Elway says it’s definite

John Elway wants to leave on his own terms. And not even the possibility of a third straight Super Bowl victory will change his mind.

“Absolutely, I’m retired,” he said in The Denver Post today. “One of the reasons I held off saying anything was to make sure it’s what I would do.

“I seriously considered coming back, but I just couldn’t make it because of my knee,” he said. “I’ve never liked it when an athlete says he’s retired and then comes back. Once I’ve decided, I am certain.”

Broncos spokesman Jim Saccomano said Sunday night the team is aiming for a midweek news conference, most likely Wednesday.

Elway, the master of improvisation and the late-game comeback, all but announced his retirement Saturday in an interview with Denver TV station KCNC in Pebble Beach, Calif., where he was playing in a golf tournament.

“For so many years everything in my family has revolved around me. It’s time for that to change,” the 38-year-old quarterback said. “I really accomplished everything I wanted to. There’s no real upside to coming back.”

He reportedly considered announcing his decision two weeks ago, but owner Pat Bowlen was in Australia promoting the Broncos’ preseason game there. Then last week the announcement was put off because of the school shootings in suburban Denver.

Out of respect for the victims, some of whose funerals were scheduled for today, the Broncos further delayed an Elway announcement.

“I was going to announce it before the (NFL) draft, but Mr. Bowlen was in Australia,” Elway told the Post. “Then the tragedy happened and I didn’t want to interfere with that.”

“I’ve talked to him and he told me what he’s going to do,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “But I’m not going to comment. I’m going to let John make his announcement.”

Bowlen, while declining to confirm Elway’s plans, said at a charity event Saturday night, “I’ve known this was coming for a long time.”

Bowlen bought the Broncos in 1984 and never has known a team without Elway. “I think it’s going to be odd for all of us,” he said.

Boasting two Super Bowl rings as well as the game’s MVP award, Elway is going out on top, much like Michael Jordan did four months earlier. But, unlike Jordan, Elway leaves behind a team in good hands.

For years, the Broncos’ offense was a one-trick pony consisting of Elway and 10 other guys. Gradually, the Broncos became less of a showcase for one dazzling quarterback and more of a diversified offense with multiple weapons.

Now, the two-time Super Bowl champions, still loaded with stars such as Terrell Davis and Shannon Sharpe, must ponder life without magnificent No. 7.

Running back Terrell Davis told the Post: “This really lets some air out of your system. It’s going to be tough to come back and not see him in the huddle.

“I really think this year we’re going to face as much adversity as we’ve ever faced. We’re really going to see how much resolve this team has now.”

Offensive guard Mark Schlereth, however, took another view.

“I think in the early years, it was a one-man show with John here,” Schlereth said. “It’s not like that anymore.”

In fact, Elway acknowledged several seasons ago that it wasn’t his team anymore.

“It’s Terrell’s team now,” he said.

While Elway earned the Super Bowl MVP honor last January with a 34-19 win over Atlanta, he missed all or part of six games with hamstring, back and rib injuries.

Instead, it was Davis, a 2,008-yard rusher and winner of the league’s MVP award, who carried the team.

With Elway gone, Bubby Brister steps in. Brister slipped seamlessly into the lineup last season and guided the Broncos to a 4-0 record in the games he started in place of Elway. He engineered another win in relief. But how will he hold up during a 16-game schedule? And will Brister at QB put more pressure on Davis?

While expressing confidence in Brister, Shanahan apparently has some qualms.

Brister, who turns 37 in August, hasn’t started more than eight games in a season since 1990. The backup is Brian Griese, a third-round draft choice in 1998 with limited experience.

So, the Denver Rocky Mountain News reported, the Broncos sought backup insurance Saturday by agreeing to sign Chris Miller, who turns 34 in August and retired four years ago because of concussions.

Brister is looking forward to taking over an offense that tight end Sharpe likened to a Ferrari.

“I just want to get in there and run the best machine in the business,” he said. “I’m not stupid. I know I’m not in this alone. We have Terrell Davis and Shannon Sharpe and great receivers and a great line. We have so much to work with.” Associated Press