Sunday morning at the Super Bowl, and I have just enough time before heading to the stadium for an 18-hiour day to pen a few notes about the Pro Football Hall of Fame selection.
Very disappointing about Shannon Sharpe, and there is no time like now, but he made the final 10, and every candidate who has ever made the final 10 has gotten in sooner or later and Shannon likely will make it sooner, as in very soon.
Had a chance to visit the green room (since I set up the facilities at the media center I knew where all the green rooms were, and who was in which one) as soon as Floyd’s name was called.
Joe Ellis, our COO, had come over to the press conference, and we were very nervous waiting in the back of the room with Tom Mackie, who wrote Floyd’s book a couple of years ago.
When his name was called Joe and I made a dash for the green room and we could hear the uproar before we completed the short 20-yard dash.
Floyd was on the ground when I ran in, overcome with joy and emotion and surrounded by his wife, children, and their spouses.
His outpouring of passionate happiness over the next few minutes would have warmed the hearts of every Denver Broncos fan, particularly those–like me–who had tickets back in the day and watched him run with the weight of an entire time zone on his back.
There was cheering and screaming and crying and kissing, all as real as could be imagined, all captured by NFL network cameras, with Hall of Fame officials at the ready to take Floyd into his press introduction as a Hall of Famer.
Alfred Williams came by for congratulations, as did a couple of Denver reporters, and I was honored to be able to share some deep hugs and heart to heart moments with Floyd personally.
We go back a long way, to when I was a young radio announcer before beginning my 32-year career with the Broncos, to a time when he was … well … still Floyd.
Always Floyd.
A great player, filled with class and the kind of representation that every organization dreams of.
It brought back a lot of memories.
I did not let any press into the green room, but they smiled ear to ear from the door way watching Floyd with his family.
And when he walked out that door, and into the press conference, he walked like he never has before – as an official, forever and ever member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
His passion and tears were as real as Floyd Little himself has always been, and Bronco fans had a great day at Super Bowl XLIV.
44 at 44, and selector Jeff Legwold, whose passionate and well prepared presentation was cited to me by more than one member of the selection committee, gave me the opinion that there has never been a happier inductee.
Or one more deserving.
Congratulations, Franchise.
Tags: Floyd, Hall of Fame, Little
Here’s some food for thought for those that would rather get a NT instead of a QB in the first round.
Nose Tackle stats from 2009 regular season:
#1 Kelly Greg – Bal – 63 tackles and assists / 3 sacks
#2 Sione Pauha – NYJ – 55 / 0
#3 Casey Hampton – Pit – 45 / 0
#4 Jay Ratliff – Dal – 40 / 6
#5 Ahtyba Rubin – Cle – 38 / 0
#6 Ronald Fields – Dan – 37 / 0
Some names below Ronald Fields are:
BJ Raji, Shawn Rogers, Aubruyo Franklin, Ryan Pickett, Ogendi Nwagbuo, Ian Scott and Kris Jenkins.
That makes Fields the sixth best NT in the leauge in 2009 regular season.
Some teams chose to use two guys rotating at the position more and I would like to see us get a great “relief” NT but save the big pick for someone who is a “play making QB”…. just my humble opinion.
Let’s take a look at our current QB and see if he ranks 6th at his position?
Seems to me,we wasted a 1st round pick if we are gonna keep Ayers 2nd string.
Dan=Den
I don’t know what McD’s plans are for Brandstater,but obviously they are not the same as mr B’s plans.I think they need to make up their minds.If we are gonna draft a QB we might as well get a good one.We do need a playmaker at QB,but we also need to sure up the D line,and stop the run.
ESPN Rumors is saying this
The latest buzz on disgruntled Broncos WR has him staying in Denver. On a one year deal.
But this stuff is most of the time wrong.
Jake Locker in next years draft is my pick for next QB.
Let’s see what FA brings to our table,if we can get a good NT,then,hey I’m all for drafting Bradford or Clausen.
Keep in mind, I’m only talking NT and less than half the teams in the NFL play 3/4. It’s just a look at the numbers by position.
Also, Fields played the ENTIRE season with no injuries. The Man is an M1-A1, a very durable player.
I don’t think Bradford or Clausen either will be left when we pick so who would we use a 1st round pick to get.ESPN has the Rams taking Clausen #1 and Washington taking Bradford #4.
OC, as always stats can be misleading. The number of tackles made by a NT has to do primarly with how many times a team is going to run it against you because the strength of your team is the secondary. Obviously in our case, it was proven everybody ran it up against us and was successful at it, the proof is we finished 26th in the league against the run with teams running it up over 200 and even 300 yards repeatedly since the 7th game of the season (the Baltimore game). A more interesting stat would be what percentage of runs up the middle was Fields successful at making a tackle at. You would then find out that he wasn’t very productive, the ball just ended up coming his way so often, he was bound to make his share of tackles, just saying.
There are a lot of QB’s that will still be around in the 2nd round,Lefevour(my personal favorite after Bradford & Clausen),Snead,Pike,etc……..
ESPN has Pittsburg taking Dan Williams with the #18 pick to replace Casey Hampton at NT.
They also have us taking Dez Bryant,if Marshall gets traded,if he stays they have us taking Rolando McClain.
bay,
You have a very interesting perspective on it. I appreciate the feedback.
I think there is a way for us both to get what we want in FA and the draft if Josh plays his cards right. We’ll see..
To further explain my point, let’s look at your list:
1. Greg, Balt., they finished #5 in the league against the run in regular season.
2. Pauha, Jets, finished #8 in same.
3. Hampton, Pitts., finished #3 in same.
4. Ratliff, Dallas, finished #4 in same.
So all these guys had outsanding seasons as they actually stopped the run, and the number 5 on your list is the same case as our Fields, Rubin, they finished 28th against the run, meaning lots of balls coming his way and let the majority of them go through.
Rubin, Clev.
Lets wait and see what the combine looks like,but I think Williams is our guy,if we want him.
And it brings us to two guys on the lower part of your list who I really would like to have, either or: Pickett and Franklin whose teams, Green Bay and S.F., respectively finished 1st and 6th in the league against the run in regular season.
No doubt Williams is who we want but only if we can’t get Wilfork, Hampton, Pickett or Franklin in FA. It always goes back to that we have to wait to see what we do in FA before we can say who we need to pick in the draft. That’s where McD has a great advantage over us, because HE KNOWS who he is going to go after in FA, so he has a much better idea at what to look for in the draft. Elementary, Dear Watson, LOL.
That’s why I always say I rather talk about FA, then when that’s done think draft.
It would be nice to get a good NT in FA,McClain and DJ could do some damage in the middle,if we could keep the O-line off of them.
My question is,why would Pitt be interested in Williams unless they plan on letting Hampton go because of the money.I would prefer an experienced NT also,someone who is proven over a rookie anyday.
Money, money, money, it’s ultimately all based on money, and not only in football BTW, LOL.
I don’t know if anyone knows if there is any truth about us trading for Mcnabb,but a lot of people are talking about it,at bleacherreport.com,they are saying we might get him for a 2nd round pick??interesting.
Sorry posting this late. Do not mean to change the subject I just wanted to Congratulate Floyd Little on his induction to the HF. I enjoyed watching him hear the news and the emotion he displayed. I also think it was a class act when Pat B made his statements. Any way this old Bronco Fan wanted to say thanks to Floyd for all the memories.
FTR
I say if we draft a QB we go for Snead out of Ole Miss, Or Clausen but Clausen will be long gone before us so we can get Snead in the 2nd round.. thats just my opionion. However I dont think Orton was that bad and we should give him another year. Lets not forget this was Ortons first year in a new system, with new players and coaches and he put together the best numbers of his career.
This is today’s Jeff Legwold perspective in the DP on some of what I was talking about earlier, such as there will be very few long term contracts signed this year if any, most or all of them will be the one year variety, unless something drastically changes in the labor talks. Here is Jeff:
The prospect of a labor stoppage in 2011 threatened to overshadow the Big Game at times last week and will be around every turn in the coming football year.
The threat is already being felt even now as teams across the league try to decide what they will do in free agency, how they will fill in the holes in their rosters.
The Broncos, too, will have difficulty trying to decide where to go from here. The crux of the matter is they, like every other team in the league, aren’t sure what to do with multi-year contracts.
Teams want to know if they are going to have to pay any guaranteed money in players’ contracts if there is no football in 2011 because of a lockout. The league hasn’t really given them answer.
As a result the Broncos and many other teams may not be all that active in an uncertain free agent market in the coming weeks because of the financial uncertainty that’s not all that far down the road.
Now something funny from Legwold also today in a piece about Tebow:
Tebow carries the ball low as he prepares to throw. He has a long arm swing on his delivery, far closer to a baseball pitch, rather than the quick release required of NFL quarterbacks. And as Tebow tried to show he could deliver the ball more quickly in Mobile, his accuracy suffered.
“With the actual release, I think it’s OK,” Tebow said. “I think there’s definitely room for improvement in quickening it, absolutely, but there are other guys playing in the league with similar releases.”
Asked who he believed those players are, Tebow paused briefly and said, “I don’t know.”
LMAO!!!!!!
Wow, I think that comment just hurt his stock. LOL!
Dexter McCluster Ole Miss
# 22
Running Back/Wide Receiver
Height: 5-9 Weight: 170
electric in the open field, can return kicks and punts(so eddie can focus on playing wide reciever). we are missing that third down speed back that can break a game. undersized but reminds you of darren sproles.
Could pick him up in 2nd or 3rd rounds
Yeah, let’s spend a 2nd round pick on a 5′ 9″, 170lbs ST guy… I’ve seen these Ole Miss guys play this year and even so McCluster looks awesome at the collegiate level, no way I would chance a half pint dude in the NFL, how many small dudes like that are successful in this league, it’s a percentage thing, can’t chance it, you don’t chance 2nd round picks to that extent and with third round pick we have way better routes to go like Toby Gerhart anyway. A guy like Dexter is a luxury type of pick, if you’ve filled all your key position type of things, we are opposite of that.
If we cant get Williams in the first or second. Passing on Cody, there is another name to throw out ther for NT.
Cam Thomas, UNC
6-4 331lbs
I could not find a video of him but he is #93 in the video below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjDbP4qtAKc
I think Williams will be the best NT in the draft,so we need to get him,and with the 10th or 11th pick we outta be able to get him,they have him going to Pitt at 18th,but we could draft him higher or trade down a few spots and maybe pick up another pick or 2.
But let’s see what FA brings,we might not need a NT,if we can sign one in FA.
I’m still interested in Tom Brandstater’s potential. We SHOULD see more snaps taken for the 2nd and 3rd strings in camps and the preseason. No QB can carry a team to Superbowl Wins alone, we need to build the team around that position. Even John Elway couldn’t win a Superbowl until he was given a strong group around him.
I think McClain is gonna be our first round pick.. McD will try to lure a NT in FA.. Oh well Ive posted before just once (mexican fan
).. Long time viewer second time poster lol 
.. really enjoy reading your comments :] peace!!!
Just an fyi, regarding the McNabb trade rumor, apparently Denver is denying ESPN’s report that they’re interested in #5.
http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/35332801/ns/sports-player_news/
As usual, I’m sure there are a few people who actually know what’s going on with this rumor, and I’m sure none of them are gonna be talking. But since I’m a Bronco fan, I thought I’d share this with you all. Too bad though, I was gettin hyped just thinking about it. McNabb may not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he can definately play ball.
I dont think i want a QB who doesnt know games can end in ties.
I’d rather see us use that money elsewhere. Maybe if we had all the pieces together and we were just a QB away from being a contender but we’re not there. For instance, the Vikings, Favre came in and gave them a real chance, they were just a QB away. They had a decent D, consistent running attack, and well Favre is still a good QB. We’re not even close to being a team like that. We need help and I think a QB is lower on the list of needs.
Hahahahaha, yeah, Cody, I remember that…
There is no rational thinking on what would make sense bringing McNabb in, we have an experienced QB in Orton who is exactly molded to what McD likes in a QB character, disciplined team player, McNabb is anything but, great competitor yes, but makes light of everything, a kid in the playground type of attitude and I don’t see how McD would deal with it.
Anyhow, this is Legwold’s take on rumors of Broncos having an interest in McNabb (he has been a busy boy today, LOL):
But folks at the Broncos’ Dove Valley complex have used the phrase “no truth” in the last day or two to describe the McNabb rumblings. So unless they are fibbing McNabb isn’t coming to the Broncos with his giant contract in tow — McNabb carries a $5 million salary cap figure in the upcoming season according to some salary documents and has some bonus money coming as well.
McNabb has also spent his entire career in a West Coast offense, which is not what the Broncos play any more, so the transition on the field would be substantial for McNabb even if the Broncos were considering the move.
I’m sure Dawkins would like to see McNabb here but when you look at the facts even Dawkins would have to agree that Denver is not the right fit for McNabb.
Regarding the McNabb story regarding ties, for those here who might not know the details, it’s worth posting this article by the AP that came out after the November 2008 game between the Bengals and the Eagles that ended in a 13-13 tie:
The Eagles (5-4-1) now have played 12 OT games, including one in the playoffs, since McNabb joined the team in 1999. Yet, the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback didn’t know ties were possible until his desperation pass fell incomplete at the end of the fifth quarter.
“I’ve never been a part of a tie. I never even knew that was in the rule book,” McNabb said after the game. “It’s part of the rules, and we have to go with it. I was looking forward to getting the opportunity to get out there and try to drive to win the game. But unfortunately, with the rules, we settled with a tie.”
The overtime rule isn’t an obscure one. It was adopted fully by the NFL in 1974 and 17 games have since ended tied. The Eagles have been involved in four of those games.
“I guess we’re aware of it now,” McNabb said. “In college, there are multiple overtimes, and in high school and Pop Warner. I never knew in the professional ranks it would end that way. I hate to see what would happen in the Super Bowl and in the playoffs.”
Uh, they keep playing if it’s tied in the playoffs or Super Bowl. But McNabb apparently didn’t know that, either.
HAHAHAHAHA, LMAO once again!!!!!
All this should put the McNabbs rumors to rest, LOL, hopefully anyway…
I think that’s bad when you’re a player and you don’t know the rules. LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My rationalization of the whole McNabb thing is that he’s a better qb than Orton, IMO. And he has one hell of an arm. I remember that OT ordeal and all, and yes it was pretty humiliating, but I would rather have McNabb than Orton. Actually I’d rather have McNabb starting with Orton backing him up. But it seems to be a moot point anyways so that’s that. But you all bring up great points about team chemistry, offensive philosophy and all, and in the end it would probably not work out. But it sure would on my Madden franchise, baby!
It’s a total joke, he is the team leader, football is his job, he gets paid millions for it, and the end result is he doesn’t know overtime rules…
Eeerockski was very kind when he said McNabb is not the sharpest tool in the shed…. I can think of a couple other ways to put it, LOL.
Well, at least he was good for a laugh today!
I would rather have a NT, OL,ILB, power RB, or a Joshua Cribbs type than trade for McNabb.
Also a DE
My prority choices: NT, DL, DE, ILB, LG, C and power RB,
Are you sure that Kuper can hold up at RG? I know we need help at LG, probably C, but I’m not sure about the RG.
That’s what the thinking seems to be, he is 314 lbs. Plus we have so many needs, if we don’t address one on both lines it would be that spot (and the two O tackles of course). I mean we need three new guys for the D line and 2 for the O line, that’s already five positions.