On Saturday, the Broncos put just one player in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame and by doing that, they doubled the total of orange and blue representation in the hallowed Canton, Ohio building.

You think that sounds a bit strange? You are not alone. The Broncos have played in six Super Bowls and have won twice-----yet, all they have to show for it are the enshrinements of John Elway and Gary Zimmerman. Who may be the next to join them? Let's take a look.

Note: I am considering players who may have played for more than one team but would most likely choose to go in with a Denver uniform on. Example: Zimmerman, played 12 years in the NFL, only five (1993-1997) here but chose to be inducted by Broncos owner Pat Bowlen.

Randy Gradishar
Linebacker, 1974-1983, All with Broncos
The statistical case for him seems to be an easy one to make. In his ten seasons, he.was an eight time All Pro selection and a seven time Pro Bowl pick. He was the 1978 Defensive Player Of The Year. He ended his career with 2,049 tackles, 20.5 sacks, and 20 picks.
Prognosis: The numbers say he should be in. However, he has only made it as close as the
final ten, which he accomplished in 2003. I think, fair or not, his chances seem
to diminish each and every year. Who outside of this area puts him in a list of
the greatest linebackers ever? Almost nobody. Is he? Sure seems like it but
you need somebody to carry that message loud and proud and as each year that
goes by, the chances appear to be getting smaller.

Terrell Davis
Running Back, 1995-2001, All With Broncos
The player who will generate the most amount of heated arguments is Davis. Much like Gradishar, in this area, the overwhelming choice is to put him in Canton with the other running back greats. The local population will argue he ran for 7,067 yards, not a huge number, but when you consider his career was cut short by injury after only seven years, that figure does seem rather stout in nature. He averaged 4.6 yards per carry and rushed for over 1,000 yards in four of his seven seasons. In 1998, he ran for 2,008 yards with 23 touchdowns and that was just the beginning of a magical year for T.D. In that same season, he earned NFL MVP honors, his first NFL rushing title, his third consecutive AFC rushing title, and he ran for 102 yards in a Super Bow XXXIII win.
Prognosis: To me, much like Gradishar, should not be fighting this much for
acceptance. I look at this case much like that of Sandy Koufax. A short, yet
truly tremedous career. Koufax got in the Baseball Hall Of Fame. Will Davis
be able to one day crack Canton?

Shannon Sharpe
Tight End, 1990-2001 (1990-1999 and 2002-2003 with Broncos, 2000-2001 with Ravens)
Of the first three players we have listed, he has to have the best chance. A total of 815
catches for 10,060 yards and 62 touchdowns. Made the All Decade team for the 1990s as well. Made eight Pro Bowls and was All-Pro six times. If winning is most important, Shannon has that going for him as well. He is a three time Super Bowl champion.
Prognosis: Hard to see how he is not getting at some point.

Rod Smith
Wide Receiver, 1994-2007, All With Broncos
He has more catches, receiving yards, and touchdowns than any undrafted wide receiver in NFL history. He had eight seasons of at least 1,000 yards receiving. Two Super Bowl titles. He was All-Pro in 2000 and 2001 and was picked for the Pro Bowl in 2000, 2001, and 2005. He has had two seasons of at least 100 catches. In 2000, he caught 1000 and subsequently had 113 catches in 2001, the top total in the League. Retired in July.
Prognosis: If he is not inducted on his first chance, in 2013, there is something wrong with
the system the Hall Of Fame Committee has in place, in my estimation.

Mike Shanahan
Head Coach, 1995-Present With Broncos, 1988-Part of 1989 With Raiders
The record will judge him based on his performance in Denver. There are many coaches
who did not thrive in their initial head coaching job (Bill Belichick and Shanahan) that went onto great heights. Shanahan has won two Super Bowls and has collected 138 regular season victories in 13 years. In total, he has been on the staff of six Super Bowl teams, five of them with the Broncos. Do you think that is impressive? Just wait until you see what's next. He joins Chuck Noll, Vince Lombardi, Don Shula, and Belichick as the only coaches to win consecutive Super Bowl titles. He had the most amount of wins of any coach in a three year span, winning 46 games from 1996-1998 and won the most postseason games over a two year window, with seven wins in 1996-1997. So much more, though you get the picture here.
Prognosis: Once he retires, he should have to wait as long as Smith, which is to say, the
minimum five years.

Note: I think Johnn Lynch may go in, though, to me he will choose to be inducted as a member of the Bucs. He spent 11 seasons there and won a Super Bowl with the team.

-"z"