It’s a 1,376-mile drive from downtown Denver to Canton, Ohio, but at least three former Broncos greats took a step closer Wednesday.
A board of Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors included linebacker Randy Gradishar, left tackle Gary Zimmerman and running back Terrell Davis among the 26 semifinalists for the Class of 2008.
All three have made it this far before, but only John Elway among Broncos has been allowed through Canton’s hallowed doors. The 26 remaining candidates, plus Emmitt Thomas and Marshall Goldberg, who were nominated earlier by a seniors committee, will be pared to 17 finalists in mid-January and then four to seven former players or executives will be elected Saturday, Feb. 2, the day before Super Bowl XLII in Phoenix.
There are only two newcomers among this year’s semifinalists: receiver Cris Carter and defensive back Darrell Green. Among Broncos semifinalists, Zimmerman figures to receive the strongest consideration because he is a four-time finalist. Gradishar was a finalist in 2003.
Henry, Young practice. For the first time in four weeks, the Broncos will have their top two running backs, Travis Henry and Selvin Young, participating fully in practice. Henry missed the past three games with a partially torn knee ligament suffered Nov. 4 against the Detroit Lions. Young missed the game last week in Chicago, also because of a knee injury.
Hall, Stokley out. Andre Hall, the starting running back last week at Chicago, missed practice Wednesday because of a high ankle sprain. Receiver Brandon Stokley (knee) also missed practice. Another receiver, Javon Walker (knee), participated on a limited basis.
Footnotes. Raiders coach Lane Kiffin, a former CSU assistant, said he watched Sonny Lubick’s news conference Monday along with Oakland assistants Calvin Branch and Brian Schneider, who played for Lubick. “It was sad,” Kiffin said. “It was very sad to see him, a guy that should still be coaching, and knowing that it’s over for him.”
