It’s John Elways’ 49th birthday, and I want to offer my best wishes along with the best wishes of my family.

The Ramseys have long considered Elway a member of our extended clan. My mother used to call and talk about John - no last name - and it took me a few moments to figure out she was talking about John Elway instead of John Ramsey, my little brother. I grew up a five-minute drive from Mile High Stadium, and Elway’s adventures were always Ramsey adventures, too. I’m sure thousands and thousands of Front Range residents feel exactly the same way.

His legacy - five trips to the Super Bowl, two ultimate victories, all  those wow-can-you-believe-it comebacks - just keeps growing because the Broncos just keep shrinking. The Elway era will always be the best - the most successful, the most thrilling - era of Broncos football. Sorry, but he’s marched into the sunset, and he’s not coming back.

One other thought:

Elway is 49. He’s in decent shape. I’m sure the arm remains powerful.

I think he could start for the Broncos in 2009. Of course, that’s faint praise. Kyle Orton and Chris Simms offer the only competition.

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