After all, Sharpe hadn't taken a shower yet.
Last year in San Diego, as they showered at the same time, Elway let Sharpe in on a secret -- that he intended to return for another run at the Super Bowl.
And what about 1999? "I still have 30 minutes left with the guy," Sharpe said. "I still have the shower, and I'm still dressed. I'm taking my time on it. Now you guys have to wait until we come out."
Whether or not Sharpe got a scoop while soaping up was anyone's guess. At least to the media, Elway wasn't revealing his future intentions after his MVP performance in the Broncos' 34-19 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in Super Bowl XXXIII.
But that didn't stop his teammates from talking about it after repeating as champions.
They were just as curious.
"I thought he wasn't going to come back last year," center Tom Nalen said. "It wouldn't surprise me if he came back next year, but (if not) it's a great way to go out."
After becoming only the sixth franchise to repeat as Super Bowl champions, the Broncos were surprisingly mellow after the game in the locker room. There were no overzealous displays of emotion. No champagne corks were popped, because the NFL prohibits alcohol in the postgame locker room.
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Sunday, Jan. 31
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Sunday, Jan. 31
You can't talk about this win without talking about Denver's offensive line. The Broncos allowed no sacks of John Elway and Terrell Davis had another 100-yard performance on Sunday, breaking the record for most consecutive 100-yard games in the postseason.
And keep in mind all the changes that occurred on the Broncos offensive line with Tony Jones going to left tackle and Dan Neil and Harry Swayne stepping in on the right side.
It was simply a marvelous job by the offensive line. The Broncos dominated the line of scrimmage in Super Bowl XXXIII.
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The Broncos were calm and almost business-like, as if they expected to reach Super heights for a second time. Despite a few more reporters milling around looking for quotes, the players, for the most part, dressed quietly in front of their stalls.
The first title was a bit sweeter, most of the players said. In beating the Green Bay Packers last year, Denver had finally quashed the
lingering demons from three Super Bowl defeats and avenged 13 years of pain and suffering for the AFC.
On Sunday, it was just a continuation of work already begun a year before.
"Last year we were actually like a bunch of little girls," safety Steve Atwater said. "We were jumping up and down, yelling and screaming. There was a lot of that going on today, too. But we've been there before, and this is more of a calm, relaxed excitement.
"Last year's was second to none. It was the best. It was the first one for the organization, the first one for the AFC. We had to overcome so much. This year, was everybody working hard, overcoming adversity throughout the year. We went out and played together with one goal in mind and to get the job done."
Atwater said coach Mike Shanahan joked with the team after the game that offseason conditioning would begin Monday. And other than questions about Elway's expected retirement, the second hottest topic was the chances of a third straight Super Bowl championship, something never accomplished.
Keenly aware of the history they've made with a Hall of Fame quarterback and an MVP running back in Terrell Davis, the Broncos believe they rank among the best teams in NFL history already, regardless of a third championship.
They had already received the same best-ever consideration earlier in the season. Reeling off 13 consecutive wins and eliciting talk of a possible perfect season, the Broncos looked unstoppable until they fell flat in December, losing on back-to-back weeks to the Giants and Dolphins.
But they regained their focus in the playoffs, proving their lapses were only minor blips in an otherwise Super season.
"There were a lot of teams that came out and hunted us this year, and we responded very well to them," defensive end Neil Smith said. "We stepped up and showed the teams that we weren't going to back down. It was good that Mike came to us and never let us lose our focus. That was the key."
In order for the Broncos to maintain their focus next year for a third title run, they all know the X-factor -- of course -- is Elway.
"Three-peat!" cornerback Darrien Gordon said. "If we can keep everybody
around and maybe John will come back for one more year, I think we have a great chance next year of coming back (to the Super Bowl)."
More than a great chance, said Sharpe, whose twisted left knee had little effect on his mouth. Not having Elway back in 1999 would be an inconvenience to the Broncos, but not totally.
"We have a 75 percent chance of winning the Super Bowl without John and a 95 to 98 percent with John," Sharpe said.
"Seventy-five percent without Elway?" a reporter asked.
"Yes. We still have the best player in the league," Sharpe shot back. "(Davis is) not retiring."
Again, Sharpe had the last word. So did the Broncos.
