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The all-time American Football League 50th anniversary list continues. This week a look at the best Denver Broncos running backs of the past half century. (Note: We have left out the two-season wonders, like Bobby Humphrey, and others who played only briefly with the Broncos; i.e. Clinton Portis, Mike Anderson, etc.) .
Floyd Little: Drafted sixth overall in 1967 by the Broncos, Little was the first No. 1 pick Denver signed when it was in the AFL. Little was one of the four original inductees in the team's Ring of Fame, inducted in 1984 with defensive end Rich Jackson, wide receiver Lionel Taylor and safety Austin “Goose”
Gonsoulin. When Little retired in 1975 he was the seventh-leading rusher in NFL history. He now ranks second to Terrell Davis on the Broncos rushing list with for rushing attempts (1,641), rushing yards (6,323) and rushing 
touchdowns (43). Known as "The Franchise," the former Syracuse star was a three-time Pro Bowl participant and played in two AFL All-Star Games. Little played on only two winning teams (1973-74) in his nine-year career, so he had little help. Still he among professional football players from 1967-75, he ranked second only to O.J. Simpson in rushing yards. In 1971, Little had a career-best 1,133 yards to lead all NFL rushers a year after being the AFC rushing leader. Little held the team record with 12,173 career all-purpose yards, until Rod Smith passed him in 2006. Little also finished his career as the Broncos’ leader in kickoff return yards (2,523).
Otis Armstrong: Another former Bronco whose career was shortented by injury. Armstrong stepped in as Little's successor quickly, rushing for 1,407 yards in his second season in 1974, then a
Broncos single-season record. Armstrong is fourth all-time among Denver running
backs in yardage with 4,453. A two-time Pro Bowler, Armstrong was a
more-than decent receiver. In 1974, when Armstrong also was a first-team All-Pro, he had 38 catches for 405 yards for a 10.7 average per catch. He only topped that in 1976 with 39 catches for 457 yards (11.7). That year was his other Pro Bowl season when Armstrong rushed for 1,008, his only other 1,000-yard-plus campaign. Armstrong finished with a 4.4-yard per carry average, a better than respectable figure.
Sammy Winder: The former University of Southern Mississippi standout gets shortshrift as one of the best all-time Broncos rushers. Perhaps that's because he played on all three losing Broncos teams in the 1980s Super Bowl defeats. Still, Winder tanks third all-time among Denver rushed with 5,427 yards. A dependable receiver, Winder averaged nearly 22 catches a season in his nine-year career. A two-time Pro Bowler, Winder's best season came in 1984 when he rushed for 1,153 yards and had 44 receptions for 288 yards. The knock against Winder was that he had terrible Super Bowls: 13 carries for 25 yards. But, remember, the Broncos were blown out of all three and had to play catch-up throughout most of the games. Denver led in Super Bowl XXII 10-0 after ther first quarter, but let Wasshington score 35 unanswered points when the game was decided by halftime.
Terrell Davis: Perhaps the best back of his era in the NFL, Davis would be an automatic Hall of Fame pick if he had lasted four to six more seasons. But for his four seasons, Davis was the most dangerous back in the league. In those remarkable four years, David ran for 6,413 yards and 56 touchdowns. He added 152 receptions and five more TDs. More important, he was the missing link in all those Super Bowl losses. Without Davis, it's safe to say the Broncos may have gone 0 for 5 in the Super Bowl. Davis still is waiting for the Ring of Fame at Invesco Field at Mile High, but his day will come soon, probably in 2010.
For my money, though, I would say Floyd Little was the best Broncos running back of the past 50 years. He has Hall of Fame numbers, but won't get in because he played on so many bad teams. Davis elevated his team to Super Bowl champs and maym be Hall of Fame material, but if Little isn't worthy I don't think Davis is either.
Just one man's opinion, let me know what you think.
About Examiner.com's 50th anniversary American Football League team.
Broncos' best QB? That's easy: Elway.
Comments
Absolutely, Greg! There aren't many left by proportion who actually saw Floyd Little play, but I did. While I am a huge fan of TD's, I don't believe people have any idea just how pathetic Little' offensive lines were.
I remember reading back then a comment by the great Larry Csonka that he thought Little was the best running back in football at that time. Had Little played for a good football team, he would have enjoyed some championships, been inducted into the Hall of Fame, and been in the argument for Greatest of All Time. I really believe that.
I also believe Little is THE reason the team is the DENVER Broncos today. He truly saved a floundering franchise, hence the moniker "The Franchise."
TD is already in the Ring of Fame, I was there for his induction! I am not sure how you can choose Little over TD but to each his own.
I was in contact with Floyd Little a couple years ago and have hit many blogs and sent emails to many sports writers on the HOF nomination commity pleading Floyds case for induction.And I believe, as Larry stated, that because Denver had poor teams around Little, he is overlooked.At the time of his retirement,he was a shoe-in.How could that changed in the short time after when he first became eligble.Also as stated,Floyd Little saved the Broncos from being moved elswhere and maybe the possibility of John Elway even becoming a Bronco himself.As much as I love TD,"The Franchise" deserves to be inducted to the HOF first.He should have been the first Bronco inducted.
are you all crazy did Floyd Little ever win a super bowl, yet alone back to back Superbowl and played dang near blind in one of them. who am i talking about, none other then T.D., Terrell Davis. Terrell rushed for 7607, including a 2008 yard rushing game in 1998 when they won the Superbowl.Racking up 60 rushing touchdowns on a team in which there offense of line was horrible. not to mention he was a 3-time Pro Bowler & 3-time first-team All-Pro player. i dont know about you guys but Terrell is the man when it comes to the best Denver Broncos Running back to every play there.
Thanks to all for the comments. I'm a big of Terrell Davis, but he had plenty of help. Elway, Atwater, a great offensive line, etc. Floyd Little played on some horrific teams in Denver.
should have said "I'm a big fan of Terrell Davis..."
Matt, nobody is disputing that Davis should be elected to the HOF.But when Little retired,he was ranked 7th all-time in running backs and the 6 that preceded him were all inducted.Also, at the time of his retirement,he was touted as a future Hall of Famer.I am sure that if you go back and look at all of the HOFers,not all of them won a Super Bowl or Championship (prior to the NFL-AFL merger).The fact is,at the time of his retirement and since the first year of eligibility,he had the numbers for the players of his time to be inducted.Also remember he played fewer years than a lot of modern day players that are in and had the worst lines and very little supporting cast around him.I don't know how much of his career you watched,but those of us who followed him from day one have never forgot what he brought to Denver and the game.
Floyd is in baby!!!! Class of 2010!!!! About damn time!
Floyd Little what a joke. How about Ken Stabler, Ray Guy, Cliff Branch, Lester Hayes,Jack Tatum,Tom Flores, Its bullshit. Tim Brown. Its the nfl against the Raiders. Total bullshit.
Help please. My father ,Willard Newton, is a personal friend of Mr. Little. His barber shop in the 60's & 70's, "Newton and Sons" use to cut the Broncos hair at training camp, I believe in Ft. Collins. Anyway my dad and my mother use to know Mr. Little and his family well. My wife, Felicia and I have shared season tickets for years now and at a throwback game (50 years) we saw and met Mr. Little and his wife in the Broncos Store. I have a picture of Mr. Little and myself. At the time he had not been elected to the HOF yet however his wife took my dad's personal info and said he would contact him if he heard good news about the Hall. I however did not get any of Mr. Little's info to congratulate him ourselves. Mr. Little and I discussed his residence on Monaco and Montview, how my two older brothers ("and Sons") helped him move from Monaco to Cherry Hills. We even talked about the clothes Mr. Little made for us at his Taylor shop in downtown Denver.
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