Fixing The Hall Of Fame -- Broncos That Should Be In - #2 -- Floyd Little

Little and Elway, Two Broncos Legends
2. Floyd Little, Running Back (9 Seasons w/ Broncos, 1967-1975) -- How valuable is a player to a franchise? How to you determine a player's worth, or their worthiness of the Hall Of Fame? Statistics come into play, that's for sure. Impact on the team, the franchise, the city....that should play into it as well. If those are contributing factors, Floyd Little should be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as much for what he meant to the Broncos off the field then for what he accomplished on it.
This could be really short. All I'd really have to point out about Little, and what he meant to Denver, is that his #44 is the only number, next to #7 of course, that will never be worn by a Denver Bronco. Ever. Obviously, depending on how old you are, you know exactly what John Elway meant to the franchise. Floyd Little may have meant more. Broncos' fans were already fanatics when Elway arrived in 1983. It was Floyd Little that played a huge hand in beginning the love affair that last to this day. It was Little that saved the franchise, not from losing, but from certain re-location. You could say that Floyd Little saved professional football in Denver. Period.
Floyd Little was the first No. 1 draft pick ever signed by the Broncos and was widely regarded as the first serious threat for the Broncos at running back. Little totaled 12,103 all-purpose yards during his career, including a team-record 2,523 on kickoff returns. A Pro Bowl player in 1971, he played in the AFL All-Star games in 1968 and 1969. He combined a slashing speed with rushing strength that allowed him to win the AFC rushing titles two years running, no mean feat considering the offensive lines he had. His statistics are even more amazing when you consider that the Broncos didn't have a winning season until 1973. When Little retired, he was the 7th on the list of All-Time leading rushers in NFL history.
In 1984, Little became a Charter Member of the Broncos Ring of Fame. Nicknamed "The Franchise" before such mantras were common place, Little brought respectability to a franchise that really didn't have any. Brought winning to a team that really never experienced it. Established a connection between a team and city that last to this day, as evident by the sell outs that began when Little energized a fan-base with his electric running. Floyd Little was the "Founding Father" of Bronco Nation, and as Broncos fans we have him to thank for the euphoria towards Broncos football that exists today.
The have been many great players to don the Blue and Orange over the years, yet Little was the Broncos' All-Time Leader in combined yardage until October 22, 2006, when Rod Smith finally eclipsed him on that list. Not bad for a guy with "mediocre stats".
When judging a player's worth and deservedness for Hall entry one needs to look at more than stats. What kind of impact did the player have off the field, in the community. If Floyd Little were to be judged on those merits, he could be considered one of the best ever. Someday the voters will get it right and Little will get in. Until then, Broncos fans, keep in mind how much Little meant to the Broncos, and say a "Little" thank you to The Franchise.
My Odds -- 4/1
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#1
by broncodude793 on Aug 10, 2007 8:42 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Floyd Little
And Little was electric to watch. Of the modern Broncos he reminds me most of Terrell Davis but not quite. Little seemed to glide a little more than Davis. He wasn't a waterbug kind of runner but he made a lot of would-be tacklers miss. He wasn't the fastest but he was close and he could accelerate quicker than just about anybody.
But Little's legs were his true gift. He had those distinctive bowed legs. If I recall correctly he once said they saved him from suffering any serious knee injuries, a career ending trauma back then. But I think his thighs were his best endowment. He had to have had THE strongest thighs in football. He could carry those massive defensive linemen (admittedly smaller back then) like he was giving them a piggy back ride. And forget about arm tackling Floyd Little. He ran through those collected defensive arms like they were just so much tall grass.
And people came to watch. There was always a little thrill and a hush that would run through the crowd every time Little touched the ball. I especially liked it when some one like Pete Liske or Steve Tensi would drop back as if to pass and then hand off to Little on the draw. Then you could just scoot forward in your chair and watch the magic. Great memories.
And ever since, it's been a slow and steady climb for the Broncos.
by Trinidad Jack on Aug 10, 2007 10:26 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Jack....
So many times players from the past get compared to the players of today, which is completely unfair. Sure, guys like Marshall Faulk, L.T., Curtis Martin are/were dual threats, and having a RB that can run and catch the ball out of the backfield is the "vogue" thing today, it wasn't like that when little played, and he truly was among the first of his kind in the AFL/NFL..
Thanks again!
by John Bena on Aug 10, 2007 10:31 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Great post, Jack!!!
I was very young when Little played, but I remember getting his autograph at May D&F when I was about 4 years old. He and Gradishar were my favorites as a youngster, before I was even much of a football watcher.
by MN Bronco on Aug 10, 2007 11:00 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Floyd Little
If the Broncos needed a yard, everybody in the stadium and watching on TV knew Floyd Little was going to get the ball. The defense would stack the line. The defensive line would dig in and get low. The line backers would creep up, ready to shoot the gaps. And sure enough the QB would take the snap and hand off to Little on a power dive. Maybe a defensive lineman or line backer would even squirt through into the backfield, ready to lay one on Little and crush the heart out of the Broncos. But Little would make some barely perceptible move so the tackler couldn't hit him square, lunge into the line and disappear into a scrum of players from both teams. One by one, everybody would extricate themselves from the pile, and more often than not there would be Floyd Little, one yard beyond the yard marker. Then he'd pick himself up, quietly hand the ball to the ref and walk back to the huddle. Class.
You're right, Guru, about comparing the great running backs of today with those of the past. I don't want to take anything away from guys like Faulk and Thomlinson and Martin. They were and are great players and fun to watch. But it was a different game in Floyd Little's day. Remember that in 1970, Little WON the rushing title with less than a thousand yards in a 14 game schedule. Maybe I remember it wrong but a thousand yards was a special season back then.
Rule changes and offensive geniuses like Mike Shannahan have changed the game, probably for the better. But I think if Floyd Little was just starting out today, he'd be every bit as great all over again.
And I envy you MN Bronco. I'd love to get his autograph; on a number 44, Bronco orange jersey. Heck, I'd just love to shake his hand and say thank you and pray I didn't make a fool of myself while doing it.
But enough nostalgia. These 2007 Broncos have a feel about them.
Go Broncos!
by Trinidad Jack on Aug 10, 2007 1:38 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs

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