clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Broncos top 10 list on NFL Network was a big flop

Ian St. Clair and I took issue with the NFL Network’s list of the top 10 Broncos. There were some major omissions.

NFL: New York Giants at Denver Broncos Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The MHR Radio Podcast is now on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher. Please subscribe to the one that fits your fancy, and also rate and review what you hear.

Every team has great players. Fans love to debate which players are the best, and everybody loves a top ten list. A few weeks back, the NFL Network aired their list of the top 10 Denver Broncos. It was great to see some of the old Broncos, but the list left a lot to be desired.

As Ian St. Clair and I discussed on the Mile High Report Radio podcast, the list had some big names left off, and one that should really anger Broncos Country. The list looked like this;

  1. John Elway
  2. Terrell Davis
  3. Shannon Sharpe
  4. Champ Bailey
  5. Peyton Manning
  6. Steve Atwater
  7. Rod Smith
  8. Randy Gradishar
  9. Karl Mecklenburg
  10. Von Miller

At first glance, the list seems fine. However, there is a name missing that invalidates the list immediately. No Floyd Little. How is it possible that the NFL Network doesn’t have researchers that are smart enough to know the importance of Floyd Little to the franchise? His nickname was “The Franchise.”

If you don’t know the history of the team, you would never know the Denver Broncos were almost gone. Without Floyd Little, the team probably would have left Denver for another town. Ignoring the fact that he is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, that alone should place Little high up on the list.

Lists like this are designed to create conversation and controversy. This one definitely does that. All-time Denver Broncos greats like Randy Gradishar take a step back to Peyton Manning. Other Orange Crush defense members like Louis Wright were also left off the list.

Another big omission from the list was another Hall of Fame player - Gary Zimmerman. When Ian and I were joined by Byron Chamberlain, he immediately said that made this list illegitimate. He was the the best left tackle in the league. He was the best lineman on the best offensive line in the NFL.

Top 10 lists are great fodder for discussion. What does your list look like Broncos Country. Let us know in the comments.

The MHR Radio Podcast is now on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher. Please subscribe to the one that fits your fancy, and also rate and review what you hear.