Sacco Sez: Broncos' legacy off the field would make Pat Bowlen proud

[Miles]

The Broncos are eligible for a $100,000 grant for their superb humanitarian work by this ESPY nomination, with the ultimate winner to be announced around the broadcast of the ESPYS in June.


But as the legendary newscaster Paul Harvey used to intone, "And now, for the rest of the story," let's put perspective on the story like a cherry on the cake.


There are more than 160 sports franchises in North America.


The Broncos are one of the four finalists for this great honor, and just the second National Football League team ever to be so mentioned.


But besides even that, the Broncos are as popular as ever, as is shown by the various social media platforms that did not even exist when I joined the team five decades ago.


That the organization has excelled with such great interest during an almost unheard-of period in which the Broncos have missed the playoffs four years in a row is astounding.


The Broncos play in the Mountain Time Zone, in which only around 6 percent of the total American population resides, so Denver does not achieve these numbers because of a vast local population, but in fact in spite of it.


Everything the Broncos do depends on the vast reaches of Broncos Country that mostly lives outside the boundaries of our community and state.


So consider also that this year when the Broncos host Tennessee on the first night of "Monday Night Football," Denver will have the longest streak of consecutive years ever on MNF with 29.


I think these facts put the Broncos' accomplishment in greater perspective.


From the field through the community, the Broncos weave a tapestry of success combining our players, coaches and administrators, with stunning website and social-media numbers and national recognition by the "Worldwide Leader," ESPN.


Everything we do, we do together.


That is how Pat Bowlen intended it to be.