Heads up, Canton. Or should that be: Busts up.
There’s a chance Broncos membership in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is about to triple.
To date, only John Elway is in, but two former Broncos, middle linebacker Randy Gradishar and left tackle Gary Zimmerman, were among the 17 finalists selected Tuesday for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“I thank the Broncos and the Bronco fans,” Gradishar said. “To get this far and have two Broncos on this list — and I congratulate Gary Zimmerman — it’s just a great honor.”
For the second consecutive year, Broncos running back Terrell Davis was among the semifinalists who didn’t make the latest cut.
Gradishar and Zimmerman got this far in 2003, the first time in history the Broncos had two finalists. Each may have a better chance to be among the four to seven men inducted this year.
Zimmerman, who played seven seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and five with the Broncos, is a five-time finalist and the only Canton-eligible player who has made two all-decades teams (the 1980s and 1990s), yet is not in the Hall.
Gradishar is in his 20th and final year of eligibility on the modern-era ticket. Having gone to seven Pro Bowls in his 10 seasons with the Broncos from 1974-83, Gradishar would move to the pool of senior committee candidates if he is not elected Feb. 2, the eve of Super Bowl XLII.
Such a deadline helped St. Louis Cardinals cornerback Roger Wehrli get in last year.
“We’ll just have to wait and see what happens and see if you get a phone call,” Gradi-shar said. “For now, I’m going to see my friends and be with my wife, and we’re going to enjoy the evening.”
Hall of fame finalists Page 9D
Mike Klis: 303-954-1055 or mklis@denverpost.com
