It was a great weekend for Broncos fans.

Credit three more Broncos in Canton. For a fanbase that is perennially upset about being underrepresented in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, this was a weekend for Broncos fans.

For me, the Hall of Fame ceremonies encapsulate everything that it means to be a Broncos and football fan. There was nothing like seeing greats like Steve Atwater, Peyton Manning, and John Lynch play the game. The enshrinement ceremony is such a special event that allows all fans to savor, once again, every moment and every snap they played for the Denver Broncos.

Steve Atwater’s induction was unique in that he was a career Broncos player (we’re ignoring the lone year he played for the Jets). It was a special moment for Broncos Country, not because his speech was excellent (it was), or because we crave the validation of another Bronco player in the Hall of Fame. It was special, because Atwater freakin’ deserved to go into the Hall of Fame. He was an epic all-time player who absolutely belongs in the conversation of the game’s greats and it’s long past time he joined them in the Hall. His induction was a needed fist-pump of validation of a truly amazing career.

On Sunday, Peyton Manning fulfilled his destiny and joined John Elway as a Broncos quarterback in the Hall of Fame. His speech was funny, it was poignant, it revered those that went in before him, and it was excellent. Surprisingly, twitter lit up with calls to make Peyton the league’s next commissioner. If only an otherworldly love of the game was enough to resolve labor disputes and quell the tantrums of billionaire owners. It goes without saying that Broncos Country should be proud of Peyton in his latest greatest moment. It’s difficult to gauge just how great someone is while they’re playing. It’s only now that he’s hung them up that we can all truly appreciate how special Peyton really was.

Then there was John Lynch. Lots of fans disregard the time he spent as a Bronco because, with a loss at home to the Steelers in the AFC Championship during the 2005 season, it didn’t culminate in a Super Bowl appearance. With all of the Broncos success under Peyton Manning, it’s easy to forget just how special that 2005 season was. Broncos fans were tremendously lucky to have John Lynch and Champ Bailey patrolling the secondary for those brief few years. John Lynch did the Denver Broncos proud on Sunday and we should all revel in accomplishments while he was in Denver. It’s okay to be jealous that his greatest accomplishments were with Tampa. Just realize that we were so lucky to have him in orange and blue.

Broncos Country has been exceptionally blessed to have multiple Broncos inducted into the hall during the last two enshrinement ceremonies. There are still so many deserving Broncos whose time will come. Randy Gradishar, Mike Shanahan, Dan Reeves, Tom Nalen, Karl Mecklenburg, and others. Your time will come, and fans will be there to celebrate you and everything you have done for Broncos Country.

HORSE TRACKS

Smoky skies force Denver Broncos to move practice indoors
The Denver Broncos had to move their only scheduled stadium practice indoors Sunday because of smoky skies from the California wildfires that made Denver’s air among the world’s most polluted. When the workout began inside the Pat Bowlen Fieldhouse at the UCHealth Training Center, Denver’s air quality was the second-worst globally, trailing only the Russian city of Krasnoyarsk in the middle of Siberia, according to IQAir’s world air quality rankings. Which is exactly what coach Vic Fangio decided to do when he moved his practice from Empower Field at Mile High to the team’s indoor facility that’s normally a haven from wintry weather or late-summer thunderstorms and lightning strikes.

DENVER BRONCOS: Broncos waive former CSU WR Warren Jackson | FOX31
The Denver Broncos announced Saturday afternoon former Colorado State University wide receiver Warren Jackson has been released.

Broncos sign DT Lorenzo Neal
Denver released safety Tedric Thompson in a corresponding move.

2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend: A peek behind the curtain
With the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s supersized 2021 Enshrinement Weekend in the books, Around the NFL’s Nick Shook takes you behind the scenes at one of the most unique celebrations in NFL history.

The best moments from Peyton Manning’s HOF speech
Manning pulled all the right strings with his speech: some humor, some wistfulness, some words to pull at our heartstrings and a call to action.

Peyton Manning: We have to cultivate the game that has given us so much – ProFootballTalk

Peyton Manning headlines induction ceremony for Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of ’21
NFL legends Charles Woodson, Drew Pearson and Peyton Manning were among those inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Sunday night, closing a week of memories in Canton, Ohio.

John Lynch’s full Hall of Fame speech
Watch Hall of Fame inductee and former Broncos safety John Lynch’s full speech at the Pro Football HOF Class of 2021 enshrinement ceremony.

Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning’s full Pro Football HOF Class of 2021 enshrinement speech
Listen to Hall of Fame inductee and former Indianapolis Colts and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning’s full speech at the Pro Football HOF Class of 2021 enshrinement ceremony.

‘Every season has its stories, but that one was exceptional’: An oral history of how Peyton Manning returned from injury to lead the Broncos to a Super Bowl 50 title
Through interviews with those involved in Peyton Manning’s journey back to the field in 2015, we’ve compiled an oral history of the final act of Manning’s Hall of Fame career. Former head coach Gary Kubiak, former director of sports medicine Steve “Greek”

Top moments from John Lynch’s HOF speech
In his speech, Lynch detailed how several people made remarkable impacts on his life.

Friends, family and teammates congratulate new Hall of Famers Peyton Manning, John Lynch and Steve Atwater on social media
Broncos fans, family members, former teammates and coaches took to social media to wish the Hall of Fame enshrinees well.

John Lynch encourages the nation to “huddle up as a people” – ProFootballTalk

Hall of Fame Enshrinement: Recapping speeches, best moments from class of 2021 ceremony
The big night has finally arrived for the 2021 class of Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees. Below is a recap of a celebratory Sunday evening in Canton.

Peyton Manning blasts Pro Football Hall of Fame speech time limit during 2021 enshrinement – CBSSports.com
Manning was not happy about the six-minute time limit on speeches

Peyton Manning pokes fun at Tom Brady in 2021 Hall of Fame speech, predicts when Brady will retire – CBSSports.com
The rivalry continues

2021 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction takeaways: Peyton Manning’s passionate speech, Drew Pearson wait over – CBSSports.com
Here’s a look at Sunday night’s conclusion of an historic weekend in Canton, Ohio

Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin want offensive guard Kevin Dotson to ‘earn first-team reps’
With his offensive line in flux at training camp, Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin made it clear Sunday that no one has a guaranteed starting spot, especially Kevin Dotson, who was projected to be the starting left guard after a solid rookie season.

Dolphins agree to restructure CB Xavien Howard’s contract
Xavien Howard has resolved his contract dispute with the Miami Dolphins. The All-Pro cornerback and the club agreed on a reworked contract Sunday,.

Sources – Indianapolis Colts, Darius Leonard agree to 5-year, $98.5M extension that makes him top-paid ILB
The Colts are making Darius Leonard the highest-paid inside linebacker in NFL history, with the two sides agreeing to a five-year, $98.5 million extension, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Ron Rivera: Washington will play Ryan Fitzpatrick and other starters in preseason – ProFootballTalk

Aaron Rodgers hopes more athletes will help break the stigma around mental health – ProFootballTalk

Comparing, contrasting the Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen deals – ProFootballTalk

Patriots’ Raekwon McMillan suffers season-ending torn ACL in training camp, per report – CBSSports.com
Patriots’ Raekwon McMillan suffers season-ending torn ACL in training cap, per report

Jaguars shopping former top-10 pick C.J. Henderson just one year after drafting cornerback, per report – CBSSports.com
The 22-year-old Henderson started eight games as a rookie