DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos unveiled Demaryius Thomas' pillar in their Ring of Fame plaza in a ceremony outside Empower Field on Sunday, honoring the late wide receiver during their celebration of their Super Bowl 50 team.
“That smile took me through some very hard times,” said his mother, Katina Smith, who broke down in tears when her son's pillar was unveiled prior to the Broncos' game against the New York Giants.
The Broncos celebrated Thomas during their alumni weekend that featured the 10-year reunion of their Super Bowl 50-winning team that included Thomas.
Thomas died in 2021 at age 33 after suffering a seizure.
“I'm wanting to touch his face again,” Smith said as she reached out to caress the cheeks on his bronze image. “This right here, it's like he's still here with us today and in our hearts. So, he lives on through all of us and through all the community and his fans.”
Former Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said that smile was what he remembered most about Thomas.
“He put a smile on your face. The NFL's tough. A lot of games, a lot of ups and downs, so you have some rough days. And D.T. could always catch you as a coach when you had a rough day and make you smile again and make you feel good,” Kubiak said. “D.T.'s just a tremendous person, tremendous player.”
DeMarcus Ware said when he first saw Thomas' image on the pillar, "I saw that angel-like mentality, that peace that everybody wants to have in their lives and I just wanted to pray for everybody ... because that’s what D.T. would have done.”
Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, whose pillar is next to Thomas', called Thomas “every bit as good a human being as he was a player," and he revealed that Thomas was a big part of him choosing to play in Denver after spending his first 13 seasons with the Colts.
“When all of y'all asked me what's the main reason you came to Denver, I'm not sure I gave you all of the honest answers back in 2012. But Demaryius Thomas was a big reason for it because I never played with a receiver quite like him," Manning said.
“I played with Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne, unbelievable receivers. But nobody was as big and as powerful as Demaryius was,” Manning said, “and I was just kind of wondering what would that be like? And it was every bit as good as I thought it would be.”
Thomas' father, Bobby Thomas, called the unveiling “a beautiful moment.”
“I'm hoping there's more to come," Thomas said, "especially the (Pro Football) Hall of Fame. I can't wait for that one.”
Kubiak presented wide receiver Andre Johnson, whom he coached in Houston, in Canton, Ohio, last year, “and D.T.'s not far behind him. In a lot of ways the same type player, same type person. So, I look forward to being there someday for him.”
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FILE - Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) catches a pass before an NFL football game against the Seattle Seahawks, Sept. 9, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)
BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Rain prevented England from putting Pakistan in a deeper hole than 52-2 and 268 runs behind on day two of the Edgbaston cricket test on Thursday.
Pakistan walked out after tea 320 runs behind to begin its second innings in gloomy, lights-on conditions perfectly suited for England's four-man pace attack which has dominated the series.
Pakistan has yet to crack a 200 total, and Ollie Robinson was the man of the moment again.
Robinson got Saim Ayub to nick to the slips off the first ball and became only the fifth bowler in test history to twice take a wicket with the first ball of an innings in a series. The last person was Zaheer Khan for India against Bangladesh in 2007. Bill Voce was the only previous Englishman in 1937 against Australia.
Ayub was playing Twenty20s in the Caribbean 10 days ago but was summoned in mid-series in a panic call by the Pakistan Cricket Board to play his first test in 20 months. He bagged a pair.
Robinson struck again with his fourth ball, nicking off Abdullah Shafique.
That made Pakistan start 0-2 for the sixth time ever in tests and the second time against England. The other was at the same ground in 1982. The bowler was Ian Botham.
From 0-2, Azan Awais and Shan Masood dug out Pakistan to 52-2 in 12 overs. Awais had 29 and Masood 21 after being dropped on 13 by Ben Duckett off the luckless Gus Atkinson.
Wet weather came sooner than forecast and guaranteed Pakistan lived to fight at least one more day in a three-test series already lost. England, up 2-0, should complete the sweep on Saturday with no test going the distance.
England began the day already in front with a lead of 23 at 156-4.
In two sessions, 50 overs, they added 297 runs at a pacy 5.9, its fastest rate on any day all summer. Three more batters scored fifties to add to Emilio Gay's gritty 60 and Harry Brook's unbeaten 52 on Wednesday but the effort looked nothing like Bazball.
However, Brook, Dan Lawrence, Jamie Smith and less so Robinson would have thought a century was at their mercy.
The former trio spent more than two hours at the crease, three hours in Brook’s case, but all fell tamely and showed obvious frustration to miss out on a century on a fair pitch against a popgun attack.
Brook ran himself out on 75, Lawrence dragged on on 65, and Smith chipped back to fast bowler Razaullah Khan on 69.
Robinson's breezy 50 from 47 balls highlighted the merciless contribution from the tailenders of 116 runs and 15 boundaries.
Brook resumed on a restrained 52 and Dan Lawrence on 5, and in sunny conditions they plundered seven runs per over in the first hour.
Brook then mistakenly took on Shan Masood at midwicket and has now been involved in five run outs in tests — only Virat Kohli (6) has been in more. Brook has gone 11 tests without a century but was still averaging more than 40.
Lawrence, filling Ben Stokes' old spot, had in hand his third fifty in three tests when he chopped on. He gave up an agonizing “No” and Mohammad Imran's first test wicket.
“Bitterly disappointed to get out in the 60s,” Lawrence said. "Something I've prided myself on this season is kicking on. I really wanted a big hundred today.
Pakistan still went to lunch with an air of resignation as Smith collected an unbeaten 47 of the 143 runs in the session.
Smith got his third 50 of the summer straight after lunch by crashing Razaullah through the covers, but Razaullah got him caught and bowled on 69.
No. 9 batter Robinson greeted the new ball by lofting Mohammad Abbas for six over cow corner and got his second 50 of the season from 46 balls. The entertainment was ended by a good catch from Masood in the covers.
See AP’s full cricket coverage here
England's Ollie Robinson celebrates the wicket of Pakistan's Saim Ayub on day two of the third cricket Test between England and Pakistan in Birmingham, England, Thursday Sept. 10, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
Pakistan's Razaullah bowls a delivery on day two of the third cricket Test between England and Pakistan in Birmingham, England, Thursday Sept. 10, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
England's Harry Brook, center, is run out by Pakistan's Shan Masood during day two of the third cricket Test between England and Pakistan in Birmingham, England, Thursday Sept. 10, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
England's Dan Lawrence bats on day two of the third cricket Test between England and Pakistan in Birmingham, England, Thursday Sept. 10, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
England's Harry Brook, right, makes a run during day two of the third cricket Test between England and Pakistan in Birmingham, England, Thursday Sept. 10, 2026. (Mike Egerton/PA via AP)
