He was never considered a great player, just a very good one. He never played in the Pro Bowl, but lasted nine seasons as a starter at one of the NFL’s most demanding positions.
Unlike John Elway, who had to fight off tears when he announced his retirement, left tackle Matt Lepsis was all smiles earlier this week after informing the Broncos that he was walking away.
Can you blame him?
Talk about a success story. Let’s go back to Lepsis’ roots. He was a tight end in college and didn’t get drafted. He had a bad knee before ever playing a down in the NFL.
Yet there he was, a decade later, leaving the Not For Long on his own terms. If you think that happens every day, think again.
Some players live up to their potential and others don’t. Lepsis? He was that rare player who exceeded his, thanks more to true grit than true greatness.
What was that Tommy Lee Jones said in The Fugitive? Oh, yeah, “Well done, young man.”
Follow Jim Armstrong’s daily Broncos commentaries on The Jimmy Page at 7 a.m. and noon, and read his columns on Sundays and the day after Broncos games at .
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
