rest - plus videos - https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/s...-irvin-deion-sMIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A pair of Hall of Famers had high praise Thursday for former Broncos safety Steve Atwater as he nears potential election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"Steve Atwater's a beast, man," former Cowboys receiver Michael Irvin said. "Just flat out, he was a beast. And he came up, the way he played safety was the way you play safety. You did not want to get hit by Steve Atwater, man. We all remember the Christian Okoye play. Boom — in his tracks right there. That shows you the kind of hitter he is."
Irvin, a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time first-team All-Pro, had nearly a concurrent career with Atwater. The Cowboys great entered the league a year before Atwater and the two remained in the NFL until they both retired following the 1999 season.