I was thumbing through some research books relative to the Pro Football Hall of Fame recently, and I saw a note that a sportswriter and voter once said that Doak Walker is the least deserving Hall of Famer ever selected.
I realize that many of you readers do not know who Doak Walker was, but many of you have in fact heard of the Doak Walker Award, given annually to the best running back in college football.
The connection, and the reason for this blog, is that Doak, one of the most elegant gentlemen anyone could ever meet, was a special assignments coach back in 1966 for the Denver Broncos, helping out (I am told, as even I was not here then) just by giving his opinions on who could and who could not play. A lot of guys on the Broncos in those days could not play, but Walker could, and I just shook my head when I read the writer’s comment on his worthiness for the Hall of Fame.
So, since you probably do not know, if you choose to keep reading, I will tell you a little about the guy they give the running back award to.
First of all, I think the world is waiting for that award to go to another Doak Walker, which in many ways seems very unlikely-not because the backs today lack talent, but because Doak was one of those special guys who ascended from greatness to legend and still seemed undervalued.
A great prep player in Dallas, he was a consensus three-time All-American at Southern Methodist-that is, every All American team for three straight years only listed one halfback, and it was Walker-one year he appeared on the cover of 47 magazines, and ne was “Life”!!
Even most astonishing than being a three-time All-American is this: consider that his three All-American years were interrupted by World War II era military service. An amazing feat.
He played running back, defensive back and was the placekicker at SMU, taking time along the way to letter to baseball and basketball at SMU. Can you imagine the publicity today if the best running back in the country, a three-time All-American, ALSO lettered in two other major sports? He was “pin-up” handsome, blond, blue-eyed, with great teeth and so much humility you never would have thought he was a big man on campus. He was, in fact, the only man on campus in America.
He won the Heisman Trophy in 1948 and his impact on SMU football was so great that for many years the Cotton Bowl was called “The House that Doak Built.”
I personally think he is the most famous individual in American sport to ever have worn uniform number 37, which by the way is retired by the Detroit Lions.
He was voted All-Pro four time with the Lions, and while his career was short-he said he retired early “while I still have my own teeth”, which by the way, were perfect-but he was selected to the Hall of Fame in spite of a short career, because he was so impactful for the Lions. Detroit won two NFL titles in that time and was the dominant team in pro football in the mid-1950′s. He led the NFL in scoring twice (1950 and 1955) and scored 534 points in his career.
The stories just go on and on about Doak Walker and I won’t bore you with them-same after game with the winning touchdown, the unbelievable run, the winning kick, the key interception, he was transcendant of football, relaly.
Walker married his high school sweetheart, had a family and later in life married Olympic skier Skeeter Werner. He was a Steamboat Springs resident and legend by then, and it was a loss to all. The mountain on which he had his fatal accident, by the way, was Mount Werner, named for Skeeter’s brother Buddy, who was America’s best Alpine skier at the 1964 Winter Olympics.
He died suddenly on September 27, 1998 after that devastating ski accident in Colorado just days before.
I can’t say I have left out the best stuff, I have truly tried not to, but you have to edit somewhere. Truly, Doak Walker was bigger than legend.
Hollywood would have to tone down the facts to make it seem realistic.
So, the next time you hear about the Doak Walker award being given to someone, that’s who the man behind the award was.
maybe next year we can trade Clady for a couple of 3rd round picks
Would we have been happy paying $47m to Marshall for 4 years? That’s a lot of money. $24m guarenteed?
I think that’s a big reason he had to go. We can pay Doom now, who is the kind of leader McD wants.
Our other receivers are good. You don’t have to have outstanding receivers, don’t think the Saints did.
And before people say “yes, but they had Brees”, remember he had a slow start like the boy Quinn.
Keep faith! We lost Shanners / Cutler and our W/L record didn’t deteriorate. We can do the same post-Marshall.
And you never know, with a solid D, we may even win!!!!
Lmao bay. Wait till Marshall has another probowl trouble free year then it will be our turn to say told ya so!
Sry for mis spells
U have to have great recievers with mediocre QBs. Saints have brees who makes recievers better than they are
For one Im glad the ever distracting distraction is gone. Yes it sets our offense back but its not as set back as it was last year IMO. I think there were more question marks last year then any other year and they still made plays, albeit mainly marshall plays, but kyle was also learning the system all of last year and a big receiver made it easier for him to be productive in his first year running a very complicated system with a huge learning curve. Orton has a strong grasp on the system now and wont have to stare down one receiver anymore it almost forces him to be a better tactician when it comes to scanning the field and getting the ball to the best option or whoevers open and allows him to build rapport with ALL of his weapons, not just one. I agree that we need to draft front seven at 11.
I have to admit that I feel relieved it is over. It is one less distraction for the team. Only time will tell if it was the right move or not.
Now we are in the market for a big play WR. Any Ideas on who? If Bryant is out of the question?
I hope we trade Scheffler soon and get that baby put to bed.. I think he will be the last of the players leaving…
It is a fresh new day in Bronco country…
Brees was always a great qb. I loved it when the chargers traded him. Brees never struggled. Traded because of injury.
Im glad Marsh got the Money he deserves. The problem is that we need a WR now so we will probably end up with Dez and back to the same problems. Only Dez has not proved he can play in the NFL. What did we gain by dealing Marsh?????
For all those bloggers with “Beast” in your name. I might have the answer for all of you…
We’ll just find another player on the team that you like and give him the nickname “Beast”.. Jamaal Williams is beastly, or maybe we’ll draft Gearhart or some other beastly kind of guy we can all call the beast?
We could always call Orton “The Beast” and then laugh real hard afterward… kddn
Oh lord whats next, please dont trade dummervil next year i cant go through all this drama again next offseason!!
hahahahahahaha orange crush dude that orton one was great. but champ is my beast, will allways be.
lol drunkbronc bro i give u props for coming back on here, is till dnt get ur name, seems kinda lame to me…..lol, im jsut messin though not trying to argue.
ya i may be a young fan but at least it doesnt depress me when denver losses a 55-10 super bowl….lol….its a game guys, life….gooooeeeesssss on.,……..lolz
Lol all good champ.
And it’s not just a game when you lose to Vegas bookies!!
A breakdown of the Marshall deal:
http://footballnjunk.wordpress.com/2010/04/14/in-depth-the-brandon-marshall-trade/
Its good to hear every one is relieved, but i am kind of disgusted in a way. Though Cutler and Marshall were babies, they were pro bowl babies, and getting rid of them each in 2 years is ridiculous for a head coach and immature. I buy into the McChaos system, dont get me wrong, but i am worried about next year. We are taking advantage of the time we have to battle it out with just the chargers, because the Chiefs are sneaking up on everyone and i believe they will be challenging for the AFC West in a few years if not sooner..And dont forget about the Raiders, when they had bruce gradcowski they were tearing things up…I am just disgusted there wasnt any other way to keep our pro bowl players here in Denver…But hopefully Mcdaniels has something up his sleeve….
My topic question of the day WAS GOING to be if Jimmy Claussin or Colt McCoy drop to 11 should we take them? But now, if we dont get a WR i think im going to go jump off a bridge. Dez Bryant seems more likely now than ever, and it just sickens me that ill hear marshalls words echo “ill be a bronco forever” in the back of my head. Its good to see he got such a beastly contract though.
bronco-blaze colt mccoy will drop past 11 because he’s not even projected until the second round. Hes a great qb. but i dnt think its a need for us. asw for wr help! God help us we need it!! I love Eddie royal but realistically he disappeared last year in the offense and how much of a #1 reciever is jabar gaffney. Although the defense and the WR position are our 2 most glaring needs. Mcdaniels always amazes me. like last year wen defense was our biggest need and he drafted moreno (love the pick tho). Although i think Rolando Mcclain would be the best pick @11 and i wouldnt be dissapointed if he to Dez Bryant there either i definately see Mcdaniels going after the unattractive pick and taking Maurice Pouncey @11. Who knos ill be watching every second of the draft
First off i dont see where all these character issues are coming from with dez bryant he had some family issues as a kid and he was a lil star struck by deon sanders . that doesnt make him a problem child. The fact of the matter is the guy loves football. BUT with that in mind i dont see Mcdaniels targetting him. I either see him taking a guy like mcclain @11 or segio kindle. Or even trading down for more picks and then bulking up his offensive line. I do see him drafting a guy like Golden Tate(who is awesome) Fits Mcdaniels mold to a tee. Tough as nails player, hard worker, team player, loves the game of football, and a high character player. Not to mention hes been in Weis system so he could come and fit right in to the scheme of things. Not only that he used to play running back so mcdaniels could use him all over the field including in the wild horse formation. if im GM these are my first picks
11- Rolando McClain (Bias choice, Im a crimson tide fan)
43- Golden Tate (hopefully he’s still on the board)
45- Toby Gerhert
Who knows the . Mcdaniels seems to have a plan
Okay guys, I for one am very annoyed with this trade, we needed help with draft picks THIS year and not next year!!!
This is what we should do if we want to come back out on top on offense.
With our two second round picks this year take…
Golden Tate
Toby Gerhart
I would be so excited to get those guys here and I will fill like this was a smart trade if we get those two guys!!
What do yall think??
GOD we better get Gerhart now that we have two second round picks…
Getting Gerhart and Tate would make us have an offense again that would be feared!
We will never draft Golden Tate.
We are lacking of a “big” WR. The only two WR’s worth taking are Bryant or LaFell.
Wow..Ive never seen a white running back since the diesel do this lol! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjLh_yO41jw
I would love to get Colt McCoy or Lefevour! Maybe even Tebow if he falls to the third round?
It would be great if Head Coach McDaniels approached the QB situation as if this was his BIG chance to find the one true guy that was going to help shape his destiny as a Head Coach. jomho
I think we get Gerhart with the #2 pick,I don’t like it but I think it will happen.
Baylin I thought you said you were laying low yesterday so everybody would get it out of their system,now you’re gloating,that’s a no no.LOL
I believe WE got our Defense,remember we both were raising Hell for a new Dline.
Now we have to sure up our Offense,don’t wanna be one of those teams that win 12-6 games every week,then run into a team with a great D and O.
Florio…I respectively disagree with you…
McD loved getting Quinn for one MAIN reason and that was because he came from Notre Dame and worked under Charley Weis. Golden Tate isint as big as Marshall but his stats showed that he could do his job just as good as anyone out there…
Had 1400 yards last season and I think 15 TD’s!!!
This opens up a lot of possibilities in the draft now.
Some guys we could go after in the 2nd:
Tebow
Gerhart
Cody
LeFell
What I don’t understand is that I thought McD was trying to bring in a high powered Offense like he had in NE,it’s hard to do when you take the 2nd ranked Offense in the NFL and dismantle it.
AND how the Hell did Graham become a team captain,he ain’t done sh*t,I guess who you know and who you ****.LOL
Stats have nothing to do with this.
We now have zero large wr’s. That means lower goal line threat.
bf30 I’d rather have Tate than Bryant anyday.
Now Lafell I could live with.
Then we would essentially become the Redskins.
Has anyone seen how they perform with small WR? They lack that deep threat and muscle.
You don’t necessarily have to have the big 6’4 or 6’5 WR,but it sure does help when he can out jump the DB.
Yes.
So Royal plus Tate equals no jump.
You can’t give the name the BEAST to just anybody,Ron (Jaws) Jaworski was the 1st person I heard call him the BEAST and it stuck.There will never be another BEAST on our team.
I won’t change my handle cause to me DOOM is a Beast,but I will never call him that by name.
New blog is up btw lol
BFE92…
Yea I would love to have him…I think he sparks some interest with McD and he is a really good receiver after the catch as well.
Heres a video for you guys to watch on Golden Tate, this guy is a BEAST!!! Hahaha
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikQaUdZrET8
Please watch, great vid!
Yea guys, watch that video of Tate
The way he runs after the catch reminds you of a familiar face..haha
McD would be STUPID not to get Tate and Gerhart!!
With the first three rounds I think we should get..
1. Trade down and get Pouncey and a extra 3rd rnd pick
2. Get Gerhart
2. Get Tate
3. Shipley
3. Ansah
I completely agree with trading down and getting Pouncey unless McD thinks McClain is worthy of the value of the 11 spot. Shipley and either Benn/Tate are my hopes at the wideout spot from this draft.
Not sold on Gerhart unless he falls into our laps in the 3rd round. Blount has character issues I suppose but as just a goaline back I don’t think he’ll develop an ego and we could get him in the later rounds
I like Demaryius Thomas to replace Marshall if you are looking for a big guy but i said from last week i love Golden Tate for the Broncos
I like Shipley but he’s another 6’0 WR.Need to get a 6’4 or 6’5 guy with muscle.Bryants only 6’2.
Yea, Tate will do great things in the NFL whoever gets him!
Dezmon Briscoe?
Also you don’t need to bee 6-4 to be a #1 look at Rod Smith he was another 6 foot guy.
Hey beastfromeast92, your mom. thanks you.
I wished they wouldve traded for an establisehed player. I don’t trust this front office with draft picks. Telling the fans that last year they weren’t prepared cause they didn’t have enough time, is that admitting they screwed up? It took me all of 10 minutes before the 9th pick was made to see orapko was the logical choice. Even my girlfriend figured that one out. Shouldve traded for a proven player, we got enough alphonso smiths!
eternaorangeandblue:WTF,whadda you mean by that remark.You have a problem with something I said???
broncofritz agreed you don’t have to be over 6′,but size does matter,if you can out jump,and out muscle the DB,it’s your advantage,IMO
I still say we need a Center,ILB,powerback,and another nickel corner wouldn’t hurt.But if we can get a BIG playmaker with #11,we take him,whoever he is.IMO
DB I heard that,McD better not screw up the picks or he’ll be gone,which the more I think about it,I really wouldn’t care.
He’s taken the #2 offense in ’08 and dismantled it piece by piece.
But I’ll wait and bite my tongue until I see how all this works out,but if I don’t like it you can bet your a** I’ll give my opinion.
Beastfromtheeast it was only the number 2 offense in 08 in yards and nothing else in scoring O that year we were like 15 and think about all the turnovers that we had that and with that number 2 O we were still 8-8. so my opinion is lets see what happens in the draft before we judge the trade a little.