Although he recently signed a five-year contract, John Elway could be long gone by 2000.
The Denver Broncos' all-pro quarterback said he might retire following the 1998 season, even if he's healthy."If I could get through three (seasons) being healthy and the body in one piece, then I'd re-evaluate it," Elway, 36, said Wednesday during a radio interview. "I signed a five-year deal, but that's stretching it."
Barring injury, there's another factor that could trigger early retirement for Elway.
"If we could win a Super Bowl, who knows, I might hang it up then," he said.
But Elway said he would be able to live with the fact he never has won a Super Bowl ring.
"When I step away, and I don't have one, I can say to myself I've done everything I could possibly do. I've worked as hard as I could. And it just didn't work out," he said. "But I'm just glad I've got some years left and hopefully we can get it done in the next couple."
In the off-season, the Broncos tried to beef up their defense by adding free-agent linebacker Bill Romanowski and end Alfred Williams, as well as linebacker John Mobley in the April draft.
Elway said he is eager to see the results.
"Romanowski . . . is a real solid player plus he's going to give us some leadership on the defensive side," Elway said. "Alfred Williams is still kind of an unknown, and hopefully he can come in and live up to all the potential he has.
"Plus we got Mobley in the first round and added some depth in the draft. But it's tough to get too optimistic, too early."