A gallon of gas had soared to $1.27 a gallon. Bill Clinton had been elected for his second term as U.S. president. Atlanta hosted the Summer Olympics. The Macarena had taken our nation’s wedding receptions by storm.
And Broncomania was still craving its first Super Bowl title.
The year was 1996, the last time Broncos receiver Rod Smith had less than 70 catches.
In the next nine seasons, Smith averaged 86 catches, never recording less than 70, topping out at 113, and hauling in 85 as recently as last season.
The streak of 70-catch seasons, however, is about to end. Entering the Broncos’ final regular-season game Sunday against San Francisco, Smith has 47 receptions. No receiver, not even Jerry Rice, ever had a 23-catch game.
“Nowhere close to what I’m used to,” Smith said. “It’s been different. I wouldn’t say … I’ll just say it’s been different. But one year I had 100-some catches and we had a terrible year.”
He was speaking about 2001, when he had his career-high 113 receptions, but the Broncos finished 8-8. This year’s Broncos are 9-6 and can reach the playoffs for a franchise-record fourth consecutive season if they beat the 49ers at Invesco Field at Mile High.
“Sometimes when you catch a ton of passes, it means you’re down a lot, and you have to throw,” Smith said. “It’s nice when you can have a balance. Guys like Marvin (Harrison) and those guys, sometimes you can get, not jealous, but envious of them because they catch a ton of balls, but their team still wins games. But the ultimate prize is the Super Bowl, and that’s what I have and they don’t.”
Indeed, so much has happened for Smith since 1996. The Broncos won back-to-back Super Bowls. Smith became the Broncos’ all-time leading receiver in every major category. And he continues to work on a consecutive-game reception streak, which is at 123 entering Sunday.
But his run of 70-catch seasons will stop at nine, just short Tim Brown’s record of 10.
“I never knew that record existed,” Smith said. “It’s one of those things where people talk about it with me, and I’m like, ‘Oh really?’ I’ve got to be happy with what I’ve got. Of course I always want the ball. You want it 20 times a game, but it’s not going to happen.”
Al rests
Because of the snow and cold, Broncos coach Mike Shanahan decided to keep middle linebacker Al Wilson out of practice again Thursday. Wilson has been bothered by a lower back injury and is listed as questionable for the game against the 49ers.
“Hopefully, he’ll be able to go (today),” Shanahan said.
Blizzards and Broncos
The encore to last week’s blizzard reappeared Thursday at Dove Valley just before the Broncos started practice. After practicing indoors last week, then playing amid constant flurries Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, Shanahan ran his workout beneath the heavy snow Thursday.
“We should be used to it by now,” he said. “We might have to play in this Sunday, who knows? Guys who have been here a while understand how to deal with it, things like leaving an hour or two earlier to get here. The younger guys think they know, but really don’t until they’ve been through it.”
Hawkins visit
Standing outside in the snow and observing the Broncos’ practice Thursday was University of Colorado coach Dan Hawkins.
“I always tell people it’s a blessing to be practicing in this kind of weather in December,” Hawkins said, referring to his CU Buffs not participating in the college bowl season. “Sometimes they don’t realize it until they don’t get to do it.”
A former coach at Boise State, Hawkins visited with Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer, who grew up in Boise.
“I tell people around here, wait and see, CU is going to be good next year,” Plummer said.
Mike Klis can be reached at 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com.
