In July 2015, and Six-months before the late, great, legendary Raider's QB, Kenny Stabler was Finally posthumously inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, I (and along with many others) wrote that he deserved to be inducted into professional football's highest ring of honor.
Now, it is Way past time for the Voting Body of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to induct incredible former Raider's WR, Cliff Branch.
From 1972-1985, Cliff Branch was an outstanding Game Breaker that drove fear into the heart of Defensive Backs and the Defensive Coordinators that were charged with game-planning various ways to try and stop him.
Branch's Career Statistics are outstanding from an era of the NFL when it was Not a pass-happy league:
501 Receptions
8,685 Yards
17.3 Avg. Yards per Catch
67 Touchdowns
Branch was a Four-time All Pro and Pro Bowl Selection.
Branch also earned Three Super Bowl Rings, and Branch was a Pivotal player in the Raider's Super Bowl XVIII win vs. the Redskins in 1984. In that game, Branch caught a TD pass, and provided the late-stage, downfield block against the speedy Darrell Green that enabled Raider's Running Back, Marcus Allen to score on his amazing 74-yard run, a stunning play that many fans believe was the greatest single-play in Raider's history.
Respectfully, there are several Wide Receivers that have already been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, even though their career totals and amount of Super Bowl wins are Not equal to that of Branch's.
Lastly, Branch's excellent fellow teammate and wily Wide Receiving peer (Fred Biletnikoff) has been inducted into the Hall of Fame, and his career totals are virtually identical to Branch's, but Branch was able to earn two-more Super Bowl rings during his career than Freddy did, respectfully.
Cliff Branch and Fred Biletnikoff pictured below...
And now, without further adieu, it is well-past the time for the Voting Block of the Pro Football Hall of Fame to reconsider their prior decisions, and to induct Cliff Branch into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
