Two All-22s: The best Broncos before and after the year 2000
Feb 22, 2022, 6:00 AM | Updated: 7:40 am
Today is February 22, 2022. In other words, it’s 2.22.22.
So it seemed like a good opportunity to create an all-22 for the Broncos. The best 11 offensive and 11 starters in the history of the franchise.
But given the date, it seemed like one team wouldn’t suffice. Two all-22s just felt right.
And to continue the theme, one all-time roster is from the last 22 years. The other was prior to the turn of the century.
So without further adieu, here’s a look at the two Broncos all-22s:
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ALL-22 FROM THE LAST 22 YEARS
(Since 2000)
QB: Peyton Manning
RB: Clinton Portis
WR: Rod Smith
WR: Demaryius Thomas
WR: Brandon Marshall
TE: Julius Thomas
OT: Ryan Clady
OT: Orlando Franklin
OG: Louis Vasquez
OG: Chris Kuper
C: Tom Nalen
Rod Smith could’ve made it onto either team, but his best years were in the 2000s. He was a Pro Bowl selection in 2000, ’01 and ’05.
Brandon Marshall edged out Eric Decker and Emmanuel Sanders. Despite the drama that surrounded the wideout at times, his four years in Denver were spectacular, as he was impossible to cover at times.
DE: Elvis Dumervil
DE: DeMarcus Ware
DT: Trevor Pryce
DT: Derek Wolfe
LB: Von Miller
LB: Al Wilson
LB: D.J. Williams
CB: Champ Bailey
CB: Aqib Talib
S: Justin Simmons
S: Brian Dawkins
Dawkins selection over John Lynch and/or T.J. Ward will raise the most eyebrows. During his three seasons in Denver, B-Dawk was a three-time Pro Bowl selection, but his second-team All-Pro honors in 2009 set him apart.
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ALL-22 PRIOR TO THE LAST 22 YEARS
(Before 2000)
QB: John Elway
RB: Terrell Davis
WR: Lionel Taylor
WR: Ed McCaffrey
WR: Haven Moses
TE: Shannon Sharpe
OT: Gary Zimmerman
OT: Ken Lanier
OG: Mark Schlereth
OG: Keith Bishop
C: Billy Bryan
The “Three Amigos” were considerations at wide receiver, as was Steve Watson. But Taylor was a star during Denver’s AFL days, while Moses was an integral part of the Broncos first Super Bowl team. Ultimately, it was two Ring of Fame wideouts and a two-time champion who got the nod.
DE: Rich Jackson
DE: Rulon Jones
NT: Rubin Carter
LB: Tom Jackson
LB: Karl Mecklenburg
LB: John Mobley
LB: Randy Gradishar
CB: Louis Wright
CB: Billy Thompson
S: Steve Atwater
S: Dennis Smith
The Broncos were always good on defense, as this group proves. It includes players from the team’s early days in the 1960s, key members of the dominant 1977 defense, defenders who helped Denver to three Super Bowl appearances in the 1980s and a linebacker who knocked down a pass to help the organization win its first-ever Lombardi Trophy.
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