THE DUKE...THE GREATEST

by #7HOF2004 on Jul 2, 2008 6:34 AM MDT

Hey Gang:

I just wanted to add to the Greatest Elway moment. I know it's a wee bit late but since I just joined I hope all will overlook my tardiness. For me the greatest Elway moments are all the passes he completed running on one side of the field and flicking the ball across his body to the other side of the field 60 yards away and the defenses gasping with awe.

The debate as to who the greatest QB was, usually centers around Montana...I say bunk. Put Montana on those Bronco teams that Duke carried on his back to the early SB's and Ol Joe wouldn't survive a season. Joe had Craig, Rathman, Rice, Clark, Soloman, Taylor, and Brent Jones and a fantastic O-line throughout his career. Who did John have really? The Three Amigos? Cmon. Also Bronco fans did you know that Denver is the only team to appear in 3 SB's exactly 10 years apart (SB XII, XXII, XXXIII)? 30 years of greatness.

This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR

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Welcome #7

I also loved the cross-field throws. Concerning Montana he also had this new thing called, ‘west coast offense’ while Elway had a molding years and years old Cowboy Scheme that teams had studied for years.

by Mike Clark on Jul 2, 2008 7:37 AM MDT reply actions

before Shanny that is.

by Mike Clark on Jul 2, 2008 8:06 AM MDT up reply actions

Welcome!

To paraphrase Rick Reilly: “Put Elway behind Montana’s lines in San Francisco, give him Jerry Rice and Roger Craig to throw to, and there’s not a record he doesn’t own. Let Montana play in Denver with Dan Reeves and by age 26 he’s either dead or selling car insurance.”

I have this argument all the time. Elway was the greatest, bar none. You should see the fools in Kansas City that try to convince me that Len Dawson is a top 5 QB!

However, I don’t believe in belittling one QB just to make another look good. Elway, Montana, Marino, Favre; while there may be much debate about which one of those is the best, no one can doubt that they were all great and need to be appreciated.

Why do I live in Kansas City?

by papigrande on Jul 2, 2008 8:44 AM MDT reply actions

Montana also had

a great defense , which got him the ball back and kept him on the field . Montana was a good quarterback but Elway was great.

by okiebroncosfan on Jul 2, 2008 12:31 PM MDT reply actions

Well

So did Elway, not dominating but when the Broncos would go to the Bowl they would always be in the top 5 for points allowed (excpet when it counted the most). To me a good defense is how many points you allow. You can be #1 in rush/pas/overall but it you allow the points whats it matter

by broncfanstuckinsd on Jul 2, 2008 12:45 PM MDT reply actions

yes , but when Elway

went to the bowl the first three times , he never had as good of players surrounding him as Montana had ever . the broncos had some good players but did not have the all-pro players around Elway, or the games may have been different . our defense may have been good on paper or stats , but the 49’ers defense shut our offense down and and their offense scored at will on our defense .

by okiebroncosfan on Jul 2, 2008 8:12 PM MDT reply actions

Montana=Brady

Montana=Brady. They were good QB’s in great situations, while Elway was great in a bad situation under Reeves, and then great in a great situation under Shanahan. As for the defense, I think in 89 they were first in least points allowed, but they just ran into a buzzsaw against San Fran. Against the Giants and Redskins, however, those defenses weren’t nearly as good. And, they didn’t make the big plays in the SB like Denver did in 97 and 98. That is what Montana had: A defense that made big plays, like the goal line stand against the Bengals in SB 16 and the devastation of Marino in SB 19. But Montana got all the credit. What a joke. Just like Brady today. Pete Prisco had a best players in the league list, and they had him at the top. That is BS. Brady is the most overrated player of all time.

by PABroncofan on Jul 2, 2008 8:38 PM MDT reply actions

Sammy Winder

As I reminiscent the days of Elway and Montana, suddenly I have this, ’ come from somewhere memory of a half-back named Sammy Winder (I hope I am spelling it right!) For some reason I love Sammy and hate the stories about Montana vs Elway. Those of us that saw Elway carry, team after team, of average tallent, know that no other QB could have done this. Elway is the best ever, and I thank him for staying in Denver his entire life in the NFL.

But what about Sammy! He started, “The Drive,” he helped the Elway legend.

Some have told me not to---but I just can’t help it.

I’m going back into the la-la-land-of-pre-season-feel-goods.

It is so nice to be back in la-la-land. In this land Cutler is only ‘just-as-good’ as Elway and its only his third year..

Selvin is faster and stronger than the Sammy of old, and as good as Davis at running away.

Sammy Winder is remembered by Bronco Fans because of ‘The Drive’. There is a love of him because there is no illusion. “Get Ball Run Forward” From the Two he took the ball, ran forward, and started the drive.

Sammy and Selvin are, and were, in the same spot. Montana and Elway….there is no contest. Montana played with a team. Elway carried a team, a franchise, an entire city, and many of us fans on his shoulders. This is la-la land and comes at you like a dream.

In this dream Selvin doesn’t see Davis holding up a trophy. He sees Sammy, putting his head down,plowing forward, getting a first down. The drive begins

Thankyou Mr. Winder

Us somewhat funny Bronco fans are funny….don’t you think?

by Mike Clark on Jul 2, 2008 11:55 PM MDT reply actions

This is a really good comment

and since recommending comments doesn’t do much I’ll give credit in a reply.

I have to say that you are coming across better than ever Mike. I’m glad you are sticking it out here with those of us “realists” who like to rain on la-la-land parades. :)

Which isn’t to say that you haven’t come across well, but to say that as you keep posting your unique voice is becoming clearer and clearer to me as a reader. One great thing about MHR is the organization of the pages and profiles allows a better than average utility for grasping “where a guy is coming from”. I am begining to see quite clearly where you are coming from.

Keep posting and commenting. :)

Mountains, forest, sea: these render man fierce, but yet do not destroy the man.

by Jeremy Bolander on Jul 3, 2008 12:54 AM MDT up reply actions

Thanks Styg

I got up this morning and decided to make it a post. I hope la-la- land doesn’t hurt anyone.

by Mike Clark on Jul 3, 2008 8:31 AM MDT up reply actions

I am not so sure about the comparisons to Montana and Elway such as

saying Montana wouldn’t have survived a season on those Bronco teams. Montana had the cast of characters and won Super Bowls…Elway didn’t and lost Super Bowls. Late in his career Elway had the cast of characters and won Super Bowls. And if memory serves me correctly, Montana late in his career didn’t have a cast of anyone and still won football games…no Super Bowls though. ;)

If God is not a Bronco fan, then WHY are sunsets Blue and Orange? - Jon Tollerud 5/22/08
The Quest ~ TSG 5/19/08

by Tim Lynch on Jul 3, 2008 2:25 PM MDT reply actions