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After nine years with Kansas City, Smith signed a one-year, $3 million deal (including separate $500,000 incentives for getting more than six sacks and for playing more than 50% of the defense's downs) with the Broncos. Elway, he says, was a big factor in his choice: "He's brought the best out of me. I have to find someone else to hunt besides John. John and I are in the same family now."

By agreeing to restructure his contract, Elway saved the team $3.1 million against the salary cap for this season and provided the room to sign Smith. As a result Elway's base salary this year will be less than $600,000, making him one of the league's lowest-paid starting quarterbacks. "That guy always bails out this team," says defensive end Dan Williams. "He'd do anything to help this team win." Smith will do his part too. His six-sack total last season was his lowest since 1988, his rookie year, but would have ranked second on the '96 Broncos. "Not only will he be helping us," Elway points out, "but now we don't have to face him twice a year either."

Several other players—including offensive tackle Tony Jones, who joined the team in February in a trade with Baltimore—also took reductions in salary for 1997 so that the Broncos could bring in more talent. Players are willing to sacrifice to be in Denver this year because they think this, finally, is the season the Broncos will win the Super Bowl. "That was our plan—to have people feel that way about our organization," coach Mike Shanahan says. "We want to be recognized as the top organization in football."

Denver was in the top echelon in 1996, with a 13-3 regular season and an 8-0 mark at home. But Shanahan didn't stand pat. He signed four players in the first week of the free-agent period and 11 total. Among the additions are one of Smith's former Chiefs linemates, Keith Traylor, who will start at left tackle; Carolina fullback Howard Griffith, who will replace Aaron Craver; Carolina receiver Willie Green, who will provide depth behind Rod Smith; and San Diego cornerback Darrien Gordon, who will battle Tory James on the right side.

Elway had arthroscopic surgery to remove scar tissue from his right shoulder in March but began throwing again in June and was expected to be at full strength by the start of training camp. Terrell Davis, who came within 15 yards of the NFL rushing title last season, will again be a focus of the offense. Former 49er Derek Loville signed a one-year, $275,000 deal to back up Davis.

The addition of Smith and Traylor gives Denver the deepest and perhaps the best defensive line in the league. Second stringers Dan Williams, Jumpy Geathers and Maa Tanuvasa would have little trouble finding a starting spot elsewhere. "We've got a defensive front to be reckoned with," says Shanahan.

But none of the newcomers has drawn as much attention as the new uniforms the team will be wearing. The players rave about their comfort, and backup defensive end Harald Hasselbach pointed out that the predominantly navy home look is more intimidating than the old orange jerseys.

Fans haven't been quite so enthusiastic about the removal of the "D" from the helmet logo and the relegation of orange to mere trim—which, to much dismay, also relegates any hope of resurrecting the Orange Crush nickname for this potentially mighty defense. One critic went so far as to suggest a boycott not only of the team but also of Nike, which designed and produced the uniforms. It's highly unlikely fans will go that far; the criticisms, of which The Denver Post published a sampling, have been direct but mild:

"Tacky, tasteless and cheap."

"The new uniforms look like my daughter's gymnastics leotard."

"The new uniforms look like something out of Star Wars."

Maybe, but then Star Wars did earn a couple of bucks. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, the Ralph Lauren behind the new uniforms, knows very well that if Denver wins the Super Bowl, no one will care how much orange there is on Neil Smith's jersey.

— by Dana Gelin