We were never supposed to reach this day.

A day where Rod Smith holds a news conference to announce his retirement?

C’mon. Wasn’t supposed to happen – not, that is, if you listen to Smith for any length of time.

So, let us go back with Smith a little way. Let us gain a little understanding of one of the Broncos’ best.

The time was Super Bowl week, January 1998. The Denver Bronco would go on to beat the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXII.But earlier that week Smith a young – relatively speaking – wide receiver with all the confidence of a junkyard dog held court, amusing a group of reporters.

“I ain’t supposed to be here,” Smith said a huge smile illuminating his face. “I wasn’t supposed to even make it in the NFL. But I’m here. I’m at the Super Bowl.

“Tex Ar Kan Nuh Ark Can Saw to the Super Bowl. You guys don’t understand that. This wasn’t supposed to happen.”

Smith’s childhood and upbringing helped keep him grounded. Smith escaped that childhood but simultaneously kept it with him, using it as a tool, something to teach him humility and work ethic.

Smith grew up in Texarkana, Ark.

Five kids and Smith’s mom shared the house. Dad wasn’t around much. Food stamps and about $6,000 a year in welfare money put food on the table and clothes on the backs.

“There were times the electricity got turned off and we had to use candles,” Smith once told me. “Sometimes my mom had to open the oven because the gas was the only thing working, and it was our only heat.”

When that’s your frame of reference, it’s easy to look at the Super Bowl rings – probably 80 grand worth of hardware – the tailored suit, shoes and designer shades that you’re wearing and think that you’re not where you’re supposed to be.

But Smith earned every cent.

He holds Broncos records for career receptions (849), receiving yards (11,389), touchdown catches (68), touchdowns (71) and 100-yard games (31).

Those are unexpected numbers from an undrafted rookie. Smith leads all undrafted players in every major receiving category.

Undrafted players, especially those from small colleges such as Missouri Southern, aren’t supposed to have retirement news conferences.

They’re not supposed to be stars.

But to the Broncos, Smith became more than just a player.

“Rod is the only person that I have ever been around on a consistent basis, day in, day out, that never cared about his stats,” Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. “All Rod Smith talked about was winning. When you have a guy that talks about winning consistently, regardless of any number of catches or any honors, anyone who is able to influence the locker room like he has, then you have a chance to do something special.

“Rod Smith, in his 11 years, had (118) wins. There is only one other player that has been able to capture that many wins in an 11-year time frame. That just doesn’t happen. And the unique thing about it is the only reason that Rod on a day-to-day basis has been able to accomplish this, is he put wining first.”

Putting winning first meant giving everything he had for 12 seasons. Smith paid a price for that: his hip and ultimately his career.I guess it takes giving everything you have to be able to get to where you’re not supposed to be.

“I always say to win championships you have to have a work ethic,” Shanahan said. “But you’ve got overachievers and you’ve got overachievers with ability, and you got overachievers with great ability. If you don’t have those guys you don’t win. If you’ve got overachievers with great ability then you have a chance to get in the Hall of Fame. That’s what we have in Rod Smith.”

Hall of Fame?

That’s another place Smith isn’t supposed to be.

I can see it now, in six, seven maybe even eight years, Smith stands on a Canton, Ohio stage. He pulls a piece of paper from his gold jacket. He folds it, and puts it back in his pocket. He begins to talk.

“You know,” he’d say. “I wasn’t supposed to be here.”

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Contact the writer: Columnist Milo Bryant can be reached at 636-0252 or milo.bryant@gazettedev.gazette.com. Check out Milo’s blog, The Extra Milo, at milobryant.freedomblogger.com

Amy Grant and Vince Gill will play each other’s hits and unreleased songs Monday, but they will be open to requests. Photo by (M. CAMPBELL & ASSOCIATES )