Shannon Sharpe, who was named to the Pro Bowl seven times as a Denver Bronco and helped the club to two Super Bowl victories, was elected as the 22nd member of the Broncos’ Ring of Fame, it was announced Tuesday.
He’s the first player to be inducted since Terrell Davis in 2007. The ceremony will take place on Sunday, Sept. 20, at halftime of the Broncos’ home opener against the Cleveland Browns at INVESCO Field at Mile High.
Sharpe, who played 12 seasons for Denver from 1990-99 and 2002-03, tied a Broncos franchise record with his seven consecutive Pro Bowl selections from 1992-98 while becoming the NFL’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns by a tight end. Sharpe also was a four-time first-team All-Pro selection by the Associated Press while a member of the Broncos.
In 172 career regular-season games (139 starts) with Denver, Sharpe registered the second-most receptions (675), receiving yards (8,439) and receiving touchdowns (55) by a player in club annals, trailing only wide receiver Rod Smith. Selected by the Broncos in the seventh round (192nd overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft from Savannah State University, Sharpe totaled 18 100-yard receiving games (17 regular season, 1 postseason) as a Bronco that tie for the third most by a player in franchise history.
Those kind of numbers are the reason why many say Sharpe revolutionized the tight end position in the NFL.
“I think the thing is everybody wanted that guy that was going to be a matchup nightmare,” Sharpe said. “He was going to be two things - too fast for linebackers and too physical for a safety or a corner. When I came into the league, basically you wanted that extra offensive linemen. Everybody wanted to run the football. You get a guy 6-3, 280 or 290 and if he caught a couple of passes that was fine and good. Then all of the sudden when Dan Reeves used me at H-back, motioned me out, lined me up in the slot, put me out wide - all of the sudden teams said, ‘We have to get us one of those Shannon Sharpes.’”
Sharpe also played two seasons with Baltimore from 2000-01, earning the third Super Bowl ring of his career during the 2000 campaign and his eighth trip to the Pro Bowl in 2001 with the Ravens.
For his 14-year NFL career, Sharpe played 204 career regular-season games (169 starts) and had 815 receptions for 10,060 yards (12.3 avg.) with 62 touchdowns. He currently ranks second to only the Falcons’ Tony Gonzalez (1997-Pres.) in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns by a tight end in NFL history.
“It makes me feel good when I see these young guys now,” Sharpe said. “They walk up to me and say, ‘I followed your career, and I want to be the type of player that you were.’ Obviously it makes you feel good - it makes you feel old, but it makes you feel good.”
An interesting tidbit: Sharpe owns more receptions, receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, Super Bowl wins and Pro Bowl selections than any of the seven tight ends enshrined in the Hall of Fame. He was named the first-team tight end on the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team as chosen by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee members.
A finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2009, Sharpe certainly has a chance to be a finalist again this season. He said it would be an honor to become the eighth tight end to be enshrined in Canton.
“I remember Ozzie (Newsome), Kellen Winslow, Dave Casper and I caught the tail end of Jackie Smith’s career when he was in Dallas. The others I didn’t get the opportunity to see play but I heard about them - (Mike) Ditka, John Mackey and Charlie Sanders. It is an honor to all of a sudden be mentioned with them and be in their class. You feel like what you’ve done has been validated - kind of like what those guys did in their time.”
The Broncos’ Ring of Fame was created in 1984 by team owner Pat Bowlen to honor former players and administrators who played significant roles in the franchise’s history. The Ring of Fame is displayed on the Level 5 façade of INVESCO Field at Mile High.
-Gray Caldwell, DenverBroncos.com
Tags: Ring of Fame, Shannon Sharpe
thatdude807, no worries. I haven’t been to Colorado since 1996. I lived in the Springs for over 25 years. I miss the games and the freezing in the cold (ok, so I don’t miss the cold, ha, ha) but I enjoy the camaraderie of my fellow Broncos fans at the Broncos bar. Raffles for prizes, beer and women in your lap (”sitting,” for a you twisted individuals out there, ha, ha). Let the season begin already. The withdrawals are horrible!
did you guys know McD offered a first round pick for Brady Quinn?
where you gettin that info from? reliable?
John Clayton mentioned it on NFL live. they were talking about players on the Browns that could be up for trade and they said the Browns have denied all offers involving Brady Quinn and they said multiple teams tried to acquire Quinn but the only team they knew that tried to acquire him was Denver.
Doc, I’m happier with Moreno and Ayers -vs- Quinn. Anyways, school for you tomorrow, little brother. get some rest.
nooooooo! don’t get Quinn. we have three quarterbacks already. and one of them happen to be Tom Brandstater from Fresno State! haha. go Bulldogs! and of course, GO BRONCOS!!!!
- Ricky
Fresno, Califonia Denver Broncos fan!
I really hope we eventually get Brady Quinn he would be a great fit in our system
and what is our system exactly again, just wondering,
Kyle Orton is meant to be perfect for the teams system so why do we need a unproven QB that doesn’t have the experience or the wins to prove how good he is? Believe in the Orton.
I have heard rod smith is to be honored in the college hall of fame, report on denverpost.
Do you know what sucks living in the south, Australia… when I come on here to chat everyone is in bed and its just me. (sing) Im so lonely, Im so lonely, haha.
Anyway on the denverbroncos.com the poll they are running is about who will have the most rushing yards this season. 66% of people selected Knowshon Moreno, but I like an underdog so I picked Ryan Torain. Would really stick it to McD when a running back that was already here has more yards than all the hacks that McD bought in, except maybe Knowshon. Torain and Hillis all the way.
On another note if Knowshon Moreno doesn’t do will this season his nickname could be Know-show Moreno haha funny.
BroncoAussie, if you’re talking about Quinn, i agree with you. as for Orton, he’s the quarterback and i’m pulling for him and Broncos. GO BRONCOS!
BOUT TIME SHANNON SHARPE!!!!! I’m happy for you.
I like Orton better than Quinn. Everyone know our D was terrible last yr. He had an average game against us. He was not worth mentioning the rest of the yr.
I like Orton best but I think Simms will push him for the starting job. Quinn can stay in Cleveland. We have done enough trading this year.
Sharpe should be in the H.O.F also.
Quinn isn’t going to be traded by the Browns. He will be there until his contract is up, and then everyone will be jumping on him.
Either that or they’ll let Anderson go.
Personally, I like Orton. He will do a fine job here. Even better than the Bears (he had a winning record there and did decent in his overall stats) because now he finally has a line that will protect him and receivers he can throw to.
Can anyone name a receiver on the Bears other than Hester??? Not many can!
Best TE ever!
I like hearing the support for Kyl Orton! I think Orton will do great next year. That being said Quinn would intrigue me as a QB of th future because he was brought up in the same system we run in college. Again that being said the asking price for him is too high, as the Browns were offered a 1st round pick by 2 different teams and they turned it down.
GO ORTON!!!
LETS GO BRONCOS!!!
The Bears have Davis and Lloyd, I only know because they are not good. I saw Davis when he was 6th string in superbowl, and Lloyd used to be a redskin and niner
Congrats Shannon, but you should have never left the Broncos…..that will be a blemish on your permanent record! Go Broncos
Im pullin for Simms in this QB battle I couldnt stand him coming out of texas, But I liked what he did with tampa bay before gruden made him loose internal organs.
Jde_07, the system that McD will run is very similar to that of the NE system. It’s all about ball control management. Not the gunslinging type of play that you saw with Cutler or Brett Favre. The running back will run the ball to set up the pass. With Shanahan and Cutler, we saw a lot of throwing the ball on 1st down. Hell, 2nd down also. Then ran it on 3rd down. It was crazy and frustrating at times. McD wants a QB that will take what’s given to him. Not force it between 3 defenders.
BroncoAussie - I will most definitely say hi to Champ for ya!! Hopefully I won’t pass out before I get the chance, lol. Gonna get his autograph and a picture… so so so excited to meet this guy. I know its been quite some time since I’ve been on here, just trying to finish up this school of semester… college is a pain!!! 2 more finals and this Bronco lovin’ girl is taking the summer off!! Gonna spend it with the Broncos at the fan fair… YIPEE!!!!
With faith…
GO BRONCOS in ‘09!!!!
Wow, can really tell school’s gettin to me… I can’t even write!!
Meant to say I’m trying to finish up this semester of school. Losin my mind!!
With faith…
GO BRONCOS in ‘09!!!!
It’s a great thing to put Shannon on the ring, and I want to say thank you for what you gave to ths TEAM and city Shannon. You deserve every bit of respect thats been given here and more. I can’t wait for half time sept.20th This will be a Great day, I will be there and will cheer my heart out for you. I only hope the TEAM will compete that day, a victory would be a Great compliment.
07elway, glad to see you blogging again. I’ve missed your optimism dispite all the change. Change is hard to grasp when your upset. Maybe I will see you at The Fan Fair.
TIME OF POSSESSION ! ! !
GO BRONCOS ! ! !
Are you kidding? This change was like a knife in the heart to me but it is what it is. Pretty much over it all just needed to get away from it and plus I had school to finish up. Just finished my last 2 finals today… absolutely brutal but I survived… I guess?!lol And yeah it would be awesome to see you at the Fan Fair… super excited to go! Can hardly contain my excitement.
Once again, thank you Shannon for all that you gave to this team. Will never forget you!! See you in the HOF one of these days… it will just give me another reason to go back!!
With faith…
GO BRONCOS in ‘09!!!!