In early September, I heard via email from a man who may be the biggest of the many Denver Broncos Pro Football Hall of Fame snubs, and a great who has been very responsive to my sporadic emails over the past few years, as well as a cancer survivor himself, Karl Mecklenburg. In my honest opinion, Mecklenburg might be the most versatile defensive (possibly overall) player in NFL history, because he could play all SEVEN of the front defensive positions in the Broncos’ Joe Collier-coached 3-4 defense like a professional, each of the linebacker and defensive line positions. That is more positions than I have ever seen or read about a player in NFL history excel at. How on earth could the Pro Football Hall of Fame voters not vote this guy in? Mecklenburg retired in 1994 as Denver’s all-time sack leader with 79 1/2 sacks…only Von Miller and Simon Fletcher have surpassed him in the past 25+ years.
Both Mecklenburg and his wife are cancer survivors, and Mr. Mecklenburg had some excellent advice on staying healthy after getting the clean bill of health. Thank you so much, Karl, and my prayers for your continued carcinoma-free life as well, my friend!!!!
My NFL 100: Gratitude to Greats Project 