Most football fans would agree that John Elway has been winning games for the Denver Broncos for a long time, but how many know that the quarterback's NFL career almost ended before it started?
Elway recalled this fall that as a Bronco rookie in 1983, his debut was traumatic.
On his first play, he looked across the line and saw middle linebacker Jack Lambert of the Pittsburgh Steelers glaring at him.
"He had no teeth, and he was slobbering all over himself," Elway said. "I'm thinking, `You can have your money back. Just get me out of here. Let me go be an accountant.'
"I can't tell you how badly I wanted out of there."