There were not many like Merlin Olsen, and now there is one less.
A great player out of Utah State, and by the way one of the few guys who can claim to have played a bowl game in New York City (the Gotham Bowl, which was short lived and is even less remembered), Merlin Olsen played 15 seasons for the Los Angeles Rams and made the Pro Bowl in 14 of those years.
In 15 seasons, how many games do you think he missed?
Two. The word “great” is often overused, but never when it has been applied to him.
His brother Phil played for the Denver Broncos and my heart goes out to Phil and to the entire Olsen family.
For many years Merlin Olsen was the color man alongside Dick Enberg for Broncos nationally televised games on NBC, and there truly could not be two finer gentlemen sitting next to each other doing a game. Long before Troy Aikman, Cris Collinsworth or Phil Simms, Olsen was the color voice for a generation of Broncos fans.
I got to know him fairly well over those NBC football years, and he was never, ever less than a perfect gentleman in every way.
A genuine gentle giant on the field, off the field his gracious personality closely resembled the one he had as his TV personal in the televisions show “Father Murphy,” in which he starred.
During all those years playing for the Rams and with a television and acting career that followed, Merlin early on established residency in Los Angeles and never left the area.
For many years he lived in one of those picture perfect, idyllic tree-lined areas in Pasadena, truly a slice of upscale American that was hard to match.
I would always give him a call when the Broncos visited LA to play the Raiders, even if he was not doing our game that week, and he always found time to talk, never acting that the Hall of Fame player or famous actor and TV pitchman that he was, but just as a regular guy, with a regular family, telling me about his kids and asking about mine.
Merlin Olsen was unequivocally one of the most elegant gentlemen with whom I have had the pleasure of working in my career, and he will be missed by all.
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Here is a statement from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the passing of Olsen.
“Merlin Olsen was an extraordinary person, friend and football player. He was a tremendous Hall of Fame football player who then became an accomplished football broadcaster and actor. In recent years, it was an honor to work with Merlin on developing improvements for retired players. We all experienced how passionate and effective he was on that issue. He cared deeply about people, especially those that shared the game of football with him. Merlin was a larger-than-life person, literally and figuratively, and leaves an enormously positive legacy. On behalf of the entire NFL family, we extend our deepest sympathy to Merlin’s wife Susan and the Olsen family.”
Tags: Dick Enberg, Merlin Olsen
florio’s_mom comment that is LOL..
Lets compare Morrison to mcClain.
Morrison/McClain:
Games played: 80/0
Games started: 79/0
Tackles: 496/0
forced fumbles: 6/0
This is a no brainer. If we need a ILB then give the raiders our 1st pick. Why spend it on a guy who hasn’t played a snap? Get the guy that has proved something. Hasn’t missed a game in his career. a tackling machine.
Either way they are both going to want big contracts, give the raiders our first and pay him what he deserves.
6 tackles per game.. definitely quite good numbers..
all I want to say is GO BRONCOS
After sleeping on it, IMO this is it for QB’s for this year, I believe McD is fully set there with Orton, Brandstater and Quinn. Even if we get the #6 pick I don’t think McD would go after a QB, I guess, like I, he doesn’t think any of the QB’s available in the draft this year are huge difference makers compared to what we already have. With that in mind ILB might be our first pick, with McClain being the shoe-in if we don’t get Morrison in FA, which appears very doubtful to me. Other pressing needs are center and OG and as the draft is very deep in those positions, no need to address it with the first, and next up is a power back and my choice is easy here with Gerhart in the third.
Yeah, but if Seattle does pull the trigger on BM and we get that #6 pick, which I doubt will happen any longer, we have a WR to replace, and Dez Bryant could be a possible 1st pick in that case.
Honestly I think if Seattle was going to make an offer to Marshall they’d of done it by now. I think that they just don’t want to part with their #6, which is fine by me. If Quinn turns his career around here in Denver him and Marshall could be a good combo.
i think dez is too much of a head case for McD. another prima dona IMO.
i think with McD workin with Quinn he has a very good chance to make a comeback and become a full time starter in this league! he has all the tools, and a strong work ethic. not to mention if brandon stays then that alone will make brady a better QB.. just by being close to marshalls aura!!
oh… and does al davis still hate us so much now that shanny is gone?? i mean i know we have a rivalry and all but i thought it was always more about shanny and al davis then al davis and the broncos. i could however see him not letting morrison come to denver just because he doesnt wana see him twice a year! lol
I hear you lvnm, however I personally would rather we don’t get Dez with the first regardless whether we keep Marshall or not. Here are my reasons:
-We have more than adequate players at the WR position with Gaffney, Royal, Stockley, Lloyd and McKinley, all more than capable to get the job done.
-I follow OSU Cowboys closely (my stepson will graduate there this May), and Dez is a prima dona in the making, he would definitely not fit in the high character player team concept mold McD is trying to turn us into.
-If we get a WR, he must be a tall one, Dez is only 6’2″, same height as Gaffney.
-The history of success for WR first round picks is dismal at best.
I suppose Gaffney or Royal would step into the #1 WR position in this case, and I would be ok with that also. A lot of people don’t think either is a #1, but I think either could be. They definitely both have play making abilities.
While i agree they both have play making abilities i still think we need a BIG, PHYSICAL WR if marshall leaves! i would think if the deal goes down and we are forced to look for another wide out to replace marshall then he would fit that big guy mold. but to be honest im still holdin out hope that marshall is still a bronco next year and this entire convo is moot!
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