You name it, Seth Joyner could do it at Linebacker.
It took a while before Joyner proved his professional worth, as the 1986 208th Overall Pick was cut in his first training camp before he was resigned. Joyner started seven games as a rookie, but was a starter afterward, where he showed an incredible body of work that allowed him to cover anyone on the field. He could attack the Quarterback, stuff the run, and block lanes with the best of them.
Joyner had his peak year in 1991, when he won his first Pro Bowl in a campaign in which he was fifth in MVP voting and second in Defensive Player of the Year Voting. It was a phenomenal campaign and one of the more incredible years that split what an interior Linebacker could do. After another good year, Joyner went to his second Pro Bowl; he signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
It was a good three-year run for Joyner, who added his third Pro Bowl in 1994, and played more action at Strong Safety, showcasing his exceptional talents. In his last two seasons, Joyner was a hired gun of sorts, providing veteran leadership, first on a Green Bay team that lost in Super Bowl XXXII to Denver, and then on that same Denver team that repeated in Super Bowl XXXIII. That was his swansong as a player, and that is the best way to go out.
He retired as one of the few players in the 20 Sacks/20 Interceptions club.
Tom Nalen played his entire career in the National Football League with the Denver Broncos, where he started all 187 Games at Center. Early in his career, Nalen would win two Super Bowls with John Elway as his Quarterback, and during those ring acquisitions, he was in the midst of a four-year streak of Pro Bowls with two First Team All-Pros. Nalen earned his fifth Pro Bowl and third First Team All-Pro in 2003, and he played at Mile-High until his retirement in 2009. Considering how many non-Terrell Davis Running Backs he helped exceed expectations, Nalen's value can be easily quantified.
It is one thing to be highly touted out of college and rack up serious statistics in the National Football League. It is quite another to do that when you go undrafted. Rod Smith lit up the league when nobody saw it coming.
After going virtually unnoticed at Missouri Southern State, Rod Smith was signed by the Denver Broncos and, by his third year, fought his way to the starting roster. He would go for 1,000 receiving yards eight times in his stellar career and was a huge part of the Broncos winning two consecutive Super Bowls.
Rod Smith may be overlooked as his offensive stats came at a time when many others accomplished the same, but no one can ever take away that he will go down as one of the good guys of the game and has earned his respect in the Rocky Mountains. A model of consistency, Smith might be the most overlooked wide receiver of all time, and think what company that keeps?