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Published on 09/15/2009 at Tue Sep 15 15:41.
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Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team – Broncos announce voting results

Posted Tue Sep 15th by

50-year-anniversary

Fans have been able to vote for the greatest players in Denver Broncos history position-by-position since June 6th, and today, the team announced the results. Scroll below to see the full Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team.

As you’ll see, there’s a heavy skew on the 90’s teams that won two Super Bowls, especially on offense. And deservedly so; the 1997 and 1998 teams weren’t just the greatest squad in Broncos history, they were two of the most talented rosters from top to bottom in NFL history.

OFFENSE DEFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS
QB John Elway
RB Terrell Davis
RB Floyd Little
WR Ed McCaffrey
WR Rod Smith
TE Shannon Sharpe
OT Matt Lepsis
OT Gary Zimmerman
G Keith Bishop
G Mark Schlereth
C Tom Nalen		 DE Simon Fletcher
DE Rich Jackson
DT Trevor Pryce
DT Rubin Carter
LB Karl Mecklenburg
LB Randy Gradishar
LB Tom Jackson
CB Champ Bailey
CB Louis Wright
S Steve Atwater
S Dennis Smith		 K Jason Elam
P Tom Rouen
Ret Rick Upchurch

This list is fairly solid, and closely mirrors my own roster. I would have liked to see Al Wilson at linebacker; he was the heart and soul of the Broncos defense for 8 years, but it’s hard to take any of those names off at the same time. Lionel Taylor makes more sense than Eddie Mac at WR to me.

What do you think Broncos fans? How does this team match your roster? Who was left off? Who doesn’t deserve to be on it? Dish it out in the comments. Press release (including the 2nd teamers) after the jump.

BRONCOS ANNOUNCE 50th ANNIVERSARY TEAM

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The 2009 NFL season marks the 50th anniversary of the Denver Broncos. To commemorate the past while embracing the future, the franchise has allowed its community of fans, an integral part of Broncos Country during the first 50 seasons, the chance to vote for their 50th Anniversary Denver Broncos Team.

From June 6 – Sept. 4, fans had the chance to make their voices heard by casting their votes online at www.DenverBroncos.com. The results are in, and here are the choices:


First-team Offense

QB John Elway

RB Terrell Davis

RB Floyd Little

WR Ed McCaffrey

WR Rod Smith

TE Shannon Sharpe

OT Matt Lepsis

OT Gary Zimmerman

G Keith Bishop

G Mark Schlereth

C Tom Nalen


First-team Defense

DE Simon Fletcher

DE Rich Jackson

DT Trevor Pryce

DT Rubin Carter

LB Karl Mecklenburg

LB Randy Gradishar

LB Tom Jackson

CB Champ Bailey

CB Louis Wright

S Steve Atwater

S Dennis Smith


First-team Specialists

K Jason Elam

P Tom Rouen

Ret Rick Upchurch


The first team will be honored in person during halftime of the team’s Legacy Game on Oct. 11 when the New England Patriots visit INVESCO Field at Mile High. In addition, one lucky voter will have the opportunity to join the 50th Anniversary Team during this ceremony. That winner will be announced at a later date.


The voting process was made possible by the Broncos’ online marketing partner, Akavit – the principle digital agency behind DenverBroncos.com and BroncosCountry.com. The interactive voting tool featured the Broncos’ history and highlights spanning the past 50 seasons through the use of video and additional multimedia. Each player was represented by their respective biography, statistics and photographs.


Along with the first team, the Broncos are also announcing a 50th Anniversary second team.


The second team-offense has Craig Morton lining up at quarterback, with Otis Armstrong and Sammy Winder at running back, Haven Moses and Lionel Taylor at wide receiver, and Riley Odoms at tight end. Rounding out the unit is the offensive line of Ken Lanier and Dave Studdard at offensive tackle, Ben Hamilton and Paul Howard at guard and Billy Bryan at center.


The second-team defense has a line of Rulon Jones and Alfred Williams at defensive end, and Greg Kragen and Paul Smith at defensive tackle. Al Wilson, Bill Romanowski and D.J. Williams are at linebacker. Ray Crockett and Willie Brown are the second-team cornerbacks, while Steve Foley and Goose Gonsoulin round out the defense at safety.


The second-team specialists are Jim Turner at kicker, Mike Horan at punter, and Billy Thompson at returner.

  • roshon2411

    Looks right to me. LB’s and DE’s were the toughest spots but think they got them right. Though I think a good case can be made that Lionel Taylor should be first team over Eddy Mac. Better numbers in less games in a running era. I’m interested to see what the have in store to celebrate.

  • Sam

    Wilson should still be on the list. 3-4 defense needs a fourth LB. Just like the 4-3 needs 4 lineman.

  • roshon2411

    I like Wilson but to me he falls short of Jackson, Gradishar, and Meck. Meck and Gradishar I think are locks. And I give Jackson the edge over Wilson b/c of length of career and Jackson played in two Super Bowls while Wilson only was part of one playoff win.

  • magster

    While I know Lyle Alzado defected to the dark side before ending his career, I would have thought he’d have made it on this list.

  • http://bandit Dan Myers

    Lionel Taylor would be my choice over Ed Macaffrey.
    Would love to see second teams.

  • http://twitter.com/ds Dave Simon

    The way the national press has talked him up since the trade, I am glad Elway and Morton (#7 baby!) were able to edge out Cutler.

    Some positions were locks from the start: QB, RB, K, RET, TE for a few. Who else made the short list? Plummer, Mike Anderson/Clinton Portis, Clarance Kay? TE shows a steep drop after 84. RB, the first two were locks, Elam is obvious, as was Upchurch (young kids don’t remember how electric he was!)

    49 without 27 at the safeties (or vice versa) would be like peanut butter without jelly. That first string D would be awesome! If you get past Champ or Wright, you better hope you strapped your helmet on tight!

    I think Lynch could have been mentioned second team with Goose, even if he wasn’t around long.

    O-line is solid. Put TD or the Franchise behind them, 7 might never have to throw!

    DE and LB were tough. Rulon was one of my faves.

  • NM Bronco

    Haven Moses not being on the first team is a disgrace! Love McCaffery, but not even close to Haven.

    Williams over Mobley..are you fing kidding me. Mobley knocked down Favre’s pass to seal our first Super Bowl win.

  • areferee

    As with many “All Star” ballots, this vote is largely a popularity contest. Although many choices are clearly correct, such as Elway and Floyd Little, others are debatable with many players of comparable skills at many of the positions. What is sad is that only one current player is on the list. That shows the extent of our current crisis.

  • bw53

    As long as the fans were wise enough to put in Gradishar I’m cool…

  • magster

    Other names I’ve heard tossed out that I haven’t seen mentioned in this thread are Vance Johnson, Claudie Minor and Barney Chavous. Vance is not very popular, but he was Elway’s favorite receiver for about 6-7 years.

  • roshon2411

    NM,

    Good point about Mobley. Should be ahead of DJ at this point.

  • Elway All The Way

    This is my first post, and I must say, great site guys! Found the site a couple months ago and find myself on it more the last few weeks. Glad to share the Broncos with other fans. I’ve been a Broncos fan since the 80s. I figured I had to make my first post after reading this article, lol.

    I must say, I’m really surprised nobody mentioned WR Steve Watson. 6’4 WR out of Temple. 3 1,ooo yard + seasons. In one season he had 13 TD’s, 2nd highest in Broncos history for receivers. Also, he’s 5th all time in receiving yards, only 78 yards behind Ed McCaffrey. 17.3 career average per reception. I know our Broncos had some great WRs, but I think he should of at least made it on the 2nd team over Haven Moses. His stats were very similar to Ed McCaffrey, my favorite Bronco’s WR ever by the way.

  • http://www.broncotalk.net Jonathan Douglas

    They forgot a whole position… and an important one, too.

    FB Howard Griffith

  • kerry

    um i have a problem with the second team. why is Ben Hamilton even on there?? did everyone forget Dan Neil??

  • Jeff Jenkins

    I concur on the first team list except for 1 position. I have always had a fond memory of Steve Watson as one of the best WR in Broncos history. It will be interesting to get all of you comments on this thought.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/DamienColletti Elway All The Way

    Well, you know mine, so glad you agree Jeff, lol.

    ……..Dan Neil and Howard Griffith, two good calls there.