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Family, Team With Williams As He Is Laid To Rest

By John Bena


At the end of what has been one of the most emotional weeks in team history, Denver Broncos players, coaches and even Owner Pat Bowlen paid there last respects to D-Wil in front of thousands at Great Commission Baptist Church in Fort Worth Texas. Several members of the team spoke at the service, and below are some of the memorable quotes from a day that won't be soon forgotten --

I've never seen a little man with so much heart and so much fire, he touched my heart and always will. -- Linebacker Al Wilson

I can't find anything in our history ... that would even come close to what happened to Darrent, it's something that will stay with me for the rest of my life. Looking back at Darrent's career, the thing that's really disturbing me is that we had a great young player and a player that was not only a great player on the field, he was a great guy off the field. And he was not just liked, but he was loved by his teammates. -- Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen

As a culture, as a country, we've got to start respecting life. -- Safety John Lynch

He said, 'Coach, I'm going to make you proud,'" Shanahan recalled. "And it wasn't the third day of practice, Champ looks over at me - and Champ doesn't say a whole lot - he looks over at me, puts his eyebrow up a little bit and he goes, 'You know what? We've got somebody special right here. D-Will, we love you, we miss you, your spirit will always be with us -- Head Coach Mike Shanahan

One Bronco absent from the cermony was Javon Walker who decided to stay behind. Walker was with Williams when he was killed and according to Shanny is having a hard time dealing with what happened.

Javon is struggling," coach Mike Shanahan said after the service. "He's going through some very heavy grief right now and I talked to Champ (Bailey) about him. He's been with him for the last couple of days. He's going through a tough time. But I'm sure with everybody's support, he'll make it through it all right."

The Broncos returned to Denver right after the ceremony. Though none of us will ever forget D-Wil, it is my hope we might be able to start moving forward. Perhaps Mr. Bowlen said it best, "I told Rosalind Williams the best way to honor her son was to go out and win Super Bowl XLII."

Photo Courtesy of the AP

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