On the Road to Immortality

Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe catches a pass against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, California on October 19, 1997. (Photo by Kevin Terrell/NFL)

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Denver Broncos vs Oakland Raiders - October 19, 1997

Denver Broncos tight end Shannon Sharpe catches a pass against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, California on October 19, 1997. (Photo by Kevin Terrell/NFL)

Kevin Terrell

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter (80) runs after the catch during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game, a 38-22 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on January 3, 1998, at 3Com Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Greg Trott/NFL)

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1997 NFC Divisional Playoff Game - Minnesota Vikings vs San Francisco 49ers - January 3, 1998

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Cris Carter (80) runs after the catch during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game, a 38-22 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on January 3, 1998, at 3Com Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Greg Trott/NFL)

Greg Trott

Houston Oilers cornerback Patrick Allen (29) tries to wrap up Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed (83) during the AFC Divisional Playoff, a 17-10 Bills victory on January 1, 1989, at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/WireImage.com)

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Houston Oilers cornerback Patrick Allen (29) tries to wrap up Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed (83) during the AFC Divisional Playoff, a 17-10 Bills victory on January 1, 1989, at Rich Stadium in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/WireImage.com)

AFC linebacker Derrick Thomas (57) of the Kansas City Chiefs waves an American flag as he leaves the field following the AFC's 23-21 victory over the NFC in the 1991 NFL Pro Bowl played on February 3, 1991 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by NFL/WireImage.com)

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AFC linebacker Derrick Thomas (57) of the Kansas City Chiefs waves an American flag as he leaves the field following the AFC's 23-21 victory over the NFC in the 1991 NFL Pro Bowl played on February 3, 1991 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by NFL/WireImage.com)

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed (83) tries to get away from Miami Dolphins defensive back Patrick Surtain as linebacker Zack Thomass (54) zeroes in during the AFC Wild Card Playoff, a 24-17 Dolphins victory on January 2, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Allen Kee/WireImage.com)

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Buffalo Bills wide receiver Andre Reed (83) tries to get away from Miami Dolphins defensive back Patrick Surtain as linebacker Zack Thomass (54) zeroes in during the AFC Wild Card Playoff, a 24-17 Dolphins victory on January 2, 1999, at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Allen Kee/WireImage.com)

Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas (59) during the NFL Pro Bowl, a 27-21 NFC victory on February 4, 1990, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by NFL/WireImage.com)

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Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Derrick Thomas (59) during the NFL Pro Bowl, a 27-21 NFC victory on February 4, 1990, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by NFL/WireImage.com)

Miami Dolphins guard Bob Kuechenberg (67) blocks San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Gary Johnson (69) during the AFC Divisional Playoff, a 34-13 Dolphins victory on January 16, 1983, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/WireImage.com)

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Miami Dolphins guard Bob Kuechenberg (67) blocks San Diego Chargers defensive tackle Gary Johnson (69) during the AFC Divisional Playoff, a 34-13 Dolphins victory on January 16, 1983, at the Orange Bowl in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Al Messerschmidt/WireImage.com)

NFC guard Russ Grimm (68) of the Washington Redskins protests the blitzing tactics of the AFC defense to referee Chuck Heberling during the AFC's 22-14 victory over the NFC in the 1985 NFL Pro Bowl played on January 27, 1985 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by NFL/WireImage.com)

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NFC guard Russ Grimm (68) of the Washington Redskins protests the blitzing tactics of the AFC defense to referee Chuck Heberling during the AFC's 22-14 victory over the NFC in the 1985 NFL Pro Bowl played on January 27, 1985 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by NFL/WireImage.com)

Wide receiver Dwight Clark of the San Francisco 49ers makes "The Catch" in the end zone to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 28-27 in the 1981 NFC Championship Game on January 10, 1982 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Corky Charles Trewin/NFL)

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1981 NFC Championship Game - Dallas Cowboys vs San Francisco 49ers - January 10, 1982

Wide receiver Dwight Clark of the San Francisco 49ers makes "The Catch" in the end zone to defeat the Dallas Cowboys 28-27 in the 1981 NFC Championship Game on January 10, 1982 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Corky Charles Trewin/NFL)

Corky Charles Trewin

NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue during the annual NFL Spring Meeting held at the Westin-Tabor Center Hotel in Denver, Colorado on May 23rd, 2006. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/WireImage.com)

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NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue during the annual NFL Spring Meeting held at the Westin-Tabor Center Hotel in Denver, Colorado on May 23rd, 2006. (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/WireImage.com)