Well it's been a rough couple of months and we are well along with the By the numbers series. I didn't think we would get this far before Football business began again. I do want to finish this work, but I don't necessarily wish to run out of numbers before a solution to the mess is found. Anyway, there were ten players that wore #70 in Denver Broncos history. Four Defensive Linemen, three Guards, and three Tackles. I can see two players right off the bat who should be in the running for the Greatest Bronco to wear #70, but it might not be such a clear-cut determination. So let's just see what sticks to the Locker room wall.
Donald King was an Undrafted Free Agent who began his career with the Cleveland Browns in 1954. In 1956, he played for both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers. Don joined the Broncos in 1960. He played in 14 games and intercepted two passes.
Charlie Janerette was drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in the 5th round (49th overall) of the 1960 NFL Draft. He played one season for the Rams and then moved to New York. He spent two years with the Giants and another with the Jets before arriving in Denver. Chuck played two seasons (1964-65) at Right Defensive Tackle for the Broncos. He started all 28 games, recording one interception and recovering one Fumble.
Brian Sochia was signed by the Houston Oilers as an Undrafted Free-Agent out of Northwestern Oklahoma State in 1983. He played 3 years with the Oilers. In 1986, Brian joined the Miami Dolphins as their back-up Nose Tackle when Bob Baumhower was injured. Sochia spent 6 seasons in Miami and made the Pro Bowl in 1988 replacing Cincinnati’s Tim Krumrie. During the 1991 season, he was acquired by the Broncos. Brian finished his career in Denver in 1992, starting 16 of 26 games, recording 2.5 Sacks and a Fumble Recovery.
Jamie Brown was drafted by the Broncos in the 4th round (121st overall) of the 1995 NFL Draft. He spent 3 seasons from 1995-97 in Denver and started 4 of 29 games at Tackle. Upon leaving the Broncos, Jamie played 8 games for the 49ers in 1998 and 1 game with the Redskins in 1999. After his NFL career, Brown served as an Offensive Line coach and security consultant at Park View High School in Sterling, VA from 2005 to 2006.
Tyson Clabo was signed by the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2004 out of Wake Forest. He was on Denver’s roster for the entire preseason. After being waived Sept. 5th, he spent the next 2 weeks on the New York Giants’ practice squad. San Diego signed Clabo to its practice squad Oct. 5 and released him 6 days later. The Broncos re-signed Tyson to their practice squad on Nov 17, 2004 and on Dec 21, he was promoted to the active roster. Allocated to NFL Europe on January 26th, Clabo joined the expansion Hamburg Sea Dragons for the 2005 season. The Broncos waived Tyson on Sept. 3, 2005 as part of the final Roster. He was then signed to the Falcons practice squad through the end of the 2005 season, Atlanta re-signed Tyson in January of 2006. He was the starter at Right Guard for the Falcons in 2006, then moved to Right Tackle and made the Pro Bowl in 2010. Clabo has started all 68 games for Atlanta since Mike Shanahan, in his infinite wisdom, opted to keep the likes of P.J. Alexander, Taylor Whitley and Chris Myers instead.
"The only thing that upsets John Elway is not giving him time to throw the ball, and I don't want to upset him."
"I just waited for guys to run into me," he said. "I could not hear."
- Paved the way for Earl Campbell's Heisman Trophy season at Texas.
- Started Super Bowl XXI and XXII.
- The 2nd-team offense of the 50th Anniversary team
Paul Smith was drafted by the AFL Broncos in the 9th round (222nd overall) of the 1968 Common Draft. He played 11 seasons in Denver, starting at both Defensive Tackle positions. Paul also went to the Pro Bowl twice (1972, 1973), one for each position. Smith was part of first winning season, first playoff berth and first Super Bowl appearance in Broncos history. He started 86 of 133 games, with one interception, 55 Sacks and recovering 7 Fumbles. Smith returned a Fumble 38-yards for a touchdown to mark the first score of a 35-21 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 10 of the 1975 season. He was elected to the 2nd-team defense of the 50th Anniversary team and inducted into the Denver Broncos' Ring of Fame in 1986 along with quarterbacks Frank Tripucka and Charley Johnson. Paul died of Pancreatic cancer on March 14, 2000.
Tim wrote an excellent piece called MHR's Forgotten Broncos -- Paul Smith that is a recommended read.