Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team Released

And nice recognition for DJ Williams as well.
Werd!

Both 1st and 2nd team seems pretty spot-on.

(Nostalgically, I was hoping for Steve Watson somewhere but the other guys had better numbers.)

Broncos had two pretty great long term centers in Billy Bryan followed by Nalen.

Only surprise is seeing DJ Williams make 2nd team already. Nothing against his fine young career, and I guess after Meck, Gradishar, Jackson and then Romo and Wilson there’s a drop-off.

Anyway, nice list!

Sammy Winder!

as a return specialist instead of cornerback is downright weird. ray crockett instead?… hmm….

well, anyway, better names than what i saw from the pats last night for sure. (sorry pats fan, but you’ve had 50 years to pull this together :-) ).

only other guy i’d like to see in there is steve watson, but i guess space was tight at the WR…

Not the size of the dog in the fight
By Mike Puma
Special to ESPN.com

“That violence that you saw on the field was not real stuff. Lyle used football as a way of expressing his anger at the world and at the way he grew up,” says Peter Alzado, Lyle’s brother, on ESPN Classic’s SportsCentury series.

Lyle Alzado’s ticket to the NFL was anabolic steroids. An undersized player in high school, he began experimenting with the muscle-building drugs in college and never stopped. That led to a lucrative career in the NFL.

But in 1992, seven years after playing in his last regular-season game, Alzado died from brain lymphoma, a rare form of cancer. He was 43. Although there is no medical link between steroids and brain lymphoma, Alzado was certain the drugs were responsible for his cancer. He became a symbol of the dangers of steroid abuse.

The 6-foot-3, 254-pound Alzado played 15 seasons at defensive end for the Denver Broncos, Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Raiders. He was twice named All-Pro and compiled 97 sacks in 196 games.

A violent, combative player known for his short temper, Alzado was most comfortable with the renegade Raiders of the 1980s, helping them beat Washington in Super Bowl XVIII. But he also starred for Denver’s “Orange Crush” defense of the 1970s, compiling 64½ sacks.

At the height of his steroid and human growth hormone abuse, Alzado estimated he spent $30,000 a year on the drugs, often buying them at gyms around the country. His second wife, Cindy, blamed the breakup of their marriage on his mood swings caused by steroids. She said she called police at least five times during their marriage because Lyle physically abused her, but Alzado was never arrested.

“The guy had a split personality,” Raiders defensive end Greg Townsend said. “On the field, he had this tough image that he projected. Off the field he was the gentle giant. So caring, so warm, so giving.”

I have to admit, I was hoping for Plummer to make the second team. Wishful thinking, but still…

is the only real issue I have with the list. Some great memories there for sure!

I understand why many would not want him on it, but the fact was he was one of the most dominateing DE of his time, he posted amazing sack numbers as a 3-4 end with 14 game seasons, and he arguably was the face of the old orange crush defense. But I guess the whole Raider thing killed the voting.

I wish that Lionel Taylor and Goose Gonsoulin would have made it over Eddie Mac and Dennis Smith, but I’m not going to complain too much.

I am still thinking he should be with Atwater on the first team, but I’m very happy he at least made the second.

Strangely enough that was the only difference with my picks on defense.

On offense I had Lionel Taylor starting with Rod, and Ken Lanier at Tackle. All other defensive picks are the same as mine.

On Special teams I had Mike Horan at punter, but I can’t argue with Rouen, Mike and Tom were basically identical punters. I just felt Horan was a little better at laying a coffin corner.

I was very glad to see Meck, Grad, and Tom at LB. what a group we had….will always love them.

..Otherwise Cutler woulda squeezed out that #2 spot from Morton.

I, too, would like to see a spot for Watson. Not as stat-rich as the others there, but he was very clutch.

Romanowski ought to be on the first and Sammy Winder shouldn’t be on any. The latter ALWAYS had three yards. Never more never less. That may be OK but is sure was boring to watch. Whenever Elway handed off to Winder it was like a commercial break. Something to sit through until the excitement resumed.

… Lyle Alzado, Vance Johnson, Steve Watson and Claudie Minor.

Did you guys know that G Mark Schlereth pissed his pants WHILE he played, all the time. That is completely true and just wanted to pop a little trivia in this blog. Don’t take it as a negative comment.

Very minor quibble, but I think the second team defense should have been a 3-4. Denver played a 3-4 under Joe Collier (and Wade Phillips) for years. I believe that most of the years from 1975 to 1994 were played with a 3-4. Like I said this is a very minor quibble.

is there going to be any MHR Radio tonight?

These people are crazy!

To not have Tombstone Jackson or Lyle Alzado on there is unsettling. But I agree with most of you, the team feels pretty spot on and I can’t really argue with any of the picks. I think Broncos fans did a very good job.

He is a stud…. literally

This vote should have been held by all current and former Broncos or something….
 
Seriously? Dennis Smith is 5th on my list and Eddie Mac isn’t even in the top 5(6th). Oh well…great list though. I still don’t get Matt Lepsis….

I can’t say anymore…..Lepsis? Really?

Reading all these names just brings back so many memories. The 3 Amigos, I know they didnt last long but it was fun to watch. And anyone remember watching Meck run after an interception? It was a good thing he was on defense lol. Just a couple that came to mind, makes me miss the “good ole days” sometimes.

there are some glaring ommisions such as Lyle, but I can live with this list.

I enjoyed watching Gradishar more than any other LB before or after. He was non-stop, and had such a great instinct for getting to the ball.

he was my favorite growing up, in the 70s.

era P Hillis.

What a joke. Rouen was terrible. People need to realize field position matters, and his boomers out of the back of the end zone – while impressive physically – killed us for years.

Send him congratulations at @TomJackson57.