All-Time Broncos Team

This is a list I've been thinking about for some time, and with a brand-new season of Broncos football upon us, I thought it was the right time to unveil my All-Time All-Broncos Team. Every player from 1960 to now was eligible. Eleven offensive players, eleven defensive players, and three special teamers.

QB – John Elway (1983-98). That was easy.

RB - Terrell Davis (1995-02) and Floyd Little (1967-75). That was easy, too.

WR – Rod Smith (1995-06) and Lionel Taylor (1960-66). The initial instinct was to go with Ed McCaffrey or Vance Johnson, but the right choice is Taylor, who piled up big numbers when the Broncos were bad, and is still third on the Broncos all-time list for receptions and receiving yards.

TE – Shannon Sharpe (1990-99, 2002-03). He’ll go into the Hall of Fame next summer.

T – Gary Zimmerman (1993-97) and Ken Lanier (1981-92, 1994). Zimmerman’s an easy choice – he went into the Hall of Fame this month. Lanier gets the nod for his longevity, edging out Matt Lepsis and Tony Jones.

G- Keith Bishop (1980-89) and Mark Schlereth (1995-00). It’s hard to pick offensive linemen – no stats to compare. Bishop was the first Broncos lineman to be selected to the Pro Bowl (1986 & 1987) and Schlereth started for both Super Bowl teams.

C – Tom Nalen (1994-now ). The only active offensive player to make the team.

And now for the defense. . . I guess the first order of business is to decide if the All-Time Bronco team would play in a 3-4 or a 4-3 alignment. I decided on a 3-4, mostly because the Broncos have more linebackers to choose from.

DE – Rich Jackson (1967-72) and Rulon Jones (1980-88). The Broncos need some guys like these now.

DT – Trevor Pryce (1997-05). I couldn’t choose between Paul Smith and Rubin Carter, and ultimately decided to go with Pryce instead, although he did play both end and tackle.

OLB - Tom Jackson (1973-86) and Simon Fletcher (1985-95). Fletcher is the Broncos all-time sack leader with 97.5, but was never selected to a Pro Bowl, so he finally gets an honor.

ILB – Randy Gradishar (1974-83) and Karl Mecklenburg (1983-94). Both should be in Hall of Fame, but neither is or probably will be selected by the biased Hall committee.

CB – Louis Wright (1975-86) and Champ Bailey (2004-now). Bailey is the only active defensive player to make the team, and the shortest tenured.

S – Steve Atwater (1989-98) and Billy Thompson (1969-81). The Bronco have had a lot of good safeties: Goose Gonsulin, Steve Foley, Dennis Smith. But Atwater and Thompson were the two best.

And the specialists. . .

K – Jason Elam (1993-07). Who did you expect, Rich Karlis?

P – Tom Rouen (1993-02). The Broncos have had trouble with the punter spot since he left.

KR/PR – Rick Upchurch (1975-83). Some wonder why he isn't in the Broncos' Ring of Fame.