The Greatest Broncos of All-Time.....By The Numbers -- #3

by John Bena on Jan 28, 2009 8:00 AM MST in Broncos Greats...By The Numbers Comment 21 comments

The Candidates -

Paul Ernster K 2005-06
Scott Bentley K 1997, 2000
Rich Karlis K 1982-88
Bobby Howfield K 1968-70
Billy Joe FB 1963-64

The Greatest Bronco To Ever Wear #3 -

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Rich Karlis, K - 1982-88

Was there ever any doubt? Sure, the list of Broncos to wear #3 isn't that awe-inspiring, but could anyone but Rich karlis get the nod? Just based on the fact that the guy was a barefoot kicker makes him a great in my book, then top it off with the OT field goal against the Browns, in Cleveland, kicking in sub-zero temperatures on green-colored dirt, and he is as close to a sure thing as anyone on this list!

While Karlis will always be remembered for that kick, that even to this day Browns fans will tell you was wide-right, the rest of his career wasn't all that bad either. Playing for 3 teams over a nine-year career, Karlis made 172 field goals and 283 extra point attempts for 799 points and also holds Super Bowl records for most field goals attempts with six, and other records including most consecutive field goals made as a rookie with thirteen in 1982.

In Super Bowl XXI, Karlis had the dubious distinction of tying the record for longest field goal made(48 yards), while setting the record for shortest FG miss(23 yards). Over all, Karlis was 3/6 that day, another indication of just how tough SB 21 was.

Perhaps the greatest story about Karlis comes from his short stay with the Minnesota Vikings.

Karlis's wife had apparently spoken badly about the Viking's O-lineman, who she felt were becoming a bad influence on her husband. When word got back to the "slobs" they vowed to get even. Get even they did, when one day before practice they captured Karlis, tied his hands and feet, stuck a gag in his mouth and blind-folded him. After tossing a rope over the cross-bar, they strung Karlis up by his feet, placing a sign on his jersey that read, ""Wife talked about offensive line." Let that be a lesson to all you kickers out there.

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My favorite Karlis memory

is a cartoon done by Drew Litton after Rich clanked the ball off the right and left uprights at the end of consecutive games. It showed Karlis looking up at the goalposts that were shaped like a fork with four tines.

"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game

"tough times don't last, tough people do" - Mike "The Mastermind" Shanahan

by DesertBroncoFan on Jan 28, 2009 9:10 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

That's kind of interesting, no QB ever wore #3

I would of swore we had some back-up like Jeff Lewis or someone else that wore a #3, but I always liked our bare foot kicker, despite his ability to hit the uprights.

"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman

by Broncoman on Jan 28, 2009 9:18 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

FG Kickers.

The Broncos have had some great kickers over the years. Elam is my favorite but Karlis, Treadwell, and other Bronco kickers have been great also. I can understand why Browns fan still think Karlis missed that FG in overtime. Watching it live and on replays over the years it definitely was close and you just have to believe that the refs that were under the goal post saw the ball sneak just inside the upright.
I will never understand how Karlis could kick barefooted and be effective, especially in cold weather in Denver all those years and at road games like Cleveland. It is ironic that one of Karlis worst days was in good weather in the SB against the Giants but that is the way it goes in sports I guess.
Keep up the good work Sports Guru. I am really enjoying your work on the the best Broncos to wear each number. It will be interesting to see if Prater can continue the great legacy of Broncos kickers or if someone else beats him out in camp this year.
By the way Broncoman, Jeff Lewis wore #8.

by broncorob on Jan 28, 2009 10:03 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

ahh...great memories...

this was one of my earliest Broncos memories as a kid…

Beware the wrath of a patient adversary.

John C. Calhoun --

by bcfunk on Jan 28, 2009 11:40 AM MST up reply actions 0 recs

wow!

I never even realized that kick was disputed! It certainly was close from that replay (in all of its non-HD glory)… but I love how all those Browns fans are complaining about something almost 2 decades ago. Plus, how do you say your team was cheated out of a SB, when the Broncos had outplayed your team for 3 consecutive drives. If I were a Browns fan, and they did call that Karlis kick no-good, I would have little confidence that my team could move the ball on an inspired Broncos team.

Memories indeed….

by tunga77 on Jan 28, 2009 12:11 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

That's the sheer brilliance of it.

There was no evidence at all that the Browns would have any success moving the football. They were still bewildered that Elway had even kept us in the game. Plus, all they did in the entire second half was make one long pass play. I think the refs got it right.

誰かが実際にこれを翻訳するのに時間をかけオンライン訳者から出る風変わりな言葉から意味を成すことができたら、私に言いなさい。それは私の生殖器を非常に繁栄しているようにする。また、私は完全に異常である。

by papigrande on Jan 28, 2009 2:05 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for that clip.

It was a G-r-r-r-eat game. Unfortunately, it’s not one of my earliest Bronco memories, : )

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on Jan 28, 2009 4:33 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

barefoot kickers...

What is the advantage or not advantage of kicking with a bare foot? Did that used to be more common, and why the switch?

by Squeaky on Jan 28, 2009 10:20 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

Astro Turf

Some kickers said it gave them a better feel of the ball. That’s probably just personal preference. Most of the time it was because many kickers felt that wearing a cleat on those old school Astro Turf fields made them more prone to rolling their ankle. So, they’d either wear a soccer shoe on the kicking foot or just go barefoot with it.

My understanding is that the practice has been outlawed by modern merchandising rules with the shoe suppliers, much the way they used to prohibit Mike Nolan from wearing his suits on the sidelines. And, modern artificial grass is less tacky than the artificial turf used in the past.

by TheMastermind on Jan 28, 2009 1:50 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Also, i´ve played soccer al my life

and many guys like that too, because it gives you a better feel of the ball, especially for accuracy.

by MauMontaV5 on Jan 28, 2009 2:10 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Aaawww

Kubiak… buhu…

Random quotes about the raiders:
They really shouldn’t play — Chris Collinsworth (12/5/08)
This is an utter disaster — Chris Collinsworth (12/5/08)
/The great Dane - formerly known as Claaaaas!

by Claus Vestergaard on Jan 28, 2009 11:52 AM MST reply actions 0 recs

i noticed that to

McDaniels was the best option for this team. You CAN NOT overfocus on the defense and possibley have Jeremy Bates not progress with Cutler. McDaniels will watch over both sides of the ball, especially the O, while letting a defensive guy handle the D along with an intelligent GM.

Mac Daddy mackin' out Denver!!!

by broncodude793 on Jan 28, 2009 3:19 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Billy Joe

Wow, I haven’t heard that name in like, forever! Nice series!

It's "just" football

by Donkhead on Jan 28, 2009 12:33 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

That Vikings story is hilarious

Off on a tangent, Karlis always reminded us of the little boy, Nicholas, from Eight is Enough.

by CoastalBronco on Jan 28, 2009 1:31 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, you're right.

He does remind me of Nicholas. But what does that say about us? lol.

If this be Hell, let us make the most of it!

by Trinidad Jack on Jan 28, 2009 4:27 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah...

You don’t EVER talk schmack about your OL.

You say it to their faces if you’ve got something to say.

LOL

by TheMastermind on Jan 28, 2009 1:40 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

ahh, good times

i think it’s time to dust those uni’s off and bring them back for a game or two.

by BrazenDrazen on Jan 28, 2009 1:46 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

Haha

I played soccer with his son, Andrew, when I was like 9 or so. That’s all I’ve got.

I am Jack's unbridled optimism.

by SlamDunkTheFunk on Jan 28, 2009 4:41 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

somebody good needs to wear #3, now!

what a list. i will never forgive karlis for the giants sb. it should have been 19-9 at the half, minimum, and would have been a different game in the second. he just killed us that day. treadwell in the ‘91 afc championship game, too. somebody please get his #, too, so i don’t have to re-live these painful memories!

taste my blintzkrieg!
2009-year of the defense.

by davecheffy on Jan 28, 2009 6:47 PM MST reply actions 0 recs