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'I've died and gone to football heaven' It's no accident Broncos didn't miss a beat under Brister
Posted: Friday January 29, 1999 09:24 PM
MIAMI (AP) -- When the Denver Broncos entrusted their offense to backup quarterback Bubby Brister, tight end Shannon Sharpe, acting more like a nervous father, issued a warning: "We're giving you the keys to the Ferrari, just don't wreck it." Brister slipped seamlessly behind the wheel and drove the Broncos' fine-tuned, high-octane machine without mishap. In fact, the super sub did what no quarterback other than John Elway could do in nine years -- win a game for the Broncos. Since Gary Kubiak replaced an ailing Elway and engineered a win over Washington in 1989, the Broncos had gone 0-7 in games that Elway did not start. An assortment of injuries to the 38-year-old Elway caused him to miss all or parts of six games this season, and Brister stepped confidently into the void. He went 4-0 in his four starts and also directed a comeback win in relief. "I was just trying to earn my keep a little bit," the 36-year-old Brister said. When Elway left the third game of the season at Oakland with a hamstring injury in the second quarter, Brister threw a quick interception to put the Broncos behind but then orchestrated a come-from-behind win. Elway missed the next two games, but Brister was brilliant in those two starts, completing a combined 32 for 53 passes for 383 yards with six touchdowns and one interception in lopsided victories over Washington and Philadelphia. When Elway went down with a rib injury and missed two more games at mid-season, Brister completed 20 of 33 passes for 229 yards with two touchdowns and an interception to beat San Diego 27-10. Then he ran 38 yards on a naked bootleg for a score in a 30-7 rout of Kansas City. "No dents, no dings," a beaming Sharpe said. Of course, this luxury car comes fully loaded with all the options, including 2,000-yard rusher Terrell Davis, a prolific receiving corps, one of the NFL's best offensive lines, a run-stuffing defense and special teams that are truly special. "Since I've been here, it's like I've died and gone to football heaven," Brister said. "I'm just glad I got to experience a team like this before my day is done." Brister knows the other, darker side of football, too. Walter Andrew Brister III, given the nickname Bubby by his five older sisters, spent his first seven NFL seasons in Pittsburgh, four of them as a full-time starter. Then came two seasons in Philadelphia and a purgatorial season with the New York Jets in 1995 that was so depressing he spent the next year out of football. He used that idle year to help care for his father, who was diagnosed with prostate cancer that is now in remission. "I thought my career might be over," Brister said. "When you're out of the game like I was, you appreciate it more. I felt like I could still run and throw and help somebody win. I wanted to play again." Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski, who had played with Brister in Philadelphia, recommended him to Broncos coach Mike Shanahan prior to the 1997 season. "I didn't want to play anywhere but here, really," Brister said. "I talked to a couple of teams. I talked to the Bears, and thank God that didn't work out. But I knew Romanowski and I knew John. I had a feeling they had a chance to win a Super Bowl. I was really hoping I'd get to land here." The Broncos are glad he did. After playing sparingly in 1997, Brister completed 78 of 131 passes this season for 986 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions, earning a passer rating of 99.0 that was higher than Elway's 93.0. "I know people were wondering about me," he said. "They hadn't won a game in nine years without John being the starter. So it was a good feeling, especially being out of football for a while, to prove I could still get the job done if I have the supporting cast." Like every backup, he's prepared to replace Elway at any minute, but hopes he doesn't have to play in Sunday's Super Bowl "except to kneel down to kill the clock at the end of the game." If Elway retires after this game, Brister is eager to be the heir apparent, despite the fact he will be 37 next season. "Nobody is going to fill John Elway's shoes. Ever," Brister said. "But I feel like I have the experience and I've played well enough this year to maybe be the front-runner if he does decide to leave. "I feel like I can get it done for a year or two and let them develop our two young guys [Jeff Lewis and Brian Griese]. They're both going to be great players. My main goal is to fend them off for a while."
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