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Posts Tagged ‘Louis Wright’

Memories of Our Six Best DB Draftees

March 9th, 2011 - 4:00pm by jim_saccomanoOther posts by

Since this is defensive back week here on the Denver Broncos web site, with the site taking a hard look at the cornerbacks and safeties eligible for the 2011 National Football League draft, I thought I would look back on the best defensive backs ever drafted by the franchise.

In my opinion, with some miscellaneous personal memories thrown in, the six best players ever drafted by Denver as defensive backs are these:

Billy Thompson, drafted in the third round in 1969. A member of the Broncos’ Ring of Fame, BT started out at cornerback before setting into his safety position. To this day, he remains the only player ever to lead the league—he led the American Football League—in punt and kickoff returns in the same season (1969). “Bronco Billy” had 61 career turnovers and is the NFL’s all-time leader in opponent fumbles returned for touchdowns, with four.

He was my wife’s favorite player for years well beyond his retirement. A team captain, he always played and led like one. Billy was a vital member of the first Super Bowl team in 1977.

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Six Broncos Preliminary HOF Nominees

September 13th, 2010 - 1:59pm by Gray CaldwellOther posts by

On Monday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 113 modern-era nominees that make up this year’s preliminary candidates for the Class of 2011.

Steve Atwater, Terrell Davis, Karl Mecklenburg, Shannon Sharpe and Louis Wright are the former Broncos players among the names, and Dan Reeves is a candidate to head to Canton as a coach.

Sharpe was among the 17 finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2010 — the class in which fellow Ring of Famer Floyd Little joined the Hall.

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Broncos Considered Among Most Valuable

March 17th, 2010 - 9:22am by Gray CaldwellOther posts by

Terrell Davis. Shannon Sharpe. Steve Atwater. Randy Gradishar. Tom Jackson. Karl Mecklenburg. Tom Nalen. Louis Wright. Lyle Alzado. Rick Upchurch.

They are some of the best players to ever don a Broncos uniform. None were picked higher than the 14th overall selection in the NFL draft, and one was picked as late as the 310th overall selection in the 12th round.

Not coincidentally, they are all up for consideration to be named one of the 75 Most Valuable Draft Picks in league history.

Fans can vote on NFL.com now — voting ends April 18 — choosing between pairs of players randomly generated from a list of 320 all-time most valuable draft picks as chosen by NFL.com editors. After choosing the winners of 30 random matchups, fans can begin to build their own Top 10 list, and continue voting from there to alter their top 10.

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Seven Broncos on H.O.F Preliminary List

September 19th, 2009 - 5:55pm by Kyle SonnemanOther posts by

On Saturday, the Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 131 players, coaches and contributors who make up the preliminary list of modern-era nominees for election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s Class of 2010.

Former Broncos’ Steve Atwater, Terrell Davis, Karl Mecklenburg, Michael Dean Perry, Dan Reeves, Shannon Sharpe and Louis Wright are among the names on the list.

From this preliminary list of modern-era nominees, Hall of Fame selectors will choose 25 candidates who will advance as semifinalist nominees. The list of 25 modern-era semifinalists will be announced on November 27.

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Seven Broncos Among Hall of Fame Class of 2009 Nominees

October 28th, 2008 - 3:03pm by Gray CaldwellOther posts by

Gary Zimmerman just entered the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the Class of 2008.

The class of 2009 has seven former Broncos among the 133 players, coaches and contributers who make up the preliminary list of nominees for election to the Hall of Fame’s newest class.

Former Denver Broncos S Steve Atwater (1989-98), RB Terrell Davis (1995-2002), LB Tom Jackson (1973-86), LB Karl Mecklenburg (1983-94), Head Coach Dan Reeves (1981-92), TE Shannon Sharpe (1990-99, 2002-03) and CB Louis Wright (1975-86) are the Broncos who made the preliminary list of modern-era nominees.

Sharpe is one of 11 first-year eligible nominees for election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, meaning this is the first year he met all of the requirements for induction — meaning he’s been retired at least five years.

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Broncos-Chargers Always Interesting

October 3rd, 2007 - 10:00am by jim_saccomanoOther posts by

Some of the most interesting things in Denver Broncos history have happened against the Chargers, and while all these facts are readily available and thus no new information is presented here, I do think it is notable to consider a few things that have happened over the previous 47 years of play.

Tobin Rote was the Chargers quarterback when they began in 1960, in Los Angleles, and he actually ended his great career as a part-time player for the Broncos.

The only time Denver has ever scored 50 points in a game in franchise history was in 1962 against the Chargers.  John McCormick was the quarterback and Gene Mingo kicked five field goals for the Broncos in that game.

And in spite of having some of the league’s greatest offensive teams in the John Elway years, the Broncos have never again scored 50 points in a game.

Of the 17 shutouts the Broncos have ever posted in a Bronco win, a franchise high six have come against the Chargers.

And of the nine times when the Broncos have failed to score in a game, three of those have been recorded by the Chargers, also a Denver high.

So the Chargers have been involved in nine of the 26 total Bronco shutout games.  Just an oddity.

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