On Tuesday the Denver Broncos announced three new names that will join legends like Randy Gradishar and John Elway on the facade at Mile High Stadium as members of the team’s vaunted Ring of Fame.
Kicker Jason Elam (1993-2007), linebacker Simon Fletcher (1985-1995) and safety John Lynch (2004-07) will see their names and numbers hoisted among the Broncos greats later this season.
Elam and Fletcher each spent a decade or more with the Broncos, compiling stats that put them at or near the top of their respective positions’ rankings in almost every category. Lynch, is a different case, however. After 11 years as one of the best safeties in the league with Tampa, Lynch was still a force in Denver – but did he accomplish enough to warrant immortality?
In his four years, Lynch compiled 195 tackles, seven sacks, three interceptions and nine forced fumbles. He ranks among the top-10 Broncos only in the forced fumbles category. Lynch is just 25th on the franchise’s all-time tackles list, which does not include greats like Tom Jackson, who played before tackles was an official stat. For perspective, Lynch trails another safety who played four years in Denver, Eric Brown (who also had twice as many INTs as Lynch), by nearly 30 tackles.
There’s no debating Lynch’s overall credentials in the NFL. He’s likely going to find himself in the Hall of Fame one day. But was what he did in Denver enough to warrant a spot in the Broncos Ring of Fame?
Eric Goodman, Les Shapiro and Tyler Polumbus took that topic to task on Afternoon Drive on Mile High Sports AM 1340 | FM 104.7 the day the news was announced. Listen to the full debate in the podcast below.
https://soundcloud.com/milehighsports/5-17-16-afternoon-drive-debates-whether-john-lynch-should-be-in-the-ring-of-fame-or-not
