MHR's Forgotten Broncos -- Marlin Briscoe
by Tim Lynch on May 14, 2008 5:00 PM MDT
in MHR Broncos History Lesson
45 comments
There has been much discussion in recent years about the ability of an African American to quarterback in the NFL. Prior to the new millennium, the Warren Moon’s and Randall Cunningham’s of the world were more exceptions to the rule rather than a rewriting of the rule. It wasn’t until the late 90’s and into our current time that African American quarterbacks finally began to be taken seriously by NFL teams, scouts, coaches, the media, and everyone else in America. There is no longer any debate that African Americans are every bit as able to command and lead at the quarterback position, nor is there any debate that a person is unable to grasp complex schemes and systems based on their race.
The road to total equality in the NFL was a long one, with many sad stories along the way(Google Eldridge Dickey and Joe Gilliam). We all know that the first major breakthrough for African American quarterbacks came against our own Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXI against the Washington Redskins. Doug Williams was never really taken seriously by coaches and was only starting in the Super Bowl because of an injury. After his Super Bowl MVP performance he slipped away into oblivion and it would take the NFL another decade before true equality was achieved.
Long before any of these guys entered the NFL there was a humble quarterback from
Interestingly, Marlin Briscoe refused to sign an agent and negotiated his own contract with the Denver Broncos. He insisted that the contract contain a provision that allowed Briscoe to be given a three day tryout at quarterback. Broncos Head Coach, Lou Saban, was so impressed that he made Briscoe the backup to starter, Steve Tensi. As fate would have it, Tensi got injured early in the season and Briscoe became the first black quarterback to start in the modern era of football.
The 1968 season would be one filled with many exciting moments. After an 0-3 start, Marlin Biscoe led the Broncos to four wins over the next five games before the season fell apart(A common theme early in Bronco history). During that amazing five game stretch, the most exciting game was the one that the Broncos had lost. Week 7 against the Chargers was a shootout. The final score was 55-44. By the end of the season, Briscoe had set many Bronco rookie records that still stand today. The Broncos finished the season a disappointing 5-9 and the following season they sent Briscoe packing.
Marlin Briscoe will forever hold the distinction as the first African American to start at the quarterback position in the modern era of pro football. Even though he was quite successful in his rookie year, he was still considered too small(5’11") to play the quarterback position and was forced to sign with the Buffalo Bills as a wide receiver. He went on to have a rather successful career at that position and even made the Pro Bowl in 1970. He was traded to the Dolphins the following season and was part of that teams perfect season in 1972. He finished his career in 1976, but to Bronco fans we will always think of him as a quarterback before anything else.
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Marlin Briscoe continues his efforts to foster racial equality in football at all levels. In 2007, Briscoe was inducted into the Nebraska Sports Hall of Fame. He also has a website called Marlin Briscoe Football Camps. Thanks to him and others like him, we now have a league that is color blind and grades talent without bias or agendas.
[Note by Zappa, 05/20/08 7:51 PM PDT ] I was contacted by a person who is working on a movie about Marlin Briscoe's life and achievements. Though he spent just one season with the Broncos, it is obvious that he made a deep long lasting impact on our organization and the entire National Football League. This might be a movie worth watching: Marlin Briscoe Movie
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Marlin the Magician
You have another in a long line of great historical posts Zappa! I remember three things about Briscoe. First was his speed. He may have been the fastest man on the team. Second was his arm strength. He had a laser. Lastly was his height. He couldn’t get good passing lanes and Saban loved to roll him out to give him time and to allow him to see the receiver. He really helped Floyd Little as teams could no longer key on Little every play. He was a very exciting player.
Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of our own mind. - Emerson
by firstfan on May 14, 2008 6:43 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I still couldn't figure out why we didn't keep him around...
the only thing I can come up with, regrettably, is race. :(
by Tim Lynch on May 14, 2008 7:20 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
He didnt stick
Because Lou Saban wanted him as a CB. Remember he negotiated his contract with Denver to have a 3 day try out as a QB, he impressed Saban so, that he was the back up to the forgettable Steve Tensi. Tensi got hurt and Briscoe was in.(Not that playing behind those Bronco lines would have killed any pocket QB). Plus during that era if you wanted ot be a QB, you had to be white. (a pathetic statement of the times if you ask me, IMHO). I think if maybe the Broncos would have stuck with Briscoe they may have had success earlier. I think this goes to show that Saban was not the great GM/Coach he thought he was. But I really love these articles on old time players.
by broncfanstuckinsd on May 14, 2008 8:06 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I too am coming to the conclusion that Saban wasn't as great as he thought he was.
Floyd Little talked in his book about how he played behind 27 different quarterbacks in the 4 years Saban was head coach. That’s just friggin’ crazy. I am surprised we won ANY games during those years.
by Tim Lynch on May 14, 2008 8:14 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I enjoy these as well.
Briscoe ended up playing WR. He was just too short to see over the big OL and when other teams started to contain him he lost effectiveness.
Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of our own mind. - Emerson
by firstfan on May 14, 2008 9:53 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
So this is the 40th anniversary
Anyone know if there are any plans by the team or league to commemorate the occasion?
Here is an interesting tidbit about Briscoe from Wikipedia:
Briscoe is the namesake for the fictional high school in Nike’s 2006 “Football is Everything” television and print ad campaign. The ads feature NFL stars Michael Vick, Brian Urlacher, LaDainian Tomlinson, Troy Polamalu and Matt Leinart (as adults) playing for the high school team coached by Don Shula, Jimmy Johnson, and Urban Meyer. Also making appearances in the ads are Deion Sanders, Steve Young, Lee Corso, Jill Arrington, Jillian Barberie, and Marlin Briscoe himself.
by MattR on May 14, 2008 10:15 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Briscoe improved the W/L record, but....
Briscoe improved the Broncos record over the play of Steve Tensi, but mostly because he was mobile. He had 41 rushes for 308 yds that year. A team high of 7.5 Yards per carry average. His passing average was nearly as bad as Tensi completeing only 41.5% of his passes.
I won’t discount some race issues then, because there probably were some. He might have played sparringly as QB for Denver after 1968 had the Broncos not released him. Briscoe was a better WR and open field runner than a passer.
"If Denver beats us, I'll walk back to Detroit"
Alex Karras
by Denver Diehard on May 14, 2008 11:20 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll agree that his passing stats were wimpy, but did you know that Briscoe was the
very first Bronco QB to throw more touchdowns than interceptions up to that point? 9 seasons, and no Bronco QB ever threw more TDs than INTs in a season.
I agree that Briscoe turned in a fine career at wide received, but I think he preferred playing QB.
by Tim Lynch on May 14, 2008 11:22 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Zappa once again bringing in the History
This is great info to me when debating raider fans who say “Al has taken the most steps to equality in the league.” I can refute with “WE had the first Black QB!” jk jk Seriously though excellent post. I love this history stuff and the best two history subjects in teh world are WAR and the Broncos in reverse order!
Until Terrell Davis makes it into the Hall of Fame, I refuse to acknowledge the existence of such a place other than the Ring of Fame at Mile High!
Davis to the Hall!
by Jon Tollerud on May 15, 2008 12:46 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Even more so because the fader absolutely ruined Dickey.
Al Davis jerked him around so much that the top rated passed in college was out of football by the age of 25, having never had the shot to play QB in the NFL. Crazy Al wanted him to convert to WR, a position he had never played before.
by Tim Lynch on May 15, 2008 8:39 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
He was
one of the first true Athletes to play football. He was a good QB on a bad Denver team, well all the Bronco teams in the 60’s were bad (mabe except the 62 team) but eventually he was good at WR. I just wished he would have been given a real true chance at being the defacto guy, Lord knows the guys between him and Charley Johnson were HORRIBLE. Another one of Saban’s bad trades IMO. ( Saban was the worse Coach/GM EVER!!! Be thankful the Broncos have a great one now in Mike Shanahan. I dont think you will ever see Shanny quit in the middle of a season)
by broncfanstuckinsd on May 15, 2008 12:37 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Lou Saban was probably the worst coach/gm ever, BUT
he was instrumental in creating Bronco fever along with Floyd Little in 1967. For that reason and that reason alone I will always have an affinity for Saban. You are right though, he was an AWFUL judge of talent and made some of the WORST TRADES EVER.
by Tim Lynch on May 15, 2008 1:57 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I've never been able to make up my mind about Saban.
He did some good things, like bring some professionalism to the team and did some good work on building a fan base and improving the facilities. On the other hand he was old school, I’m talking old school in my day. He could be kind of a screamer and a bully. That’s the way coaches did things back then. Bull headed.
I’ll always think of him as “half a loaf” because of that decision he made to go for a tie instead of a win. That one cost him his job I think. I’m really sorry. I gotta rush off right now so maybe first fan or one of the others can fill you in. If not, I’ll be back tomorrow.
Sorry.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on May 15, 2008 4:26 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
No need to apologize.
I remember reading about the half a loaf game. Anyone out there participate in littering Mile High Stadium with half loaves of bread in the games that followed? :)
by Tim Lynch on May 15, 2008 4:52 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wasn't there.
I was on the Hill.
Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of our own mind. - Emerson
by firstfan on May 15, 2008 7:11 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Wonderful stuff, Zappa
How do you keep coming up with all these fascinating tidbits? First QB to have more TDs than interceptions. Fans throwing half loaves of bread onto the field to protest the coach going for half a loaf. Love it!
"In the empty spaces - lacunae, vacuums, pauses, voids, black holes - new things begin. We are born anew from the unexplored space, the badlands, the outlaw territory." - Sam Keen
by spock on May 15, 2008 10:04 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
firstfan told me a story once how Saban "fired" Floyd Little
and told him to get off the field. Little refused to come out and told Briscoe to throw the ball to him. Little caught it and ran it 60-something yards for a touchdown. Saban subsequently “forgot” about the firing. lol
The Broncos may have been a bad football team in that era, but I think it would have been incredibly fun to play for them during that time.
by Tim Lynch on May 16, 2008 7:25 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Broncomania
We didn’t care about a tie!! The Bronco fans wanted to WIN!!
Thinking back now, that was hilarious. Throwing 1/2 loaves of bread onto the field.
Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of our own mind. - Emerson
by firstfan on May 15, 2008 7:13 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
If I recall correctly,
they also peppered his lawn with half loaves. Of course now of days that would be a little scary but back then nobody was worried about people, fans, going way too far ovedrboard. Saban grumbled about it but took it good naturedly enough. He stood by his decision though. “Half a loaf is better than none.” I’ll do a little research on it over the weekend and try to get something back to you on Monday. (Starting at Noon today, MDT, our computers will be down till Monday.)
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on May 16, 2008 9:20 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
That game still caused him to resign before the end of the season.
by Tim Lynch on May 16, 2008 11:20 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
And the fans said good ridance...
...but still, I think we owe him something. He statrted the Broncos on that long trip out of the gutter.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on May 16, 2008 11:31 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
He may have started something
But more credit should go to Ralston. He is the one who really started the Broncos turn to respectability. Even though he was more suited for the College game. His Carnegie appraoch finally wore on the Broncos and led to the Dirty Dozen. But he drafted some gems. And regarding the half a loaf game, after the Broncos ties Oakland on MNF in 1973 he said it was always better to be the tie-or than the tie-ee. Back to Saban, when he cam to Denver that team was bare of talent nobody was gonna win there for 5-6 season.
by broncfanstuckinsd on May 16, 2008 11:58 AM MDT reply actions 0 recs
I think we needed Ralston to get out of the gutter.
Sure he was more of a college guy, but without him there would have been no Orange Crush defense or 1977 Super Bowl for that matter. Saban laid the groundwork…you know, leveled and pulled the weeds(ie QBs) and such…Ralston poured the concrete, built the house, and planted the lawns. But he forgot to paint, mow, and stuff so everything was rough. Red Miller came in and smoothed everything out and whipped it into shape.
Jeez, I am bad at analogies. lol
by Tim Lynch on May 16, 2008 2:17 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
you should read
Orange Madness. (I have not read ‘77 by Terry Frei yet, his dad Jerry was on the staff) It tell a great story of the 1977 team. Plus it relates how Red Miller had to change the attitude of the Broncos. Its a real good read. It was awesome how a 9-5 team that most of the “experts” (i use that term very loosely) could see the Broncos surpassing that. How Red came in and made some changes and got a QB among others. My favorite headline ever for a NY paper said when Denver traded Morton for a LOUSY Steve Ramsey (who I believe was so horrible was one reason the Broncs were lucky to win 9 games in 1976) they said Denver traded their shit for our shit. Well we got their shit and a AFC Title out of it, Ramsey did not even make the Gianst team that year!
by broncfanstuckinsd on May 16, 2008 4:29 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Morton had absolutely no wheels,
but he had one hell of an arm, probably the only other Bronco to have an “Elway” type arm. And the guy never got flustered or rattled, never. He was a classic, stand in the pocket and wait till the last moment kind of QB. Everybody on the field knew exactly where he was going to set up. The D line and blitzers could almost pre-sight their artillery. It’s a great testiment to the O-line that he didn’t get killed. He took some hellacious shots bad made some even more spectacular passes.
His favorite targets were Moses and Odoms.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on May 19, 2008 10:32 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
or did Elway have a Cutler arm?
I mean if morton who is Elway’s Sr. by a bit had an Elway arm why can’t they all have Cutler Arms?
Until Terrell Davis makes it into the Hall of Fame, I refuse to acknowledge the existence of such a place other than the Ring of Fame at Mile High!
Davis to the Hall!
by Jon Tollerud on May 22, 2008 10:33 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Well, because us Elway fans would flip out at that comparison.
There can be only ONE. Elway is the benchmark of all things great in a QB. lol Or so us Elway maniacs believe.
by Tim Lynch on May 22, 2008 11:43 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love Elway too.
He is and always will be my #1 choice as the best quarterback to ever play the game. But I’m telling you true when I say if Morton had good knees, he might have been close.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on May 22, 2008 12:38 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Perhaps an understatement.
His knees were so taped I don’t know how he could walk on to the field.
Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of our own mind. - Emerson
by firstfan on May 19, 2008 5:55 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
"Knees"
I swear Morton’s knees could have bent either way except fot the tape.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on May 20, 2008 2:39 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I thought about including him.
He definately has a remarkable arm. It seems a little different than Elway’s though. I can’t put my finger on exactly how. It’s just that Morton’s arm reminds me more of Elway.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on May 19, 2008 12:26 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Plus he had that Moxie
And could not get rattled. I will never forget in 1979 when Norris Weese was the starter for a spell and he came out and led the Broncos to a 34-10 deficit agains the Seahawks. Then came in good ol Craig Morton. Next thing ya know after TD passes to Dave Studdard and Moses, and a running td he hit Rick Upchurch for the win 37-34. Man he was great. Initally when the Broncos got Elway I did not want him wearing #7. To that point it was Mortons #. But now we all know he warmed it up for Elway!
by broncfanstuckinsd on May 19, 2008 12:59 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I kind of felt the same way about the number seven jersey.
We owe a lot to Craig Morton. A great player, tough as nails, and a class act.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on May 19, 2008 3:37 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Of course Elway is a whole nuther story!
I think he might be the best who ever played the position.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on May 19, 2008 3:38 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Yea, I was about to say that Morton ain't got sheet on Elway. lol
My favorite player is obviously Elway, followed by Atwater and Smith(Both Rod and Dennis), then of course TD and Eddie Mac and Shannon Sharpe…lol, I could probably keep listing names. There are just so many favorites to choose from.
The funny thing is, my favorite non-Broncos in the 90’s was John Lynch…glad he’ll retire a Bronco.
by Tim Lynch on May 19, 2008 4:07 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I love all those guys, but...
...I also have the same kind of love for the guys who came earlier, like Karl Mecklenburg and Rulon Jones and Bobby Maples and Bob Swenson. Like you I could go on and on, or would it be on-er and on-er, lol.
I feel the same way about Lynch. I think he came here thinking he’d have at least one more Super Bowl under his belt before he retired. I’d really hate to disappoint him. That’s one of the reason I voted for going to the big game this year.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on May 20, 2008 2:30 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
Karl Mecklenburg is up there on my list too...I just thought I needed to stop listing names. lol
by Tim Lynch on May 20, 2008 3:27 PM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
I hear you.
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on May 21, 2008 10:53 AM MDT up reply actions 0 recs
See the "knees" comment above.
Elway had the arm but he also had the legs and the heart and grew wiser as the years went by. Morton had most of that but definitely not the knees..
If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!
by Trinidad Jack on May 20, 2008 2:34 PM MDT reply actions 0 recs
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