Denver, CO

Why Ed McCaffrey belongs in the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame

Published

1 year ago

July 12, 2023

Why Ed McCaffrey belongs in the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame

When Ed McCaffrey announced his retirement in March 2004, then-owner Pat Bowlen spoke about him in words reserved for the most significant of Broncos legends.

“When I look back on his career here in Denver, I think of two things – his courage and his bravery,” Bowlen said when McCaffrey walked away.

“In the 20 years that I’ve had the privilege to own the Denver Broncos, he’s been the bravest and most courageous player to ever play for the team.”

That isn’t a CV item you can quantify with data. It’s a feeling. And it’s something you see with your eyes.

Still, the data supports McCaffrey, too. Five Broncos in team history have at least 400 receptions, 6,000 receiving yards and 40 or more touchdowns. Three are in the Ring of Fame: Rod Smith, Shannon Sharpe and Lionel Taylor. Another is not yet eligible: the late Demaryius Thomas.

That leaves McCaffrey as the only eligible player in that group not yet in the ring.

He might have pushed those numbers even higher had he not suffered a horrific leg injury on Sept. 10, 2001.

In the three seasons prior to that night McCaffrey averaged 78 receptions, 1,126 yards and 9 touchdown catches per year. Understandably, he wasn’t the same after that. His production dipped.

But he was still capable of big moments. In his first game back, he scored the touchdown that ended up being the difference in a Broncos win over the defending NFC champions.

Still, the lingering memories aren’t about his production — including his signature 2000 season, when he rang up 101 receptions.

Instead, it’s a vision of that player in middle-school-sized pads. He absorbed one blow after another and rose time and again. Often, it was a second or two later to take the next snap. But it was also about his 2002 return, 362 days after he left the field on a cart.

“No receiver in the NFL wants to be remembered for how many times they got hit hard,” McCaffrey said when he retired. “They want to be remembered for speed, great hands, scoring touchdowns, but not getting crushed.

“But, hey, I guess people will always remember me. That’s the only way I knew how to play the game and I have a lot teammates who played the game the same way.”

Indeed, Broncos Country hasn’t forgotten.

The numbers say, “Ring of Fame.” But so does the feeling beyond that, including a prominent role on two Broncos world-championship teams.

He’s waited a while — 14 years since becoming eligible and nearly 19-and-a-half years since announcing his retirement in March 2004. But it’s time for McCaffrey to join the Ring of Fame.

***

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Denver, CO

Denver area events for Nov. 25: Pop-up holiday lounge at Union Station and more

Published

5 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Denver area events for Nov. 25: Pop-up holiday lounge at Union Station and more

If you have an event taking place in the Denver area, email information to carlotta.olson@gazette.com at least two weeks in advance. All events are listed in the calendar on space availability.

Monday

Sipping N’ Painting Hampden — “Alaska Night,” 6:30-8:30 p.m., Sipping N’ Painting Hampden, 6461 E. Hampden Ave., Denver, $35. Registration required: sippingnpaintinghampden.com.

Brazilian Zouk Classes and Social Dance — 7-11:30 p.m., Mercury Café, 2199 California St., Denver, $20 class and social, $15 social only; mercurycafe.com.

Cloud Nothings — With Armlock, Famers Wife, 8 p.m., Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, $25. Tickets: axs.com.

Mile High Holidays Drone Show — 7 p.m. through Dec. 31, Denver skies; denver.org/milehighholidays.

“American Dreams” Exhibit — Through Dec. 31, Molly Brown House Museum, 1340 Pennsylvania St., Denver, go online for prices. Tickets: mollybrown.org.

“Shadow and Light: Patrick Marold” — Through Jan. 5, Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St., Denver, go online for prices; botanicgardens.org.

“Vanity & Vice: American Art Deco” — Through Jan. 12, Kirkland Museum of Fine & Decorative Art, 1201 Bannock St., Denver. Go online for prices. Tickets: kirklandmuseum.org.

“Dawoud Bey: Street Portraits” — Through May 11, Denver Art Museum, 100 W. 14th Ave. Parkway, Denver, go online for prices: denverartmuseum.org.

Monday-Dec. 28

Miracle at Union Station: Buddy’s Bar — Pop-up cocktail lounge featuring holiday décor, cocktails and a designated Hanukkah table, 4-p.m.-midnight, Galley Bar on lower level, Union Station, 1701 Wynkoop St., Denver. Reservations: denverunionstation.com.

Monday-Dec. 30

Free Downtown Trolley Rides — See the downtown Castle Rock decorations, 5-7 p.m. Mondays-Tuesdays, no rides Dec. 24, pickup/drop-off points Encore Garage Entrance on South Street between Wilcox and Perry Street and Douglas County School District Parking Lot Entrance on 6th Street Wilcox and Perry Street, Castle Rock; crgov.com/2622/season-of-the-star.

CARLOTTA OLSON, The Denver Gazette

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Denver, CO

PHOTOS: Denver Broncos beat Las Vegas Raiders, 29-19, in NFL Week 12

Published

13 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

PHOTOS: Denver Broncos beat Las Vegas Raiders, 29-19, in NFL Week 12

Wide receiver Courtland Sutton (14) of the Denver Broncos celebrates after the fourth quarter of the Broncos’ 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

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Raiders HC Sounds Off on Broncos QB Bo Nix’s Rapid Rise

Published

21 hours ago

November 24, 2024

Press Room

Raiders HC Sounds Off on Broncos QB Bo Nix’s Rapid Rise

On Sunday, fans will be treated to a head-to-head contest between two rapidly emerging offensive powerhouses, both of whom are bonafide Rookie of the Year contenders. Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix and Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers found new homes with consecutive picks during last April’s NFL draft, and since then, they’ve performed exceptionally well in the pro ranks.

Nix is firmly on the radar of Raiders head coach Antonio Piece, but that’s even more true after yet another award-winning performance last week.

“He was a winner as a freshman. He was a winner as a six-year player,” Pierce noted of Nix. “All he does is win, come in the league. Won the quarterback battle there in Denver. Maybe they were keeping them tight on the leash early on, and now they’re not. He has full control that offense. You can see that Sean Payton gives him opportunities to audible and make some adjustments. He’s making throws, he’s running with his legs, he’s taking care of the football, and he’s winning. That’s all you can ask for from a rookie.”

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Nix presents a clear and present danger to the Raiders’ chances of squeezing out what would be only their third win of their massively disappointing season. Stopping the impressive rookie is proving to be another matter entirely for NFL defenses, especially one with a badly beaten-up roster like the Raiders.

“This is crazy,” Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo said via ESPN‘s Paul Gutierrez. “I’ve never seen this amount of injuries on any team I’ve been on.”

This week, Broncos head coach Sean Payton has pumped the brakes a little on the burgeoning hype exploding around Nix. That being said, you get the distinct feeling that Payton is more than comfortable unleashing Nix’s full array of talents at his disposal. Confidence is growing in Nix, and that’s been reflected in how Payton has opened up the playbook for his first-year signal-caller.

The juices are flowing, and Payton may have found an answer in dynamic second-year receiver Marvin Mims Jr. The mystical “joker” role within the Broncos offense seems to have been filled.

“I think we always gotta be saying, ‘Hey, are we doing everything we can to highlight his strengths?’ And so, yeah, I don’t know if he’s got the ‘joker’ tattoo, but he might be invited to the club,” Payton said via Andrew Mason.

When push comes to shove, if Nix plays lights out again, an easy win might come Denver’s way, but stopping Bowers would also ensure the victory and help in the race for Rookie of the Year honors. Payton is already on high alert, but it was also tinged with a bit of football envy when he illustrated Bowers’ “joker” abilities.

“Someone had a really good vision for him and you see all the ‘Joker’ traits, means and change of direction,” Payton said of Bowers. “It can’t be a little. It’s a high-end receiving trait and he can move, he can be outside and he can run a route tree maybe different than most tight ends.”

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