DENVER — Steve Atwater was in his second season with the Denver Broncos in 1990 when then-public relations chief Jim Saccomano approached him a few days before their home opener against Kansas City.
“Hey Steve, we want to mic you for the game Monday night,” Saccomano announced.
“Against Christian Okoye?” answered an incredulous Atwater. “Why would you want to mic me up for this, of all games?”
Because the super-sized safety nicknamed the "Smiling Assassin" versus the All-Pro 260-pound running back known as the “Nigerian Nightmare” was about as good as it gets.
“I definitely was hesitant,” Atwater recounted recently as he reflected on a career that has landed him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.