Denver Broncos: Steve Atwater, Terrell Davis & Karl Mecklenburg Among Semifinalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement
by Jezru on Nov 22, 2011 4:38 PM MST
in Denver Broncos in the Hall of Fame
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Moments after word broke that Kyle Orton had been released by the Denver Broncos, the Pro Football Hall of Fame released its list of 26 modern era semifinalists for Hall of Fame consideration. Steve Atwater, Terrell Davis and Karl Mecklenburg made it into the next round. In January, this list will be whittled down to 15 and the final vote will take place on Saturday, February 4th - the day before the Super Bowl.
There were five Broncos on the initial list of 103 that was released on September 29, 2011. Unfortunately, Coach Dan Reeves and Rod Smith did not make the cut this year and will have to wait for future consideration.
Hop, skip, JUMP!
When the initial list of 103 candidates were released back in September, KaptainKirk and I provided brief bios for the Broncos under consideration. Here they are for you again.
Steve Atwater
Steve Atwater aka the "Smiling Assassin" patrolled the middle of the Defensive backfield along with another great safety in Dennis Smith. Between the two, they were one of the most feared Safety tandems in the NFL during the 1990's. In fact, he is on the NFL's 1990's All-Decade Team. An 8-Time Pro Bowler, 3-Time All-Pro and 2-Time Super Bowl Champion, Steve was known for his ferocious hits, like the infamous "mic'd up" hit on Chiefs Running Back Christian Okoye on Monday Night Football in 1990. Did I say hit? That was a pummeling blow, considering Okoye outweighed Atwater by 42 lbs.
Regarded as one of the toughest safeties in the NFL during his playing days, Atwater was selected by the Broncos in the 1st round (20th overall) of the 1989 NFL Draft from the University of Arkansas. He started all 155 regular-season games he played with the Broncos, a total that ranks 10th in franchise history.
Atwater may have trouble getting a bust set in bronze. There are only nine other Safeties enshrined in Canton. All of them have at least 48 career interceptions and Steve has only 24. And even though tackles were not an official stat before 2001, Atwater unofficially totaled 1180 tackles in his 11 years, averaging 107 tackles per season. By way of comparison, Ronnie Lott unofficially averaged only 82 per season.
Terrell Davis
Terrell Davis was drafted by the Broncos in the 6th round with the 196th pick overall in the 1995 NFL Draft. He is the Denver Broncos all-time leading rusher, with 7,607 rushing yards. "T.D." was inducted as the 21st member of the Ring of Fame in 2007 after spending his entire 8-year career with the team from 1995-2002. Davis rushed for at least 1,000 yards in each of his first 4 seasons, including the 1998 campaign in which he totaled the 4th-most rushing yards (2,008) in a season in NFL history to earn league MVP honors. He also set a club record with 21 rushing scores that season. The 3-time Pro Bowl and 1st-Team All-Pro selection (1996-98) finished his career with 60 rushing touchdowns on 1,655 carries (4.6 avg.) in 78 regular-season games. Terrell was a key member of the Broncos' back-to-back Super Bowl championship teams (1997-98). His 97.5-yard rushing average in regular-season games is the 3rd best in NFL history (min. 75 games), trailing only Jim Brown and Barry Sanders, both of whom are enshrined in Canton. In the postseason, Davis was equally as impressive, totaling at least 100 rushing yards in seven of his eight career playoff appearances, including his 157-yard, 3-rushing touchdown performance against Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII to earn game MVP honors.
He averaged an NFL-record (min. 5 games) 142.5 rushing yards per game in the postseason for his career, totaling a club record 1,140 rushing yards on 204 carries (5.6 avg.) with 12 touchdowns. Davis ranks number one in Broncos history in career 100-yard rushing games (41), 1st in rushing touchdowns (60), 2nd in overall touchdowns (65) and 2nd in yards from scrimmage (8,887).
Karl Mecklenburg
In 1983, the Denver Broncos drafted a player who would provided struck fear into the opposition. No, not John Elway (well, yes John Elway, but he's already in the Hall of Fame). In the 12th Round with the 310th pick, the Broncos selected the LB Karl Mecklenburg. Known as "The Albino Rhino" or simply "The Meck", Karl would amass 79.5 sacks (2nd in team history) and 5 interceptions over his 180 game career that would continue until 1994. Most impressive, Karl would be instrumental on a defense that would go to three Super Bowls win three AFC Championships. A 6-time Pro Bowler, 3-time AP First Team All-Pro, 4-time NEA First Team All-Pro and 1-time AP Second Team All-Pro, Meck was inducted into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 2001 with along with Dennis Smith.
While Meck is a fan favorite, he's probably got a long road to travel in order to get to Canton. Another storied Broncos Linebacker has been patiently waiting his turn - Randy Gradishar. While we must support Karl, it's important to remain vigilant with Randy.
Here is the complete list of 26 semifinalists:
Steve Atwater, S - 1989-1998 Denver Broncos, 1999 New York Jets
Jerome Bettis, RB - 1993-95 Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams, 1996-2005 Pittsburgh Steelers
Tim Brown, WR/KR - 1988-2003 Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, 2004 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Cris Carter, WR - 1987-89 Philadelphia Eagles, 1990-2001 Minnesota Vikings, 2002 Miami Dolphins
Don Coryell, Coach - 1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers
Roger Craig, RB - 1983-1990 San Francisco 49ers, 1991 Los Angeles Raiders, 1992-93 Minnesota Vikings
Terrell Davis, RB - 1995-2001 Denver Broncos
Dermontti Dawson, C - 1988-2000 Pittsburgh Steelers
Edward DeBartolo, Jr., Owner - 1979-2000 San Francisco 49ers
Chris Doleman, DE/LB - 1985-1993, 1999 Minnesota Vikings, 1994-95 Atlanta Falcons, 1996-98 San Francisco 49ers
Kevin Greene, LB/DE - 1985-1992 Los Angeles Rams, 1993-95 Pittsburgh Steelers, 1996, 1998-99 Carolina Panthers, 1997 San Francisco 49ers
Charles Haley, DE/LB - 1986-1991, 1999 San Francisco 49ers, 1992-96 Dallas Cowboys
Cortez Kennedy, DT - 1990-2000 Seattle Seahawks
Curtis Martin, RB - 1995-97 New England Patriots, 1998-2005 New York Jets
Clay Matthews, LB - 1978-1993 Cleveland Browns, 1994-96 Atlanta Falcons
Karl Mecklenburg, LB - 1983-1994 Denver Broncos
Bill Parcells, Coach - 1983-1990 New York Giants, 1993-96 New England Patriots, 1997-99 New York Jets, 2003-06 Dallas Cowboys
Andre Reed, WR - 1985-1999 Buffalo Bills, 2000 Washington Redskins
Willie Roaf, T - 1993-2001 New Orleans Saints, 2002-05 Kansas City Chiefs
Donnie Shell, S - 1974-1987 Pittsburgh Steelers
Will Shields, G - 1993-2006 Kansas City Chiefs
Paul Tagliabue, Commissioner - 1989-2006 National Football League
Steve Tasker, ST/WR - 1985-86 Houston Oilers, 1986-1997 Buffalo Bills
Aeneas Williams, CB/S - 1991-2000 Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, 2001-04 St. Louis Rams
Ron Wolf, Contributor - 1963-1974, 1978-1990 Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, 1975-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1990 New York Jets, 1991 -2001 Green Bay Packers
George Young, Contributor - 1968-1974 Baltimore Colts, 1975-78 Miami Dolphins, 1979-1997 New York Giants, 1998-2001 National Football League
**** Don't like that certain deserving Broncos aren't on that list? Do something about it! Click here for details.
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I sure hope not
that turd has lost all credibility with me
Brad James
Follow me on Twitter
With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Nov 22, 2011 5:45 PM MST up reply actions
+1
This signature was sacked by Von Miller.
I bleed Orange & Blue.
by Fabio Broncos on Nov 23, 2011 2:18 AM MST up reply actions
Britton Colquitt>>>>>Ray Guy
Brad James
Follow me on Twitter
With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Nov 22, 2011 5:46 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
Did
Atwater win a Super Bowl I didn’t know about? I thought he only won 2. Anyway lets get that guy enshrined already.
Actually
Now that I think about it he only won 1. He was with the Jets the year we beat Atlanta. You talk about something that was painful, watching that guy play in that Jets uni against us in that playoff game. I believe that was the AFC Championship game too.
by johnnyurrotten on Nov 22, 2011 6:19 PM MST up reply actions
Actually Part 2
Steve Atwater was on both of our superbowl winning teams. He was a star in the win over the Packers and he played solid in the win over the Falcons. He went to the Jets for that injury plagued year in 1999, the year after we beat the Falcons. Atwater belongs in the hall of fame. They are crazy to have admitted only 9 safeties in the history of football. Atwater changed the way the position of Safety was played in the NFL. He dominated for a decade. Open the door Hall of Fame….roll out the red carpet….The Smiling Assassin has come home.
by atwaterassassin27 on Nov 22, 2011 6:45 PM MST up reply actions
Actually part 3
Yep Im trippen. It was 99 when he came in with the Jets and they beat us. Friggen NIGHTMARE that was. I couldn’t agree more, roll out the red carpet.
by johnnyurrotten on Nov 22, 2011 8:00 PM MST up reply actions
True story
That Jets game that made us 0-4 in 1999 was my first Broncos game. My grandma was a dispatcher for Anheuser-Busch, and Vance Johnson owned a trucking company in Windsor. He used to give her tickets, and she took me to that game because my grandfather was a trucker and was on the road. We sat in Vance Johnson’s box.
They put Brister in in the 4th quarter, and I (only 10 at the time) told the lady next to me that he would undoubtedly throw a pick. Sure enough, next play, he flings it right to Atwater.
Whiskey tends to make me high, and sad songs make me cry. Pretty women break my heart almost every night. I run on beans and nicotine; I'm a real, live buckaroo. And my heart's not pure, my boots ain't clean, and I never tell the truth.
The three of them all deserve to go...
but ya gotta love Steve Atwater’s Crush – ing blows. Karl was Great as well, and TD gets most of the hype.
It is better to keep silent, and appear to be wise, then to ramble on aimlessly and remove all doubt! The Wisest Man, Solomon.
Atwater!
Brad James
Follow me on Twitter
With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Nov 22, 2011 5:46 PM MST up reply actions
Man
It was like we got to see that every Sunday when he was back there.
by johnnyurrotten on Nov 22, 2011 6:16 PM MST up reply actions
One of these guys is getting in.
Got my fingers crossed.
And they should probably go ahead and put Tebow in now, just to quiet all the fanatics.
"Thank the Lord I don't have to live with the roller coaster that you all make out of my life" - Tim Tebow
Poor Mecklenburg dosent have a chance .
If Randy Gradishar cant get voted in how can karl ?
by broncosfaninphilly on Nov 22, 2011 5:04 PM MST via mobile reply actions
Simon Fletcher?
Brad James
Follow me on Twitter
With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Nov 22, 2011 5:52 PM MST up reply actions
You know what...I should add Fletcher to my 'should be in the Hall' signature...
…he was truly a ‘Sacks Master’
Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
Gonsoulin, Taylor, Wright, Gradishar, Atwater, and Davis.....
Why are they not in the Hall...I just don't understand.
Fletcher was good...
in terms of the Broncos, but compared to the elite that played the position he’s got a tough path to travel.
J
Its hard to pick of the three...
I still maintain that if Gale Sayers can make it to the Hall …..Davis should be a no-brainer.
It is a disgrace for all Hall-Voters that Atwater is not already in.
and I’m loving the Karl Mecklenburg thing……for you younger fans…..Karl was a Tebow of defense
the little train that was told he couldn’t and did it anyway…
Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
Gonsoulin, Taylor, Wright, Gradishar, Atwater, and Davis.....
Why are they not in the Hall...I just don't understand.
12th rd pick Karl...Almost irrevelant in the NFL, but a force to be reckoned with on defense...The LineBacker!!!
The 2000 yds, 2 SB wins and SB MVP are enough…TD should be in before Chris Carter or any of those other guys!!!
Us old-timers know how much we loved and still love 'The Meck'
Meck the Wreck
Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
Gonsoulin, Taylor, Wright, Gradishar, Atwater, and Davis.....
Why are they not in the Hall...I just don't understand.
Poor Meck
Guy played in 3 Super Bowls and our defense got shredded in every one of them.
by johnnyurrotten on Nov 22, 2011 6:21 PM MST up reply actions
I love Mecklenberg!
12th round draft pick!
Brad James
Follow me on Twitter
With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Nov 22, 2011 5:53 PM MST up reply actions
Gonna be tough this year
I think this is definitely Cris Carter’s year. Look at the other guys. Parcells, DeBartolo, Haley, Curtis Martin, Tim Brown, Jerome Bettis, Will Shields…man, what a great list of candidates. It’ll be tough.
Whiskey tends to make me high, and sad songs make me cry. Pretty women break my heart almost every night. I run on beans and nicotine; I'm a real, live buckaroo. And my heart's not pure, my boots ain't clean, and I never tell the truth.
For some reason I have a good feeling for Atwater this year...just a gut feeling
Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
Gonsoulin, Taylor, Wright, Gradishar, Atwater, and Davis.....
Why are they not in the Hall...I just don't understand.
He definitely deserves in. In general, if you’re on an All-Decade team, you’re a Hall of Famer.
Whiskey tends to make me high, and sad songs make me cry. Pretty women break my heart almost every night. I run on beans and nicotine; I'm a real, live buckaroo. And my heart's not pure, my boots ain't clean, and I never tell the truth.
It's amazing Randy Gradishar doesn't get any recontion...He's more qualified then any we have in there!
I hope TD makes it though…
The bummer about Grad is that he quit maybe two or three eyars too soon.
Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
Gonsoulin, Taylor, Wright, Gradishar, Atwater, and Davis.....
Why are they not in the Hall...I just don't understand.
10 years? He has the cridentials...
7× Pro Bowl selection (1975, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983)
5× First-team All-Pro selection (1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981)
1× Second-team All-Pro selection (1983)
7× All-AFC selection (1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1983)
1978 NFL Defensive Player of the Year
2× Denver Broncos MVP (1978, 1980)
2× All-American (1972, 1973)
Denver Broncos Ring of Fame
Ohio State Varsity Hall of Fame
Ohio State Football All-Century Team
by bfree2bronc on Nov 22, 2011 5:33 PM MST up reply actions 2 recs
Hey! Grad is in my 'Why aren't they in the Hall' Signature
I’,m just saying that ‘for twelve years’ sounds a lot better than ‘for Ten Years’
it hurt Grads’ chances of getting votes from writers that ignored Denver back then…which were most voters by the way.
I do think Grad will make it …. Sometime in the future …I really do
Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
Gonsoulin, Taylor, Wright, Gradishar, Atwater, and Davis.....
Why are they not in the Hall...I just don't understand.
Here's a little tidbit...From Merlin Olsen, one of the greatest of all time...
“If you ask me to name the five best linebackers I played against, or had a chance to cover in my broadcasting career, Randy Gradishar would be on that list … There is no question about his credentials; Randy Gradishar belongs in the Hall of Fame.”23
Merlin Olsen
by bfree2bronc on Nov 22, 2011 10:37 PM MST up reply actions
Merlin Olsen
one of the greatest Utahns who ever lived!
Brad James
Follow me on Twitter
With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Nov 23, 2011 8:50 AM MST up reply actions
Terrell Davis will be debated back and forth nationwide on sports talk radio .
One side will say that john elway dosent win a
SB without him .
the other side will say that he did not play long
enough .
by broncosfaninphilly on Nov 22, 2011 5:18 PM MST via mobile reply actions
From the line of scrimmage Davis puts Sayers to shame...he should be a no-brainer for the hall.
Guardian of the Gate to La La Land!
Gonsoulin, Taylor, Wright, Gradishar, Atwater, and Davis.....
Why are they not in the Hall...I just don't understand.
Charles Haley, the only player ever to win 5 SuperBowls with two different teams (SF/Dallas) deserves a look.
I think they can by-pass Parcells as this is his first year of eligibility…
I'm cheering for Haley's alma mater
James Madison, in their game against Eastern Kentucky to start off the I-AA playoffs!
Brad James
Follow me on Twitter
With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Nov 22, 2011 6:01 PM MST up reply actions
and yes Haley deserves induction!
Brad James
Follow me on Twitter
With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on Nov 22, 2011 6:10 PM MST up reply actions
Not a year where a bunch of obvious names go in
Anyone think Parcells doesn’t walk in? Not sure he deserves to go right away, but the football world fawns over him.
These are the guys who won’t make it for sure: Brown, Coryell, Craig, DeBartolo, Haley, Kennedy, Martin, Matthews, Mecklenburg (d’oh), Reed, Shell, Tagliabue, Tasker, and Williams.
That leaves 12 guys to take 4 spots. It is possible for at least 7 to make it, but with this list being the way it is, I don’t see more than 4 going in. It would mean some of the guys that have been waiting awhile could get their chance. I could see both Wolf and Parcells going in, and both Davis and Atwater having a good chance this year. I hope Carter doesn’t get in as he has annoyed most Bronco fans this year, but I think he will slip in this time, which means Brown won’t. Shields and Roaf were absolutely great year in and year out, but I’m not sure about them just yet.
Drinkin the kool-aid, smokin the Orange Kush
my picks
carter tags roaf and bill p
okay i have cerebral palsy arthris and chronic fatigue as well i have a great life and loveing folks some days are better than other days i got a make-a-wish in 2001 and saw my favorite team the broncos it was the trip of a lifetime i wish everyone couild have gotten to enjoy that with me i know some of u hate the broncos and that okay but i bleed organ and bule for my mnr fans but i bleed orange and blue denver will rise again resident broncos fan for every blog resident broncos for stampede bule thanks shvd98z24 real name jeremy woodard nettleton high class of 02 yes i am a raider Stay humble in victory respect all fear none and finish larry soprano
those are some good picks j-man
I don’t think tagliabue goes in right away, as the word is many felt the last CBA he brokered in was one he pushed upon the owners, even though they saw the problems with it.
Drinkin the kool-aid, smokin the Orange Kush
there allways 1
wild card Carter is a lock beyond that its hard to tell
okay i have cerebral palsy arthris and chronic fatigue as well i have a great life and loveing folks some days are better than other days i got a make-a-wish in 2001 and saw my favorite team the broncos it was the trip of a lifetime i wish everyone couild have gotten to enjoy that with me i know some of u hate the broncos and that okay but i bleed organ and bule for my mnr fans but i bleed orange and blue denver will rise again resident broncos fan for every blog resident broncos for stampede bule thanks shvd98z24 real name jeremy woodard nettleton high class of 02 yes i am a raider Stay humble in victory respect all fear none and finish larry soprano
Like to see 1 get in
T.D. will always be plagued by his injury-shortened career, sad because we all know how dominant he was.
Meck is definitely a long shot, but still my all time #77 favorite
I think Atwater should go, all decade team, 8-pro bowls. Pretty damn impressive to me! I vote Atwater this year, make it happen committee!
Gradishar!!!!!!!
The fact that they continue to snub him leads to me to believe that these HOF committee members are MORONS!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have a point on past snubs
But this list isn’t a snub. This is only modern era players and Gradishar now needs to go into the Hall via the Senior Committee.
"Space is big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind- bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist's, but that's just peanuts to space."
"It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes" Douglas Adams
by orange&blue_aussie on Nov 22, 2011 8:01 PM MST up reply actions
Maybe this has already been discussed, and maybe I should know this, but what is Gradishar’s status for this upcoming class? Have the senior committee nominees already been named? Biggest HoF snub in history, imo.
I’d say Atwater probably should get in before Meck and TD. Although you could use the Gayle Sayers argument for TD. TD didn’t have the flash and versatility of Sayers, but his production when he was healthy was unreal. And his playoff and SB performances should weigh heavily as well.
We see a wonderful sun-soaked city nestled at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Enos sees nickels and dimes.
How the heck does Rod
not at least make the initial list of 103?!?!
BEST UFA EVER!!!!
I would love it if any of these 3 made it in this year… but, um, yea, not holding my breath over it… :(
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