You had to be there back in the day to know how much Floyd Little meant to the Denver Broncos.
You had to see him, watch him, hear him to appreciate his play and his leadership.
He had a lot of things going against him at a young age, not a lot of money, family fighting to make it, and AFTER high school he went to a military school, Bordentown Academy, and he became not a man, but a man among men.
Floyd Little came to the Broncos at the age of 25 and for nine years put it all on the line. He played here for nine years, and NINE times he was voted team captain by his teammates.
Floyd was bowlegged, made for some great shots by NFL Films, but maybe that physical condition came from being the best back in the American Football League while simultaneously carrying a team and a city on his shoulders.
A growing town like Denver can get pretty heavy when you have to carry it for nine years.
His nickname was The Franchise, and it did not do him justice.
With the vote earlier today taking Floyd Little out of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Veterans Committee, he is now just one vote away.
At Syracuse he was the first three time consensus All-American in college football since Doak Walker—and does anybody really understand what that means, or hard it was to do?
It means that the only halfback named on every All-American team for three straight years was Floyd Little.
And now, finally, his time is near at hand.
And every Bronco season ticket holder, every fan who watched this team grow and emerge through the 1960’s and 1970’s, is rewarded as well.
You had to see him play.
And you had to know him as a leader and as a man.
A great day for the Denver Broncos franchise, as The Franchise, Floyd Little, carries the city one more time.
Tags: Floyd Little, Jim Saccomano
Is #15 starting against da Bears?
Jim Saccomano, well written. I really enjoyed this post.
It makes me wonder who the next franchise Denver Bronco will be. Eddie Royal sure sticks out as one of those guys. The fans should remeber how rare these guys really are and do thier best to cheer on all the players in hopes that the next Floyd Little, the next Franchise Player, is out there right now gaining courage from the raoaring masses.
Thanks again.
I wouldn’t read too much into the depth charts. Yahoo Sports only list 10 players on the O. They have Eddie as #1 WR and Stokley as #2 with no #3. (Gaffney is missing, and I would list him as a #2). Take the depth chart with a grain of salt. Look at it after the Chicago game, heading into the Cards game and it should be more definite.
broncofanlvnm, I doubt that he will be a starter yet, but I see him getting some playing time. Maybe alternating with Gaffney. It depends on how much of the playbook he has learned, I suppose?
Gracias Dave. You’d think that they would only place 11 starters on this website, however, unless they aren’t sure who will start.
No acknowlegement DD after I pay you kudos??
What’s up with that?
I hope #15 has taken the time to learn the playbook. I’d really like to see what he can do for us this week. The team can really use his talents and would like to see a victory this week. I hope that our former #6 stinks it up and throws us at least 3 or 4 ints. A pic 6 would be nice. The D really needs to get some turnovers going to gain more confidence.
DD: i guess but i dont believe they are going to keep all those tackles and gaurds there has to be a few to go
royalbroncofan1, You’re right. We all owe DD a big thanks for defending this blog!
royalbroncofan1, ha, ha, sorry, bro. I should put on sun glasses, put on a big smile and give a speech… “I would 1st like to thank my manager for believing in me. I would also like to tha……..” Ha, ha. Sorry, couldn’t resist.
broncos9/9, Some will go, of course. I just needed to look at the roster to see who won’t stick. The 1st string will all stay. Seth Olson will maybe go to the PS. I don’t see Denver keeping 3 Centers. They will either cut Lichtensteiger or put Schlueter on the PS. McChesney won’t make it. Oldenburg neither.
whats about erickson?
Good one DD … too funny! Just meant what I said – that’s all.
broncofanlvnm – hope things are going good out in Las Vegas NM!
Between you and DD, you’ve got both Vegas covered.
Hello Jim,
GREAT! post. Thank you for honoring Floyd with a simple gesture as you did.
Also, could you do me a favor? If you bump into Coach Mac in the hallway, could you tell him that this die hard fan in IL., appreciates what he is trying to accomplish.
For that matter, I believe we have a whole host of die hard fans on this website that are eager to fully support our new head coach.
Give em’ an o’l high 5 for us all and tell him to keep up the good work and get our warriors prepared for battle!
Thanks
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Don’t forget, I live in the original Las Vegas! lol. Things are going good here. Beautiful day.
Ditto Broncfalls! You got that right! Nothing but love and support here too brother!
Hey BRONCO NATION!,
Just out of curiosity what do you all do for Bronco Football? Where ya go? What do you do for games? etc. I’ve read some of you visit a bar I believe in Vegas? is that correct?
Curious what you all do?
Here in Illinois, I live in a town of about 12,000. I Go to a local bar where they have the NFL ticket and about 8 different T.V’s, easy to pull up the o’l Broncos on one of them. It’s kinda cool because it’s a rather small establishment that attracts fans of all sorts of different teams. They got a guy that cooks burgers and fries right there at the bar. It CRACKS ME UP! he uses one of those flat grills. Always looks like he’s making crabby patties on that thing. (a little sponge bob love for all you parents out there with little kids )
GO GET EM’ BOYS!
Sorry LVNM, but my Las Vegas Royal Flush beats your Las Vegas 4 of a Kind, ha, ha. If it were a chance to visit Las Vegas, NM or Las Vegas, NV, where do you think the majority of the crowd wants to visit, ha, ha. Just razzing you. I’ve been to LV, NM many times.
9/9, I think Erickson will stick. He can play both sides (L/R).
royalbroncofan1, ha, ha, thanks bro.
Broncfalls, sounds like fun. What town in IL?
We don’t cook food in the bar anymore. That stupid smoking law thing. Either they can cook and not smoke, or smoke and not cook. The bar chose to smoke. I don’t smoke so I miss the “build a burger.” Yeah, I’ve gone to the Broncos bar in Vegas for many a year, now (8). I have had a few people who blog here, go down to the bar and meet me and watch the game. Last person I’ve met is LBWilson56. Met him a little over a month ago. He was in town from CA with his wife. It’s a blast here. As for the food, we occasionally have a pot luck for the game, although it slowed down last year. I’m going to try to rekindle it for this season. The bar still gives us free pizza and wings. Free shot of peppermint schnapps for every Bronco TD. Pitchers of beer are $4.75 during gametime. When you buy your 1st pitcher, if you’re wearing Bronco garb, they will also fill the glass with beer, as well. Gotta love ‘em.
Broncfalls: If we’re not at a game, we get together with family, nephews, nieces, grandchildren, friends, and watch game on big screen. Everyone wears their jerseys, t-shirts etc. We pull out our banners, flags. Our dogs are wearing their outfits as well that my wife bought em. We usually b-bq, have refreshments. Don’t go out to bars anymore and haven’t in many many years.
broncofanlvnm: Speaking of b-bq, have to get down to NM soon to get some good green chili from Hatch NM. Best in the land! They grow some good green chili in Pueblo Co, but it doesn’t beat NM chili! That way we’ll be ready for some excellent green chili burgers!!
GO BRONCOS!!
It’s funny, but I have actually had people (tourists) come to LVNM and ask me where the Strip was. When I tell them it’s about miles 700 miles due west, they get this puzzled look on their faces. lol! Another funny thing that happened was when they were filming “No Country for Old Men” here and they used one of the main bridges into town to turn it into the US-Mexico border. You should have seen the confusion on the faces of the tourists then! Too funny. Some of them wanted to go into Mexico!
Yeah royalbroncofan1, nothing beats the smell of roasting green chili in the air. It’s harvesting time! Can’t wait!
DD: so can oldenburg he also plays both sides…
LOL Wow, I cannot stop laughing. Sheesh, all it takes is beer & football for you fellers. haha
Well this little girl doesn’t drink and never will so I usually end up staying home to watch the games. For the past 3 years I always wore that jersey you know with #6 you know with what’s his name… uhhhh you know. Now its my orange Elway jersey. I laugh, I cry, I scream, I throw things, I jump for joy, I drive my mom crazy on football Sundays… the usual. I’ve met plenty of Bronco fans here and I may go to a friends house a few times this season to watch a game or two. I usually watch the game in my room with my dog and whenever we score a TD my dog does a happy dance. Hilarious!! But if I had it my way I’d be at every home game, at least.
Great to see Floyd “The Franchise” Little get the recognition he deserves.
I do a happy stumble when the Broncos score a touchdown. =)
Off Topic:
http://blogs.denverpost.com/broncos/2009/08/26/broncos-sign-qb/
Broncos signed a new QB for backup due to Simms injury. Evidently the Post reports that the new QB worked out last night, signed this morning, attending team meetings and for practice. He should see time in the last game of the preseason.
From what little I know about him, he’s an okay backup. With Simms down, I think this was a wise decision, but also worry-some as this tells me Simms should be down for a good length of time. Thats just speculation though.
I’m worried about the lack of snaps QBs get after 2nd string, but of course it’s going to happen in a new system. It appeared that Brandstater had only taken snaps in a few basic sets and they finally started running the ball 50/50. Let’s hope Simms and Orton can stay healthy this year.
on a side note… I would like to see Orton throw a bomb for a touchdown in front of the Chicago fans, as they constantly say Orton does not have an arm. True, Orton cannot throw a ball as hard as Cutler, but Orton can throw it deep. Didn’t he just complete a couple bombs in last weeks practice more than 50 yards?!?
Just a thought. I’d like to see Cutler on his back a few times too. As long as I can see that jersey of his have some green on its back, that would put a smile on my face!
mad_orange_devil_27:
Yeah, agreed. This is the way of the National Football League though. 2nd and 3rd stringers generally take years to develop as the first stringer is taking all of the snaps.
Brandstater did look like he was running scared out there, of course if I had a 600 lb man coming to rip my head off I might look like that too!
Now if I were DynamicDave… I might just fly out of a cannon and trumple his $#*! LOL
It figures, the media reported wrong about Simms. They said he was probable for the Chicago game? That’s why I don’t like mcD’s unwillingness to talk about injuries. It keeps the fans in the dark and the media reporting false reports. Thanks for the update bronc55, this what I got from the Denver Post. I’ll just copy and paste, hope you don’t mind.
“The Broncos signed free agent quarterback Ingle Martin today and plan on playing the veteran in their preseason finale against the Arizona Cardinals Sept. 3.
Martin, who has spent time with the Titans and Chiefs after being a fifth-round pick by the Packers in ’06, worked out for the Broncos Tuesday evening.
The team saw enough in the workout to sign Martin this morning. With Chris Simms recovering from a severely sprained left ankle and not expected to play in the remainder of the preseason, Kyle Orton and rookie Tom Brandstater will split time in the preseason game Sunday night against the Bears.
Martin would then be available to play against the Cardinals. Martin attended team meetings this morning and was going to practice.”
I can tell you, though, as soon as Simms is healthy, Martin is gone.
Just for the record, the Denver games are usually late for me, so I end up trying to find it on the internet (living in Chicagoland), I’m usually nursing a Beer in my Spongebob underwear my kids got me for Christmas, pretending to listen to my wife talk, but have to keep quiet as the kids are sleeping by this time.
If I am lucky to find an earlier game that the Broncos play in… I usually have my Broncos hat on at the very least, hollering and rooting away. The past 3 years that I’ve found a earlier time for a Broncos game to watch, I also catch myself being frusterated because we cant score, or Cutler would fumble it in the redzone as usual, one of the kids would be bothering me as well and I’d end up yelling at THEM to chill out lol – I’d take a few moments, collect my thoughts, realize I’m a jerk, apologize, help them and the process would start all over again. lol
DD – I imagine you are right. I doubt they will release Brandstater, even though he is quite green.
Yeah, Branstater will get another shot at it against Chicago. They will probably play him the 4th quarter. He will have taken snaps this week with the 1st string some. But he is not ready to BU Orton. Hence, Martin. Get healthy Chris, we need you…
I can’t wait for this season. I think ol’ Josh fails just like the rest of the Belichick tree. I’d for us to win a super bowl but I just can’t see us doing it with this jocker.
Congrats to Mr. Floyd Little It’s about time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, does anyone wanna fill me in with what has happened, some “drama” of some sort had taken place elsewhere?… I have no NO idea what half of you are talking about… Something with DE, no DB… CB… this and that… IDK, someone who has a clue, if ya could fill me in that’d be great, thanks!
On a side note, I was doing some research on Nick Reed (he did the cheap shot on Simms). He has been known to cheap shot QB’s in the past. Saw one on YouTube in which he did a cheap shot/roughing the passer on a KSU QB. I wonder what the NFL plans to do about the cheap shot he did on Simms? Rookie or not, he needs some kind of pounishment.
jerrybroncosholt, and you base this opinion off of what, exactly?
hey guys anyone hear if moreno is playing against the bears,and you know what would be really great if Ayers the player we traded cutler for get3 sacks just to make the bears know what they missed
What’s up, BRONCOBAILEY99. You kind of lost me? What exactly are you wanting to know? Say again, because I wasn’t clear on what you’re asking? Sorry.
Hoping this 3rd game will have the starters playing most of the snaps……and we can get a better idea of how things look. Can’t wait to see Cutler choke in the red zone like he did all of last season. Would be nice to see a few sacks on him too.
I agree with a lot of you……let’s have Orton throw a few bombs and see what happens. This is the time and place to test it out.
Can’t wait to hear all the boo birds out in full force when Cutler is under Center!!!
As for my regiment watching the Broncos…..I live on the far far east coast of Canada so the early game doesn’t even come on until 2:30…we have an extra half hour cause we’re an island. And NFL isn’t really huge here so I tend to just watch the games at home by myself wearing my orange Elway jersey…..which is just fine with me. As long as I see my boys win, that’s all that matters. I hope they suprise a lot of haters this year.
I don’t know if Moreno will play for sure. He could go if they wanted to play him. Josh won’t give info about the injured players so it’s hard to say.
Dynamicdave, haha that’s the thing, I don’t even know how to clearify it…
Don’t sweat it, I’m not worried about finding out anymore….
Anyone know where I can find a Floyd Little jersey?… I think it’d be sweet… I like getting throwbacks
BB99-
Check Goodwill, they have all kinds of sick old school Bronco merchandise. Our elders donate once they decide to go all suspendered out for the last stretch.
Ah, I live in Cali’… the odds of finding one here are slim to none… slim… to… none… They don’t make them, which sucks… Hopefully things work out and he does get into the HOF, then they’ll probably make one…
No way Moreno plays this weeked….Josh isn’t telling of course, but no chance. He needs to practice all week before a game to play. His injury puts him out two weeks which I think would be Thursday. I am hoping he sits another game….we are going to need him this season.
Yeah, that’s what I said on an earlier posts that I would not think that McD would risk aggravating his injury. Play him the 1st quarter of the Cards game to get him some reps.
agreed, i wouldn’t play the first stringers more than a half in that game. Just to give them reps, but you cant risk them that close to the season, any of them. As far as Dawkins, I would give him some reps this game, as his injury should have healed by now. I know they havn’t taken off that boulder for precaution, just to make sure it heals right as you cannot risk someone of his caliber, but I would give him some reps (even if just a few series) this game and next.
Although I want knowshon to play even I’m not dumb enough to play him against the bears. Anyway Orton progresses each game 21-26 210 yards 2 td’s Cutler 8-24 90 yards 1 int. Anyone agree?
Go Broncos
Oh oh! It looks like it may be Baker’s time to shine… the Denver Post reports:
“Defensive lineman Marcus Thomas, who injured his right shoulder Saturday against the Seahawks, started practice with the team but left the field after only one session of individual drills. He was wearing a brace on the shoulder and was holding his arm up funny while he walked to the locker room.”
This indicates to me possibly a hair line fracture of Bakers clavicle. I’m no doctor, but I too had the same thing happen to me my freshman year of highschool as a NT.
Baker may have to fill in for awhile, we might be able to get a chance to see him shine too! I’m all in for that one!