Big 12’s Greatest NFL Players: Colorado
by ccmachine on Apr 29, 2009 3:35 PM CDT
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The Colorado Buffaloes currently have 21 players in the NFL scattered among 15 different teams. Included among them are Pittsburgh punter Mitch Berger, Houston running back Chris Brown, Green Bay kicker Mason Crosby and Denver Broncos tight end Daniel Graham, but what about the greatest Colorado player to play in the NFL? The Buffs have produced 14 pro bowlers but none greater than Cliff Branch.
Branch played wide receiver for the Oakland/LA Raiders for 14 seasons. He helped the Raiders win three World Championships (Super Bowls XI, XV, XVIII). In his three Super Bowls Branch caught a combined 14 passes for 176 yards and 3 touchdowns. Branch was named to 4 consecutive Pro Bowls (1974-1977). In 1974, he led the NFL in both receiving yards (1,092) and receiving touchdowns (13).
Cliff Branch finished his career with 501 receptions for 8,685 and 67 touchdowns earning him our title as the greatest NFL player to come out of the
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You had to put a Raider up there
But hard to argue against Branch, although we have had a lot of good LB, Chad Brown probably having the best career, also some good offensive lineman, Matt Lepsis having a very good career, although he never got the recognition he deserved.
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This one is a little more interesting than Baylor
I’d vote Branch #1 NFL career. Super Bowls, Pro Bowls and longevity seem to be on his side
Now the debate would be at #2
Chad Brown, Matt Lepsis, Kordell Stewart, Gary Knafelc (played several years for the Packers in the early 60’s).
But the one I’d pick: Whizzer White, only had 3 years with Detroit after leaving CU. In three NFL seasons, he played in 33 games. He led the league in rushing yards in 1938 and 1940, and he was one of the first “big money” NFL players, making $15,000 a year. His career was cut short when he entered the United States Navy during World War II; after the war, he elected to attend law school rather than returning to football. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1954.
Yes it was only 3 years, but given the time when pro football wasn’t a big thing like it is now, it was a huge impact on the game, and how star college players could actually pay attention to the NFL.
Photo from USA today White’s Obit page
Cliff Branch was the right pick
There were some guys not mentioned for runner-up status, like Boyd Dowler (5 NFL championships with the Packers), Joel Steed, Alfred Williams, Dave Logan, etc. But Branch should be in the Pro HOF. He just tore the Eagles up in Super Bowl XV.
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