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| KNOW YOUR 1980s DENVER BRONCOS now WITH NEW ICON
This week, a special 10th edition of Know Your 1980s Denver Broncos, with NEW ICON and my favorite 1980s Denver Bronco, #81, Steve Watson.
 Steve joined the team in 1979 as an undrafted free agent, yet went on to become of the best receivers in Broncos history. He remains entrenched in the team's all-time receiving record book, standing at fifth in total yards, seventh in receptions, and eighth in touchdowns. His best year came in 1981, when he posted his career bests in yards and touchdowns and was named to the Pro Bowl.
Steve played in Super Bowl XXI, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Giants 39-20, and in Super Bowl XXII, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Washington Native Americans 42-10, although he didn't start the latter game. I'm not sure exactly how much he played in that game, if he was injured or simply demoted, but I believe his presence could have pulled the score to a more respectable 42-17.
So what makes Steve Watson so awesome? Steve is my favorite 1980s Denver Bronco, and second all-time favorite player, behind only Terrell Davis. He was a prominent player on my favorite team, and played wide receiver, a position I wanted to play. (This was before I learned that wide receivers are expected to be able to run fast, eliminating any chance I could play it, and also before I realized that youth football does not have a passing game per se, but rather eleven kids running roughly in the same direction on cue. Both of these factors would cause me to abandon my aspirations to play professional football around the age of 10.) Also of note: my parents turned me on to eating salad by convincing me that Steve Watson ate salad*.
Today Steve continues his work with the team as Associate Head Coach. I have no idea what this title entails, but it might mean that he will ascend to the head coaching position one day when Mike Shanahan disappears under mysterious circumstances. He had spent the previous four years as wide receivers coach.
It was difficult to do lazy internet research on Steve Watson because he has a son also named Steve Watson who plays tight end for Michigan. Also, there is a Steve Watson "footballer" who plays for Sheffield Wednesday, and I officially do not understand soccer team names. This is, in fact, Wikipedia's primary Steve Watson. Whereas my hero Steve Watson was relegated to the Steve Watson (American Football) disambiguation. So it was hard to isolate any of the three football playing Steve Watsons in my ten minutes of fastidious research. But enjoy this video of the 1984 Broncos in pictures, with cheesy 1980s music accompaniment.
*Nowadays I eat salad because I believe George Clooney eats salad. | comments: 3 comments or Leave a comment   |
| KNOW YOUR 1980s DENVER BRONCOS
This week, head athletic trainer Steve "Greek" Antonopulos.
 Steve joined the Broncos in 1976 as an assistant trainer. He became head athletic trainer in 1980, and holds the same position today, extending his tenure with the team to more than 30 years.
Steve was with the team for all six of their Super Bowl appearances, including their four early pummelings in Super Bowls XII, XXI, XXII, and XXIV, and their later victories in Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII. Steve's expert handling of Terrell Davis' migraine headache during Super Bowl XXXII enabled TD to come back strong in the second half and lead the Broncos to their first championship.
So what makes Steve Antonopulos so awesome? His longetivity with the team has spanned several decades and hundreds of players. It has been said that he taped "500,000 ankles" in his time (ridiculously high, but you get the idea). During the season, Steve works 80+ hours a week to attend to a roster full of strains, sprains, scrapes, and snaps.
Today Steve continues his work with the team, managing a large training staff and attending to the daily medical needs of a professional football squad. He is generally recognized as one of the better trainers in the league. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| KNOW YOUR 1980s DENVER BRONCOS
This week, #20, Louis Wright.
 Louis is one of the best cornerbacks in Broncos' history. He played from 1975-1986, making 163 starts (seventh all-time for the team), and amassed 26 career interceptions. He made five pro bowls, and was selected by Hall of Fame voters to the 1970s All-Decade Team (which does not preclude him from being a great 1980s Denver Bronco). Yet he is inexplicably one of only a few members of that Team not elected to the Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Broncos' Ring of Fame in 1993.
Louis played in Super Bowl XII, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Cowboys 27-10, and in Super Bowl XXI, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Giants 39-20.
So what makes Louis Wright so awesome? He was one of the key members of the Broncos' Orange Crush Defense, which was powerful and terrifying despite being named after soda. He set a high standard for Denver's secondary that was later upheld by players like Steve Atwater.
Today Louis lives in Aurora, Colorado, and is a high school football coach and physical education teacher. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| KNOW YOUR 1980s DENVER BRONCOS
This week, #54, Keith Bishop.
 Keith is generally recognized as one of the best offensive lineman from Denver's 1980s Super Bowl years. He was drafted by the Broncos in 1980 and played center and guard until his retirement after the 1989 season, meaning he played during every year of the 1980s and gets special recognition as a true 1980s Denver Bronco. He was named to two All-Pro teams and two Pro Bowls, in 1986 and 1987, and was given Bob Peck Memorial Award as the team's most inspirational player in 1987.
Keith played in Super Bowl XXI, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Giants 39-20, Super Bowl XXII, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Washington Native Americans 42-10, and Super Bowl XXIV, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the 49ers 55-10.
So what makes Keith Bishop so awesome? He serves as an early example of the style of offensive lineman the Broncos have long favored, in that he is a lighter and quicker player than one would normally find on an NFL offensive line. His playing weight is listed at 260 lbs, which was 20-30 pounds lighter than the typical guard in the 1980s. Yet he was still a very effective blocker, more skillful than simply a giant guy getting in the way. Keith is also known for the famous quote, spoken as the Broncos trailed in the 1986 AFC Championship game, but just before John Elway led the team on The Drive: "We've got 'em right where we want 'em."
Keith went on to become a special agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration. He has since left that work to return to the team as a coaching intern. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| The triumphant return of KNOW YOUR 1980s DENVER BRONCOS
This week, #75, Rulon Jones.
 Rulon was a key member of the Broncos' defense from 1980-1988. He played on the defensive line, usually at end, and recorded double-digit sacks each year from 1984-1986. His defensive menace was recognized fully later in his career as he was named to three All-Pro teams and two Pro Bowls. He remains among the Broncos' all-time leaders in career sacks.
Rulon played in Super Bowl XXI, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Giants 39-20, and in Super Bowl XXII, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Washington Native Americans 42-10. Obviously neither of these games were terrific defensive showings for the Broncos, but I'm sure Rulon was trying his best.
So what makes Rulon Jones so awesome? Rulon is from Utah and attended college at Utah State, so his getting drafted by the Broncos kept him in his home region, which he has always been thankful for. He subsequently played his entire career for the Broncos. Also, Rulon was strong! I remember one play where he tackled a guy by just about lifting him over his head and slamming him down. I'm pretty sure this was even against the Raiders, which made it even better.
Today Rulon manages an elk hunting reserve in his home state of Utah. While I do not actually approve of this kind of hunting, I am glad Rulon is doing something he enjoys. | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| 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. | | comments: 2 comments or Leave a comment |
| KNOW YOUR 1980s DENVER BRONCOS
This week, #82, Vance Johnson.
 Vance was the leading wide receiver for the Broncos for much of his career, which lasted from 1985-1995. He had excellent speed, making him effective as a punt and kick returner. He had decent hands as well, turning in a 1,000 yard season in 1989.
Vance played in Super Bowl XXI, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Giants 39-20, a game in which he had 121 yards receiving and a touchdown. So he did his best, at least. He also played in Super Bowl XXII, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Washington Native Americans 42-10, and Super Bowl XXIV, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the 49ers 55-10.
So what makes Vance Johnson so awesome? He was the de facto leader of The Three Amigos, Denver's trio of popular receivers (along with Mark Jackson and Ricky Nattiel). Despite having John Elway at quarterback through this period, the Broncos never had a single outstanding receiver. Instead, he focused on multiple targets to keep the offense moving. Vance was statistically the best of the three over his career. He still is among Denver's all-time leaders in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. He holds the Broncos' record for most receptions by a rookie.
The Three Amigos were even popular enough in their time to have produced this kitschy video:
I couldn't find much reliable information about what Vance Johnson does these days. One source suggested he works in the real estate business in the Denver area. | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| KNOW YOUR 1980s DENVER BRONCOS
This week, #3, Rich Karlis.
 Rich was a decent NFL kicker, holding the position for the Broncos from 1982-1988. His range and accuracy were both average by NFL standards.
Rich played in Super Bowl XXI, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Giants 39-20. He equaled the then-longest kick in Super Bowl history during the game, but also missed a pair of field goals, for which he shouldered an excessive amount of blame. He was quoted as saying he cost his team valuable momentum, although given the eventual margin of defeat, I don't think one could blame it on a kicker. He also played in Super Bowl XXII, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Washington Native Americans 42-10, although he was hardly needed in that one.
So what makes Rich Karlis so awesome? He was the last of the NFL's barefoot kickers. Conflicting sources say that other players experimented with the technique after he left the league, but I believe Karlis was the last pro to do it full-time. Making fun of this odd breed of player (playing a position already open to mockery) is awfully trite at this point, but that hasn't stopped paid ESPN columnists from dusting off the jokes once in a while. I'll just say that it seems like a handicap. No great kickers have ever kicked barefoot, so it's probably best written off as a gimmick that managed to work for a few guys.
These days, Rich works for Qwest and enjoys a solid reputation. He has been a notable supporter of charities to aid victims of domestic violence. People still give him crap for having been a barefoot kicker, but he might deserve it because he noted in a 2000 Sports Illustrated article that he likes loafers because it's an easy transition to bare feet. | | comments: 1 comment or Leave a comment |
| KNOW YOUR 1980s DENVER BRONCOS
This week, #77, Karl Mecklenburg.
 Meck was a pro-bowl caliber linebacker for the Broncos from 1983-1994. He was among the team leaders in tackles and sacks throughout his prime, and remains second all-time in sacks for the team. He was inducted into the Broncos' Ring of Fame in 2001.
Karl played in Super Bowl XXI, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Giants 39-20, Super Bowl XXII, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Washington Native Americans 42-10, and Super Bowl XXIV, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the 49ers 55-10.
So what makes Karl so awesome? He was selected so late in the draft that the round in which he was taken doesn't even exist anymore. Yet he went on to excel, making six pro bowls, and was named AFC Player of the Year by Football News in 1986.
These days, in lieu of opposing quarterbacks, Meck attacks lack of youth education by heading the REACH foundation, an organization founded to assist Denver-area children. | | comments: Leave a comment |
| Here's a Sunday feature I'm going to run for a while:
KNOW YOUR 1980s DENVER BRONCOS
For the inaugural edition, let's go with #47, Gerald Willhite.
 Gerald was a great athlete and a decent pro running back, drafted in 1982. He generally shared time with Sammy Winder. He was often classified as a fullback, blocking for Winder. Unfortunately their coach was Dan Reeves, who expected them to be featured backs and the center of the offense over John Elway. Yes, Coach Reeves, let's eschew future first-ballot Hall of Famer John Elway's offensive prowess so we can hand off to Sammy Winder and Gerald Willhite 40 times a game. Gerald led the team in receptions in the 1986 season and played in that season's Super Bowl XXI, in which the Broncos were pummeled by the Giants 39-20.
He was also Denver's principle punt returner (for a fullback, this is odd--if I hadn't been nine years old during his prime I might be able to explain better how he did both). He's the only guy I can remember returning a punt for a touchdown for the Broncos (in 1986) until this season (although I guess it did actually happen more recently; Rod Smith returned one in 2003).
So what makes Gerald so awesome? Backflips. His trademark was to do a backflip on the field after scoring a touchdown. I wish I could find a video of this, but I can't, so you'll just have to imagine.
According to wikipedia, he presently owns and operates the Spices BBQ Restaurant in Rancho Cucamonga, California. One chow.com reviewer was indifferent, another called it "terrible." | | comments: Leave a comment |
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