Denver Broncos Greats... By The Numbers: #56
by Jezru on May 28, 2011 10:30 AM MDT
in Denver Broncos Greats...By The Numbers
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Fifteen Denver Broncos have worn the #56. Thirteen linebackers and two centers. Two of the fifteen players leap off the page as contenders for the honor of greatest Denver Bronco to wear #56. Here is the rundown:
Robert Ayers OLB/DE 2009
Al Wilson LB 1999-2006
Keith Burns LB 1994-98
Michael Brooks LB 1987-92
Mike Knox LB 1987
Aaron Smith LB 1984
Larry Evans LB 1976-82
Ray May LB 1973-75
Don Parish LB 1972
Dave Washington LB 1971
Jay Bachman C 1969-70
Walter Highsmith C 1968
Dave Behrman C 1967
John Bramlett LB 1965-66
Jim Price LB 1964
Al Wilson was drafted by the Denver Broncos with the #31 pick overall in the 1999 draft. He played his entire eight year career as MLB for the orange and blue. He was a two time All-Pro selection and was elected to the Pro Bowl five times. During his time in Denver he was a respected leader for the Denver D. He was known to take the entire defense to dinner every week and pick up the check (that could not have been cheap). Interesting fact: Al is short for Aldra.
Keith Burns was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 7th round (#210 overall) in the 1994 draft. He was part of the Super Bowl Championship teams of 1997 and 1998. Despite bouncing around to the Chicago Bears and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he always seemed to find his way back to Denver. In 2007, Burns retired as the Special Teams Captain and assumed an assistant coaching position with Denver. Burns was and remains a dedicated Denver Bronco.
Michael Brooks was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 3rd round (#86 overall) in the 1987 draft. For me, this is one of those "oh yeah, I remember him" guys. He was voted to the Pro Bowl in his final season with the Broncos. He was on the Broncos Super Bowl XXII & XXIV teams. An interesting aside, he followed Dan Reeves to the New York Giants in 1993 and there he won all Pro Honors. Brooks showed so much potential with the Broncos, but he just wasn’t able to maintain the type of production that they required during those great runs of the late 1980’s.
Mike Knox appeared in three games and notched zero stats. He was born in Boulder, Colorado.
Aaron Smith was drafted in the 6th round (#159 overall) in the 1984 draft. He played in ten games and had one punt return for two yards.
Larry Evans was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 14th round (#390) in the 1976 draft. He played for the Broncos during their run to Super Bowl XII. During his career he picked off three passes and recovered four fumbles.
Ray May came to the Denver Broncos in 1973. He played for three seasons and notched four interceptions and a fumble recovery.
Don Parish played in one game in 1972. He notched zero stats.
Dave Washington was drafted by the Denver Broncos in the 9th round (#219 overall) in the 1970 draft. He started twenty-one of twenty seven games he appeared in. During his time in Denver he had one interception and three fumble recoveries.
Jay Bachman played in forty-five games and started in one of them. You’ll see him again when MHR covers #65. This is me passing the buck to whoever does #65. Interesting fact: 65 is the inverse of 56. See what he did there? Amazing.
Walter Highsmith played in twenty-five games and started one of them. The unfortunate thing about Centers is that there really isn’t much you can say about them. He snapped the ball a lot.
Dave Behrman played in eleven games and had a fumble recovery.
John Bramlett was the runner up for AFL Rookie of the Year (behind Joe Namath) in 1965. He got an interception in each of the years he was with the Broncos. He came to the Broncos because he was tossed off of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team for getting into trouble. According to Wikipedia, he’s sworn off the wild ways and runs now John Bramlett Ministries.
Jim Price played in six games and notched zero stats.
So... Who was the Greatest Denver Bronco to wear #56? It’s close between Keith Burns and Al Wilson. You can’t deny that Denver's defensive decline became total the moment we lost Al. His leadership was the "intangible" that we’ve been missing the last few years. He was a hard hitter who led by example. That’s why...
The Greatest Denver Bronco to ever wear #56 is...
Al Wilson
A Mile High Salute to you! Go Broncos!
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I'm sorry, but this is the biggest no brainer of all time. :)
Verbose in style, dispersion of thought, procrastination in life.
The artist formerly known as ZAPPA
by Tim Lynch on May 28, 2011 10:36 AM MDT reply actions 3 recs
No doubt!
Al was special, hated to see his career cut short, but that kind of injury (neck) happens so often to the guys who play all out and leave their hearts and souls on the field. There is something special when your leader is a linebacker…Singletary, Butkus, Gradishar, Lewis, Nitschke(my man!), Urlacher…I could go on and on. Here’s hoping Von Miller is that for our D.
"I'm very important. I have many leather-bound books and my apartment smells of rich mahogany."
by rubincarterrocks on May 29, 2011 9:42 AM MDT up reply actions
For now, Al Wilson
Maybe Ayers can show us why we draft him and breakout do win this poll in the future. The #57 one is unanimous, we’ll need no poll on Jackson!
I bleed Orange & Blue.
ill never forget tha play against he raiders in the snow
it just sucks they got the first down on that play
"Have you ever heard of the emancipation proclamation?"
- "I don't listen to hip-hop"
by BroncoJoe311 on May 28, 2011 11:24 AM MDT up reply actions
What sucks more is they beat us that game
"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun" - Ash from Army of Darkness
"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?" - Evelle from Raising Arizona
"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman
God bless Al Wilson
When Al went down we never recovered
Al all the way.
One of my favorite broncos ever!
"just win Baby"....... unless you draft jamarcus russell
Middle
I hope our young draft pick can match Al’s production
this one is easy...
Don Parish! I miss Al Wilson…
by SoCalBroncsFan on May 28, 2011 11:40 AM MDT reply actions
Ain't that the truth.
Floyd Little: HOF Class of 2010.
2009-10 back-to-back NBA Champions L.A Lakers
2009-10 NBA Finals MVP Kobe Bryant
Al Wilson a lock at 56
which is why I picked Keith Burns at #55 event hough he wore 51 (Swenson) and 56 (Wilson). Ayers has a way to go to unseat Wilson with number 56. He may want to change numbers anyway if he plays DE.
Orton, Tebow, Quinn, may the best man win!
by OrangeandBluesBros on May 28, 2011 12:20 PM MDT reply actions
Picked Al Wilson of course.
Nothing to add to what you’ve all said. All serious fans of the team know what Al Wilson meant for the Broncos.
Keith Burns deserves an honorable mention for all the numbers he’s worn. Probably the best overall special teams player in Bronco history.
Keith Burns was a nice player, but this is not close. Aldra Kauwa Wilson. If he hadn’t gotten hurt, he was on his way to Canton.
How about those grades? Well, there's an A in alcohol, a B in beer. C is for Miss Carter, who we love so dear. D is for drunk, and there ain't no E, so F's for Forever Clear.
Al Wilson in a landslide.
The Bronco defense hasn’t been the same since he was forced to retire. Hopefully young Nate Irving can give us half of what the great Al Wilson gave the Broncos.
# 56
Yeah Big Al Wilson is the best to wear #56, for sure but here’s a fun fact about Dave Washington, he did the kickoff duties in 1971 because Jim Turner couldn’t kick the ball deep.
by Wallace Clemons on May 28, 2011 8:52 PM MDT reply actions
It is Al Wilson
yes, Michael Brooks had some good years, but Al was the best!
Brad James
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With Coach Zorro on our side, we will slice opponents to ribbons. Tim Tebow gives me hope and I already have faith and charity in my heart! I see a propitious future rife with Lombardis for our Broncos!
by the new Bradfather on May 29, 2011 12:49 AM MDT reply actions
I like how every player except Ayers has a vote
screw Ayers he doesnt even deserve to be mentioned and never will hes a waste of space on our roster
No save ammunition all bullets in gun now- Bruce Campbell
Stand up straight a man looks more confident when he is erect- Taj
GO BRONCOS GO REDSOX GO NUGGETS
Ayers
Ayers is such a physical beast I keep thinking he’s going to break out eventually and surprise us all
This is his year and he knows that...
What would be funny is if Jeremy Beal out played him and takes his spot…
by bfree2bronc on May 29, 2011 10:48 AM MDT up reply actions
Jeremy Beal
I’m kind of intrigued by Jeremy Beal
Love Wilson
But I think Burns needs some love too, guy was the heart and soul of a ST when we had a great ST unit, but I did vote for Wilson.
"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
"Duffman is thrusting in the direction of the problem" - Duffman
"Good, bad, I'm the guy with the gun" - Ash from Army of Darkness
"H.I., you're young and you got your health, what you want with a job?" - Evelle from Raising Arizona
"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman
Robert Ayers!
C’mon Man, Al Wilson without a doubt, no need for a debate or a poll on this number. He was the heart and soul of that Denver Defense. But I sure am glad that Josh McDaniels over drafted Robert Ayers. Maybe Fox can help him turn the corner before Ayers becomes a completely wasted 1st round pick.
Big Al without a doubt!
Side note on Mike Knox, my brother played with him at Douglas County High School in Castle Rock. Dude was the biggest guy I’ve ever seen in high school. I remember him as one of the scabs that played in 1987.
"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game
RIP Barrel Man - 12/5/09
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