The recently concluded 2009 National Football League Draft found the Denver Broncos adding 10 new players to the team’s roster, increasing the talent level and adding to the level of competition at all positions.
But people are mistaken if they believe that the draft was the end all — the last step to adding players to Denver’s or any other team’s roster for the coming year.
The most aggressive team in free agency this year was Denver, and the Broncos jumped into the college free agent pool in a big way as well, signing 17 undrafted players in the days immediately following the draft.
These young men will get just a few lines of press in the major newspapers, their signings being perceived as far less significant than the draft choices.
However, players come from a lot of places, and building a roster never ends.
There have been a host of notable players signed by the Broncos as free agents over the years, and just because we have not heard of someone now does not mean it will always be that way.
Steve Watson was one of the best wide receivers in team history, a Pro Bowl player who was signed out of Temple University after being undrafted in 1979.
Barefoot placekicker Rich Karlis kicked for the Broncos in Super Bowls XXI and XXII after being signed as an undrafted played in 1982.
Fellow placekicker David Treadwell came out of Clemson as an undrafted player and his field goals helped put the Broncos in Super Bowl XIV.
Dave Studdard was signed off the street and became a starting tackle who protected Denver quarterbacks from 1979 through 1988.
The 1977 Orange Crush Super Bowl team featured undrafted defensive starters Bob Swenson and Joe Rizzo at linebacker, while safety Steve Foley had been a college quarterback who never played a down of defense at Tulane.
Lionel Taylor had over 500 pass receptions as a wide receiver on his way to a spot in the Broncos’ Ring of Fame, but that happened after he had been cut by the Chicago Bears — where he did not pass his tryout as a linebacker!
Fellow Ring of Fame member Karl Mecklenburg was the Broncos’ 12th round draft choice in 1983, the last player chosen by Denver.
Jack Dolbin was working as a security guard in a shopping mall when he got a call from Denver offering him a chance to sign as a free agent, and Dolbin went on to start in Super Bowl XII and play five years as a Bronco.
Keith Kartz was an undrafted free agent who only got his chance due to the player strike of 1987, but then did not relinquish his starting job on the offensive line until 1994. One of the toughest players in Bronco history, Kartz and Studdard gave Denver two free agent offensive line starters on two separate Super Bowl teams.
Of course, most people know that Terrell Davis, one of the greatest running backs in history, was the 196th player chosen in the 1995 draft.
They know that now, because they know who Terrell Davis is now, and they know his exploits now–but there was a time when no one knew.
And that is where the cycle of time and talent puts us at this moment.
The 2009 names are just names to most fans.
But the players will come to Denver, they will put on the same uniform in the same locker room as all the other players, and then they will take the field and become a part of a great meritocracy. The best players play. No matter where someone was drafted, no matter his size or his money, he has a chance to compete on an equal playing field, in Denver and in the other 31 camps.
The best players play.
In 1963 the American Football League draft lasted for 29 rounds. That’s right, 29.
And in those 29 rounds the Broncos selected 33 total players.
But they did not draft Willie Brown. The Broncos signed cornerback Willie Brown as a free agent out of Grambling University. Willie Brown wore number 24 at cornerback for the Broncos before Champ Bailey did, played here from 1963 through 1966, and had 15 interceptions in four years with Denver. In 1964 he had nine interceptions and was named All-AFL.
In 1967 Brown was traded to the Oakland Raiders, where he played in 205 games, chosen for three AFL All-Star games and for four NFL Pro Bowls. One of only two players in NFL history to have intercepted at least one pass in 16 straight seasons, he had 54 interceptions for his pro career and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1984. Brown is one of four players to have played for the Broncos who have been elected into the Hall of Fame.
But he was never drafted by Denver.
So many of the names are not well known today. But some of them will become very famous indeed.
It is important for people who think they know everything today to remember, sometimes it is what you learn after you know it all that means the most.
Another Kentucky LB, will he be as good as Woodyard.
First Post
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfK-CRnAcZk
Brian Dawkins is The best thing ever .. haha i cant wait to see his pre game rituals as a bronco. im so excited to see wut the secondary can do. I feel sorry for him tho Mcdaniels if u cant win for us atleast win the title for dawkins nd champ. if anything they both deserve it more than anyone. Peace nd Love
Jim you left off the most stand up guy to ever put on the orange and blue, at WR…Rod Smith. His play should forever change the fans opinion of CFA. But you did mention a lot of guys that typical fans wouldn’t have identified as CFA or late draft picks (picks that no longer exist in the modern day draft).
Terrific post. Great read. It really puts things into perspective to think about all of the great players that were overlooked, hundreds of times in one draft in most cases, and then went on to prove absolutely everybody wrong about them. I love what Gary Kubiak said, talking about what he told players at the beginning of camp each year. He said he would point out that Terrell Davis was a no-name, sixth-string RB that had a chance of making the special teams when he was drafted, but turned around and proved himself when he got the chance; and that all players that come into camp have the same possibility.
I love that hundreds of players were taken before Willy Brown, including nearly three-dozen, more than half of a moder roster, by the Broncos, and the guy goes on to the HOF. Awesome.
Truly inspiring read. Thanks.
@bntbroncos
Agree. Rod Smith really was the first guy for me that redefined my thinking on CFA’s.
Another great blog Jim, very wise insights.
I wanted to share this article because after reading it I gained a bigger insight into just who our new Head Coach is as a person, and I now have a new respect for him as a man.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4104795
I will admit I was a little perplexed by the pick of Moreno at first, but in retrospect it was a very good move. When the Broncos have been successful in the past it was because of being able to control the time of possession. With a dominant run game the offense really begins to open up, the defense spends less time on the field, which is always a good thing. The possibilities are here now, it is up to the coaching staff and team to get it done. I think this team will get back to where all the Bronco fans want it to be, we just have to realize that it is not Shanahans team anymore, and that will turn out to be a good thing in the end. If Mike Nolan thinks he can get the job done with what he has assembled so far, than that is good enough for me he, has done very good things in the past with his defense. Can’t wait till AUGUST!!
I remember quite a bit of those former Broncos. Mainly Mecklenburg and Watson. They were average players that made it to SB’s, but just couldn’t match the NFC at the time.
I agree with bntbronco, Rod showed what CFA’s have to work twice as hard to make it, and make an impact.
I don’t like the fact of us trading Willy Brown to Oakland though and him become all that he became for a much hated franchise. Finding talent is one thing, but keeping talent is another.
I like Mr. Swift CFA out of Nebraska U as another potential Rod Smith…
aSharpeIdea_84
I too was iffy about our new head coach as I wasn’t excited about him, however I was more than willing to give him a chance and was not thinking anything negative about him.
However, after reading that article you posted, I actually am excited now!
I think those who “hate” him for what has transpired since he has been here should at least read that article. It may bring some new light to the situation!
Below is the link as aSharpeIdea_84 posted above:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4104795
I’m very excited to see how this all turns out. Go Broncos!
Broncs55 & SharpeIdea_84, I checked out the article, a “must read” for all Broncos fans! Great insight into our new head coach. Thanks!
I am getting more and more fuel (fired up) from the poor light that the media is casting the Broncos draft in. Notice the post below:
http://www.bankrollsports.com/blog/2009-nfl-draft-grades-afc-conference
I am extremely excited about who we have competeing in the camps this year and beilive in a great season to come.
Orange Crush Revived!
hometeam007, that is the best thing that could ever happen…??? there should be a plack made of it and put over the locker room door. let it remind the team of there they came from ( D) and where they are going… superbowl bound. they all would play with a chip on their shoulders.
Wow, those undrafted guys from the 70′s were REALLY undrafted. Didn’t we have like 12 or 14 rounds back then? Undrafted guys today would have easily been drafted in the 8-12 rounds.
wow. give us a D and the raiders get a better grade with a D+. that is stupid. moreno will run all over our oppenents. yes we did not get the front seven in the draft that we needed but the players we needed (or wanted) just were not there. i’m happy we got moreno. i think chris baker could be that dt that we needed. i give our draft an A+. i’m getting tired of the media critizing the broncos. some of the media treat us like we don’t belong in the NFL. they blow everything out of proportion. just the way they did with the cutler thing. i blame the media for the cutler thing. they report things that just aren’t true. look at how espn was reporting shanny would be the new coach of the chiefs. they don’t know. they just makin it up as they go. they need to stop guessin and start sharing facts.
mrbroncofan… the media is a big part to blame, however Cutler was happy he got traded. Evidently when word came out he was lifting weights… got the phone call – put a big smile on his face and was giving people “high fives”.
He then rushed out, during a tornado warning, mind you, to buy a suit as he was leaving for Chicago.
Then he went to the media saying “he didn’t want to be traded”… to me, actions speak louder than words. I’m with Barrell man… good riddance!
Great article Jim – But I can’t believe you totally left Rod Smith out of your article. Rod = one of the greatest Broncos ever.
Broncs55 & HomeTeam007 – I’m glad you liked that article. I agree every Bronco fan on here should read it.
I played football in High School, and after reading that it made me want to strap up and go hit someone again! I would bleed for a coach like McDaniels. Hopefully the guys in that locker room will feel the same way, because then they have a great shot at getting that chemistry going and then watch out AFC West because the Broncos are BACK!!!
I know Dawkins will make some people bleed in front of McDaniels! When that man hits someone it hurts me! And I’m just watching!
I can’t wait to see it live in a Denver uniform!!!
GO BRONCOS!
Hey, Jim. Great blog. Reading about all these guys was bringing back some good memories like Rich Karlis kicking barefoot…ha too funny. Rod Smith really should have been added, but also agree that not too far off, Wesley Woodyard will be added to this list!
Go Broncos!!!!
I really like the direction we are heading towards. Sure it has been a bumpy ride so far this off-season, but nevertheless, I think McD is doing as good of a job he can do to solidify the team as a whole. And that is how Championships are won. Not through signing flashy big name players with killer fantasy stats, but by bringing in players that want to and know how to work together as a fully functioning squad. This team is going to be fun to watch this next year. We have the fire power on offense with a proven strategy, and a very well seasoned secondary with masses of talent on Defense with a newly built 3-4 system that will bring out the inner pass rushers in our front 7.
Oh ya… Rod Smith should definitely have been mentioned. The guy was the heart of the team after Elway left.
Bring on the Orange Crush and Go Broncos!!!
I thought Rodrick “Rod” Smith was a 7th round pick but after looking it up I found, After the 1994 draft, Smith wasn’t drafted.
First the New England Patriots signed him but then was released.
But soon after his release the Denver Broncos signed him.
In twelve seasons as an NFL player, Smith has had eight seasons of at least 1,000 receiving yards. He’s had two seasons of at least 100 receptions (2000: 100; 2001: 113). His reception total in 2001 led the league. He was a starting wide receiver of the Broncos’ back-to-back Super Bowl championships in 1997 and 1998. In the Broncos’ 34-19 win in Super Bowl XXXIII, Smith had 5 receptions for 152 yards (the fourth highest total in Super Bowl history), including an 80-yard touchdown reception. He was a finalist for the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award in 2004.
Smith is the only undrafted free agent to have ever surpassed the 10,000-receiving-yard plateau. He is ranked 15th in NFL history in career receptions and 16th all time in receiving yards.
Has the most catches (849), receiving yards (11,389) and touchdown receptions (68) of any undrafted wide receiver in NFL history.
Rod had it all and was undrafted.
TIME OF POSSESSION ! ! !
GO BRONCOS ! ! !
I cant wait to see Brian Dawkins Champ Bailey they are going to be a force to reckon with Dawkins is a hard hitter Coach should give a look at next years Tim Tebow imagine him a Broncowith dynamic duo of Brandon Marshall And Eddie Royal
Go Broncos Knoshawn Should be a good back possibly another Terell Davis I was Born A Bronco Fan we got to give the coach a shot Peyton Hillis is also a strong fullback he did good until his injury so its going to be a good season
im really excited to see how we do this year. we have a really tough schedule but im pleased with how we did in the draft and in free agency. im not predicting anything great for now but in 3 years i see championships coming our way.
Three years? What are you talking about. Easily making the play-offs this year and I believe they could win! The strongest TEAM always win, and this year they’re looking like a team to be reckoned with indeed.
Go Broncos!
I like the watching the late round underdog picks develop into great players. Several were mentioned here. One more famous late round pick that wasn’t mentioned. Lyle Alzdado (77) was picked in the 4th round by the Denver Broncos in 1971 out of Yankton College South Dakota (my home state!). He took the starting job as a rookie and never gave it up! He was traded by the Broncos in 1979 but is still one of my all-time favorite Bronco players.
Congratulations on Brian Xander being promoted, he is a very intelligent GM. Thank you to the Goodmans for all their years of service. In his first move, I hope Xander trades the unhappy and unheralded Marshall. I think Tampa Bay would be interested and the Broncos could get Stovall (who is on the rise) and Ernest Grahmn (who is stuck behind Cadillac and Ward) because as we all know you can never have too many good backs. Stovall has excellent hands, and huge and has some speed. Grahmn is a one cut back that is bruising. Go Broncos