CANTON, Ohio — Broncos fans never knew it when he played, but Hall of Fame left tackle Gary Zimmerman is an easy, introspective conversationalist. So why did he not talk to the media during his five years in Denver?
Zimmerman said it started when he was with the Minnesota Vikings following a defeat and a reporter asked him what went wrong.
“I said, ‘The offense didn’t play well enough to win today. The defense didn’t play well enough today,” Zimmerman said. “The next day, on the front page of the sports section, it said, ‘Zimmerman says defense didn’t play well enough to win.’ So right then, half my teammates are mad at me.”
Where’s Mecklenburg?
By far the most popular portion of the Pro Football Hall of Fame museum is the bust room. John Elway looks good with a small smile and his hair parted from left to right. Former Raiders receiver Fred Biletnikoff posed for a picture next to the bust of owner Al Davis. Former Broncos defensive great Karl Mecklenburg, a guest of Zimmerman’s, toured the bust room with his wife, Kathi.
Mecklenburg’s thoughts of the room that doesn’t include his likeness?
“I saw a lot of guys in there whose butts I kicked,” he said, half-joking.
Always early means never late.
Among the Zimmerman memories that Broncos trainer Steve “Greek” Antonopulos shared this week was how the left tackle was paranoid about being late. So when a 3:30 p.m. Friday afternoon news conference was scheduled for the six-man Hall of Fame Class of 2008, it was no surprise Zimmerman was the only one there at 3:27 p.m. He had been there since 3:15 p.m. The second Hall of Famer, Fred Dean, showed up at 3:28 p.m.
“I was never late to a meeting in 12 years,” Zimmerman said. “I drive my family nuts. When I tell them we need to leave at 8, I mean 7:45.”
Footnotes.
Kenard Lang, a Broncos defensive end until he was cut in last year’s training camp, was here on the invitation of Washington cornerback Darrell Green. “He was my best friend when I was with the Redskins,” said Lang, who now is the head football coach at Jones High School in Orlando, Fla. . . .
That booming voice is everywhere. Alan Roach, the Broncos’ new public address announcer and veteran PA of Super Bowls, Olympics and KOA radio, was the ceremony’s announcer Saturday.
Mike Klis, The Denver Post
