Editor’s note: This column ran on September 11, 2001.
With 9 1/2 minutes left in the third quarter, the light went out
at the new stadium.
Ed McCaffrey, who always gets up, didn’t this time.
Amid the festivity and frivolity of the opening of new Mile
High stadium and the Denver Broncos’ persuasive 31-20 victory over
the New York Giants on Monday night, a bright bulb was broken.
McCaffrey – certainly one of the Broncos’ most dependable and
durable, popular and prominent players – made another typical
catch and sensational 19-yard gain before he and his season were
cut down prematurely.
The 11-year veteran receiver collided with Giants free safety
Shaun Williams and twisted as he toppled.
His left leg hideously snapped in two places.
The loudest stadium in the NFL suddenly was the quietest place
in the land.
McCaffrey takes a beating after every reception. He usually
seems dead on arrival at the 20-yard line. He is down momentarily,
but staggers to his feet and plays on.
But, on this occasion, McCaffrey didn’t stir, couldn’t stand.
A teammate held his hand; trainers examined the damaged leg. The
crowd of 75,244 was hushed and pained, and a Monday night TV
audience watched the replay in agonizing slow motion.
When the cart came out of the tunnel, the suffering McCaffrey
was finished for the evening – and the season.
As McCaffrey was driven toward the new south stands, the
familiar chant from an old stadium reverberated through the new
stadium.
“Ed-die, Ed-die, Ed-die.”
Ed-die clutched gloved hands together above his head.
He departed smiling.
Two hours later he was being prepped for surgery at Swedish
Medical Center. McCaffrey’s tibia and fibula had been fractured.
Two bones in the left leg gave up. McCaffrey won’t, though. He
never does.
Ed-die had left the new building, but his impact on the game
remained.
Just more than five minutes into the second quarter,
McCaffrey, with hands of super glue, grabbed a 16-yard touchdown
pass from Brian Griese to present the Broncos a 14-7 lead. His
44th touchdown reception in seven seasons with the Broncos tied
the club record. (He was once released by the Giants – and
ex-Broncos coach Dan Reeves.) McCaffrey rarely celebrates a
touchdown. He acts like he has been there before and knows he will
be there again. But he did high-five with a few fans in the north
stands.
By halftime McCaffrey had his norm – four catches for 69 yards
and the assorted bruises. Another reception and run, what would
have been his best, was brought back because of a penalty.
After New York tied the score at 14 in the third quarter,
Griese sought out McCaffrey – first for 6 yards, then 19 more on
the calamitous play.
McCaffrey sacrificed himself again and put the Broncos at the
Giants’ 46-yard line.
“We took it personal,” Broncos running back Mike Anderson
said. “Eddie is a big part of this team and a leader. When he went
down, we all had to pull together for Ed.”
The Broncos did appear to be a changed team, an inspired bunch. They would win it for Ed-die.
Three plays after the gladiator – and he is – was carted away,
Griese connected with McCaffrey’s running mate, Rod Smith, for a
25-yard touchdown that sent the Broncos ahead for the duration.
“Obviously, it always hurts to lose a great player like
Eddie,” coach Mike Shanahan said, “but I thought when he went
down, our team stepped up and played a little harder. Everybody
knows what Eddie has meant to this football team. Everybody worked
together and found a way to get the job down.”
Griese blamed himself, wrongly, as he shouldn’t have. Nobody
blamed Williams, and there was no reason to.
“I wasn’t trying to hurt (McCaffrey),” Williams said. “He
caught the ball, had a full possession and saw me coming. I think
his leg hit my thigh, and that’s what happened. I was hurt myself.”
Football is a violent game. “
There will be injuries,” Shanahan said.
But “Monday Night Football” hasn’t been kind to the Broncos.
Griese, Terrell Davis and Olandis Gary have been injured badly
during the ABC prime-time games. And now McCaffrey, who never has
missed more than one game in a season in his career.
Smith switched to the Z-receiver slot, and Eddie Kennison, the
new receiver, took over in Smith’s spot. A new Ed-die must come
through for the Broncos. But McCaffrey’s play and spirit will be
missed this season.
McCaffrey is the Broncos’ No. 1 pitchman for mustard,
mattresses, salad dressings and burgers. He didn’t deserve this
break Monday night.
The new stadium and the new Broncos were a shining success in
the opener.
But darkness descended.
