ENGLEWOOD, Colorado — Three players including safety John Lynch were elected to the Denver Broncos' Ring of Fame on Tuesday.
Also elected were kicker Jason Elam, the Broncos’ all-time scoring leader by more than 1,000 points, and defensive end/linebacker Simon Fletcher.
Elam, Lynch and Fletcher expand the Broncos’ Ring of Fame membership to 31.
"It's a huge honor, especially with my position, I feel ... I feel appreciated," Elam said from Charlotte, N.C., where he is working on his Ph.D in theology at Southern Evangelical Seminary. "And to be able to go in with Simon and John -- two great guys, great players. I couldn't be happier. Biggest honor I've ever had.''
A rare third-round draft pick as a kicker, Elam, 46, was elected into the Ring of Fame in his second year of eligibility. He kicked 15 seasons (1993-2007) for the Broncos, making 395 of 490 field goals (80.6 percent) and 601 of 604 extra points (99.5) for 1,786 points.
Jim Turner is the second-highest scorer in Broncos history with 742 points. Turner, Elam and Gene Mingo are the only kickers elected into the Broncos’ elite club. Mingo was also a halfback and receiver.
Elam added another 84 points in eight playoff games for the Broncos on 15 of 18 field goals and 39 of 40 extra points.
"A lot of my success was because I played with fantastic teams," Elam said. "We had great offenses all the way through. They put me in positions to score a lot of points and kick field goals. Coach (Mike) Shanahan throughout the years allowed me to go out and try long field goals and do things like that. It's a tribute to all of my teammates that I'm being honored. I think they're being honored as well in this whole thing."
Lynch played four seasons for the Broncos (2004-07) and made the Pro Bowl all four years. He also made five Pro Bowls in 11 seasons with Tampa Bay, giving him nine total Pro Bowl appearances that ranks behind only Hall of Famer Ken Houston’s 10 among NFL safeties.
Lynch, 44, also has a chance to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017. A three-time finalist, he cracked inside the top 10 voting in February. He was elected into the Broncos’ Ring of Fame in his fourth year of eligibility. He will also be inducted into Tampa Bay’s Ring of Honor this season.
When Patrick Smyth, Broncos' vice president of public relations, informed Lynch of the honor, the recipient said, "Let me get this straight: This means my name is going up in the stadium?''
To say Lynch was humbled by the honor is an understatement.
"Denver will always hold a special place in my heart, and the Broncos will, because they were there for me," said Lynch, who until Peyton Manning came long was perhaps the best free-agent signing in Broncos history. "I brought my family there after 11 years in Tampa. As I told you before, I have one regret and my regret was we were never able to win a world championship when I was there. That was my goal coming there. But it wasn't for a lack of trying.
"Played with some great players like Jake Plummer and Champ Bailey and Al Wilson. We took a lot of pride in what we did. We didn't get it done all the way, but we did have some success.It's a tremendous honor. Just to be up there with all the names, my teammates like Rod Smith, Tommy Nalen. Be up there with (John) Elway who was an idol of mine growing up and now is a good friend.
"And Jason Elam who was one of greatest kickers to ever play. A teammate of mine and just a wonderful human being. I don't know Simon Fletcher but I watched him growing up, how he wreaked havoc on the AFC West. It's fun to go in with those guys as well.''
Fletcher, 54, was elected into Broncos’ immortality in his 16th year of eligibility. What cost him from receiving the honor earlier was he had never been named to the Pro Bowl.
