In My Opinion, THE MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER IN NFL HISTORY!!!! Cliff Branch Put fear in the eyes of EVERYONE from Mel Blount and Michael Haynes to Darrell Green. He showed up in ALL of the Raiders Big Games, and produced better numbers than Swann, Stallworth and others in the Hall. BIG PLAYS IN ALL BIG GAMES!!!!! The Minute the NFL talked about the 10 veterans they are inducting next year, I thought "FINALLY, him, Otis Taylor, Jerry Smith and Drew Pearson are getting in..." Too bad it's gonna be posthumously. Rest In Peace, Cliff. You were the best in an area where you were tremendously unappreciated. The Greatest Pure Deep Threat that ever lived!!!!
Finally! Cliff Branch is in the HOF! He was the deep threat of the 70's and this honor is well deserved and a long time coming! Congrats Cliff and Rest in Peace.
I've been around long enough to have seen all the great ones play...Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, etc....But for my money the greatest pure deep threat remains #21....Get a clue HOF...
When it comes to deep threat wide receivers it's: 1. Randy "Superfreak" Moss 2. Paul Warfield 3. Lance "Bambi" Alworth 4. James Lofton 5. Warren Wells 6. Cliff Branch 7. Art Powell 8. Don Maynard 9. Wesley Walker 10. Mark "Super" Duper 11. Isaac Curtis 12. Lynn Swann 13. John (JJ) Jefferson 14. Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch 15. Wes Chandler 16. "Bullet" Bob Hayes 17. Torry Holt 18. Willie "Flipper" Anderson 19. Deshawn Jackson 20. James Jett You're correct that Cliff Branch is past due for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
@@nikosuavesworldofsportsmusic I'm sorry. BRANCH is the #1 deep threat in my book. Randy Moss never came through in the Big Games like Cliff Branch (1974 Vs Miami Bomb TD, 1974 AFC Championship vs Pittsburgh, 1975 AFC Championship vs Pittsburgh - Remember that Futile last play?, The KILL SHOT Third down and 22 play in the Ghost-Post game vs Baltimore, SUPER XV and XVIII.) Cliff Branch Made BIG PLAYS IN BIG GAMES more than Moss/Alworth/Lofton/Wells combined. He burned EVERYONE and became a great intermediate route runner. You just have more Film on the others, that's all.
@@nikosuavesworldofsportsmusic I respect your opinion. Moss was a freak of Nature that was athletic and could fly, but didn't impose that incredible ability in games that mattered most. Bambi Alworth was Like Lynn Swann with more speed and... Better hands; Warren Wells was a huge big play guy, but only for a short stretch, he was blackballed from the NFL after the 1970 season which was the reason why Branch was drafted two years later; Lofton was graceful, but I don't think he contributed enough in Big Games. WARFIELD is the only one I could stand next to BRANCH and say, this is close. WARFIELD was dangerous and opened up a great deal of routes for Gary Collins while in Cleveland (Gary Collins, another WR who should be in Canton. Him, Jerry Smith, Otis Taylor and Drew Pearson). And with Miami, he basically had defenses terrified, and his presence alone contributed mightily to Shula's ground Game.
@William Cooper Cliff was decent but wasn't the overall wide receiver Moss, Alworth, or Lofton was & no wide receiver has EVER faced the different, intricate, & exotic defensive coverages prime 1998-08 Randy Moss faced & produced his type of statistical production as a deep threat wide receiver ijs🤷🏾♂️.
Damn straight....and now it's too late. Bullshit. RIP. Waiting til legends die before being inducted is an abomination. Cliff changed the game entirely as well....both at WR & CB.
Smallest guy on the field, probably the toughest guy on the field and definitely the fastest guy on the field. Beyond his speed, he made some incredibly difficult catches and did it all with class. I watched him in his prime and loved every bomb that he caught. Why he isn’t in the Hall of Fame is a mystery to me, he certainly has all the credentials. If he does make it someday, it’s a shame that he won’t be around to see it. RIP Cliff and thanks for the memories.
And you never seen him play that much. Hands were not his forte. Speed separation, deep threat were. Now all the sudden he’s Steve Largent with the Hands. Quit making shit up about him he dropped his share just like rice lofton And other great receivers did. He’s borderline Hall of Fame he sure as shit isn’t in the league with the top guys.
I don’t have an opinion on his hands, but the “borderline HOF” comment I think is bs. Lynn Swann is used as a comparison a lot & it’s a great one. Swann made it to the HOF 21 years ago in 2001 & cliffs stats (total & Avg PG) & accomplishments (3 vs 4 championships) are either on par or better than Swanns even if you remove the extra seasons Branch played. In 2022 Branch didn’t even make it to the 26 semifinalists for HOF. Again 21 years after Swann was inducted?! Not your fault obviously lol, but it is sad he died before making it in & this is the way he’s remembered
@@davidsuarez3003 Some of what you say is true, and making shit it up like Cliff never dropped passes isn't good, nor are strawmen arguments that Cliff had great hands... no one has ever said that. I do have to disagree about him being borderline HoF, Cliff is 100% HoF worthy and should have been in long ago, and is in that league with the top players... he helped build it.
kenny carlson Did you just say fuck me did you mean it. I don’t know if you meant it or if you’re lying because you lie about every thing else. You say he runs a 4.26 on one, then you say 4.29 on another and then you say 4.28 make up your damn mind you idiot. Oh I forgot he also ran an 8.99 hundred. Guys like you make it hard for branch because he’s lied so much about him he was great on his own merit when you try to make them look like some kind of superman you detract from his true accomplishments. Great receiver average track man. Do you want to see your hero and how it usually went in big track meets look up Ivory Crockett historic films V-4014.1 this was his fifth year in college. By the way this is about the same field except for John Carlos being there the two previous years that Mel Gray finished first and second.Branch cannot could not run with the big boys
Congratulations Cliff Branch. You’re finally in the Haññ of Fame. I wish I could see you play but the highlights are enough for me to prove you are a Raider. 🏆🏆🏆🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️ And God, the narriation, music and slow motion clips. Masterpiece
A jog down memory lane...the great Announcer Bill King calling the action with the great Cliff Branch making the plays..the most dangerous deep threat of his or any era. Stallworth or Cliff Branch? Cliff Branch any day of the week and that's taking nothing away from Stallworth. Biletnikoff, Branch and Mike Siani were three great wideouts on one team with The Snake playing catch with them. Those were the good old days. Today's NFL is unwatchable by comparison.
Not from cali been raiders fan all my life ken stabler my favorite QB I remember all those remarkable playoff games with my raiders my favorite being the 3 ot against the colts REST IN PEACE CLIFF BRANCH
If there has ever been a better, funnier, more descriptive call than Bill’s call of the triple-forward-fumble play against the Chargers, I’ve yet to hear it
Always a clutch receiver and never caught from behind. He should be in the hall of fame, no questions asked.It must have been a steeler fan with the 1 thumbs down! Rick
He is finally getting his just due HOF '22. A real pleasure watching Cliff back in the day as a Raiders fan. Who knows what he could have done in today's pass happy NFL?
Lynn Swann is in the Hall of Fame; Cliff Branch is not. Let's compare the two, shall we? Branch has more Pro Bowl appearances, more All-Pro seasons. Branch has more receptions, more yards, more touchdowns, and more yards per reception. Branch retired as the NFL's all-time leader in playoff receptions and yards. "The Hall of Fame isn't just about stats, it's about winning!" Good point. Branch won 3 Super Bowls. Swann won 4. Is that what's stopping Branch from being in the Hall?
Cliff Branch still holds a combine record. He ran a 4.12 forty. That's the fastest time ever recorded in any NFL combine. He should have been in the Hall of fame years ago. I've been a RAIDERS fan for over 60 years. I have never wavered and I never will. Cliff Branch was denied this honor while he was alive. That's a travesty. Shame on the NFL. God bless Cliffs family. Thanks, Jerry
Played with Branch at Colorado University in 1971 when we were #3 in the nation. Cliff was starting split-end wide receiver and traded off with Willie Nichols every other play. I was a flanker back wide receiver trading off every other play with Larry Brunson who also went on to an NFL career with Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. All of us (except slow-footed Willie Nichols, who ran superb routes and had great hands) were neck and neck for the first 40 yards on a grass field. Cliff was brash and cocky and earned it! Sorry to hear he passed away in some hotel by himself. He was great in college, however, he tended to drop a few passes. He turned that around in pro football, rarely dropping a football he could touch. I would rate him at the top if not the #1 receiver of all time running a 9.3 100-yard dash.
Love the shot at 4:35 of him pulling in the deep ball with the 'speed kills #21' sign in the background. Feel like he was the natural successor Bob Hayes for most dangerous deep threat in the league
Thanks for this incredible video! It’s Cliff Branch’s entire career! He’s my all time favorite Wide Receiver. Grew up in St. Louis watching late Chiefs games and he always lit up the Chiefs. Stabler to Branch is the most exciting combination in football!
Not only was cliff branch a track star with world class speed, he was a legitimate bonifide stuff football player. Look at the hands, he catches the ball hands first then brings into his body, and NEVER used stickem!
I'm so glad I saw all those games at the Oakland coliseum, while selling malts and peanuts, with family and friends, doing all those games during the 70-80 years. Living down the street by the BART station. Go RAIDERS, always SILVER AND BLACK...AL DAVIS R.I.P.....Kansas, San Diego, Pittburg, Denver....our rivary's...Monday night football, and its staff H.C., F.G., etc.......
Cliff Branch Career stats: www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BranCl00.htm I think it's the low stat totals... He's a complete legend & it's a travesty that he's not in Canton. I happened to look up Art Monk's stats earlier this evening, specifically to compare him to Michael Irvin ( Monk's got em licked everywhere but playoff appearances & post season TD's ) & having seen them, I think that's the *only* thing keeping Cliff out. He'll get there one day. I know it.
@@Randall_Kildare when Branch retired, he was either 1 or 2 on the following lists in NFL history, most playoff TDs, most playoff receptions, most playoff yards. The player right next to him on those lists either 1st or 2nd himself was Fred Biletnikoff, a first ballot HOFer. Branch's career numbers are better than Lynn Swann. Go compare them. Swann was a first ballot HOFer, who played in more playoff games than Branch and couldn't match branch in the regular season or playoffs. The Raiders secondary knew that Swann was soft. They could take him out of the game through sheer intimidation. And did. Branch was never taken out of a game by intimidation. On 90% of his TD catches he handed the ball to the ref or dropped it - he didn't shine a light on himself like Billy White Shoes Johnson or Lynn Swann when he scored. There's not a single player in the history of the NFL who's not in the HOF who's more deserving than Cliff Branch it's a complete travesty. The way he influenced games was unbelievable.
I freaking give up! This athlete should be in the hall of fame, but due to the lack of social media and self promotion, Branch will be lost in time. HE WAS BETTER THAN TIM BROWN.
The late 70’s and early 80’s might have had the best collection of deep threats the league has ever seen at one time….and Cliff was about as good as they got, and he outlasted them all with career length- Although Lofton was also in that group- he sustained deep threat success for years
As much as I loved Tim Brown that's in the Hall of Fame, why isn't Cliff Branch with 3 SB rings isn't in the Hall of Fame. Mr Plunkett you should be in the Hall of Fame. There's a lot of players that doesn't have a SB ring and yet they're in the Hall of Fame. Canton voters wake up.
Great video. Thank you for making. Cliff should of been put in the hall of fame when he was still alive. They did the same to Kenny (The Snake) Stabler. I hope they stop doing this to Raider greats. Please get #16 Jim Plunkett inducted asap.
Cliff can out run a football, on some of these catches he slows his speed down to allow the ball to catch up to him damn! on another play the ball is ahead of him, and he shifts gears and catchtes up to the ball damn!
Cliff had 12 career touchdowns of 50 yards or more and averaged 17.3 yards a catch? My god what passes for a deep threat in Oakland. LMAO. Certainly not the ultimate deep threat.
Cliff Branch should be in the hall of fame no doubt about it.Branch Isaac Curtis,Roger Carr, Otis Taylor and Bob Hayes these are a few wide receivers who could turn and burn deep down the field!!!
The only way you get into the so call HOF, is by politics and sponsorship, not by true earring....shame on all, who's are there in this position, who are lesser...SHAME! Long LIVE HIS SPIRIT C.Branch.....#21; thanks for all and your signed jersey and helmet.....LOVE.
Best receiver of all time. Just look at the list of corners he burnt. Just completely obliterated defenses on the deep ball. You know how a receiver catches the ball and you can see someone chasing him from the back but not with cliff. You don't see shit but him running and the fans raising theirs hands in joy as he's freaking flying down the field for a touchdown.
I was too young...but what I keep seeing in this video is that he wanted to win...many of these passes are horribly thrown but this man went and took the ball. RIP...and look to be in the HOF soon.
Awesome video my guy. Cliff made alot of those catches look real easy. One of those wrs that you can just throw it in his area and hed go get it. Pardon me while i wipe a few tears off my cheek. ☠️🏴☠️RN4L🏴☠️☠️
Hall of shame in Canton should be close and padlocked. This is worst than an a William Shakespeare Tragedy. Absolutely no reason Cliff Branch not in the Hall of Fame. Look at the numbers. Cliff you were my all time favorite raider. And i was a Ram fan. RIP
3 superbowl rings...big playoff performances...great stats for an era that passing was not the focus of teams...all these guys that have gone to the HOF without any of these accolades over the years are wearing his jacket...its a joke hes not in and even a bigger one that hes had to wait for a senior committee inductee status
This is a travesty that Cliff Branch didn't live to see an induction to the NFL HOF
Branch is in Class of '22
His sister's speech was awesome today. Congratulations
In My Opinion, THE MOST UNDERRATED PLAYER IN NFL HISTORY!!!! Cliff Branch Put fear in the eyes of EVERYONE from Mel Blount and Michael Haynes to Darrell Green. He showed up in ALL of the Raiders Big Games, and produced better numbers than Swann, Stallworth and others in the Hall. BIG PLAYS IN ALL BIG GAMES!!!!! The Minute the NFL talked about the 10 veterans they are inducting next year, I thought "FINALLY, him, Otis Taylor, Jerry Smith and Drew Pearson are getting in..." Too bad it's gonna be posthumously. Rest In Peace, Cliff. You were the best in an area where you were tremendously unappreciated. The Greatest Pure Deep Threat that ever lived!!!!
Kind of makes me think that Mike Haynes was glad when he was traded to the Silver and Black
🧤 down deep threat 70s early 80s
if you could put together a 15min highlight reel of any player, they definitely belong in the HOF......R.I.P. Clifford we love you
RIP Cliff. Say Hi to AL and Kenny the snake stabler for us.
Snake has someone to play catch with
Finally! Cliff Branch is in the HOF! He was the deep threat of the 70's and this honor is well deserved and a long time coming! Congrats Cliff and Rest in Peace.
I've been around long enough to have seen all the great ones play...Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, etc....But for my money the greatest pure deep threat remains #21....Get a clue HOF...
When it comes to deep threat wide receivers it's:
1. Randy "Superfreak" Moss
2. Paul Warfield
3. Lance "Bambi" Alworth
4. James Lofton
5. Warren Wells
6. Cliff Branch
7. Art Powell
8. Don Maynard
9. Wesley Walker
10. Mark "Super" Duper
11. Isaac Curtis
12. Lynn Swann
13. John (JJ) Jefferson
14. Elroy "Crazylegs" Hirsch
15. Wes Chandler
16. "Bullet" Bob Hayes
17. Torry Holt
18. Willie "Flipper" Anderson
19. Deshawn Jackson
20. James Jett
You're correct that Cliff Branch is past due for enshrinement into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
@@nikosuavesworldofsportsmusic I'm sorry. BRANCH is the #1 deep threat in my book. Randy Moss never came through in the Big Games like Cliff Branch (1974 Vs Miami Bomb TD, 1974 AFC Championship vs Pittsburgh, 1975 AFC Championship vs Pittsburgh - Remember that Futile last play?, The KILL SHOT Third down and 22 play in the Ghost-Post game vs Baltimore, SUPER XV and XVIII.) Cliff Branch Made BIG PLAYS IN BIG GAMES more than Moss/Alworth/Lofton/Wells combined. He burned EVERYONE and became a great intermediate route runner. You just have more Film on the others, that's all.
@@williamcooper6274 Agree to disagree thanks for your comment nonetheless.
@@nikosuavesworldofsportsmusic I respect your opinion. Moss was a freak of Nature that was athletic and could fly, but didn't impose that incredible ability in games that mattered most. Bambi Alworth was Like Lynn Swann with more speed and... Better hands; Warren Wells was a huge big play guy, but only for a short stretch, he was blackballed from the NFL after the 1970 season which was the reason why Branch was drafted two years later; Lofton was graceful, but I don't think he contributed enough in Big Games. WARFIELD is the only one I could stand next to BRANCH and say, this is close. WARFIELD was dangerous and opened up a great deal of routes for Gary Collins while in Cleveland (Gary Collins, another WR who should be in Canton. Him, Jerry Smith, Otis Taylor and Drew Pearson). And with Miami, he basically had defenses terrified, and his presence alone contributed mightily to Shula's ground Game.
@William Cooper Cliff was decent but wasn't the overall wide receiver Moss, Alworth, or Lofton was & no wide receiver has EVER faced the different, intricate, & exotic defensive coverages prime 1998-08 Randy Moss faced & produced his type of statistical production as a deep threat wide receiver ijs🤷🏾♂️.
Mel Blount changed the game,Branch smoked him repeatedly. Branch should have been a first ballot HOF.
Britt Courville smoked him like a cigarette
@@TheMan750 yes Sir a real skull and crossbone joker.😂😂😂
Cliff was one of the greatest receiver of his time My favorites of the old Afl.
Put FEAR in Him, Michael Haynes and Darrell Green. He would have burned Prime Time too.
Damn straight....and now it's too late. Bullshit. RIP. Waiting til legends die before being inducted is an abomination. Cliff changed the game entirely as well....both at WR & CB.
Smallest guy on the field, probably the toughest guy on the field and definitely the fastest guy on the field. Beyond his speed, he made some incredibly difficult catches and did it all with class. I watched him in his prime and loved every bomb that he caught. Why he isn’t in the Hall of Fame is a mystery to me, he certainly has all the credentials. If he does make it someday, it’s a shame that he won’t be around to see it. RIP Cliff and thanks for the memories.
Play the St. Louis Cardinals a couple times he definitely wasn’t the fastest player on the field then.
I met him, he was jogging around a track in west Los Angeles back in 1994. Cool as a cucumber!!!
Cliff Branch one of the BEST receivers in NFL history! I never seen him drop a pass, a classic RAIDER...
And you never seen him play that much. Hands were not his forte. Speed separation, deep threat were. Now all the sudden he’s Steve Largent with the Hands. Quit making shit up about him he dropped his share just like rice lofton And other great receivers did. He’s borderline Hall of Fame he sure as shit isn’t in the league with the top guys.
Dong Longslapum I did not say he wasn’t an elite receiver I said he didn’t have elite hands.
I don’t have an opinion on his hands, but the “borderline HOF” comment I think is bs.
Lynn Swann is used as a comparison a lot & it’s a great one. Swann made it to the HOF 21 years ago in 2001 & cliffs stats (total & Avg PG) & accomplishments (3 vs 4 championships) are either on par or better than Swanns even if you remove the extra seasons Branch played.
In 2022 Branch didn’t even make it to the 26 semifinalists for HOF. Again 21 years after Swann was inducted?! Not your fault obviously lol, but it is sad he died before making it in & this is the way he’s remembered
@@davidsuarez3003 Some of what you say is true, and making shit it up like Cliff never dropped passes isn't good, nor are strawmen arguments that Cliff had great hands... no one has ever said that. I do have to disagree about him being borderline HoF, Cliff is 100% HoF worthy and should have been in long ago, and is in that league with the top players... he helped build it.
the most clear "deep threat" from 1974 to 83.
faster than darrell green at age 35.thats how fast cliff is 40 in 1983 4.26 at 35
kenny carlson Did you just say fuck me did you mean it. I don’t know if you meant it or if you’re lying because you lie about every thing else. You say he runs a 4.26 on one, then you say 4.29 on another and then you say 4.28 make up your damn mind you idiot. Oh I forgot he also ran an 8.99 hundred. Guys like you make it hard for branch because he’s lied so much about him he was great on his own merit when you try to make them look like some kind of superman you detract from his true accomplishments. Great receiver average track man. Do you want to see your hero and how it usually went in big track meets look up Ivory Crockett historic films V-4014.1 this was his fifth year in college. By the way this is about the same field except for John Carlos being there the two previous years that Mel Gray finished first and second.Branch cannot could not run with the big boys
Yup. At 35 Branch ran past rookie Green in SB XVIII.
YEAH THAT'S FAST THESE TWO GUYS WERE GREAT WHEN THEY WERE OLDER
Congratulations Cliff Branch. You’re finally in the Haññ of Fame. I wish I could see you play but the highlights are enough for me to prove you are a Raider. 🏆🏆🏆🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️ And God, the narriation, music and slow motion clips. Masterpiece
Classic NFL Raider music!! Oh yeah Cliff Branch was a monster!!!!
YES RAIDER MUSIC FOR SURE
Raider Hating ...Branch, Hayes, Lawrence and Dalby..No Brainrs'. Keep the videos coming it helps
And look how long it took for Snake and Tom Flores to get in. The travesty list is long
Underrated
Beautiful, smooth, natural speed, as opposed to pumping, 'weight room' speed. Such a pleasure to watch.
A jog down memory lane...the great Announcer Bill King calling the action with the great Cliff Branch making the plays..the most dangerous deep threat of his or any era. Stallworth or Cliff Branch? Cliff Branch any day of the week and that's taking nothing away from Stallworth. Biletnikoff, Branch and Mike Siani were three great wideouts on one team with The Snake playing catch with them. Those were the good old days. Today's NFL is unwatchable by comparison.
Not from cali been raiders fan all my life ken stabler my favorite QB I remember all those remarkable playoff games with my raiders my favorite being the 3 ot against the colts
REST IN PEACE CLIFF BRANCH
I never even heard of this guy, but watching this I can only assume that Moss had a poster of this dude on his wall. RIP Branch.
RIP Bill king the greatest play by play caller in nfl history 🙏
If there has ever been a better, funnier, more descriptive call than Bill’s call of the triple-forward-fumble play against the Chargers, I’ve yet to hear it
You’ve got that right!
My all time favorite, he did the Raiders, Warriors and later on the A’s.
“The cornerback didn’t just get burned. He got absolutely enveloped in a conflagration”
Always a clutch receiver and never caught from behind. He should be in the hall of fame, no questions asked.It must have been a steeler fan with the 1 thumbs down! Rick
He is finally getting his just due HOF '22. A real pleasure watching Cliff back in the day as a Raiders fan. Who knows what he could have done in today's pass happy NFL?
The greatest raider receiver of all time🏆🏆🏆
Lynn Swann is in the Hall of Fame; Cliff Branch is not. Let's compare the two, shall we?
Branch has more Pro Bowl appearances, more All-Pro seasons.
Branch has more receptions, more yards, more touchdowns, and more yards per reception.
Branch retired as the NFL's all-time leader in playoff receptions and yards.
"The Hall of Fame isn't just about stats, it's about winning!"
Good point. Branch won 3 Super Bowls. Swann won 4. Is that what's stopping Branch from being in the Hall?
H Robinson He was a Raider! Lynn was soft! Cliff played with a team that didn't feared Pittsburgh, and he was untouchable!!!!
Concur. Swann couldn’t carry Cliff’s jockstrap. Watching these highlights against Pittsburgh confirms it
@@devilsadvocacy Ask Dallas about Swann
@@dwightlove3704 What, because Swann had one good game? He wasn’t even half the player Stallworth was
Cliff Branch still holds a combine record. He ran a 4.12 forty. That's the fastest time ever recorded in any NFL combine. He should have been in the Hall of fame years ago. I've been a RAIDERS fan for over 60 years. I have never wavered and I never will. Cliff Branch was denied this honor while he was alive. That's a travesty. Shame on the NFL. God bless Cliffs family. Thanks, Jerry
Played with Branch at Colorado University in 1971 when we were #3 in the nation. Cliff was starting split-end wide receiver and traded off with Willie Nichols every other play. I was a flanker back wide receiver trading off every other play with Larry Brunson who also went on to an NFL career with Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. All of us (except slow-footed Willie Nichols, who ran superb routes and had great hands) were neck and neck for the first 40 yards on a grass field. Cliff was brash and cocky and earned it! Sorry to hear he passed away in some hotel by himself. He was great in college, however, he tended to drop a few passes. He turned that around in pro football, rarely dropping a football he could touch. I would rate him at the top if not the #1 receiver of all time running a 9.3 100-yard dash.
If I recall, Cliff and George Daniels both ran 9.2's
no disrespect too Jerry Rice ,but Clifford Branch is the most amazing receiver. Speed Kills#21
I grew up watching him and the Raiders in the 70's. He was a living highlight reel.
Bill King couldn’t have said it better… thank you for pairing him up with Branch, another great!
RIP to a legend
Branch, Hayes, Plunkett and Flores all should be in the hall....its ridiculous that they are not in
a flash of light....a puff of smoke and gone. R.I.P. Cliff. Congrats on your long overdue H.O.F. admission.
Pound for pound the GOAT! Money player and tough as they come.
1:05 announcer says, "He's got a step". Branch made Blount look like a college Freshman.
Damn shame they didn't put this man in the Hall of Fame years! R.I.P Clifford Branch aka SPEED KILLS! Congratulations to the Branch family! #21☠☠☠🏉
Played in all three of the Raider's SuperBowl victories .... One of my boyhood idols ..
And don’t forget the great hands Cliff Branch demonstrated.
Tyreek Hill is the Cliff Branch of this era. Not the other way around. His speed and quickness was frightening.
Love the shot at 4:35 of him pulling in the deep ball with the 'speed kills #21' sign in the background. Feel like he was the natural successor Bob Hayes for most dangerous deep threat in the league
Rest in Peace Champion.
Thanks for this incredible video! It’s Cliff Branch’s entire career! He’s my all time favorite Wide Receiver. Grew up in St. Louis watching late Chiefs games and he always lit up the Chiefs. Stabler to Branch is the most exciting combination in football!
Plunkett also got a few deep balls to Cliff. The 99 yard one against Washington stands out. I don’t remember if it was in the Super Bowl or not
If Henry ruggs is even half as good as branch I'll be thrilled
Not only was cliff branch a track star with world class speed, he was a legitimate bonifide stuff football player. Look at the hands, he catches the ball hands first then brings into his body, and NEVER used stickem!
Hated the Raiders but always love Cliff....R.I.P. 🌹
Dude was good I didn't even know about him. I'm too young during his time. Congratulations today his sister's speech was Perfection🏈👌🏾✊🏾
I'm so glad I saw all those games at the Oakland coliseum, while selling malts and peanuts, with family and friends, doing all those games during the 70-80 years. Living down the street by the BART station. Go RAIDERS, always SILVER AND BLACK...AL DAVIS R.I.P.....Kansas, San Diego, Pittburg, Denver....our rivary's...Monday night football, and its staff H.C., F.G., etc.......
The Fact that God gave us Cliff Branch proves that God loves us
Rest In Peace Cliff Branch #21 Raiders. Legend. Thanks for all the great plays, the speed, the class. Honoring you. Condolences.
This man is not in the HOF, somebody tell me why he isnt
Cliff Branch Career stats: www.pro-football-reference.com/players/B/BranCl00.htm
I think it's the low stat totals... He's a complete legend & it's a travesty that he's not in Canton.
I happened to look up Art Monk's stats earlier this evening, specifically to compare him to Michael Irvin ( Monk's got em licked everywhere but playoff appearances & post season TD's ) & having seen them, I think that's the *only* thing keeping Cliff out. He'll get there one day. I know it.
@@Randall_Kildare when Branch retired, he was either 1 or 2 on the following lists in NFL history, most playoff TDs, most playoff receptions, most playoff yards. The player right next to him on those lists either 1st or 2nd himself was Fred Biletnikoff, a first ballot HOFer. Branch's career numbers are better than Lynn Swann. Go compare them. Swann was a first ballot HOFer, who played in more playoff games than Branch and couldn't match branch in the regular season or playoffs. The Raiders secondary knew that Swann was soft. They could take him out of the game through sheer intimidation. And did. Branch was never taken out of a game by intimidation. On 90% of his TD catches he handed the ball to the ref or dropped it - he didn't shine a light on himself like Billy White Shoes Johnson or Lynn Swann when he scored. There's not a single player in the history of the NFL who's not in the HOF who's more deserving than Cliff Branch it's a complete travesty. The way he influenced games was unbelievable.
Frank Gifford is in the HOF.. Check out his numbers @Devon Kildare
And he got 3 Rings!!
It makes no sense to me at all. Cliff cooked everyone back in the 70s and 80s.
Why isn't Cliff Branch in the Hall of fame? RIP to the Great Cliff Branch #21
I freaking give up! This athlete should be in the hall of fame, but due to the lack of social media and self promotion, Branch will be lost in time. HE WAS BETTER THAN TIM BROWN.
RIP Cliff :(
Wow, what a great receiver
Number 81 and Number 21 had a lot in common. Cliff Branch was fearless.
Cliffs ability to track the ball was second to none
IMO Cliff Branch is one of the all time greats. So happy he is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Shame he got in post humous.
Should have been in the Hall of Fame a long time ago
Clifford branch should have been in the Hall of Fame the year he retired
From a Broncos fan, congrats on the HOF #21. You were a bad ass!!
About time they got it right, Sr Committee has finally done the right thing.
thank you for this heCLIFFORD BRANCH was a great receiver..one of the best...and fastest...
How is this Man NOT in the HOF !?!?!?
If Cliff Branch doesn't get a call from Canton in the next 2 years, I won't watch pro football anymore it sucks anyway!
The late 70’s and early 80’s might have had the best collection of deep threats the league has ever seen at one time….and Cliff was about as good as they got, and he outlasted them all with career length- Although Lofton was also in that group- he sustained deep threat success for years
As much as I loved Tim Brown that's in the Hall of Fame, why isn't Cliff Branch with 3 SB rings isn't in the Hall of Fame. Mr Plunkett you should be in the Hall of Fame. There's a lot of players that doesn't have a SB ring and yet they're in the Hall of Fame. Canton voters wake up.
Cliff and Charlie Joiner were cut from the same cloth. Both had long careers, each ran great routes knowing how to get open, and had excellent hands.
Cliff was better than Joiner
Great video. Thank you for making. Cliff should of been put in the hall of fame when he was still alive. They did the same to Kenny (The Snake) Stabler. I hope they stop doing this to Raider greats. Please get #16 Jim Plunkett inducted asap.
It gives me special joy seeing the highlights against sh-tsburgh.
#21 speed kills
Cliff would destroy the NFL today.
shit hed be running like a 4.19 electronic time
Cliff isn't even a border line HOF. He should have been a first ballot HOF. This guy smoked everyone and was awesome in Super Bowls and the Playoffs.
15 minutes of highlights!! You better believe he was one fast BAD ASS!!!
Cliff Branch should be in the Hall Of Fame - NOW!
Should've been in while he was still alive. He was a game-changer.
Aug.24, 2021 : Cliff Branch. HOF Sr. Nominee.
About DAMN TIME!
Its a shame Cliff can't be here for it - do a better job Canton.
Cliff can out run a football, on some of these catches he slows his speed down to allow the ball to catch up to him damn! on another play the ball is ahead of him, and he shifts gears and catchtes up to the ball damn!
ONE OF THE BESTS WIDEOUT TO PLAY THE GAME) FAST)HANDS)×××)
Cliff had 12 career touchdowns of 50 yards or more and averaged 17.3 yards a catch? My god what passes for a deep threat in Oakland. LMAO. Certainly not the ultimate deep threat.
Cliff Branch should be in the hall of fame no doubt about it.Branch Isaac Curtis,Roger Carr, Otis Taylor and Bob Hayes these are a few wide receivers who could turn and burn deep down the field!!!
Better than many that are in The Hall of Fame🏈
The only way you get into the so call HOF, is by politics and sponsorship, not by true earring....shame on all, who's are there in this position, who are lesser...SHAME!
Long LIVE HIS SPIRIT C.Branch.....#21; thanks for all and your signed jersey and helmet.....LOVE.
One of the best of all time
Rip branch, like stabler he'll get in the Hof now that he's no longer with us
Awesome clip, Tim. Thanks
He caught a Touchdown from Blanda Stabler and Plunkett & got 3 Super Bowl rings so GOOD NIGHT NOW
Never liked the raiders but loved watching branch and biletnekoff
Best receiver of all time. Just look at the list of corners he burnt. Just completely obliterated defenses on the deep ball. You know how a receiver catches the ball and you can see someone chasing him from the back but not with cliff. You don't see shit but him running and the fans raising theirs hands in joy as he's freaking flying down the field for a touchdown.
FINALLY HOF BOUND! JUST R.I.P. BABY!!! 🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️🏴☠️
His enshrinement is loooooooong overdue.
A truly great receiver. What a shame that it took so long for him to be voted in the HOF
I was too young...but what I keep seeing in this video is that he wanted to win...many of these passes are horribly thrown but this man went and took the ball. RIP...and look to be in the HOF soon.
HOLY TOLEDO!
Awesome video my guy. Cliff made alot of those catches look real easy. One of those wrs that you can just throw it in his area and hed go get it. Pardon me while i wipe a few tears off my cheek. ☠️🏴☠️RN4L🏴☠️☠️
Hall of famer!!! Raiders!!!
He was supersuperior in every way to a former teammate who has an award named after him. Make that make sense.
Congrats Cliff on mAking it to the HOF
He could catch and run.
If there's a top ten raider fan jersey list I think that Cliff Branch should be number one
REST IN PEACE MR. BRANCH..... #SPEEDKILLS
Hall of shame in Canton should be close and padlocked. This is worst than an a William Shakespeare Tragedy. Absolutely no reason Cliff Branch not in the Hall of Fame. Look at the numbers. Cliff you were my all time favorite raider. And i was a Ram fan. RIP
Hall of fame now!
3 superbowl rings...big playoff performances...great stats for an era that passing was not the focus of teams...all these guys that have gone to the HOF without any of these accolades over the years are wearing his jacket...its a joke hes not in and even a bigger one that hes had to wait for a senior committee inductee status
Hall of fame. PERIOD.