That headline seems like some confusing code, but I’ll bet it makes quick sense to Denver Broncos fans.
This week the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters made their choices in bringing the list of 25 names down to the roughly 15 who will be considered for induction in 2011.
The Hall has not yet announced that list, so we cannot be sure if both Shannon Sharpe and Terrell Davis are on it, or not. The common logic is that Sharpe not only will make the list of finalists, but that this will possibly be the year when Shannon breaks through and makes the Hall. It should be. He retired as the all time tight end leader in catches, yards, touchdowns, Super Bowl victories, and Pro Bowls.
Shannon Sharpe is a Hall of Fame cinch, hopefully this year.
But it is way too easy for the national press to underrate the performance of Terrell Davis.
Everyone seems fixated on the fact that due to his career being cut short by injuries, he does not have the yardage total of some other backs.
Agreed. But yards can sometimes be easier to come by than impossible feats.
Just take a moment, if you would, and consider that in the 90-year history of pro football, Terrell Davis accomplished a grouping of five things that no other running back has done, and the likelihood of this complete grouping being done seems very remote.
Davis was a regular season Most Valuable Player.
Davis ALSO was a Super Bowl Most Valuable Player.
Davis ALSO had a 2,000-yard rushing season.
Davis ALSO was a vital player on consecutive world championship teams. Back to back. Easy to say, hard to do.
Davis ALSO is the only back in pro football history to rush for 100 yards in seven consecutive playoff games, with EVERY game won by his team.
The temptation is to dismiss a statistic by saying that other guys have done this. Yes, lots of guys have won MVP, and there is a Super Bowl MVP every year, but the dismissive reader is missing the entire point.
TD did ALL those things.
Now, just consider for a moment, that every single running back is eligible to accomplish these feats. Almost no one ever does even one of them. Only one player ever did them all.
So, if the voters do not think this is valid enough for induction, I say it is a lot easier to drink water than to walk on water.
TD did the virtually impossible.
Due to injuries, his career was limited, making the logical and frequently made comparison to Gale Sayers, The Kansas Comet, who went into the Hall of Fame after a career of just six years. Usually, it is presumed that the stats comparison favors Sayers, and TD is trying to catch Sayers.
Not so fast, says I. The comparison, I believe, actually favors the man not in the Hall, not the very popular and deserving Sayers.
Terrell Davis, in his injury-reduced career, had more yards, more touchdowns, and more championships (Sayers had none), more 2,000-yard seasons (one to zero). Sayers in fact scored 22 touchdowns his rookie year and then averaged just six scored a season every year after that.
This is not meant in any way as a put down of one of the most electrifying running backs and kick returners in pro football history. Gale Sayers is the role model of a Hall-of-Famer.
All I am saying is, so is Terrell Davis.
Tags: 2010, Denver Broncos, Jim Saccomano, Shannon Sharpe, Terrell Davis
wow… i sure hope TD makes it in! he totally deserves it! without TD we never would have won a superbowl IMO. all of us fans still remember how great he was! GO TD!! and we all know it would be a disgrace if shannon doesnt make it this year!
GO BRONCOS!!
What I really would like to know is what TD is up to these days. I mean after his stint on the NFL Network he has basically fallen off the face of the planet. Did he chose to leave NFLN, was his contract not renewed, what is he doing now, it would be nice to know what’s going on with him, anyone?
ya it would. hope he is doing well! i think he was pretty smart with his money… i hope! he was not only a great player but also had very high character!! just a good person! I cant remember EVER hearing anything bad about him!
TD deserves it. I hope they do get him in there.
Anyone else see the SoundFX video on NFL.com? Tebow on the mic, i got chills.
Love the picture, a big Mile High Salute back to TD. He deserves to be in the HOF, any arguement otherwise is just nonsense and illogical. He changed the game when he played. Defenses had to change their game plan just for him, more so then any other team at that time. I hope he gets it sometime soon. I just have no faith in the voters, sorry.
And yeah I would love to hear what he is up to!
I hope TD gets in. And Shannon too. The would be superb if two Bronco`s go in the same year. Especially after a awful year of Bronco`s football. I also hope that within the bext few years that Steve Atwater gets in as well. What an incredible Safety. He deserves to get in.
Man someone needs to tell Tebow to bring back the Mile High Salute! While LLoyd and Gaffney are always doing the “You can’t see me” they could easily do the Mile High Salute. We need players to bring the traditions back!
The DJ who`s playing the music at MileHigh Stadium during commercial breaks should start playing FOR THOUGHS ABOUT TO ROCK, WE SOLUTE YOU by AC/DC. That`ll get the ball rolling. Bring back the MileHigh Solute!
Well written article Jim. Every Bronco fan knows these two young men deserve to be in Canton. Plain and simple. They always get on the list somewhere but get axed along the line somewhere. No respect for what these guys accomplished in Denver. Figuratively speaking, who cares if TD’s career was cut short… he did a lot more in those few years than some RBs do in their whole career. He made a big imprint on this organization. That has to count somehow, somewhere. Then again, I’ll always be biased for my Broncos. lol
I’m on board for the return of the Mile High Salute. If anyone could bring it back, it would & should be Tebow.
That’s the campaign the fans need to start!! Bring back The Mile High Salute!!
Could you imagine the career TD would’ve had if his wasn’t cut short. He would’ve broke and set records for sure.
Whoo-Hooo!!!! TD!!!! Yeah buddy. Imagine if, in 98, TD had not been pulled in X amount of games for the second half of blowouts in X games.
Due to the east coast bias, TD may never be inducted and that is unjust.
I’m still loving my copy of ‘Denver Broncos The Complete Illustrated History’. Wonder if the author has any book signings scheduled? (hint, hint*)
GO BRONCOS, DEFENSE in 2011!!!
That’s why I say get Pierre Thomas in free agency. He’s like a new young TD and he’d go well with Tebow.
I hate to rain on a Bronco parade, but, reality is that there’s no chance TD gets in this time around. There are a maximum of 5 players inducted into the HOF each year.
Dionne Sanders: Shoe in
Jerome Bettis: Shoe in
Marshall Faulk: Shoe in
That leaves 2 spots for everybody else.
Chris Carter was 2nd in every category Rice. He’s overdue.
Shannon has been stiffed before. It may happen again thanks to Bronco bioas that was given fuel by McD’s cheating scandal. It lets the East Coast bigots ask why the should vote for someone that played for a team that cheated and still couldn’t win.
Bay – Terrell was actually interning with Mike Shanahan and the Redskins this offseason. Him and Steve Atwater – as Running backs mentor, defensive backs mentor, respectively.
With that experience, wouldn’t it be great if not only does Terrell get inducted into the HOF, but comes back as Our running backs coach?! Whew, I would be stoked! Atwater can come team up with Bailey and We’ll have the most elite secondary knowledge EVER!
Thanks for the article Jim, great info and a great read!
Haters, Haters, Haters, Haters. You ever hear Sterling Sharpe say “Let’s talk football not fanball”? Well I feel like that’s all they ever do – not only on NFL Netwrok – but ESPN as well. May case in point being the Dallas Cowboys. They have a terrible start to the season and it’s top news. Our proud organization – one of the all time winningest teams in the AFC – has it’s worst year since it’s AFL existence and they talk about us like it’s par for the course! That’s why Terell won’t be getting in this year. All I can say is I am proud to share in our rich history with YOU GUYS! GO BRONCOS!
I agree 100% TD and Shannon should be a lock for the hall.!! Also, I had heard that TD is an assistant coach in Washington with Shanahan, thats why he did not renew on the NFLN.
TD FOR THE HOF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks guys, now I remember hearing something about TD being with the Redskins in some kind of capacity, but it must be super informal since on the Redskins website staff listing he isn’t listed anywhere…
agreed that has to be our new campaigns next season. “Bring back the Mile High Salute.” now there are more guys doing in on opposing teams mocking us then there are Broncos doing it! Hillis did it when ever he had the chance but umm….. yeah.
I say next year because there are a lot of fish to fry inbetween now and then!
GO SHANNAN AND TD!!! HALL OF FAMERS FOR SURE!! We need to campaign the Mile High Salute and the Orange Crush Jerseys as primary. Lets get the Great old days abck started here again!!!
GO BRONCOS AND BEAT THE CHARGETTES THIS WEEK AND GET REDAY FOR 2011
GO BRONCOS!!!!
The only thing Jim forgot, is that during TD’s first four years, he rushed for over 6400 yards. Averaging over 100 yards per game! Great article.
The Hall of Fame is a ridiculous concept which I have never believed in. There is too much politics, jealousy, bias and downright sycophancy in the mechanism by which players are picked. Why should certain players be shoe-ins based on a load of nonsensical statistics – this is a team game and all the team deserve recognition.
The HOF was brought about by good players who didn’t win anything because they played for poor teams.
TD and SS won SB rings, are part of Broncos history, and have all the fame and adoration they need from their fans in Denver. Who cares what others think, we are THE DENVER BRONCOS, and in my mind I only care what Broncos fans think. All the rest are haters and biased against us and have not shown due respect to our great players.
TD will not make the HOF. He deserves it but will not get in. Sharpe might or might not get in again a no brainer , he should of made it 2 yrs ago. Many Broncos should be in but no respect for Bronco players
td was da tom brady fo running backs didnt nobody knew abt him n i rememba during wk 2 of da 98 season da dallas cowboys came 2 mile high on back 2 back drives td out ran at da time da fastest playa n da game seperating by ten yards 4rm 1 yard deion sanders da 99 seaon endin career changin injury against da jets didnt happen td would b da all time rushin leader
I agree Jim. Eventhough it probably won’t happen becasue of all the biases of others in regards to sats and longevity. Remember TD destroyed his knee. It took two seasons to make it back. When he returned in 2001 he had 700 yards in 8 games played and averaged over 4 yards per carry. On pace for well oover 1,000 yards. As you can see this is a sign of a man who had the natural ability to run the football. BArring the injury he would have destroyed some NFL numbers. This guy needs to get in