Broncos on Pace to Set 11 Offensive and Individual Records--DPO
10 December 2000: With 30 or more points in nine games this season and with the Broncos already having scored 440 points, Denver is on pace to finish this season with 503 points. That would break the single-season franchise record of 501 set in 1998, the last year Elway played and the year Denver repeated a world championship in Super Bowl XXXIII.
11 December 2000: The Broncos keep getting better. Denver has an NFL-high 40 takeaways (26 interceptions, 14 fumble recoveries). In their past six victories, the Broncos have improved to a 64 percent red-zone touchdown rate. In its first eight games, Denver only had a 50 percent rate.
25 December 2000: The Denver Broncos' offense finished the regular season ranked first in the AFC and second overall in the League.
1/2/01: Denverbroncos.com--
Quarterback Brian Griese and running back Mike Anderson have both been nominated for All-Heart performance of the year. In his third season, Griese has been voted to this year's Pro Bowl in Hawaii as he compiled a NFL-best passer rating of 102.9 for the ten games he played. He also showed his mettle during the 27-24 Monday Night Football victory over the Oakland Raiders when he played the second half with a seperated right shoulder. Anderson, the unheralded sixth round draft choice, went on to become the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year as he set a new league rookie rushing record with his 251-yard performance in early December against the Saints. He finished the year with 1,500 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns, both of which are franchise records for rookies. Cast your vote today for either Griese or Anderson on
the NFL's All-Heart Performance of the Year ballot.
---Brian Griese Remains the Highest Rated QB in the League:
116.2 Passer Rating through 25 September 2000.
---Griese Remains Highest Rated QB in AFC:
102.8 Rating, 19 TDs, 4 INTs for 2,674 yards, 28 November 2000.
---10 November 2000: Brian Griese is coming off his third-straight 300-yard game and could set a Broncos' record with four in a row. His effort on third down against the Jets last Sunday earned him the highest rating possible -- 158.3 on third down.
---17 November 2000: Griese won his second NFL All-Heart Award of the season for his performance Monday night (11/13), when he completed 25 of 37 passes for 262 yards in Denver's last-second win over Oakland despite a separated shoulder.
---25 December 2000: Griese finished the 2000 season as the undisputed, highest rated QB in the NFL with a 102.9 rating, 19 TDs, and only 4 INTs for 2,688 yards despite missing nearly half the season.
---24 January 2000: GRIESE EARNS NFL'S ALL-HEART AWARD—Denverbroncos.com
"Courage under fire became a popular slogan for quarterback Brian Griese this season. Not only did he come back from a torn labrum in his shoulder, he played an entire half with it separated against the Oakland Raiders. After battling back from all that, it's no real mystery why he won the National Football League's All-Heart Performance of the Year Award."
Griese: Master of His Own Destiny--Woody Paige, DPO
---Mike Anderson Tops the Broncos' Rookie RB Debut Record:
31 Carries for 131 yds and 2 TDs, 10 September 2000.
---26 November 2000: Anderson sets another franchise record for a rookie's longest scoring run,
80 yds v. Seattle; Broncos win 38-31.
---28 November 2000: Anderson leads the AFC in rushing average per carry (5.0).
---29 November 2000: Anderson Named AFC Offensive Player of the Week
for his 195-yard, two-touchdown effort against Seattle.
Anderson’s Game Jersey Sought in Canton--Rocky Mt. News
Anderson Donates Jersey to HOF, Receives Back to Back AFC Offensive Player of the Week Honors--Daily Camera
---6 December 2000: Anderson awarded an unprecedented two Miller Lite Player of the Week honors and a back to back AFC Offensive Player of the Week honor
---1 January 2001: Mike Anderson caps off his phenomenal rookie season by earning the Associated Press National Football League Offensive Rookie of the Year honor. The running back finished the season with 1,500 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns, starting in 12 games while playing in all 16.
SPECIAL FEATURE: Anderson's Rookie Year Review at The Rocky Mt. News
---24 October 2000: In terms of yardage, Rod Smith (left) and Ed McCaffrey (right) have become the NFL's top receiver tandem. Smith has 835 yards (second in the league) and McCaffrey has 659, for a combined total of 1,494. They have overtaken the St. Louis Rams' Isaac Bruce (821) and Torry Holt (665), who have combined for 1,486 yards.
---6 November 2000: Wide receivers McCaffrey and Smith continue to rewrite the Broncos' record book. With his two touchdown receptions Sunday, McCaffrey passed Vance Johnson (37) to move into eighth place on Denver's all-time touchdown list, and passed Johnson (37) for fifth place on Denver's alltime touchdown reception list. McCaffrey has 39 TD receptions as a Bronco.
With his 96 yards receiving, McCaffrey also passed Rick Upchurch (4,369) for ninth place on Denver's all-time receiving yards list. McCaffrey has 4,446. Smith, who had five catches for 134 yards, has 4,780 career yards and moved past Mark Jackson (4,746) into seventh place on Denver's all-time receiving yardage list.
---16 November 2000: The Sporting News
A case can be made that Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey form the best all-around wide receiver tandem in the league. They aren't as flashy as the Vikings' Cris Carter and Randy Moss, but they are more complete players. Smith and McCaffrey are both devastating blockers and fearless pass catchers. Unless he gets injured, Smith is on pace to shatter every Broncos' single-season receiving record. McCaffrey, who bounces back from more tough hits than any receiver in the league, is not far behind Smith in terms of statistics.
---20 November 2000: Rod Smith leads the League in receiving yards (1,232), has 8 TDs, and is on the verge of becoming the Broncos' all-time single-season leader for receiving yards--HOWEVER, he's never been in the Pro Bowl!
McCaffrey's 10 receptions tied his career high, which he has done three times this season. This is his third consecutive 1,000-yard season, YET he has been to only the 1998 Pro Bowl.
Together, Smith and McCaffrey have 2,193 yards, making them the most productive tandem in the NFL.
---26 November 2000: Rod Smith leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,314) and breaks Steve Watson's 1981 record, moving into first place on Denver's all-time list for yards in a season
---30 November 2000: Rod Smith Named AFC Offensive Player of the Month
---19 December 2000: Smith still leads the NFL in receiving yards (1,421)
---10 December 2000: Against Seattle, McCaffrey had eight catches for 112 yards, giving him 355 receptions as a Bronco and moving him past Steve Watson into fifth place on the team's all-time list. McCaffrey also has 88 catches this season - the third most in a single season in team history - and is on pace to finish the season with more than 100 receptions. He caught his 41st touchdown as a Bronco, putting him behind only Haven Moses, Lionel Taylor, and Shannon Sharpe, each of whom are tied for the franchise lead with 44. And McCaffrey's 112 receiving yards against the Seahawks also gave him 1,162 for this season, a career best, topping the 1,053 he had in 1998.
---25 December 2000: Rod Smith [left] finished the regular season leading the AFC [2nd NFL] in receiving yards (1,602), and his 100 receptions place him third, behind Ed McCaffrey's [right above] 101 receptions, in the AFC [4th NFL], and he has been voted to his first Pro Bowl. McCaffrey finished his season with 1,317 yards [5th AFC]. Additionally, these two receivers set numerous career and franchise records in their most dynamic performances, clearly outplaying more flashy but, in the end, less productive receivers like Randy Moss, Cris Carter, Isaac Bruce, and Torry Holt.
THEY HAD THE FINAL WORD AND THE LAST LAUGH....
Ed McCaffrey and Rod Smith became the very first
AFC tandem where both players each had at least 100 receptions in the same season, proving scouts
wrong when they suggested that both receivers were headed for the downside of
their careers.
---19 November 2000: QB Gus Frerotte, playing for an injured Brian Griese, threw for a team-record 462 yards and tied a team-record with 5 TDs as he and the Broncos overcame 4 INTs and a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to win 38-37 over San Diego.
Better Thank Frerotte before He Leaves--Mark Kiszla, DPO
BRIAN GRIESE, QB
On Griese’s Growing Up: An Interview with the DPO’s Adam Schefter--DPO
GRIESE HONORED, Rocky Mt. News, 9/22/00 —
Griese has been chosen All-Heart player of the week by NFL.com for his efforts in Denver's win over Oakland. To recognize Griese's "all-heart performance," the NFL and Merck & Co. will provide 250 free cholesterol screenings to a Denver hospital. The All-Heart award is the only weekly award sanctioned by the NFL that is voted on by fans. Philadelphia running back Duce Staley and Denver's Anderson were the first two recipients this season. For more information on how to vote, visit NFL.com.
Griese Critic Is Now “A Believer”--Woody Paige, DPO
Griese on Pace to Be the Most Effective in League History--Excite Sports
Shanahan: “I see Joe Montana in Brian Griese.”--Mark Kiszla, DPO
10/24/00 DPO--
Lost in the misery of the Broncos' loss was the fact that quarterback Brian Griese threw for a career-high 365 yards. With 16 touchdown passes and just two interceptions, he leads the AFC with a 105.5 passer rating.
The Life of Brian--Woody Paige, DPO
Griese Nearly Perfect, Nominated for AFC Player of the Week--DPO
Griese’s Injury: “Most Serious” yet His MNF Performance Is “Medically Confounding”--DPO
Comment: “Griese Doesn't Pass on Taking the Heat”--Mark Kiszla, DPO
Griese’s Heart Becoming Huge--Mark Kiszla, DPO
Griese: Master of His Own Destiny--Woody Paige, DPO
Brian Griese: Coming of Age--Adam Schefter, DPO
Griese Has Super Bowl XXXV Aspirations--Rocky Mt. News
Griese Accepts First Annual NFL All-Heart Award--DPO
The Quotable Griese Compendium
MIKE ANDERSON, RB
Anderson Bests Davis and Gary in Rookie Debut+Recap Broncos 42-14 over Falcons--DPO
Anderson Plugs in Fast--DPO
RB Mike Anderson Named NFL.com All-Heart Player of the Week--NFL.com
Anderson Stellar, Becomes 9th Rookie with Successive 100-yd. Games--Rocky Mt. News
Anderson Named Miller Lite NFL Player of the Week--Excite Sports
Mike Anderson Is AFC Rookie of the Month--DPO
Mike Anderson Is This Year’s Warner--Ray Thorburn, Daily Camera
The Anderson Mystique--DPO
RB Anderson a Phenom Beyond Even His Dreams--DPO
Anderson’s Game Jersey Sought in Canton--Rocky Mt. News
Anderson Named Miller Lite Player of the Week for Second Time--Excite Sports
Anderson Donates Jersey to HOF, Receives Back to Back AFC Offensive Player of the Week Honors--Daily Camera
Anderson’s Tired, but He Works to Remain a Prolific, New Star--DPO
Anderson Is AFC Offensive Player of December--Excite Sports
RB Anderson Wins AP’s Offensive Rookie of the Year--Excite Sports
TERRELL BUCKLEY, CB
Buckley Named AFC Defensive Player of Week 6--Denver Broncos.com
Terrell Buckley Making a Difference in Denver “D” --DPO
Buckley Betters with Age--Daily Camera
Buckley’s Perspective--Daily Camera
ROD SMITH & ED McCAFFREY, WRs
10/12/00 Denverbroncos.com--
Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith is on fire, blazing his name in the Broncos record books and quietly becoming one of the hottest wide receivers in the NFL.Through the first six weeks of the season, he ranks third in the NFL in receptions and second in receiving yards - ahead of higher-profile pass catchers like St. Louis' Isaac Bruce, Indianapolis' Marvin Harrison and Minnesota's Randy Moss.
“Passing Praise”: McCaffrey & Smith--Daily Camera
Rod Smith Extends 1,000-Yd. Streak to Four--Daily Camera
Smith and McCaffrey Reap Records, Stardom--DPO
Rod Smith Needs Only 13 Yards to Be All-Time Bronco Season Leader--DPO
Wow! Rod Smith Record-setting WR and RB Too!--DPO
Rod Smith Honored as AFC Offensive Player of the Month, Credits His Team--DPO
