Remembering the Broncos' Darrent Williams on New Year's
ENGLEWOOD It's been nine years.
Nine years ago tonight, highly popular Denver Broncos' cornerback Darrent Williams was shot and killed by gang member Willie D. Clark in a drive-by shooting.
Nine years. It hardly seems that long in one sense. In the NFL, nine years is a generation. The Broncos don't have one player on their current roster who was with that 2006 team whose season ended with a playoff-eliminating overtime loss at home to the San Francisco 49ers on New Year's Eve, 2006. There is only one member on the Broncos' coaching staff who was on that team -- offensive coordinator Rick Dennison.
"I was just talking about that the other day,'' Dennison said. "The shock. We played that day and it happened that night I remember getting a phone call in the morning and it was just a shock. He had a big personality. He was a good player. It was such a tragedy for his family and everybody who knew him."
Nine years later, the Broncos are getting prepared to play the San Diego Chargers in the regular-season finale that carries playoff-seed implications for Denver. New Year's Eve falls in the midst of the Broncos' work week.
"I worry about it all the time," said Broncos head coach Gary Kubiak, who was Denver's offensive coordinator during Williams' rookie season of 2005 but left to become the Houston Texans' head coach in 2006.
"I try to send the same message all the time. I know it's a big night with
New Year's Eve and all of that, but they also know it's a big week. I think our guys have been really good.
We always try to hammer the point to them, but that's about leadership and them being smart. We have a lot of work to do (Friday) to be ready to play and I think our guys are all aware of that."
Nine years ago, Williams, who off the field was a jovial sort who always seemed to have a perpetual smile and boundless energy, went to a celebrity birthday party for former Denver Nuggets player Kenyon Martin at a downtown Denver nightclub. Several other Bronco players were there including receivers Brandon Marshall and Javon Walker.
A fight broke out inside the club and it spilled outside around 2 a.m. Marshall was initially trying to play peacekeeper but he wound up getting caught up in the disturbance.
Williams, who tried to pull his teammates and friends away from the argument, and Walker jumped into one of two Hummer limousines rented out for his party.
Clark followed, pulled up next to Williams' limo that carried several other passengers and opened fire with a .40-caliber pistol near the intersection of 11th Ave. and Speer Blvd. One bullet struck Williams in the neck. He collapsed in Walker's arms and was pronounced dead around 2:30 a.m. New Year's Day, 2007.
Bill Williamson, then the Broncos' top beat reporter for the Denver Post who had a strong relationship with Williams and his agents, broke the tragic news on the Internet.
The entire Broncos' team was among the estimated 2,700 people who attended Williams' funeral at a Baptist church in Fort Worth, Texas. Broncos owner Pat Bowlen delivered one of the most touching tributes.
Clark was tried three years later and found guilty of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
Williamson spoke during the service and announced the Denver media would create the Darrent Williams Good Guy Award which would be given annually to the Bronco player who best exemplified Williams' enthusiasm, cooperation and honesty while dealing with the press.
The award will be announced on New Year's Day.
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