NFL: Selecting the best player in each franchise’s history
By Brad Rowland
Denver Broncos – John Elway
It is fitting that John Elway remains an employee of the Denver Broncos, because he embodies the organization in every way. Naturally, he receives the nod as the best player in franchise history and, truthfully, there is no one else even in the discussion.
Elway ranks in the top-10 of virtually every passing category in NFL history, ranging from passing yards (51,475/6th all-time) to passing touchdowns (300/7th all-time). That type of statistical accumulation is highly noteworthy in that the league didn’t quite resemble the pass-happy product that exists today, and Elway’s prolific numbers indicate just how dominant he was.
For most of his career, Elway earned the knock of a player who “couldn’t win the big one,” but those doubts were assuaged with back-to-back Super Bowls in his final two seasons. That is the definition of “going out on top,” and many believe that Elway is the greatest quarterback to ever play the game. As a nine-time selection as an NFL All-Pro, Elway’s body of work speaks for itself.
For the youth among us, Peyton Manning isn’t the best quarterback in Denver Broncos history. Just watch some John Elway highlights – it’s all on tape.
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