Zimmerman loyal to Broncos entering hall

Gary Zimmerman spent only five of his 14 seasons in professional football with the Denver Broncos, but when he goes into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 2, he will do so as a Bronco.

Zimmerman started his career playing two seasons with the Los Angeles Express of the defunct United States Football League, then spent seven years with the Minnesota Vikings. When the Vikings refused to renegotiate his contract in 1993 and he threatened to retire, the Broncos acquired him in a trade.

Zimmerman had a successful finish to his career and found a team to associate himself with in retirement.

"My loyalty is to the Denver Broncos," Zimmerman said.

Zimmerman's induction weekend will show his ties to Denver. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen will present Zimmerman at the Hall of Fame induction. Zimmerman said old fellow offensive line teammates like Mark Schlereth, David Diaz-Infante and Brian Habib will be there along with the first longtime Bronco hall-of-famer, quarterback John Elway.

Zimmerman said he'll always appreciate Bowlen saving him from an unhappy situation in Minnesota.

"When I went to Denver it's like the dog who gets put to the pound and you get a new owner and the loyalty is to that new owner and the owner treats you good," Zimmerman said. "Coming from where I came from, they didn't treat people quite as well. I thought it was that way across the league, and then to go to Denver and to have your eyes open like that, it was just unbelievable, the respect and dignity."

He also repeated the Broncos' long-held argument that more players from the franchise deserve to be in the hall.

"I don't know how there could not be any more Bronco guys in there," Zimmerman said. "Hopefully this will bring more consideration."

Zimmerman rarely spoke to the media during his career and is a self-described "hermit" living with his family in Bend, Ore. Being on such a big stage since he was voted into the hall in February has been uncomfortable at times.

"It's definitely different," Zimmerman said. "It's been a little stressful, all the coverage with the media."

Zimmerman said he's struggling with his speech because, surprisingly, it is too long. He said he stayed up late Wednesday to work on the speech and cut some things out without ruining it.

"I'm trying to cut and trim," Zimmerman said. "For the first time in my life I have too much to say."

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Contact the writer: 476-4891 or frank.schwab@gazette.com. Check out our Broncos blog at gazettebroncos.blogspot.com