Top 20 Halfbacks in Broncos History

[Bronco LB 59]

Feel free to call me an idiot about my rankings. I encourage everyone to post their own list or fix mine.

I didn't include Jon Keyworth, Steve Sewell, Howard Griffith because they were "fullbacks". Rob Lytle is a borderline fullback so I didn't include him either.

1. Terrell Davis
2. Floyd Little
3. Ottis Armstrong
4. Clinton Portis
5. Sammy Winder
6. Bobby Humphrey
7. Mike Anderson
8. Olandis Gary
9. Reuben Droughns
10. Gaston Green
11. Cookie Gilchrist
12. Bobby Anderson
13. Billy Joe
14. Dave Preston
15. Gerald Willhite
16. Donnie Stone
17. Rod Bernstine
18. Rick Parros
19. Tony Dorsett
20. Abner Haynes

Missed the cut: Joe Dawkins, Lonnie Perrin, Wendell Hayes

Coming soon: Tatum Bell

[ClevelandBronco2]

Top 20 on a team not yet 50 years old?

Does your bottom 20 list include some of the guys at the bottom of your top 20?

[Bronco LB 59]

Top 20 on a team not yet 50 years old?

Does your bottom 20 list include some of the guys at the bottom of your top 20?

Abner Haynes, the #20 on this list, might have been the best all-purpose player in the AFL. He's not a stiff.

[DarkHorse]

I would have included Sewell - he was a cool utility back, good receiver and shifty type runner for that day.

FWIW
1. TD - Unquestioned
2. Portis - I liked him a lot, still do
3. Gerald Whilhite - nother guy I always liked
4. Bobby Humphrey
5. Gaston Green
6. MA
7. Reuban Droughns - what the NFL player should emulate
8. Olandis Gary
9. Sammy Winder
10. Floyd Little - gets my #10 cause I wasn't around when he played :D

The other guys just don't cut it for me - never saw a lot of them play and Dorsett was only around 1 year and it was a forgettable one at that.

[DarkHorse]

I guess I should mention - the top 2 are locks. Rearrange any below those in whatever order and i'll take it. In fact, move Reuban up to 3 and i'm happy - great attitude!

[TexanBob]

Well, considering we couldn't keep one healthy for more than a few years, I guess a Top 20 makes sense but when you have to dive so far back that even *I* haven't heard of them, perhaps it is better to have left at Top 10.

[TheManeMan]

Where is Glyn Milburn??

Hilarious!

[Liebs]

Where is Glyn Milburn??

Hilarious!
returning kicks

[Arkie]

1. Tatum Bell
2. Clinton Portis
3. Kevin Williams
4. Terrell Davis
5. Mike Anderson
6. Glyn Milburn
7. Garrett Ford
8. Rod Bernstine
9. Abner Haynes
10. Gerald Willhite
11. Otis Armstrong
12. Cookie Gilchrist
13. Tony Dorsett
14. Reuben Droughns
15. Vaughn Hebron
16. Bobby Humphrey
17. Fran Lynch
18. Bobby Anderson
19. Olandis Gary
20. Steve Sewell
21. Lonnie Perrin
22. Aaron Craver
23. Jim Jenson
24. Rick Parros
25. Rob Lytle
26. Floyd Little
27. Donnie Stone
28. Dave Rolle
29. John Keyworth
30. Wendell Hayes
31. Joe Dawkins
32. Quentin Griffin
33. Greg Lewis
34. Sammy Winder
35. Robert Delpino
36. Billy Joe
37. Dave Preston
38. Gene Lang
39. James Betterson
40. Derek Loville
41. Sammie Smith
42. KaRon Coleman
43. Detron Smith
44. Leonard Russell
45. Frank Quayle
46. Charlie Mitchell
47. Reggie Rivers
48. Chris Howard
49. Howard Griffith
50. Oliver Ross
51. Chris Brewer
52. Wandy Williams

[Tredici]

Putting Clinton Portis ahead of Terrell Davis?

Ummmm.. okay.

That renders this thread as no further comment.

[B-Love]

The 1st 3 are in the right order for sure, though Otis Armstrong was more talented than Floyd Little was. The only thing that seperates Otis from our #2 all time spot, was his chronic hamstring problems that hampered him in 1975 and 1977, as well as his untimely neck injury in 1980.

Red Miller's embarrassing "RB by Committee" was Otis' enemy in 1978 and 1979, as Otis saw wayyyyy too much pine behind Rob Lytle and Dave Preston.

Ironically, it was midway through the 1980 season that Red Miller realized Otis needed to be the full time Halfback again, and Otis responded by going over the 100 yard mark in 3 out of 4 games. Then against the Oilers, Otis took a bad shot to the neck and would never play again.

But Floyd was great too and deserves the # 2 spot in team history for his consistency, versatility as well as the National Recognition he gave us.

Feel free to call me an idiot about my rankings. I encourage everyone to post their own list or fix mine.

I didn't include Jon Keyworth, Steve Sewell, Howard Griffith because they were "fullbacks". Rob Lytle is a borderline fullback so I didn't include him either.

1. Terrell Davis
2. Floyd Little
3. Ottis Armstrong
4. Clinton Portis
5. Sammy Winder
6. Bobby Humphrey
7. Mike Anderson
8. Olandis Gary
9. Reuben Droughns
10. Gaston Green
11. Cookie Gilchrist
12. Bobby Anderson
13. Billy Joe
14. Dave Preston
15. Gerald Willhite
16. Donnie Stone
17. Rod Bernstine
18. Rick Parros
19. Tony Dorsett
20. Abner Haynes

Missed the cut: Joe Dawkins, Lonnie Perrin, Wendell Hayes

Coming soon: Tatum Bell

[Willynowei]

Terrel Davis is an obvious #1.

Don't punish Clinton Portis because hes not polished enough to run in Joe Gibbs slow complex counter plays and that patch work offensive line they have. He's still the best zone runner period, and if he stayed in Denver would've put up the numbers to prove that.

So... Clinton Portis is #2.

I'm either too young to have seen the rest that matter, or i dont think the rest matter after these two.... But Tatum Bell will matter ;)

[Hogan11]

Floyd Little #1

Everyone else, like it or not, was just a transitional back.....afterall, who's the only HB in Broncos History to have his number retired? That's right and with good reason.

[B-Love]

Feel free to call me an idiot about my rankings. I encourage everyone to post their own list or fix mine.

I didn't include Jon Keyworth, Steve Sewell, Howard Griffith because they were "fullbacks". Rob Lytle is a borderline fullback so I didn't include him either.

1. Terrell Davis
2. Floyd Little
3. Ottis Armstrong
4. Clinton Portis
5. Sammy Winder
6. Bobby Humphrey
7. Mike Anderson
8. Olandis Gary
9. Reuben Droughns
10. Gaston Green
11. Cookie Gilchrist
12. Bobby Anderson
13. Billy Joe
14. Dave Preston
15. Gerald Willhite
16. Donnie Stone
17. Rod Bernstine
18. Rick Parros
19. Tony Dorsett
20. Abner Haynes

Missed the cut: Joe Dawkins, Lonnie Perrin, Wendell Hayes

Coming soon: Tatum Bell

Rob Lytle deserves to be on this list LB. He was never considered a FB, though Reeves did try to bulk him up a bit as a 3rd TE in 1983. It didn't really work as Lytle was hurt in the famous game in week 2 of the 83 season where Elway returned to Baltimore.

Rick Parros was exclusively a FB, though he did tote the rock out of Single Back sets in 1981. But he was always listed as the FB, never a HB.

Gilchrist was a FB too.

Olandis Gary might not even make this list, or would be in my bottom 5 somewhere. He was a blatantly ordinary football player, who rode 3 big games to decent numbers in 1999. His 1999 season may be the most unnecessarily talked about season in Broncos team history. 5% of his carries went for real big gainers, another 20% went for decent yardage and the other 75% were 2 yards or less.

Gaston Green, Bobby Anderson, Rob Lytle, Dave Preston, and Cookie Gilchrist were all more talented than Olandis Gary, on an era by era basis.

[clean]

Elway has better rushing statistics then most of the guys on the list and deserves some type of mention. I think I would take Leonard Russell over Abner and possiby Tony. It's hard to judge the running backs who only played one or two seasons in Denver.

[Bob's your Information Minister]

I love that you have a Chief on your list.

[Sir Mawn]

This thread is useless even with pictures.

[-Slap-]

1. Tatum Bell
2. Clinton Portis
3. Kevin Williams
4. Terrell Davis
5. Mike Anderson
6. Glyn Milburn
7. Garrett Ford
8. Rod Bernstine
9. Abner Haynes
10. Gerald Willhite
11. Otis Armstrong
12. Cookie Gilchrist
13. Tony Dorsett
14. Reuben Droughns
15. Vaughn Hebron
16. Bobby Humphrey
17. Fran Lynch
18. Bobby Anderson
19. Olandis Gary
20. Steve Sewell
21. Lonnie Perrin
22. Aaron Craver
23. Jim Jenson
24. Rick Parros
25. Rob Lytle
26. Floyd Little
27. Donnie Stone
28. Dave Rolle
29. John Keyworth
30. Wendell Hayes
31. Joe Dawkins
32. Quentin Griffin
33. Greg Lewis
34. Sammy Winder
35. Robert Delpino
36. Billy Joe
37. Dave Preston
38. Gene Lang
39. James Betterson
40. Derek Loville
41. Sammie Smith
42. KaRon Coleman
43. Detron Smith
44. Leonard Russell
45. Frank Quayle
46. Charlie Mitchell
47. Reggie Rivers
48. Chris Howard
49. Howard Griffith
50. Oliver Ross
51. Chris Brewer
52. Wandy Williams

Reggie Rivers is way too low.

[wabbit]

I often wondered...to no particular end...what Floyd Little would have done with the Bronco O-line of '96-2000

...but 26th??

He led the league (post merger) in rushing yards gained one year when he was the entire Bronco offense, had no QB, a lousy, crappy offensive line & bad coaching.

No-one was better for this franchise...ever

[Arkie]

Ha! I was waiting for somebody to notice Little at #26. Those aren't my personal rankings. It's just a pretty good list of Denver runningbacks ranked by career yards per carry, and Bell is #1! The backs should be divided by eras, but Tatum stacks up well in the Shanahan era.

[broncosteven]

Tie at #1 for TD & Floyd. Floyd was the guy I loved as a kid, he is the single reason I became a Bronco fan. That said the real reason I would tie him with TD is due to the fact that he was the Broncos first Franchise player, before Elway.

If TD had played another 2 years posting 1000+ seasons then he would be undisputed #1. Floyd was the team in early 70's.

Nothing like watching a Bow-legged man run through butt-priates & Chef tackles.

[Garcia Bronco]

30 and 44

[bendog]

1. Little
2. TD
3. Sonic
4. Armstrong
5. Mississippi Mud Guy
6 Humphreys
7. Lytle
8. Gary (one year, maybe too high)
7. Wilhite
9. MA
10 Rivers
11. Preston
12. Keyworth
13. Poole
14. Fran Lynch
15. G. Green (one year, maybe too low)
16. C. Gilchrist (ditto)
17. Bobby Anderson
18. Larry Canada
19. Gene Mingo
Ezor

[-Slap-]

Ask Howie Long and Bill Pickel who was number one and they'll say Joe Dudek.

[Tredici]

Ask Howie Long and Bill Pickel who was number one and they'll say Joe Dudek.

Best.

Scab.

Ever.

[Sean]

22. Aaron Craver


Oh man, that's a name I haven't heard in awhile. I remember being sorry to see him go, but I ended up very happy with his replacement.

[Bronco LB 59]

Rob Lytle deserves to be on this list LB. He was never considered a FB, though Reeves did try to bulk him up a bit as a 3rd TE in 1983. It didn't really work as Lytle was hurt in the famous game in week 2 of the 83 season where Elway returned to Baltimore.

Rick Parros was exclusively a FB, though he did tote the rock out of Single Back sets in 1981. But he was always listed as the FB, never a HB.

Gilchrist was a FB too.

Olandis Gary might not even make this list, or would be in my bottom 5 somewhere. He was a blatantly ordinary football player, who rode 3 big games to decent numbers in 1999. His 1999 season may be the most unnecessarily talked about season in Broncos team history. 5% of his carries went for real big gainers, another 20% went for decent yardage and the other 75% were 2 yards or less.

Gaston Green, Bobby Anderson, Rob Lytle, Dave Preston, and Cookie Gilchrist were all more talented than Olandis Gary, on an era by era basis.

B-Love

Thanks for your input. I think you should be doing this list instead of me.

I think I overranked Gary, but I wouldn't demote him all the way into the bottom 5. Yes, his rushing totals got a heavy boost from his late season big games vs. the Lions on Christmas (185) and Seahawks in O.T. (183). You're right, OG had plenty of performances where he had heavy workloads with mediocre rushing output. At the same time, OG didn't touch a football until week 5. TD averaged 3.1 yards per carry behind the same offensive line that OG averaged 4.2 yards behind.

In training camp of 2000, OG was looking very impressive as a soph. I think he was on a successful career path but I know this is a matter of subjective opinion. He rushed for 80 yards in the season opener running on a torn ACL. After his rookie year, injuries doomed OG at the most unfortunate times. He got the start against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving before dislocating his shoulder.

[Hogan11]

I often wondered...to no particular end...what Floyd Little would have done with the Bronco O-line of '96-2000

...but 26th??

He led the league (post merger) in rushing yards gained one year when he was the entire Bronco offense, had no QB, a lousy, crappy offensive line & bad coaching.

No-one was better for this franchise...ever


You sir...are correct as usual.

The disrespect the almighty Floyd gets from the young just because they never saw him play is as annoying as it is shameful......if they only knew, there would be no question about this at all.

Indeed, no-one was better for this franchise...ever.

[Circle Orange]

Duh...but who were the top 20 quarterbacks in Bronco history? http://scosoft.com/s/m/3b078124.gif

[Tredici]

Duh...but who were the top 20 quarterbacks in Bronco history? http://scosoft.com/s/m/3b078124.gif

Actually, the ranks would get pretty thin towards the bottom of a list of 20. Since we were blessed with number one having the longevity and health he did.

1. John Elway
2. Charlie Johnson
3. Craig Morton
4. Marlin Briscoe
5. Jake Plummer (said with crossed fingers)
6. Frank Tripuka

Ummm... in a lump Norris Weese, Steve Tensi, Gary Kubiak, Bubby Brister, Brian Griese, Pete Liske.

And various and asundry even more unmentionables....

[Hogan11]

Actually, the ranks would get pretty thin towards the bottom of a list of 20. Since we were blessed with number one having the longevity and health he did.

1. John Elway
2. Charlie Johnson
3. Craig Morton
4. Marlin Briscoe
5. Jake Plummer (said with crossed fingers)
6. Frank Tripuka

Ummm... in a lump Norris Weese, Steve Tensi, Gary Kubiak, Bubby Brister, Brian Griese, Pete Liske.

And various and asundry even more unmentionables....

What? No Steve Ramsey?? Ha!

Nobody can deny Elway the #1 spot obivously.....but Charley Johnson still remains my fave Broncos (and overall) QB of all time...I gotta give you pops Tred for listing him over Morton....a QB I despised when he was with the Cowboys, Giants and Broncos despite his successes here.