Elway Is Sounding Retired

John Elway is ready to join Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretzky in retirement--the third transcendent athlete to leave his game in the last four months.

The peerless Denver Bronco quarterback, the architect of a record 47 game-winning drives, told friends he has had enough after 16 seasons of pro football, sources close to Elway told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

Elway, playing in a golf tournament at Pebble Beach, all but announced his retirement during an interview Saturday with Denver TV station KCNC.

“For so many years everything in my family has revolved around me. It’s time for that to change,” Elway said in the interview. “I really accomplished everything I wanted to. There’s no real upside to coming back.”

His announcement could come as early as Monday, but it appears it could be delayed until Wednesday to let more time pass since the shootings at a suburban Littleton high school.

Elway reportedly considered announcing his decision last week but delayed it, first because Bronco owner Pat Bowlen was out of town and then because of the shootings.

“I’ve talked to him and he told me what he’s going to do,” Bronco Coach Mike Shanahan said Saturday. “But I’m not going to comment. I’m going to let John make his announcement.”

Bowlen did not return a phone call.

Elway, 38, the winningest and perhaps most durable quarterback in NFL history, won his second consecutive Super Bowl title and the MVP award on Jan. 31.

So, he would be leaving on top, just like Jordan, who made the championship-winning shot for the Chicago Bulls against the Utah Jazz last June. Jordan announced his retirement in January and Gretzky played his final NHL game last Sunday.

“I’m glad to see him retire as a champion,” Miami Dolphin quarterback Dan Marino said Saturday. “I’m sure it was a tough decision, knowing how much John enjoys competing on the football field, but I know he did what was best for him and his family.”

During the NFL draft last weekend, Shanahan said he expected Elway to announce his decision before mini-camp, which opens Friday. It wasn’t the one Shanahan wanted to hear, but he was bracing for it.

The coach has said that if his Hall of Fame-bound quarterback retired, he would be confident turning to veteran Bubby Brister as his new starter.

“John Elway is the Denver Broncos,” former NFL quarterback Joe Theismann once said. “When you turn on the TV and the Denver Broncos are playing, you expect to see John Elway playing.”