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
True, but that’s why there’s FA AND the draft. We could get all 5 positions in either. It probably wouldn’t be very smart, but we could.
My bad, he is listed at 6’4″, 303 lbs, but it’s still substantial, unlike Wiegman’s 265.
Yeah, of course it would be nice if we could address all our woes on both lines, but the reality of it is we will be lucky if McD addresses half of them.
I really hope McD tries to fix the line. If we had good line play from both sides, I think that we would be a QB away from a real SB contender.
And I need to address something: I really feel bad for Wiegman, and I don’t mean to belittle the guy, he has such great heart and is so competitive, it’s just that the game has passed him by, his position can no longer be handled by anyone way under 300lbs, he could cut it in the past, but players have gotten way too big for him to have any impact any longer. Nothing to be ashamed of, the man had a fantastic career, and I hope he has something to fall back on once he gets out of football, which should be now, just my opinion.
Yeah, stopping the run and running the ball is where it all starts in this league, and if you can do that then you can go a long way with an ok QB, because let’s face it, with 32 teams in the league, not every team can have a great QB.
Two great points, bay. It’s nothing against Wiegman. He’s just too small to play the position. Also, teams with mediocre QB’s can still do well. If we get our OL and DL to play really good this next year, I think we can go a long way.
I was watching the Senior Bowl practices a while back, and I noticed the G/C from Iowa, I think. I don’t know much about him. Would he be good in the 2nd or 3rd round?
Check this out:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/Peppers-says-no-long-term-deal-with-Panthers
Kinda seems funny; he was offended because they were making him the top paid defensive player by “only slightly”. Several million dollars per year not enough? Why don’t we take it all away then see how you feel?
And that’s why this year I say let’s fix the lines first and foremost, because regardless of all the QB names that are thrown out there in the draft this year, I don’t see a single one who would be a big improvment over Orton. This is not the year to find the QB wonder, like it or not, it is what it is, so let’s try to help ourselves where we can do the most good and keep the QB situation as is for this year. This is a great year for D line in the draft, let’s start there.
And by the way, I WANT SUH. But I know we won’t get him. It would be AWESOME, though.
I really hope we get some good DL in the draft. That would be a great starting point for rebuilding.
The center I noticed in the Senior Bowl was J.D. Walton from Baylor, #55, 305lbs, he seemed to hold his own.
Do you think we could get him in a later round?
I think that we have to look O line in FA first since this is a weak draft for the O line. O line in FA and D line in the draft since D line is the strength of this year’s draft. To me that seems like the best way to go, but what do I know, I am just a blogger, LOL.
Who is on the FA market (significant people)?
Bay, I think that the Broncos staff who drafts people should definately listen to you. I think you do more research on the players than they do. LOL.
Is this a trick question? There should be at least 150 players available even if there is no labor agreement reached, and all those players are NFL worthy for the fact that they have been given and played out their NFL contracts, unlike draft kids. There are plenty of website that will help you identifying them by position.
Try footballsfuture.com, click on free agents.
The only G/C I have seen that I would consider is Maurkice Pouncey from Florida.
6’5 312 pounds. He actually won the Rimington Trophy for best Center.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmbdmMxmRKU
It talks about him a little bit but more the fact that he starts at center and his twin brother is the starting guard.
I bet a couple guys on the Broncos organization are keeping an eye on what is said on this blog, same as DP writers, it seems I often see an article on the post the day after something was discussed here, in fact it has happened a couple of times the last two days, and too close of stories to be just mere coincidence. These folks would be stupid to ignore everything that’s said on the blogs, since there is some very valuable info and ideas on them, if you know where to look that is. And best of all to them, IT’S FREE, how can you beat it, we slave over here and they take the credit and make money off it, LOL.
That would be ok. What kind of DE would be good for us in mabye the 2nd or 3rd rounds?
Yeah, but to get him will require a high pick, I don’t think we want to go that high for a center with our other needs.
Other options are:
Mike Johnson from Alabama (6’5 306) although Alabama played a zone blocking scheme in college. Might not be the best option unless he can covert. Projected round 3-4.
Vladimir Ducasse from UMass (6’5 336). Huge guy should fill some holes. Not sure what UMass ran for blocking scheme. He is a round 2-3 projection.
As far as FA is concerned:
Jahri Evans from Saints and Logan Mankins from the Patriots are best 2 guards but both will be RFAs most likely.
Not much in the center department.
I would not mind getting Pouncey in the 2nd round if available.
Projections have him as high second round, hence we would have to consider him with our first, not a chance for a center in the first.
Me either, cody. I also think that, like bay said, that we should try and get OL in FA and DL in the draft.
Bobbie Williams from the Bengals and Kevin Mawae are UFA I believe, both great OL but it will be tough to find help for the O line this year, specially at center, that’s why I think we should explore every option in FA first and fall back on to the draft as needed.
And by the way, I wouldn’t want Iupati as a first pick either, I was totally unimpressed at the Senior Bowl. Clady’s type only come by once in a blue moon.
My top 5 priority list-
1. Resign Dumervil
2. Resign Marshall
3. Extend Clady
4. Get the best DL available in FA (DE or NT)
5. Draft McClain at 10/11
Although last week #5 would have been fire McD… Bowlen told me all I needed to hear!!!
Why would we resign clady? He signed a 5 year deal when we drafted him.
That isn’t top priority.
I think that Iupati will be good, and we should try and get him, just not in the first round. We should use that first round pick to try and get the best player that fills a need for the team.
Florio, his contract is up next year. I didnt say resign him, I said extend him. We CAN NOT let him hit the FA market!!!
florio’s_mom:
sndvl isn’t really that bright sometimes, so just let it slide. He still won’t let go of the fact that the Broncos won’t let McD go after his first year. LOL
So in a sense, it should be a priority. Maybe even our first one. But OL “get no respect”, as its not a glamorous position. Can anybody imagine him leaving. If we extend him now, we get a hometown discount!!!
sndvl:
Here’s a link to show you that Clady ha a five year deal.
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_9994290
Doomerville rocks, dont know where that came from. But whats your list? So we can see how bright you are!!!
No it doesn’t. He signed A FIVE YEAR DEAL. He was drafted in 2008. He wont be a free agent until 2013.
That is not top priority.
1. We need to resign Doom (I agree with you on that, sndvl)
2. We need to improve the defensive line, particularily at NT, but at DE as well.
3. We need to try and find a bigger LG and C, so that we can do the running scheme that we want.
4. At 10 or 11, we draft whatever the best player is that would be helpful. I think either a NT (if we don’t get one in FA) or McClain would be good.
5. Get a power RB
6. Get another return man
How does that sound, sndvl?
I was misinformed. Thanks for the link! I though I read he was a FA next year. Dont believe everything you read on the internet, lol
Just so you know, sndvl, I let Marshall off the list because I don’t really care if he stays or goes. Either way, I think it will be for the best.
left, not let.
So we are making lists now?
I was asked to make one. You can too, florio. It’ll be fun.
Champ will be the FA next year. But what the heck, extend Clady anyway…lol!
List is good. Though, we already have Hillis, who could be the power back. And Royal was initially drafted as a returner. He showed tremendous potential and had a rookie season that came out of nowhere. He endured the dreaded sophmore slump, though I attribute that to our AWESOME play calling! As far as the McD thing, I have let it go. Its you guys who keep bringing it up!!! We all know where I stand. That wont change. But dont forget- I AM A DENVER BRONCOS FAN. So you can all say what you want, I just care about our team. More than some of the players or Coach. To them its business. To me its a way of life.
C’mon Florio. Enlightnen us with your perspective!
Okay…
1. Resign Doom
2. Be agressive in search of a Dline. (either draft or FA)
3. Bulk up Oline
4. Either resign Marsh or get a tall WR in FA or draft
5. Trade Shef
6. Find a big back or play Hillis
7. Get a younger LB corp
Not any different then mine! So we can all agree, Doom is the #1 priority. Hopefully the right people are reading… We do have a young corp of LB’s Doom, Ayers and DJ.(he’s in the middle). Then Davis, Haggen and Reid. Well, we should include Jarvis, but he seems to be a bust. Which is so disappointing. I see why its buried on your depth chart Florio, lol!
Thats why I think McClain would be a great pick at 10/11. It would be the perfect mix of age and wisdom. We really have been spoiled with the LB’s who have played for us over the years. DJ/Gold/Wilson was probably my favorite bunch. Fast times at Mile High!!!
When i mean get younger i mean get more depth. Its really for Haggen and davis.
Is Ayers supossed to be Sam or Will? I thought he is Doom’s back up right?