Elway reaches highest levels

MIAMI - This was not about Denver. This was not about Atlanta.This was not about Miami.

This was about Montana.

Of all the places represented here on a glorious evening Sunday,John Elway clutched and tugged and dramatically dragged us to theonemost unimaginable.To the man considered the greatest quarterback ever.To a point where we must now wonder if it is him.Creating as many memories as he summoned, a supposedly slippinghero turned a farewell party into a passionate, three-hour lecture.During a 34-19 victory by his Denver Broncos over the AtlantaFalcons in Super Bowl XXXIII, John Elway's voice carried through thebalmy south Florida sky like a hurricane warning."I'm not finished," he screamed with a pass that twirled 50 yardsbefore landing in the arms of Rod Smith for an eventual touchdown."Here's your weak link," he shouted with a 3-yard dive across thegrass through 300-pounders for another touchdown.These were the same sorts of words that Joe Montana, generallyconsidered the greatest quarterback ever, once used in games likethese.These were also his actions."This is a champion," Elway finally stated Sunday with a strolloff the field with 49 seconds remaining.His helmet was off so the 74,803 fans at Pro Player Stadium couldsee his messy blond hair and shining face. His arms were raised sothey could share his joy."That's the kind of walk you kind of dream of as a kid," he said."That's a walk I'll remember for the rest of my life."It was so perfect; near-flawless passing for 336 yards, his firstSuper Bowl MVP award, his second consecutive Super Bowl triumph, his16th year of trying"If it was me," said Denver center Tom Nalen, "you would never seeme anymore."That was the plan. Before the game, Elway was about 99 percentcertain that he was retiring afterward.Even standing on the sidelines during Cher's emotional renditionof the national anthem, tears trickling out the sides of his eyes,helooked like a man beginning one last slow walk."I thanked God I could be here," he said.But seemingly as quick as bullets to Smith and Shannon Sharpe inthe first 12 minutes that led to the Broncos' first touchdown, thatplan changed.Suddenly he wasn't 38, he was 28. And this was not a walk, it wasa sprint.Much later, Neil Smith grabbed Elway as he walked off the fieldfor the last time here and reminded him of his accomplishments.From the stands, you could see Elway turning Smith around andpatting him furiously on the back."I told him, 'Gimme some back to back, because we just did back toback,' " Smith said. "It was special."But it can be even more special.Now that his team has a chance to become the first in NFL historyto win three consecutive Super Bowls, now that a man who loveschallenges has just been presented with an ultimate oneIn the end, for a farewell party, this one set the unofficialrecord for fewest goodbyes."This definitely throws a kink in it," Elway said, placing theretirement on hold. "You've got to love those challenges."Indeed he does. If the world had forgotten this about Elway, theworld has now remembered.It started last week, the talk from the Falcons that they neededonly to stop Terrell Davis, the buzz that Elway had gone cold.Citing Elway's struggles in the AFC championship game against theNew York Jets, I agreed with the Falcons that Elway could be theirdownfall.By the end of the Broncos' first series, a touchdown drive inwhich he hit on 3-of-4 passes with one dropped ball for 67 yards,those words were worth far less than 25 cents."We heard all week that the Falcons were going to make John Elwaybeat them," said Rod Smith with a smile. "To me, in my opinion, thatwas just dumb. That was a challenge."Elway relished it, dodging the supposedly fearsome Atlantadefensive linemen even with no blockers in the backfield, dumpingenough passes to stun their tough linebackers.And, yes, he kicked a prone Eugene Robinson, the Atlanta safetywho was arrested Saturday night for soliciting a prostitute.Robinson was beaten or missed tackles on three key plays in thefirst half, including the 80-yard touchdown pass to Rod Smith.Said Elway: "I don't think we were doing anything to himspecifically, but, in this game, you take advantage of every littlething you have."Rod Smith translated that bit of political correctness with, "Iwas kind of happy when I heard what had happened to (Robinson),because we knew it might weigh on them a little bit."And to think, in typical Elway fashion, the touchdown play was noteven in the playbook. Elway noticed Robinson cheating to the line ofscrimmage, told the coaches, and they made the Falcons pay.After his sneak gave the Broncos a 31-6 lead early in the fourthquarter, Elway ran off the field pumping his fist like Kirk Gibsononce did.With 1:34 remaining, the fans erupted in the baseball-type chantof "El-way, El-way, El-way."About the only thing that didn't work was a final minutes pass toSmith that would have given Elway the 22 yards necessary to passMontana for the most single-game passing yards in Super Bowlhistory.Smith turned inside, Elway threw long and outside."My fault," said Elway, shrugging. "But I didn't know about therecord."It was Elway's inability to imitate Montana on this stage thatalways kept him in his shadow.The complexion has changed.Elway now has half of Montana's four Super Bowl victories, and hasplayed in one more Super Bowl game (five), and on Sunday finally wona Super Bowl MVP.Add this to career statistics that are matched only by title-freeDan Marino, and let the arguing begin.While Montana had the likes of Jerry Rice, John Taylor and RogerCraig, Elway succeeded Sunday by throwing to the likes of third-string tight end Byron Chamberlain and Howard Griffith, and handingto Derek Loville.Davis was often stopped. Sharpe left after the first quarter witha knee injury. Elway ruled."The best ever?" asked Denver veteran Seth Joyner. "You look atwhat both guys have worked with and, yeah, Elway had to beconsideredahead of Joe Montana."From a postgame interview podium, the supposedly slipping herosmiled, sighed and said, "I am just relishing the moment.""We'll see you tomorrow," said an official, ending postgameinterviews. "When you pick out your car.""Just what I need," said Elway, one of Denver's largest autodealers. "Another car."Then John Elway laughed. And despite security guards asking himto follow them to the locker room, he stayed right there.