samsung is my preffered choice.
Broncos 27 Texans 24
Daddy B …
Thanks for asking … if you’d asked last week, I’d have said pretty good …
but I took a line drive off my ankle (the ball skidded on wet grass, so it
didn’t bounce like it was “supposed to” … I played on it for a week – then,
all of a sudden, it got swolen and hurt like hell … the doc said I’d burst a
blood vessel in there – I’ve had a hot pad on it all weekend – if the swelling
isn’t down by Tuesday, I’ll have to have it lanced and drained … but I don’t
really trust my Doc very much – think I’ll get another opinion before I do
anything … still hurts like hell, and I have to overcome the pain when I
get up to walk – after a while, it’s better … lots of blue and red and black
stuff inside, which shows through … looks like a bad sprain, but it isn’t …
also – I’ve only got one eye that works, and that eye is developing a cata-
ract … the specialist said when it gets bad enough that “critical functions”
are impacted, he’d remove the lens … it’s outpatient stuff these days, but
having only one eye, if something went wrong (which it rarely does, but
it does, rarely) I’d be blind … so – they’re reluctant to do anything until
they have to … I told that Doc that I am critically impacted – I’m having
trouble tracking fly balls – he said “No, that’s not critical – critical is when
I can’t see to drive at night … oh, well … also, Oct 1-4 I’m supposed to
be in Las Vegas for the World Championships … this year, in my division,
70+AAA, there are 13 teams from all over the US … sure hope I’m able
to play …
There – more than anyone ever wanted to read – but you asked … ha …
today, I have to go to Pechanga Casino to watch the Broncos … there will
be a lot of unhappy Charger fans there – they didn’t sell out, so there’s a
local blackout, which includes the casino … I’m actually glad, it’ll be a lot
more pleasant watching the Broncos, plus I’ll be able to see it on their
best TV … it’s a lot of fun being around others who are there to watch
their own favorite teams … lots of cheering and cursing … I have to chuckle
when the Raiders are playing – their fans are so boistrous, and their team
is so bad …
By the way – can anyone explain Kansas City??? … the Chiefs look awful …
some were even touting them for division champs this year …
After rereading my extended missive, I’m reminded about the ad for a
lost 3-legged, one-eyed, herniated dog, goes by the name of “Lucky” …
Also, up in Minnesota, the local paper got a call for an obituary entry,
which the caller (Lena) wanted to read “Ole Died” … the paper guy told
Lena that wasn’t enough, it had to be at least 5 words … Lena responded,
“Okay, how’s this? – ‘Ole Died, Boat For Sale” …
Also – one night, late, the phone rang, and Ole reached across the bed and
answered it before Lena could … there was a pause, then angrily Ole said -
“How should I know, we’re 70 miles from there” and slammed the phone
down … Lena asked “What was that about?” … Ole said “I don’t know –
some guy, wanted to know if the coast was clear” …