Announcement

**Old Coyote** · 08-23-2023, 03:22 PM

It's about time.

**Tombstone RJ** · 08-23-2023, 04:17 PM

Finally. If he played for any other team he would have been in the HoF years ago. Shame on the pro football Hall of Shame for making one of the best LBs to ever play in the NFL wait this long

**OBF1** · 08-24-2023, 04:44 AM

My favorite Bronco growing up, A past due, well deserved honor. The Hall will be lucky to have him if the voters do their job in January. Canton might have a visitor next summer.

**BroncoBuff** · 08-24-2023, 08:54 AM

GREAT NEWS!

If Randy gets in, that means the only ones missing will be Mecklenburg, Shanahan and maybe Reeves.

**Old Dude** · 08-24-2023, 10:46 AM

Not counting chickens yet. Gradishar should have been inducted long ago.

**Logikil96** · 08-24-2023, 02:33 PM

Being in the final 3, what is the likelihood that he doesnt get in?

**Aztec Bronco** · 08-24-2023, 03:03 PM

Originally posted by Logikil96

Being in the final 3, what is the likelihood that he doesnt get in?

Almost zero.

**BroncoBuff** · 08-24-2023, 04:47 PM

Originally posted by OBF1

The Hall will be lucky to have him if the voters do their job in January. Canton might have a visitor next summer.

Okay, then what was this vote? And wtf did GMFB mean this morning when they said "Congratulations Randy, and all Broncos fans! We'll see you in Canton!"

Is that some preliminary get-together in Canton, where they huddle in their hotel rooms, waiting and hoping that big guy knocks on their door? That's what they meant when they said "See you in Canton!"

I'll say this: If that is how it happens, it's kinda mean - or at least rude - to bring guys all the way there, then NOT knock on their door. Kinda embarrassing - they go that far, they hope and wait - then go home with nothing....

And I'm confused by the HOF calendar. I saw where the finalist votes were held a week ago, Shanahan, Reeves and Gradishar were all "eligible," so I started a thread. The next day I was looking and looking, waiting for them to announce results of the vote, but they never did.

**Old Dude** · 08-27-2023, 10:38 AM

Basically, Gradishar made the cut among "seniors" to become one of three "finalists" in that category. The next hurdle will be shortly before the 2024 super bowl. To be inducted, he'd need to receive at least an 80% approval rating from the Selectors.

Note: Back in April of 2021, the HOF changed its bylaws to increase the number of senior finalists (defined as those who have been retired for at least 25 years) from 1 to 3. That change takes effect this year.

People are optimistic about Randy's chances: nine-year career, seven pro bowls, never missed a game, ridiculous tackling stats, centerpiece of the orange crush defense. Denver's Super Bowl XII team is the only conference champion from that era not to have at least one member in the HOF. At least on the surface of things, he'd seem to be the favorite among the three finalists, and it's possible that all three could make it in.

**Gradishar53** · 08-28-2023, 09:24 AM

Originally posted by BroncoBuff

GREAT NEWS!

If Randy gets in, that means the only ones missing will be Mecklenburg, Shanahan and maybe Reeves.

Are you a Chef's fan? "Only ones missing?" How about including: Louis Wright (Next biggest slight after Gradishar), Rubin Carter* (super underrated dominant prototype nose tackle - helped funnel the runners to Gradishar - can't write the history of the NFL without him), Joe Collier (architect of the Broncos modern 3-4 defense - can't write the history of the NFL without him), Alex Gibbs (was in the running this year), maybe Tom Jackson, Billy Thompson, Tombstone Jackson, Simon Fletcher and hell no to Reeves who cost us several Super Bowls during Elway's prime, fired Joe Collier, drafted Tommy Maddox in the first round to try to replace Elway in his prime, and managed to get blown out by the shell of Elway in his final game (SB XXXIII).

*Rubin Carter was the sole member of the Orange Crush defense to get extensive national press recognition including what I believe the Broncos first SI cover in 1977. He outplayed everybody else in Super Bowl XII, (six tackles, two quarterback sacks and a fumble recovery deserving of the MVP if the offense wasn't so anemic) and required an NFL security escort off the field due to death threats from Cowboy fans. https://vault.si.com/vault/1998/12/2...ctober-17-1977.

**bowtown** · 08-28-2023, 11:32 AM

Originally posted by Logikil96

Being in the final 3, what is the likelihood that he doesnt get in?

Peter King will write a column on why he felt the need to write in Tom Brady instead.

**BroncoBuff** · 08-28-2023, 11:53 AM

Originally posted by Gradishar53

Are you a Chef's fan? "Only ones missing?" How about including: Louis Wright Rubin Carter Joe Collier Alex Gibbs Tom Jackson, Billy Thompson, Tombstone Jackson, Simon Fletcher and hell no to Reeves who cost us several Super Bowls during Elway's prime, fired Joe Collier, drafted Tommy Maddox in the first round to try to replace Elway in his prime, and managed to get blown out by the shell of Elway in his final game (SB XXXIII).

*Rubin Carter was the sole member of the Orange Crush defense to get extensive national press recognition including what I believe the Broncos first SI cover in 1977. He outplayed everybody else in Super Bowl XII, (six tackles, two quarterback sacks and a fumble recovery deserving of the MVP if the offense wasn't so anemic) and required an NFL security escort off the field due to death threats from Cowboy fans. https://vault.si.com/vault/1998/12/2...ctober-17-1977.

Just trying to be realistic ... Louis Wright is my all-time favorite athlete (3-way tie), so NO, I'm not a chefs fan.

But Louie is 36 years retired, and never been a finalist, or even a semi-finalist. He is 2nd team All-Decade Team 1970s, but like many candidates, he's hobbled by the fact "AP 1st Team" is the only All-Pro teams considered. Louie was named to UPI, Pro Football Weekly and Sporting News All-Pro teams in five seasons (one 1st team) the AP did not recognize him. Often through his years in Denver, an opponent WR would rack up a HUGE day - Wes Chandler, Carlos Carson, John Stallworth - Stallworth had a 184 yard game once while Louie lined up all game on Lynn Swann. John Madden said Louis Wright and Raymond Claiborne were the only two CBs he ever game-planned to avoid, but while the Claiborne game-plan happened just once or twice, "Louie Wright was twice a year, every year."

Rubin Carter? Probably deserved better, but not even one Pro Bowl.

This link (click) lists more than 100 senior HOF candidates, ranks them by points, and lists the number of times they were finalists. Karl Mecklenburg and Louie Wright each score 24 points, but click on their names and you'll see that Mecklenburg's been a semi-finalist EIGHT TIMES, Wright none.

**BroncoBuff** · 08-28-2023, 12:24 PM

Correction to previous post: That link lists close to maybe more than 300 players eligible to be HOF Senior candidates.

After Gradishar, Wright, and Riley Odoms, it's a long way down to Rich Jackson, Lyle Alzado, Goose Gonsoulin, then another long way down to Tom Jackson, Rulon Jones, Dennis Smith, Bob Scarpitto, Billy Thompson, Otis Armstrong and Bob Swenson. I might've missed one...?

LINK

**Gradishar53** · 08-28-2023, 01:34 PM

Originally posted by bowtown

Peter King will write a column on why he felt the need to write in Tom Brady instead.

I had the same nightmare! King undermines the rubber stamp after summoning the ghost of that hack - Dr. Z.

**Aztec Bronco** · 08-28-2023, 01:48 PM

Realistically I think you can make strong cases for Louis Wright, Karl Mecklenburg and Tom Nalen going forward. It has been a good run for Broncos getting into the HOF, no longer the most underrepresented team.

**Gradishar53** · 08-28-2023, 01:48 PM

Originally posted by BroncoBuff

Just trying to be realistic ... Louis Wright is my all-time favorite athlete (3-way tie), so NO, I'm not a chefs fan.

Top notch pedigree. Sorry for the ultimate insult. Thanks for the links.

Just trying to be realistic" - this is the problem though. We still need to fight for our guys. You mentioned Meck, but left out Louis Wright and the others. Before Buddy Parker beat out Shanahan this year, I'd never heard of him and I don't think he was high on the radar.

I don't need to educate you on Louie, but we do need to educate, post and raise awareness of these other guys. I know Rubin Carter is a long shot, but wanted to point out how deserving he was and yet gets no attention. Nose tackle is not a glamorous position. Read some of the stories on him from the 70s-80s and his impact on the game. It took a long time to recognize special teamers, but Ray Guy finally broke through. Hey, it took forever until Hoyt Wilhelm (my favorite relief pitcher) became the first relief pitcher in the hall of fame.

Point is I take great exception to: "only ones missing will be Mecklenburg, Shanahan and maybe Reeves." Especially when I oppose Reeves (the only reason he will get in is his ties to the Cowboys).

**The Shovel** · 08-28-2023, 02:15 PM

The most overlooked historical Bronco, not even mentioned in this thread, is Lionel Taylor. He has a good Hall of Fame case, too. Look at all the black ink on his Pro Football Reference page.

Lionel Taylor Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College | Pro-Football-Reference.com

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TaylLi00.htm

Checkout the latest stats for Lionel Taylor. Get info about his position, age, height, weight, college, draft, and more on Pro-football-reference.com.

**nyuknyuk** · 08-28-2023, 09:45 PM

I still can't figure out why Dennis Smith isn't in the mix.

**Gradishar53** · 08-29-2023, 08:49 AM

Originally posted by nyuknyuk

I still can't figure out why Dennis Smith isn't in the mix.

I love both Dennis and Rod Smith, but neither one of them have the elite stats (they're both excellent players, but not off the charts like Gradishar), and they don't have the "history of the NFL can't be told without them" cache, that others have.

Dennis Smith stats of 30 interceptions, 431 return yards, and 15 sacks over a 14 year career are not sexy enough for the HOF.

**BroncoBuff** · 08-29-2023, 08:57 AM

Originally posted by nyuknyuk

I still can't figure out why Dennis Smith isn't in the mix.

DS49 is listed on that site, and in my post listing all the Broncos - Post #14 above.

Ronnie Lott and Dennis Smith - pair of safeties same class at USC, both first round picks in 1981. Two of the most savage, brutal hitters ever. I cannot imagine what it must've been like as a Pac-10 WR playing the Trojans between 1978-80 .... yikes.

**Gradishar53** · 08-29-2023, 08:59 AM

Originally posted by The Shovel

The most overlooked historical Bronco, not even mentioned in this thread, is Lionel Taylor. He has a good Hall of Fame case, too. Look at all the black ink on his Pro Football Reference page.

https://www.pro-football-reference.c...T/TaylLi00.htm

Another good case, but not a long career, just over 7k yards receiving and being in the AFL weigh heavily against him. Rod Smith is a better candidate and I don't see him getting in either.

**BroncoBuff** · 08-29-2023, 09:45 AM

Originally posted by Gradishar53

Another good case, but not a long career, just over 7k yards receiving and being in the AFL weigh heavily against him. Rod Smith is a better candidate and I don't see him getting in either.

Rod's not senior eligible yet, but that is a great idea! This glut of big-stat WRs becoming eligible the past 20 years has kept him out - But he's exactly the kind of blue collar player the veterans committee loves.

**nyuknyuk** · 08-29-2023, 10:47 AM

Originally posted by BroncoBuff

Ronnie Lott and Dennis Smith - pair of safeties same class at USC, both first round picks in 1981. Two of the most savage, brutal hitters ever. I cannot imagine what it must've been like as a Pac-10 WR playing the Trojans between 1978-80 .... yikes.

Smith did so much charging with the head down in his hitting I'm shocked he's not a vegetable.

This guy sought head to head contact.

**bronco militia** · 08-29-2023, 08:34 PM

1980 USC Defensive roster: DB's- Ronnie Lott, Jeff Fisher, Joey Browner, and Dennis ****ing Smith!

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1980-roster.html

Announcement

Gradishar finally nominated for HOF!

Gradishar finally nominated for HOF!

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