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Denver's Shannon Sharpe has treated every game as if it were the last of his career.
It's one of the reasons he's the top pass-catching tight end in league history. It's also why he's not treating Sunday's playoff game against Indianapolis any differently, even though it really could be his final one.
``I've thought
about that,'' Sharpe said of possibly playing his last game. ``It's always in
the back of my mind because you never know. And saying that, I tell you once
I touch that field, that will be the last thing on my mind.''
Sharpe took his time deciding whether to return for a 14th season and has hinted
he won't be back once it's over. He'll take plenty of memories with him.
Sharpe started his career in 1990 as little more than a blocker and special teams player. He developed into so much more.
Taking the advice of teammates, Sharpe traded the blocking sled for catching passes. Maybe his blocking suffered in the process, but there was no doubt Sharpe could catch a football like no other tight end before.
At 6-foot-2, 228 pounds, he looked more like a big receiver than some of the offensive linemen who called themselves tight ends. Sharpe played like a wideout, too, using his speed to blow past linebackers and his size to fend off safeties.
The results have been impressive.
Sharpe is the league's all-time leader in receptions (815) and yards (10,060) for a tight end, and this season he passed Jerry Smith for most touchdowns at his position with 62.
A seven-time Pro Bowler, Sharpe also has won three Super Bowls -- two with Denver, another with Baltimore -- and was part of an NFL-record 12 straight playoff wins from 1997-2001.
``They can put him in so many different places and look for the matchups, and try to get him the ball in a lot of different spaces that you don't see normal tight ends in,'' Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy said.
And he doesn't seem to be slowing down.
Sharpe caught 12 passes for a league-record 214 yards against Kansas City last season, and this year he caught 62 passes for 770 yards and eight touchdowns at age 35 -- second only to Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez in the AFC.
``Shannon can still play,'' Indianapolis defensive tackle Montae Reagor said. ``He's got a lot of athletic ability, and as long as he can play, he's going to play. He keeps in great shape.''
There's no doubting that.
One of the reasons Sharpe considered retirement in the offseason was because of the effort he puts in to stay in shape. He's built like a bodybuilder and maintains his physique with early-morning workouts and his own personal cook.
Sharpe's impact runs much deeper than just catching footballs.
With a quick wit and insight few players have -- or are willing to articulate -- Sharpe became the kind of leader most coaches dream of. He's not afraid to chew out a teammate for missing an assignment, but he's also the first to pat him on the back.
And when it comes to inspiration, few match Sharpe's sharpness in the huddle.
``I've just seen him grow tremendously since he's been here, both as a player and a leader,'' Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. ``He knows the mistakes he made as a young player and can share those with the players.''
Sharpe also has a knack for keeping things light.
One of his favorite end zone celebrations was the Incredible Hulk pose, and he once pranced around in a plastic pony hat after a Broncos victory. Sharpe even made a phony phone call to the National Guard to rescue the New England Patriots.
Two weeks ago in a nationally televised game against the Colts, Sharpe agreed to wear a microphone, and the results were typically hilarious.
The jokes, the inspiration, the unmatched production -- if this is Sharpe's final run, he's sure going to be missed.
``First of all, he's the best tight end to ever play the game. Second, he's probably the most animated guy you can have in the locker room,'' Broncos linebacker Al Wilson said. ``Those type things you can't replace. If it is his last year, it's been an honor for me and a privilege to play with a guy like that and to say I played with a guy like that.''
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