Retired Broncos receiver Rod Smith will be inducted into the Ring of Fame in September (Photo By US PRESSWIRE)

On Thursday, team owner Pat Bowlen and the Denver Broncos announced that retired receiver Rod Smith would be added to the elite group of players enshrined on the team’s Ring of Fame.

Perhaps the Broncos should have allowed  Smith to wear a yellow safety vest and bring a metal lunch pail and Thermos full of black coffee to Dove Valley when he was signed as a college free agent out of Missouri Southern State University.  His effort on the field was that much of a craft, that much of a workman-like performance.

Players who go undrafted aren’t supposed to go to three Pro Bowls.  They aren’t supposed to lead a franchise in total receptions (898), receiving yards (12,249), and touchdown catches (74).  Undrafted players certainly aren’t supposed to be mentioned with greats like Reggie Wayne, Art Monk, and Michael Irvin.  Some, like Smith, just have to earn that right.

That’s when he set the standard, when he provided the reality check, when he showed all those younger players what it took. And he did it day in and day out — spring, summer, fall and winter. When he finally added it up last year, he had sweated his way through 600-plus offseason workouts without missing a single session.

-Jim Armstrong, The Denver Post

Smith burst onto the scene in the Broncos’ Super Bowl winning season posting his first of eight 1,000 yard seasons.  Teamed with fellow wideout Ed McCaffrey, running back Terrell Davis, and an exceptional offensive line, John Elway had all the tools he would need to guide the team to back-to-back championships.

He was a favorite deep-threat for Broncos quarterbacks from Elway to Brian Griese to Jake Plummer, having 140 of his catches going for 20 or more yards.  Fans will no doubt distinctly remember his 80-yard catch during Super Bowl XXXIII, the 85-yard catch-and-run from Plummer in a driving snow, and perhaps even his forced fumble on a Julius Peppers interception after he ran down Peppers after a 100-yard chase.  That play more than any other described his unselfish style of play.

And the reason is I knew those other 10 guys had more to do with (the success) than I did.  I was just the end result.

-Rod Smith, The Denver Post

As if Broncos fans needed another reason to attend an early fall game in Denver, Smith will be officially added to the team’s Ring of Fame at halftime on September 23 versus the Houston Texans.

Any person who thinks they are entitled, whether football player or business man, mechanic or cubicle dweller, will forever be able to look below the fifth level at Sports Authority Field at Mile High to the name of a person who truly earned his success: Rod Smith.

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John Elway celebrates after scoring with receiver Rod Smith against the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII. (Photo By US PRESSWIRE)

There’s nothing like going to Sports Authority Field at Mile High and looking at the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame that surrounds the stadium. There are 23 members of the organization’s inner circle, and come this season, there will be 24. The Ring of Fame honors former Broncos and their contributions to the team.

Pat Bowlen announced Thursday that Rod Smith will be inducted into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame at halftime on September 23 when the Broncos host the Houston Texans.

Smith had 849 career receptions, 11,389 receiving yards, and 68 receiving touchdowns during his 12-year NFL career. He holds every team receiving record as well.

Not bad for a guy who came to Denver as a undrafted rookie out of Missouri Southern in 1994, and spent his first year on the Broncos’ practice squad.

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First a little background on this Ring of Fame inductee taken from The Endzone.

Billy Thompson:  He was the first player in team history to play 13 seasons with Denver, and he was the team’s defensive captain for many years. Thompson, despite being retired for 15 years, still ranks second on the Broncos’ all-time list for games started with 178, second with consecutive starts with 142, and sixth in games played with 179. He finished his career with 61 turnovers (most in team history), 40 of which came via interceptions (third in team history). He holds two NFL records, one of which has stood for over two decades. As a rookie in 1969, Thompson became the only player in NFL history to lead the league in both kickoffs and punt returns in the same season. He is also one of only two players in NFL history to return four opponent fumble recoveries for touchdowns. “BT” was a three-time Pro Bowl selection (1977, 1978 & 1981) and earned All-NFL honors twice (1977-’78) and All-AFC honors four times (1977-’79, ’81). Thompson was a college scout for the Broncos for two years before moving into his current position as Director of Player Relations and Alumni Coordinator which he has held since 1993. Billy resides in Aurora, Colorado.

What does Broncos football mean to the state of Colorado?

BT: There’s a unique love affair with this team in this state. Every game I played was sold out. It’s really something special. After we lost the first four Super Bowls that we appeared in, I had no doubt we were going to win it in 97′. I was in the stands. It was the most thrilling game to watch, and I felt like crying when it was over. I felt a sense of relief, vindication. Everyone in the stands was crying. I could hear fans in Denver from San Diego.

What was the worst injury you ever suffered?

BT: I was only injured twice while playing. The one that stands out is the hit I took to my knee from my own teammate. We were playing the Raiders and my teammate fell into me, knocking my knee sideways. I knew at that point I wasn’t able to make cuts. All I could do was back peddle. So, I asked to be taken out of the game, but coach told me to stay in. On the next play from scrimmage the receiver cut to the left at the beginning of the route and then came straight towards me when the quarterback was ready to throw the ball. I broke up the pass, and it looked like I knew exactly what I was doing. I came out of the game after that play.  

What do you think about the league’s preseason and regular season schedule setup?

BT: When I played, we played 6 preseason games. The league is considering a 17 game regular game schedule (adding one more game), and eventually cutting it down to 1 preseason game. There’s a lot of value to the preseason for players. For example, Terrell Davis didn’t make the team until preseason, and he did it on special teams. The thing you worry about is the injuries. It’s tough to find the right balance between preseason and regular season games.

There are 36 new guys coming in this year. How does the team build team unity?

BT: It’s the responsibility of the coaching staff to do that. It starts with the training camps. In sterile training camps, it’s hard to get to know people and become close.

What has been the Broncos biggest problem over the past few years?

BT: The biggest problem was leadership. We lost Al Wilson, Rod Smith, and Jake Plummer, whether you liked him or not, he was a leader. It’s the attitude of the people leading the team that creates a winning environment.