Not so fast, Al.
Al Wilson, that is. Apparently, he thinks he can retire from the NFL by posting a few paragraphs on some obscure website.
No press conference, no cameras clicking, no nothing. A few paragraphs on a website.
That is so today, an athlete doing his talking on a website. But it’s also wrong. Given all he meant to the Broncos, Wilson deserves a lot more than a few paragraphs on a website.
But it isn’t his performance on the field that I’ll remember most about Wilson. He was the Broncos’ greatest leader from the moment he moved into the starting lineup.
Truth is, most players shun the role of leader. It’s too much trouble, too much responsibility, too many headaches. They’d rather play, get paid and go about their business.
Not Wilson. His voice was heard above all others in the locker room and in the media. He wasn’t just a go-to guy for reporters. He was that rare NFL player who eschewed the front-office spin and told it like it was.
I’ve seen other players have their careers cut short because of injuries. Happens all the time in the Sunday football league, where time waits for no man and bodies break down more than used cars. But I’ve never been as sad for another player as I was for Wilson.
In a league filled with bad boys, he was a righteous dude. And he made covering the Broncos fun. For that, every reporter at Dove Valley owes him a debt of gratitude.
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
