Okay, after some deliberation, I've decided to join the Terrell Davis Hall of Fame "confirmation hearings." I normally refrain from such insipid debate topics because there are too many great players to immortalize just a few. But this case merits an exception, because few have subtly impacted the game as Davis did.

His career can't be summed up in simple numbers -- although running for 2,000 yards in a season against defenses specifically designed to stop your ass is quite significant if you ask me. No, any talk of Davis being considered for Hall of Fame induction should revolve around his impression on the game -- more specifically, his impression on John Elway's game.

	Terrell Davis leaped over a lot of tacklers in his seven seasons.

Prior to '97, football purists were already writing their epitaphs for Elway's career, cause of death being his "failure to win the big game." During his watch, Denver had gone to three Super Bowls and taken three capital L's. But once Davis arrived, the Broncos got a serious run game, the league got its best cutback runner since Tony Dorsett, and things changed around Mile High. When No. 30 had Elway's back -- from literally seven yards deep in the I formation -- Denver finally won back-to-back championship credibility.

Terrell Davis' impact shouldn't only be measured against Hall of Fame RBs like Jim Brown, Barry Sanders, and Gale Sayers. The list should also include Marino, Kelly, and of course Elway -- you know, the star members of that much-hyped quarterback Class of '83. In addition to 7,607 career yards, Terrell Davis deserves much juice because Elway, the valedictorian of that '83 class, is the only one who owns the hardware. And he wouldn't have that without Davis.

Elway wasn't the only one feeling Davis' presence. The fans were feeling him too. Before Davis came along, most fans -- hell, even most people inside the football world -- were still tethered to the notion the sun rose and set on a golden boy quarterback. They believed that all you needed was that first-pick-of-the-draft, can't-miss blue chip QB to get to the promised land. I don't know, maybe some folks still believe that. Of course there have been hints along the way that suggest otherwise.

Remember Super XXV? Jeff Hostetler substituted his arm for an injured Phil Simms, but the Giants ran to the title on the legs of MVP Ottis Anderson. And do you recall the start of the '93 season? The defending champion Dallas Cowboys may have had Aikman's name in bold on the marquee, but they started the season 0-2 while Emmitt Smith staged a holdout. After Jerry Jones gave Emmitt his loot, the Cowboys went back to the Bowl and beat the Bills again. Do you remember the MVP of that game?

And speaking of Super Bowl MVPs ... the most memorable moment of Super Bowl XXXII may have been Elway going airborne to pick up a first down against Green Bay, but he was able to fly only because Davis did the ground work.

If TD's not a Hall of Famer, then Elway isn't either.

Alan Grant, a former NFL defensive back, covers football for ESPN The Magazine and ESPN.com. E-mail him at alan.grant@espnmag.com.