SAN FRANCISCO -- DeMarcus Ware finds himself in a reflective mood these days.

That happens when it takes 11 seasons to reach a milestone you were convinced would happen much sooner in your career.

Ware's chance to capture an elusive title comes Sunday afternoon when he lines up for the Denver Broncos against the Carolina Panthers in Super Bowl 50. He relishes the moment, yet can't help but think of the friends, teammates and missed opportunities he left behind after spending the first nine seasons of his career with the Cowboys.

"Is this bittersweet?" Ware said, repeating the question. "Yeah. You play for a team for a long time, and you think about, you know, you would really like to play for them. But now you went to another team and there is change.

"Every year, you always feel like you're going to make the Super Bowl, but you weren't able to finish it out. You have to cherish where your feet are, you have to live in the moment, and it's an experience for you.

"It's a big opportunity to be here. I'm looking forward to whatever comes at me."

This isn't the case of a player hanging on at the end of his career to ride the coattails of others to get his shot. Ware has collected 17 1/2 sacks in two seasons with Denver since his amicable parting with the Cowboys.

Ask Tom Brady if Ware has much left. Ware tormented the New England quarterback in the AFC Championship Game along with fellow linebacker Von Miller. They form a formidable one-two punch, which Panthers quarterback Cam Newton mentioned repeatedly in the days leading up to the Super Bowl.

"DeMarcus is like a scientist out there," Miller said. "He can watch five clips of an offensive lineman and already have them broken down.

"Having that type of wisdom and that type of knowledge in the locker room definitely helps out. Not only me, but everyone."

Ware was taken by the Cowboys with the 11th pick in the first round of the 2005 draft. Nine picks later, the club selected defensive lineman Marcus Spears. The two played together for eight seasons in Dallas and remain friends.

Spears, now an analyst with the SEC Network, sent Ware a text after watching the Broncos beat the Patriots.

"I told him he must have tapped back into 2005, 2006 and 2007 when he was a young pup running around with fresh legs and strong muscles," Spears said. "He texted me back and said, 'Man, it's good to feel young.'

"In that game, it just looked like he unleashed. He looked like a man possessed, and I was happy to see it."

Ware regrets that he never was able to reach the Super Bowl with Dallas. But he credits his time with the Cowboys for laying the foundation for where he is now.

It's hard not to share this moment with some of his former teammates.

"I wish Jason Witten was here," Ware said. "Or Tony Romo was here. Jay Ratliff. Chris Canty."

Ware was asked that question on at least three occasions during the week. Witten was the first player he mentioned every time.

"DeMarcus is one of my all-time favorite teammates," Witten said. "He is the ultimate team guy. He is a phenomenal player, leader and teammate.

"I am excited he finally gets to play in the big one. I will be pulling hard for him on Sunday."

Witten won't be the only one. Jim Maurer and Britt Brown from the Cowboys training staff were two of the first people to call and congratulate Ware for making the Super Bowl. Witten, along with former teammates Miles Austin, Bradie James and Akin Ayodele, also called.

Another former teammate who holds a special place in Ware's heart is Greg Ellis. The veteran defensive lineman took Ware under his wing back in 2005, giving the rookie tips on everything from how to rush offensive linemen to what suits to wear.

"Don't worry about flashy," Ellis told him. "Just be you."

One of the first calls Ware intends to make after Sunday's game is to Ellis to let him know how much he's meant to him throughout his career.

"Obviously, he's been one of the best players in the league at that position. But not only that," Spears said of Ware, "he's been a great ambassador.

"I'm so happy he has the chance to play in the Super Bowl, but I'm more happy about his journey and how he's gotten to this moment. He'll be remembered for how he played the game."

Ware thinks much about the journey these days. He's been motivated by whispers in recent years that he's too old and "can't rush the passer anymore." He concedes he's felt different these last few days knowing he's so close to his ultimate goal.

The linebacker with 1341/2 career sacks has one year left on his contract in Denver. He will be 34 years old at its conclusion.

Say his NFL career is done at that stage. Given his love of Dallas, would Ware want to sign a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Cowboys as other star players have done before him?

"I haven't given any thought to retiring at all," Ware said.

Why would he?

He wants to cherish this moment.

Catch David Moore and co-host Robert Wilonsky on "The Ticket" (KTCK-AM 1310 and KTCK-FM 96.7) on Intentional Grounding at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Twitter: @ DavidMooreDMN

Ware's career

TO- Fumble recoveries and interceptions. *-Team record. Source: pro-football-reference.com