With the Broncos trailing 21-11 at halftime Sunday, former wide receiver Rod Smith felt obligated to change the collective mood during his Ring of Fame induction ceremony. The club’s record holder in career receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns turned into a cheerleader, leading fans at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in a four-way “Go! Broncos!” salute.
“My thing is, ‘I’m down here (thinking) how can I help us win this game?’ That’s all I’m thinking about,” Smith said from the Broncos’ sideline after the ceremony.
Smith is the 23rd member of the Ring of Fame, and the first since 2011 Hall of Fame inductee Shannon Sharpe was honored in 2009. Smith was joined on the field by his family, about a dozen teammates from the Super Bowl- winning teams in the 1997 and 1998 seasons, and a handful of the 22 other Ring of Fame members.
Smith wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. “It’s about every person who has supported me throughout my life,” he said.
The undrafted wide receiver from Missouri Southern played for Denver from 1994 to 2007 and ranks first in Broncos history in receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389), touchdown catches (68) and total touchdowns (71). He leads all undrafted players in NFL history in most major career receiving categories and is 11th overall among all receivers in career catches.
Smith was introduced by longtime Broncos vice president of corporate communications Jim Saccomano and presented his Ring of Fame ring by team owner Pat Bowlen. Smith’s first handshake after stepping away from the podium was with legendary quarterback John Elway, now the Broncos’ executive vice president of football operations.
“This organization has been special to my family,” Smith said. “I just appreciate it. I really, really do. Every single person that has ever played with me — even the people I played against — I just appreciate the opportunity to be in the NFL.”
The Ring of Fame members on hand included Rich Jackson (inducted in 1984), Charley Johnson (1986), Billy Thompson (1987), Randy Gradishar (1989), Louis Wright (1993), Karl Mecklenburg (2001), Steve Atwater (2005) and Terrell Davis (2007).
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357, mchambers@denverpost.com or twitter.com/mchambersdp
