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'Blue collar' Broncos still at work
Denver Broncos wide receiver Rod Smith was as gracious as his tired and sore 35-year-old body would allow while wading through a throng of autograph- and photo-seeking fans following Saturday's 27-13 win over the New England Patriots.
"I loved the fact that Courtney Brown won in his first opportunity to play in the playoffs," Smith said before leaving the stadium. "I've been there a long time ago, and I like for those guys to have that feeling. But you know what? You've got to keep going. We have to pick up win No. 15 somehow, some way."
Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers will be Smith's third AFC Championship game in 11 seasons, and his third playing for coach Mike Shanahan.
Smith says Shanahan has adapted well in the transition from the Broncos' glory days. "Back in the day, man, we had some superstars on this team -- we had guys who were the premier players at their position in the league," Smith said. "Right now we have guys that are all-pros at their position. But we're getting it done with a whole bunch of guys, just a lot of guys. We're blue collar, man, blue collar. We just go out there and work -- we work for each other."
Smith, who always is positive about his team even when others don't give them much of a chance, said he knew this year's Broncos team had winning qualities in training camp.
"You saw a lot of unselfish guys," Smith said. "It didn't really matter who was getting the glory. Honestly, it was one of those things, I guess, that showed how the Patriots won (championships) -- those guys played for each other. I told all of them after the game that they had a hell of a run, one of those runs that is hard duplicate. We had a great run (winning Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII), but they won three of four.
"At the same time, our thing is being there for each other -- doing what I do for Al (Wilson), for Champ (Bailey), for (John) Lynch . . . it's one of those things where you have to take advantage of your opportunities."
The Broncos' locker room was not a scene of chaos after they ended the run of the two-time defending champion Patriots.
"That's been the character of our team all season," safety Nick Ferguson said. "When we lost to Miami, everybody discredited us and our coaches, asking what we were doing. We knew we had to gather around one another. I'd say the difference between this team and the team we had last year . . . guys were confident (last year), but we didn't have that swagger.
"Now we have that swagger, like bring on whomever. We come at you with everything we have and in the game, let the chips fall where they may. I think the swagger came from realizing that our organization put together a collective unit here, and that we can actually get the job done. It's not a thing where we're just happy to get to the playoffs. Now we can win this whole thing."