Broncos to honor Ryan Clady at practice Saturday, during game Sunday
Dec 28, 2017, 4:22 PM
The Denver Broncos will honor one of the best offensive linemen to walk through the doors at Mile High on this weekend, as the club will pay tribute to recently retired left tackle Ryan Clady.
The team announced on Thursday that Clady — a four-time Pro Bowler and twice first-team All-Pro — will be recognized during Saturday’s practice at the team’s UCHealth Training Facility and honored again Sunday as an honorary captain. A video tribute to Clady will play during the first quarter.
“He was an incredible friend and an incredible teammate. It’s a cool honor to have him honored at the game,” said linebacker Von Miller, who said Clady took him under his wing from Day 1.
The Broncos first-round pick in the 2008 draft (12th overall) out of Boise State University, Clady played in Denver for eight seasons, earning second-team All-Pro honors in his rookie season and third place in the Associated Press NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year voting.
In 2009, Clady became the fifth tackle since the NFL merger in 1970 to become a first-team All-Pro in his second professional year. He’d add another first-team honor in 2012 as well.
“I don’t think he got enough credit for that. If he played in the era that we play in now where every single play is on Pro Football Focus and all of this other stuff, he would have more recognition,” Miller said. “But he was truly a dominant player.”
Despite not missing a single game from 2008 through 2012, Clady’s final years with the Broncos were hampered by injury.
In 2013, Clady missed his first career game after suffering a Lisfranc injury in Week 3. He played all of 2014, starting each game, but missed the entire 2015 season with a knee injury.
Denver traded Clady to the New York Jets the following offseason after the Super Bowl 50 victory, where he played just one season before retiring in August.
“He is great. I wish he could have finished here with the Broncos, but that’s the nature of the beast,” said Miller.
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