Tag: rod smith

Making the case for 10 Broncos who should be in the Hall of Fame

Randy Gradishar appears to be on the verge of reaching the Hall of Fame, but these Broncos players continue to be overlooked by voters.

The Denver Broncos are represented by 10 former players and late former owner Pat Bowlen in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and another former player will likely join them in Canton next year.

Former Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar was named a senior finalist for the Hall of Fame last August, and he seems likely to be elected as a member of the 2024 class in January. Even with Gradishar seemingly on the verge of getting in, though, Denver remains underrepresented in Canton.

Two months ago, 16 former Broncos were named among 173 modern-era nominees for the 2024 Hall of Fame class. That list of nominees was narrowed down to a list of 25 semifinalists announced Tuesday and not a single Denver player made the cut.

Granted, many of the modern-era semifinalists this year are more than deserving — Antonio Gates, Julius Peppers, Dwight Freeney and Devin Hester among them — but the Broncos also have many deserving players who have been overlooked for years, and they are now one more year removed from possible enshrinement.

Here’s a quick look at ten Denver representatives who should already be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Phillip Lindsay has beef with Jerry Jeudy after Broncos’ win

Broncos WR Jerry Jeudy and former RB Phillip Lindsay exchanged jabs on social media after Denver’s win over the Bears on Sunday.

It seems safe to say Jerry Jeudy and Phillip Lindsay aren’t best buds.

During Sunday’s comeback win over the Chicago Bears, Lindsay tweeted this about the Denver Broncos’ wide receivers: “Where are the receivers!! All that money out there to be no-shows?”

Jeudy clapped back on Twitter (now called X) after the game with a reference to Lindsay no longer playing in the NFL: “Glad you got to watch the game from the crib fam šŸ’Æ”

Lindsay replied, “So you mad at me cuz you getting paid all that money to catch a couple balls huh.”

Jeudy ended the day with three receptions for 52 yards on five targets. Jeudy did have an ugly drop, but the offensive game plan overall worked well enough for the Broncos to secure a 31-28 win.

Jeudy and Lindsay were teammates for one season in 2020.

After former Denver receiverĀ Rod Smith replied to Lindsay’s tweet, Jeudy responded again, this time to Smith:

Smith had a much more diplomatic response than Lindsay.

“I know how it goes,” Smith told Jeudy. “What I agreed with was, when he said no shows. Thatā€™s on the coaching. Get the play makers the ball. At that point in the game you guys had no targets. Or only 1.”

It’s also worth noting that Jeudy is “only” making $2.68 million this season. That’s more than Lindsay ever earned in a single season, but it’s far less than fellow receivers Courtland Sutton ($14 million) and Tim Patrick ($8 million) are making this year.

Lindsay was a fan favorite as a player, but a public beef with a player still on the team might not be a great way to begin his radio career.

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Rod Smith among 16 former Broncos nominated for Hall of Fame

Five players who won Super Bowls with the Broncos have been nominated for the Hall of Fame, including wide receiver Rod Smith.

Rod Smith headlines the list of former Denver Broncos players who have been nominated for the 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.

The Hall of Fame announced 173 modern-era nominees on Tuesday, including 16 players who spent time with the Broncos.

Smith might have the strongest case. A two-time Super Bowl champion, Smith’s numbers (849 receptions for 11,389 yards and 68 touchdowns) are similar to those of Hall of Fame receiver Michael Irving (750/11,904/65). Smith is also the NFL’s all-time leading receiver among undrafted wide receivers.

Four other Broncos Super Bowl winners were also nominated — center Tom Nalen, guard Mark Schlereth, defensive lineman Neil Smith and kicker Jason Elam. Those four players and Smith helped the team win back-to-back championships in the late 1990s.

Two more recent wide receivers — Brandon Marshall and Wes Welker — were also nominated, as was hard-hitting inside linebacker Al Wilson.

Here’s a quick look at the 16 former Denver players who have been nominated for the Hall of Fame.

Broncos great Rod Smith: ‘I feel Iā€™m deserving’ of Hall of Fame

ā€œI feel Iā€™m deserving,” Broncos great Rod Smith said of his Hall of Fame candidacy.

Former Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith recently said that he feels that he is worthy of a Pro Football Hall of Fame nod.

In an interview with Chris Tomasson of the Denver Gazette, Smith said, ā€œI feel Iā€™m deserving (of Hall of Fame consideration), but I donā€™t get a vote.ā€

Smith, who played with the Broncos from 1994-2006, was an integral part of the 1997-98 Denver teams that won back-to-back Super Bowls.

Statistically speaking, Smith has more than a good case. Smith leads all franchise receiving records with 68 career touchdowns, 11,389 career receiving yards and a career catch percentage of 60.3 percent. Smith is also a part of the Broncos Ring of Fame, and he leads all undrafted players in every major receiving category.

Former Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan summed it up best: ā€œRod Smith is one of the biggest reasons why we did win those back-to-back Super Bowlsā€¦ In my opinion, heā€™s definitely (deserving),” Shanahan told Tomasson.

Smith first gained eligibility into the Hall of Fame in 2012, five years after his retirement. Smith hopes, along with much of Broncos Country, that one day Hall of Fame voters decide that he is worthy of the highest honor the NFL has to offer.

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Vegas Vipers’ Rod Smith hurdles way to paydirt

Rod Smith of the Vegas Vipers flew and then had six points

The short pass turned into a highlight-reel play as the Vegas Vipers faced the San Antonio Brahmas in XFL play.

Rod Smith catches the throw and takes off toward the end zone. A defender — not a D.C. Defender — got in his way.

No problem as Smith goes airborne and lands in the end zone.

Former Ohio State player making noise in XFL

Former Buckeye makes noise in XFL #GoBucks #XFL

We are through the first five weeks of the XFL 3.0. Though it has been a wild ride for the league, it has been fairly boring if you are an Ohio State football fan.

Typically spring and alternative football leagues are a great way to watch some Buckeyes you may have forgotten. But this version has only two former Buckeyes on active rosters.

Former defensive tackle, Antwuan Jackson, is having a decent season as a starter for one of the better teams in the league, the Seattle Sea Dragons (3-2). Former running back Rod Smith has been the starter in a time-share situation for the Vegas Vipers (1-4), who are not having the best season.

Despite being in a running back by-committee situation in Vegas, Smith seems to have separated himself from the pack this past week during a 35-32 victory over the Orlando Guardians (0-5). Smith ran the ball 18 times for 62 yards and two touchdowns. If those numbers don’t sound dominant to you, you have not watched this underwhelming Viper offensive line.

Smith is the sixth leading rusher in the XFL on the season with 166 rushing yards. With Vegas making some lineup changes, perhaps we could see Smith in the end zone even more.

Smith was at Ohio State from 2011 until 2014 when he was dismissed from the team in October of that season. Smith declared for the NFL draft and went undrafted, but he was in the NFL with the Seahawks and Cowboys from 2015 until 2021 before moving on to the XFL.

We’ll continue to keep an eye on Smith as he tries to make an impression in the XFL, along with other former Buckeyes in the league and the USFL that’s going to begin play this spring again soon.

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XFL at the midway point: How are ex-Giants faring?

A look at how several former members of the New York Giants are faring in the XFL as the league hits the midway point of its season.

The XFL returned for its third iteration this year and is now being run by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

The season is officially through five weeks — their midway point — and there has been some solid action and interesting moments, many of which have a distinct New York Giants flavor.

Nearly 25 former Giants are playing in the league (several others coaching) and they have made their presence felt. In fact, several of the current league leaders are ex-Giants.

Here’s a look at how some of those players are faring.

XFL’s Vegas Vipers add former Ohio State running back

XFL’s Vegas Vipers adds former Ohio State running back #Vipers #XFL #GoBucks

The newest iteration of the XFL kicks off on Feb. 18, 2023, and more football means more opportunity for one former Ohio State player. The Vegas Vipers selected former Ohio State running back, Rod Smith, in the ninth round of the open phase of their positional draft.

Most players in the XFL look to use the league as an entryway into the NFL, but Smith actually had an incredibly successful NFL career given the expectation for undrafted players. Smith went undrafted in 2015 and had a cup of coffee with the Seattle Seahawks that season before spending the rest of 2015 through 2018 with the Dallas Cowboys. Smith had stints with the New York Giants, Tennessee Titans and Oakland Raiders. He returned to the New York Giants in 2020 and finished his NFL career with the Carolina Panthers in 2021.

Most Buckeye fans will remember Smith as a former star recruit from Indiana who struggled with off-field issues throughout his time in Columbus. He started to see significant playing time as a redshirt freshman, but was placed in the doghouse for missing the flight to the 2012 Gator Bowl. As a junior, Smith was suspended for the season opener — and as a senior — he dealt with academic issues in the spring and was dismissed from the team after a failed drug test.

Smith has the pedigree to be a star in this league.

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Denver Broncos’ top-10 leaders on team’s all-time receiving list

Headlined by Rod Smith, the Broncos have had many great receivers in their history.

The Denver Broncos have had many talented wide receivers — and a Hall of Fame tight end — catching passes at Mile High Stadium over the years.

Here’s a quick look at the team’s top-10 leaders on the franchise’s all-time receiving list, headlined by all-time leading receiver Rod Smith.

DeMarcus Ware among ex-Broncos nominated for 2023 Hall of Fame class

After being snubbed last year, Broncos Super Bowl 50 champion DeMarcus Ware should be a favorite to reach the Hall of Fame this year.

After being snubbed by voters in his first year of eligibility in 2021, Denver Broncos Super Bowl 50 champion DeMarcus Ware has once again been nominated as a modern-era candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Ware is among 11 former Broncos who were nominated this week, the Hall of Fame announced Tuesday. Five players who won back-to-back Super Bowls with Denver in the late 1990s headline the list: wide receiver Rod Smith, center Tom Nalen, kicker Jason Elam, guard Mark Schlereth and defensive lineman Neil Smith.

Some of those players had longer tenures with the Broncos than Ware, but he is arguably the team’s most accomplished candidate, and he’s probably the most likely to reach the Hall of Fame first.

Denver also had former linebackers Al Wilson and Seth Joyner, wide receiver Wes Welker, defensive lineman Simeon Rice and cornerback Dre’ Bly nominated for the 2023 Hall of Fame class.

Former Broncos linebacker Randy Gradishar was snubbed as a senior candidate this year, as were Mike Shanahan and the late Dan Reeves as coach candidates. Denver hasn’t gotten the love it deserves from Hall of Fame voters historically, but Ware should be a strong candidate for the 2023 class.

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