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Passing the reigns Broncos will look to Davis, Brister to power offense
Posted: Sunday April 25, 1999 04:16 PM
DENVER (AP) -- For most of the past 16 years, the Denver Broncos' offense consisted of John Elway and 10 other guys. Gradually, the Broncos became less of a one-man show, fielding one of the most diversified offenses in football with multiple weapons. Now, with Elway's pending retirement, they will discover whether their offense really is one of interchangeable parts. Elway, 38, all but announced his retirement on Saturday in an interview with Denver TV station KCNC in Pebble Beach, Calif., where he was playing in a golf tournament. "For so many years everything in my family has revolved around me. It's time for that to change," Elway said in the interview. "I really accomplished everything I wanted to. There's no real upside to coming back." Contacted by an Associated Press reporter later in the day, he said, "I know everybody wants to know, but I'm not going to talk about it right now. There'll be an announcement next week. That's all I have to say about it for now.' According to multiple sources, Elway also has told friends he is leaving the game. Elway reportedly considered announcing his decision two weeks ago, but owner Pat Bowlen was in Australia promoting his team's preseason game there. Then last week, the announcement had to be further delayed because of the school shootings at a suburban Denver high school. His announcement could come as early as Monday, but Broncos officials are leaning toward delaying it several more days because of the continued mourning over the school tragedy. Funerals for several of the victims were scheduled for Monday. "I've talked to him and he told me what he's going to do," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said Saturday. "But I'm not going to comment. I'm going to let John make his announcement." Bowlen, while declining to confirm Elway's retirement plans, said at a charity event Saturday night, "I've known this was coming for a long time." Bowlen purchased the team in 1984 and has never known a Broncos' team without Elway. "I think it's going to be odd for all of us," he said. Running back Terrell Davis told the Denver Post, "This really lets some air out of your system. It's going to be tough to come back and not see him in the huddle. You're talking about going into uncharted territory. "I really think this year we're going to face as much adversity as we've ever faced. We're really going to see how much resolve this team has now."
But offensive guard Mark Schlereth took the more popular view. "I think in the early years, it was a one-man show with John here," Schlereth said. "It's not like that anymore." In fact, Elway acknowledged several seasons ago that it wasn't his team anymore. "It's Terrell's team now," he said. While Elway earned his second straight Super Bowl title and the game's MVP honor last January with a 34-19 win over Atlanta, he missed all or part of six games with hamstring, back and rib injuries. Instead, it was Davis, a 2,008-yard rusher and winner of the league's MVP award, who carried the team on his back. With Elway gone, can Bubby Brister, who slipped seamlessly into the lineup last season and guided the Broncos to a 4-0 record in games he started in place of the injured Elway, be as effective over a 16-game schedule? Will Elway's absence put more pressure on Davis, since opponents naturally won't fear the workmanlike Brister as much as the dynamic Elway? It will be the first real test of Shanahan's scheme. Even Shanahan seemed to be conceding some qualms about the quarterback position. Brister, who will turn 37 in August, hasn't started more than eight games in a season since 1990. The backup is Brian Griese, a third-round draft choice in 1998 with limited experience. So, according to the Denver Rocky Mountain News, the Broncos reached agreement in principle on Saturday with veteran Chris Miller. Miller, who will turn 34 in August, retired four years ago because of a series of concussions. "It's a great addition," Brister said. "If something happens, he has a lot of experience. You can't have enough good quarterbacks." Brister was eager to take charge of an offense that tight end Shannon Sharpe has described as a Ferrari. "I just want to get in there and run the best machine in the business," he said. "I'm not stupid. I know I'm not in this alone. We have Terrell Davis and Shannon Sharpe and great receivers and a great line. We have so much to work with."
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