Zimmerman eager for Broncos wave

Second team pick laments the latest snub of Gradishar

By Jeff Legwold, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published February 4, 2008 at 12:45 a.m.

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Photo by The Rocky / 1998

Gary Zimmerman (65) will become the second player in Broncos franchise history to enter the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

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Not even an hour had passed after Gary Zimmerman was told of his election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame before the former Broncos offensive tackle, used to playing in a crowd, longed for some company.

"I hope maybe it can keep going," Zimmerman said. "Maybe, hopefully, more Broncos can be recognized. Because people like Randy Gradishar, the type of player he was and person he is, he should be in right now.

"As happy as we are, I really feel bad for Randy because I think he should be in there."

Saturday, Zimmerman became only the second Broncos player to be selected for enshrinement - quarterback John Elway went in with the Class of 2004. That is an underwhelming total for a franchise that since 1973 has as many Super Bowl appearances, six, as losing seasons.

Players and coaches become eligible for the Hall five years after their retirement, and contributors, such as team owners and former commissioners, can be nominated at any point.

"We've always believed we have players who have helped make us a successful franchise, like Randy, who are more than deserving," Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said.

"I guess it's a numbers game, I don't know," Zimmerman said. "But players like Randy should always be honored."

Gradishar, who this year was in his 20th year of eligibility as a "modern era" candidate for the Hall, now moves into the pool of players considered by the seniors committee.

It is a large group of players and can be difficult to overcome, but recent changes in the voting procedures now mean two seniors candidates are chosen as finalists each year and voted on individually for enshrinement, rather than being voted on for enshrinement directly against that year's modern era finalists.

This year, former Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Emmitt

Thomas was selected for enshrinement as a seniors nominee.

"Maybe it's timing, how many defensive players come up or players that played where you did," Zimmerman said. "Randall McDaniel was up this year and I played alongside Randall (in Minnesota)."

For the Broncos, former tight end Shannon Sharpe is eligible for the first time when the voting process begins later this year. But as far as timing, Sharpe comes up in a year that also will include Bruce Smith and Rod Woodson in their first year of consideration.

A maximum of five modern era finalists can be chosen for a Hall of Fame class. And despite the fact Sharpe was the all-time leader at his position in catches, yards and touchdowns when he retired, there are only seven tight ends - Dave Casper, Mike Ditka, John Mackey, Ozzie Newsome, Jackie Smith, Kellen Winslow and Charlie Sanders in 2007 as a seniors committee nominee - in the Hall of Fame.

Former Broncos coach Dan Reeves also is eligible for the Class of '09. Running back Terrell Davis, a former NFL and Super Bowl MVP, also has made the list of 25 semifinalists in each of the past two years.

Louis Wright and Karl Mecklenburg also have been on the ballot several times, but neither has received enough support to make it to the list of finalists.

"Sharpe, T.D., Randy, that's just the start," Zimmerman said. "I don't know why they keep overlooking players like that. But I'm hopeful their days will come, too."

This year was Zimmerman's sixth year of eligibility and the fifth time he has been a finalist.

Zimmerman will be enshrined with Thomas, former Washington Redskins cornerback Darrell Green, former Redskins wide receiver Art Monk, former New England Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett and former San Diego Chargers/San Francisco 49ers defensive end Fred Dean.

Enshrinement ceremonies will be Aug. 2 in Canton, Ohio.

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