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| KNOW YOUR 1980s DENVER BRONCOS This week, #27, Steve Atwater.  Steve was one of the Broncos' defensive leaders from his rookie year in 1989, through his last year as a Bronco in 1998. He played one more year with the New York Jets before retiring. He was selected to eight Pro Bowls, and remains one of the team's all-time best in interceptions and tackles. The free safety was inducted into the Broncos' Ring of Fame in 2005.In his rookie season, Steve played in Super Bowl XXIV, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the 49ers 55-10. Later in his career he played in Denver's two Super Bowl wins (XXXII and XXXIII). His performance against Green Bay in Super Bowl XXXII was key to the victory, as he recorded six tackles, several passes defended, and a sack that forced a fumble and turnover. So what makes Steve Atwater so awesome? He was a rare combination of speed and power from the safety position. Some free safeties are speedy pass defenders, others are hard-hitting tacklers. Steve could do either. He punished running backs, including a highlight stop of Christian Okoye ("The Nigerian Nightmare" was not a back any average defender could stop by himself) in a 1990 game (video here). In Super Bowl XXXII, he hit an opposing receiver and another defensive player so hard that all three of them were briefly knocked out. But he also defended the pass as well as any safety. His smart, dependable play gave the Broncos a top defensive player they've never adequately replaced. Steve deserves serious Hall of Fame consideration, but has never gotten it as a player in an unglamorous position (safeties only get consideration for high interception numbers, but this was not what Steve was usually asked to do on defense) in a low profile city. Today Steve works for a private investment firm in Atlanta. He made an appearance in a recent video game, NFL Street 3, as an unlockable legend player. | ||||||||
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