Replacing a legend

Brister-led Broncos try for third consecutive championship

Bubby Brister may have a more difficult time filling John Elway's shoes than he realizes. Stephen Dunn/Allsport

The two-time defending champion Denver Broncos opened their 1999 training camp in Greeley, Colo. on July 23. Here are a few questions from Sports Illustrated's Dr. Z, followed by CNNSI.com's perspective on some of the issues facing the Broncos this season. SI's season preview will be posted August 24.

1) Nothing but positives about Bubby Brister, a good guy and 4-0 in relief of John Elway last year. But -- and here comes the nasty journalistic impulse that simply must muddy placid waters -- could ex-Falcons QB Chris Miller make a late-season run at the job if things don't go all that smoothly?

2) Brian Habib left last year and the O-line hardly missed a beat. Now right tackle Harry Swayne is gone. Is this cause for concern? No, because line coach Alex Gibbs turns them out in assembly-line fashion and now he's got a new guy, Matt Lepsis, whom he says will be better than Swayne. Is this true? Well, I've only seen Lepsis in goal-line situations, but I know it for a fact because Alex told me so.

3) Coaches yak about the importance of special teams all the time, and yet the Broncos cut Darrien Gordon, the NFL's top-ranked punt returner of all time. What's the deal? Money, money, money. They'd have to have paid him starting cornerback's salary, and that package went to get Dale Carter from the Chiefs. Plus they felt that Gordon was starting to slip a bit as a returner.

4) Are they running Terrell Davis into the ground? Well, kind of, but I heard the same thing about Walter Payton and Jimmy Brown.

5) Can the Broncos three-peat, given their traditionally hungry attitude and fine showing in the offseason workout program? Yes, but I don't think they will. For the umpteenth straight year I'm picking Jacksonville, but please, don't rush out to bet it.

The Broncos should make the playoffs if: Terrell Davis stays healthy through another punishing season. Davis racked up 392 carries last year, and has been a workhorse for all four of his NFL seasons. He needs to avoid the injury bug for the Broncos to be assured of a playoff spot this season, since the passing offense will be less-respected without John Elway.

Pivotal games: Oct. 3 vs. NY Jets; Dec. 13 at Jacksonville. The Broncos have the fourth-toughest schedule in the league, with six 1998 playoff teams. After opening with Miami at home, at Kansas City, and at Tampa Bay, the Broncos return home to play a rematch of the AFC Championship with the Jets. Late in the season the Broncos travel to Jacksonville on a Monday night, in a game which could determine home-field advantage in the playoffs.

On the hot seat: Bubby Brister is being asked to replace the most popular athlete in the history of the state of Colorado, and anything less than a Super Bowl appearance this year will make Broncos fans wish Elway had stuck around for one more year. Cornerback Dale Carter was signed away from division rival Kansas City, and the Broncos need the high-priced speedster to be a playmaker in the secondary. Free safety Eric Brown is being asked to replace talented-but-aging Steve Atwater at the crucial position in the secondary.

Up-and-comers: Mike Shanahan fell head-over-heels for quarterback Brian Griese as a rookie last season. So much so that he traded away another promising young quarterback, Jeff Lewis, to the Panthers. Griese will get at least another year to learn under Brister and offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, but Shanahan may look to move Griese into a starting role in the 2000 season if Brister shows his age this year. Defensive tackle Trevor Pryce looks ready emerge in his third season. Pryce led the team with 8.5 sacks in 1998, and led the defensive linemen with 59 tackles as well. Pryce has a rare combination of size (6-5, 295 pounds) and speed that should allow him to become a top-notch defensive tackle this season.

Player Movement Unrestricted Free Agents Restricted Free Agents Players Lost Tony Berti, T, from Sea. Dale Carter, CB, from K.C. Carl Reeves, DE, from Chi.

1999 Draft Picks Round Overall Pick Player Pos School 1 31 Al Wilson ILB Tennessee 2 58 Montae Reagor DE Texas Tech 3 92 Jeff Paulk FB Arizona St. 2 61 Lennie Friedman OG Duke 3 67 Chris Watson CB Eastern Illinois 3 93 Travis Mcgriff WR Florida 4 127 Olandis Gary RB Georgia 5 158 David Bowens DE Western Illinois 5 167 Darwin Brown CB Texas Tech 6 179 Desmond Clark WR Wake Forest 6 204 Chad Plummer QB Cincinnati 7 218 Billy Miller WR USC 7 238 Justin Swift TE Kansas St.