Floyd Little comes up for a big vote by the selectors of the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, and if all is right and just, he should be selected.
There are no guarantees, but beyond the extraordinary hold that he still has on the hearts and minds of Denver Broncos fans, his body of work screams for induction.
The statistics have been gone over and poured over time after time, but there are a couple of other facts to consider in “out of the box” thinking regarding Floyd.
He was the heart and soul of the Broncos and the Mile High City at a time when pro football was growing here and the team was lousy, to be very, very kind.
He was the kind of person who was selected team captain by his teammates nine years out of nine.
I was a young radio reporter during much of Floyd’s career, in addition to spending three years with the Denver Bears at that time, and I was a Broncos season ticket holder.
So I saw virtually every game he played, and knew him well. I still prize his friendship.
You had to see him, and you had to know him, to understand the command he projected and the leadership which he gave to the team and to the community.
And he carried the team on his back, make no mistake about it.
His nickname was The Franchise, never a more accurate one in the history of pro football.
He is the only running back in the history of pro football to lead the league in rushing while playing for a last place team.
He was on an all-decade team – again, while playing for a last place team. Just think about it, and it staggers the imagination.
In Floyd Little’s career he only played behind three linemen who ever made any kind of all-star team, Larry Kaminski, Mike Current, and George Goeddeke, one time each, and I’ll bet many people reading this never heard of any of them.
Let’s take a look at several Hall of Famers and see what kind of blocking they had.
Jim Brown, regard as the greatest back in pro football history, wore number 44 at Syracuse before Floyd. Brown played behind eight different linemen who made a combined 20 Pro Bowls, and three of those blockers went into the Hall of Fame.
Jim Taylor was a cornerstone of that great Green Bay Packers team, and he ran the ball behind four players who made a combined 16 Pro Bowls, with two of them making the Hall of Fame as blockers.
Joe “The Jet” Perry – yes, I realize you never heard of him, but he was a stud, believe me – was a great back for the 49ers and Baltimore for 14 years. Perry played behind 11 men who made a combined 17 Pro Bowls, and three of them made the Hall of Fame.
O.J. Simpson ran to glory behind three players who made a combined five Pro Bowls, and two were elected to membership in Canton.
LeRoy Kelly had a great 10-years career with the Cleveland Browns, and his line included four players who made a combined 13 Pro Bowls, with Gene Hickerson making the Hall of Fame.
John Henry Johnson played for 13 years and in his time had 12 different linemen who made a combined 16 Pro Bowls, with two earning Hall of Fame induction.
For Floyd Little, no blockers who ever made the Pro Bowl, three who made the AFL all-star game once each, and no Hall of Famers, certainly.
For the other six, 42 combined offensive linemen who made a combined 87 Pro Bowls, with 13 who made the Hall of Fame.
Really, let’s be serious.
Floyd Little was one of the greatest players in the history of pro football.
Plus, he passed the “eye” test. If you saw him play, you knew what you were watching.
Let’s cross our fingers and hope these figures make sense to the selectors this Saturday.
The Franchise, one more time.
Tags: Floyd Little, Hall of Fame
I still like Iaputi(size and mobility), but I remeber we drafted a couple of guard/centers last last two years…was it Lichtenstieger (sorry cant spell it right) and Seth Olsen..i’d like to see how they develop..we had Ryan Harris for a couple of 2 years(i think as a backup) before Clady came in and together they formed one of the best young tandem tackles in the game..plus we still have Kuper.
I’d take Rudd as a FA.it could be Doom Dj Ruud Ayers at the LB positions and have woodyard sub in and out with Reid…
If we cant get one of those top-tier NT in the FA, then take NT high in the draft…
Brian,
He is an awesome runner. Great size, great power and speed too. He also has awesome vision.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjLh_yO41jw
Lets trade Marshall to the Dolphins for their first and third and then we can draft Williams, NT and McClain back to back.
Just wishing here….
codybleedsorangeandblue: Thanks for the link.
nice video Cody! I saw A LOT of good locking in that video. Not to take anything away from #7, but that blocking- zone, traps, pulling guards, FBs, TE’s, they deserve as much credit as the runner.
I noticed that too but then again there were times where the FB would go up the middle and Gerhart would cut left or right…that shows me good vision. Another thing I noticed is he is not afraid to take the hit or lower his shoulders for some extra yards. I like his ball control, he carries with two hands most of the time. He is very powerful but has speed once he gets going. The other thing I noticed is he does not go down easily. I think he would fit McDs style. The most impressive stat of his is in his college career 0 fumbles that is incredible.
Codybleeds
Gerhart looks very good and has the impressive numbers to back it up for sure 621 attps 3522 yards and 43 TDs and 0 fumbles amaze me. But the thing I see standout is he runs upright. I do not know how long he would last running upright like that in the NFL. I can assure you that running like that he would sustain a broken rip or worse. Now if he could be coached to tuck it up a bit and still keep his vision then he might be able to make it. A lot of potential with him but he would take a year so to develop. IMO
FTR
hey guys my new vid is up
its buckhalter
so enjoy
comment and rate
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R82vMOvfn94
thanks…
Sorry guys! It seems I have been tricked about the Brandon Marshall talk as well. I thought it was in one of the articles I was reading, but I looked all over for it, and found that it was something without a citation I read on Wikipedia.
One of the few uncited things I’ve ever cited from that place. Damn was really hoping it was true! ah well.
Looks like we won’t know until March 5th
Well, this is the day for Floyd and Sharpe, keep your fingers crossed. Results of the voting will be annouced at 3 pm mtn time.
In one day we could double up the # of Broncos in the HOF, imagine that!
Sadly, I look at this day to be another day of “stick it to the deserving Broncos”. I wouldn’t be surprised if even Shannon didn’t get in. One comment made by a HOF voter last year was that “Shannon needed to improve his resume”. When he retired Shannon was 1st in career yards, 1st in career catches, 1st in career TDs, 1st in yards in a single game (At Arrowhead), 3 Super Bowl rings, multiple Pro Bowl selections. What a crock!!!! Maybe what he should have done is played for the Cowboys and been convicted twice on drug charges like Irvin.
no doubt about the Denver Broncos have been cheated when it comes to the hall fo fame. I just hope they get it right this time and put Shannon and Little in.
Little didn’t make it in. What a bunch of bullsh!t!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hey kiko chill out its not been decided yet….
finally another bronco……
My bad I misunderstood. I am so glad I was wrong!!!!! Way ta go Mr. Little!!!!!!! I am so happy for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
i heard little made it in congrats to him and they stiffed shannon again what a bunch of crap
congrat to floyd its about time
CONGRATS FLODY!!!!!! To bad that Shaannon got the shaft once again!
YEAH FLOYD!!!!!!! This is awesome. I was really stoked to hear that THE FRANCHISE got in. This was his last shot at getting in the HOF. Shannon will have many other shots at getting in, so I am super stoked that Floyd got the call and not Shannon.
Congratulations to the Franchise!
Am I the only one who can’t get into Mike Rice’s blog???
Nope… sucks because it looks interesting too
Hey… just scroll up from here and click onto the next available blog post… It worked for me
Well, oldsouthstander, I guess your crystal ball failed you on Floyd not making it in, you kept saying it for so long, I was starting to buy into it, glad you were wrong, Little is so deserving, he must be having a heck of a time about right now, he said he hoped he would get in while alive so he could throw a party for his friends, guess it’s gonna be a wild one, can’t wait to see his acceptance speech, definitely won’t miss this one.
I am with MarshMelo15, Shannon will have plenty of opportunities to get in, this was Floyd’s last shot, justice has been served, we oughta be thankful for that, it couldn’t have worked out any better.
WOW, Bowlen is talking for the first time this off-season, there is plenty of stuff he says that will be discussed here to no end, LOL. It’s definitely going to ignite some fire into the blog as soon as you guys hear and read about it, I’ll hold comments until some of you come back out of your hideouts, LOL. The interview is with Mike Klis at the Denver Post, so check it out on their website, just to wet your tongue here is an excerpt:
Bowlen said he would like star receiver Brandon Marshall to remain with the Broncos, but wouldn’t block a trade if rookie coach Josh McDaniels feels it would benefit the team. Bowlen revealed the plan is for Kyle Orton to remain the Broncos’ quarterback, but the team hopes to select another quarterback in the upcoming draft.
BC
I was never so delighted that my gut feeling about the HOF was wrong. Floyd deserved this award many, many years ago. Maybe with a little luck Taylor and Gradashiar will get the same way. I’ve also got quite a hunt ahead of me. I’ve got to go into the garage and seasch through 30-40 boxes to see if I can find the DP sports section from the last game Floyd played and, somehow, get his autograph on it.
You know it’s one of the first time that I feel the HOF voters showed a little heart picking Floyd, it’s like they voted like humans for once instead of machines just looking at numbers. Good luck with your project, I can’t believe you would still have DP sports pages from 1975!!! Glad to see someone is worse at keeping old stuff than I am, LOL.
Congrats Floyd you deseve it and erned it. One more Bronco in the Hall. Now Elway has a LT and a running back. He should have had a TE also in Sharpe. Can not wiat to hear his induction.
FTR
Congratulations to Floyd Little !!! An honor well deserved for the RB that was just about the only bright spot for the franchise during the late ’60- to mid- ’70′s.
I ‘m glad Floyd Little finally got in. As far as I’m concerned the hof is still
a joke because it took so long for him to get in. The Broncos will never get any respect from the hof. This is my list of Broncos who I believe
would be in the hof if they had played on any other team.
Randy Gradisher
Tom Jackson
Louis Wright (The First Real Shutdown Corner)
Steve Atwater
Shannon Sharp
Ahhhhh Super Bowl Sunday…..nothing like it in the world.
Too bad our beloved broncos aren’t there.
Way to go,bout time the “FRANCHISE” got voted in,Sharpe will have plenty of time to get in,and he will definitely get in.
Blum
I agree with Atwater. A great great player. 8 probowls (7 in a row), 4 all pro, and an insane hitter. Brought in a new generation of hard hitting safties. Dawkins, Lynch, Harrison, Troy P.
One of my favorite Broncos of all time.
If Mr B wants to draft a QB in the draft hope he waits till the 2nd round to get one,because we need a NT 1st round.There will be plenty of good QB’s in the 2nd round.McCoy.Bradford,which I personnaly like,Clausen,Pike,Snead,like I said plenty to go around.
Yeah Atwater was a “BEAST”.
Guess that means Simms is gone,good riddens I say.
If we draft a QB in the 1st round I’ll pull my f***ing hair out!!!!!!!!!!!!!DEFENSE,DEFENSE,DEFENSE, YOU MORONS!!!!!!!!!
WOW, the Who at halftime, by far the best halftime show I ever saw, I saw these guys play at Folsom field in 1976 or 1977, man, they can still bring it, absolutely awesome, from an old rockn’ roll guy that is, just loved it!
This Drew Brees is as valuable to his team as any QB in the league is, including P. Manning. Just amazing, the coolest QB out there under pressure, moves better in the pocket than most and is accurate as heck even so he doesn’t throw the long bombs, big deal as he just proved, Cutler can have those, LOL. I had the Colts winning this one, I guess I just underestimated Brees even so I’m often here praising the man, way to go Brees, and N-O goes with you, congrats to the new world champions. Man am I glad we weren’t there, what a whooping it would of been, this year that is. We had no business in the playoffs and it was a blessing we were spared the embarrassment. Here is looking at 2010!
Apparently Marshall and Bowlen are on the same page….
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4894941
Last thing I wanted to say on the SB is I hope McD was watching because Sean Payton put on a coaching clinic out there, absolutely the master of disguise in his totally agressive play calling. That’s how you win the big one in this league McD, ask Mr. conservative play caller of all times in the SB Dan Reeves if it’s the case, LOL. Your play calling was painfully conservative all year, it will have to be upgraded big time this year if we want to go anywhere, this SB was a good lesson to that effect and I hope you were paying attention.
About the Mike Klis article about the Bowlen interview in the DP, it’s gone!!!! I can’t find it anywhere on that website, they just took it off the board, I wonder if they were asked by the Broncos to take it off because of its revealing nature as far as Marshall’s future in Denver is concerned and also it had somehow revealed the playing cards of McD about drafting a QB.
VERY, VERY FISHY INDEED, articles on the DP don’t have a history of disappearing, my guess is McD was up in arms over it, telling Bowlen he kind of had tied McD’s arms over both issues and it was not a cool thing to do, in turn Bowlen probably pulled ranks with the DP and told them to remove the story. Call me suspicious, but it is what it is. Anyhow, the rat is out of the bag now, so let me say what I think about Bowlen’s comments:
Regarding Marshall, if I read between the lines, there is nothing Bowlen says that Marshall will stay in Denver, all he said is that he would not use his veto power over McD if McD decides to trade Marshall, that’s the only reality I got out of that. So no big revelation there. In fact if you hear what Marshall has to say about it in the link of the article posted above by Cody, it seems as both Marshall and Bowlen see a trade by McD in the horizon, and both of them have decided to go with the flow. In short, for the Marshall lovers, sorry to say I don’t see any encouraging movement there.
Much more interesting to me is the story about us drafting a QB in the draft, here is an exerpt of that: “I want Kyle back,” Bowlen said. “Orton is a good quarterback. I’d also like to think we might have the opportunity to draft a young quarterback, not necessarily to come in and play right away, but if you have the opportunity to draft somebody, that would be a plus for us.” And Mike Klis goes on to say: “He wasn’t specific, but the assumption is the Broncos would not wait until the later rounds if they chose to draft a quarterback.” Now, that’s the bomb McD would have every right to be mad about in my opinion. No coach in their right mind wants to have other teams knowing what route they will go in the draft, that’s part of the strategy. All this starts making you think, how high are we going to draft a QB? I can see why BFE92 is infurriated above.
I’m equally bummed as I’m now starting to think that McD is maybe wanting to draft a QB real high and go offense once again like last year instead of going defense as we all now we need help at the nose first and foremost, just like last year. If that’s the case it would mean that McD has not seen what he had hoped to see in Brandstater this year, so he wants to go another route after he is done with Orton. It is all very confusing right now and I find it difficult to be rational in assuming anything, but one thing is getting clearer to me, McD will keep on surprising us in the draft.
just read about that we called the eagless about Donovan McNabb just a rumor for now but maybe something will come of it