By now just about everyone is aware that aside from John Elway — who was an obvious choice and who played for the Denver Broncos for the entirety of his 16-year NFL career — only two other players with Bronco ties are in the Hall of Fame.
Those would be running back Tony Dorsett — clearly in for his play with the Dallas Cowboys — and cornerback Willie Brown, who played the most famous part of his career with the Oakland Raiders, although he was also an All-AFL corner while with the Broncos.
After 30 years in the NFL I feel like I have been teased by the Hall of Fame voters more often than Charlie Brown by Lucy and her football in the Peanuts cartoon.
Nevertheless, this year the Broncos once again have representation on the early part of the balloting process.
The voters have whittled their initial choices down to 26, and they will choose the 2008 class — with a maximum of six entrants — from that group.
Of course, two of those six slots will likely be taken by veterans committee choices, with Floyd Little already having again beeen overlooked by that group.
So the three Broncos still standing are linebacker Randy Gradishar, running back Terrell Davis, and tackle Gary Zimmerman.
Each is worthy, but then so too is each of the other 23 candidates.
The next step in the process will be for the selectors to vote that 26-man group down to the final 15 (the current group is at 26 instead of 25 due to a tie).
If one or more of our three make it to the final 15, they or he will at least have accomplished the most basic element of candidacy by at least be represented in the room for discussion.
I have been teased too often by this group to have any real expectations, and if that seems negative, well, 30 years is a long time to be told, “Maybe next year.”
But at least the guy would be in the room, which means they have to discuss him.
And just like you can’t win a title if you don’t make the playoffs, you have to be in the conversation to have a shot.
So that’s a plus.
I have written tirelessly about the three players in question. Zimmerman as a two-time all-decade performer at left tackle (the 1980′s and the 1990′s, as voted by this same body); Gradishar is a seven-time Pro Bowl player who was the cornerstone on one of pro football’s greatest defenses, while Davis has near-legendary credentials.
Maybe this is the year.
I’m never going to stop saying that, even though year after year is another story, a different reason why this is not the year.
But this franchise has done its part.
The Broncos have the best home record in pro frootball from 1974-2007, and the franchise has gone to more Super Bowls than any other franchise with the exception of the Dallas Cowboys.
Gradishar, Davis, and Zimmerman.
Maybe this is the year that one of them breaks through.
Tags: Gary Zimmerman, Hall of Fame, Randy Gradishar, Terrell Davis
Its just dumb that Randy Gradishar isn’t in the HOF yet. He was one of the best linebackers in the NFL during his prime. I hope Grad, Zim or TD can join Elway and the Barrelman in the hall.
[...] wrote an interesting post today on Three Broncos on Hall of Fame BallotHere’s a quick [...]
Regardless of what the myopic Hall of Fame voters think, we know this trifecta of Broncos is more than deserving of induction into Canton Ohio’s shrine. Nevertheless, hopefully the time has come that the offer is extended to these stalwarts.
man i hope at least one gets in, they all deserve it escpesially T.D. and Grad. its a crying shame that Randy is not already there i mean the lowly cardinals have more in than us and what i say what has that team ever done? exactly, its more of a popularity contest than anything else.
Will Zimmerman go in as a Bronco? What about Atwater, I am biased but was there a better player at his position all those years and Pro Bowls? TD is a shoo in and I hope I will be there to see him get inducted.
I’ve known about this for almost a couple of weeks… its about time someone made a blog out of it, Jeez!!!!
I honestly think they are all worthy of it and I really hate to single out any one person but truly Davis and Gradishar really should have it. They’re more well known in Broncos Country but that doesn’t make Zimmerman any less of a Bronco then they are. If at least one of them doesn’t make it, I’m going to be furious. There are alot of other former Broncos that aren’t in the HOF yet and should’ve been by now, like dgilmer777_la said, what about Atwater? Davis really deserves it… just imagine our two Superbowl MVP’s in the Hall of Fame, life doesn’t get any better than that my friends!!!!!!!!!!
GO BRONCOS!!!!!!!!!!
I don’t see how Zimmerman is not in the Hall of fame. What better credentials than 2 all-decade teams can you get?
I personally think that TD might get in before Zim or Grad. This is his second year on the ballot, and his second year as a finalist. I don’t know, but Shannon better be a first ballot Hall of Famer next year(Or the year after that, I forget which it is)
All three better make it is all I have to say about it!
GO BRONCOS!!
Just a couple of points:
I agree with 07elway 100%. Also, I’d like to know how many times Zimmerman made the pro-bowl. Being a two-time all-decade is a great honor, but how many pro bowls does that include?
I remember when I was in 6th grade I got to meet Randy Gradishar in person. Little did I know back then he would be such an awesome player. In my opinion, he was the greatest linebacker ever to don a Broncos uniform.
I became a fan of the team as an 11 year old when we moved to Denver in 1977.The Orange Crush was one of the best Defense’s of all time. That Linebacking corp of Rizzo, Swenson, Jackson and Gradishar were special.
Randy Gradishar is the best middle linebacker to ever play here. He is the best short yardage Linebacker of all time. He averaged in a 14 game schedule over 200 tackles a year.
If Gradishar had played in New York or LA he would gone in a long time ago. I hope TD and Zim make it but Randy Gradishar is the guy who I really want in, plus he is just a total class act.
First lets get this straight. The denver broncos have always been snubbed when it comes to hof. I have been a bronco fan since the organe crush days and their is no better lb to don the orange and blue than randy Gradisher. TD is a no brainer and Gary Zimmerman should have been in last year first ballott, just asked elway:). I really don’t understand why writers don’t believe the broncos aren’t more deserving. Just a few facts you dum writers chew on these. 1st the broncos have played in more superbowls than anyone except dallas.and you don’t do that without great players. 2nd the broncos have 2 super bowl rings and are one of 5 teams to starta season 13-0. So come on you writers wise up and smell the orange crush.or what ever you drink I know it’s not coffee cause coffee makes you smart. Their I feel better thank you.
TD should def be in the hall we all know it. anybody remember that touchdown he had against the pats on the road, i think the year they lost to Packers..the year we shoulda one,,but anyways…where TD lost the ball, bounced it up to him self like a dribble and ran it in for a TD…that was the best…but even the years he didn’t win the rushing title he was always second to Barry Sanders,,and i remember one year it took 189 against the niners for barry to pass TD for the rushing title in the last game of the year on Monday night,, TD was along with Barry the best running back of the mid 90′s
zimmerman and habbib best two pickups in franchise history
Can we get a list of the hall of fame voters, I would recon that many a fine Bronco fan would gladly fill them in on the careers of Gradishaw, Luois Wright, Floyd Little, and other deserving Broncos from the 70′s that routinely get snubbed because very few people got to see them due to the lack of national TV exposure for those teams, when I see some the the vetrens that get in and none of the 70′s Broncos are in, it is a disgrace to the Hall of Fame and the NFL. It’s way past due, nothing against John Elway, but I think most of the HOF voters think he was the only good player we had, what about Atwater, Mecklenberg, Fletcher, Jackson, and Bishop?
terrell davis should definitley be in the hall of fame.
no quetion about it terrell davis should be in the hall of fame. Sure he only played for about 7 years but only the 3rd person the rush for 1000 yards in the first 7 games and the 4th person to rush for 2000 yards in a SEASON! won 2 straight superbowls won superbowl mvp what else could he possibly do!