(EDITOR’S NOTE: To access the Tom Flores interview fast-forward to 24:00 of the attached audio: Ep 8: 2021 HOF Semifinalists; 2020 Turkeys; Conversation w/ Tom Flores | The Eye Test for Two | Spreaker)
Tom Flores knows plenty about the Raiders – whether they’re in Oakland, L.A. or Las Vegas. He played for them, he coached them and he was an analyst for their radio network.
And now … well, now he could be the next Raider to enter Canton.
As the first-ever candidate from the Hall’s Coaches Category, Flores is a finalist for the Class of 2021. But he’s more than that. He’s a heavy favorite to be elected when the Hall’s board of selectors meet in February.
So let’s stay that happens. Then what? Which former Raider would Tom Flores like to see join him in Canton? It’s a good question and one we asked when he appeared on this week’s “Eye Test for Two” podcast.
Only there was a catch: Flores was given a choice of former defensive backs Jack Tatum and Lester Hayes, quarterback Jim Plunkett, and wide receiver Cliff Branch … and asked to pick just one.
“Wow,” he said, pausing, “pretty good choices. I love all those guys. I think they all deserve to be in.”
Maybe. But that’s not what we asked. We wanted one name … and one name only. Eventually, Flores provided it.
-
EP 136: Week 3 Studs and Duds
by Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 7:01 pm
“I’d have to take Cliff,” he said of Branch. “I took Cliff in as a rookie. I spent a week with him in Colorado when we drafted him – he was running track and getting ready to run in the Olympic trials in the 100 — and he was a track guy that could play football.
“So I nursed him. I held his hand. I spanked him. I hugged him. And he … in his first year … was booed; second year was booed; third-year made All-Pro and from then on it was history. He turned out to be outstanding. If you look at his record … if you look at his playoff record … it’s outstanding. It’s incredible.”
Flores is right about that. Hall-of-Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott called Branch “a nightmare to cover,” mostly because of his world-class speed, and the numbers explain why. Over 14 NFL seasons, Branch averaged 17.3 yards a catch and scored 67 times. He led the league in receiving yards in 1974, and he led it in receiving touchdowns twice, including 1976 when he averaged 24.2 yards per catch.
He was a three-time Super Bowl champion, a four-time Pro Bowl choice, and a three-time first-team All-Pro. Moreover, he showed up big in the biggest games – producing 73 catches in 20 playoff contests for 1,289 yards, five TDs, and an average of 17.7 yards per reception.
“There was fast,” said Flores, “and then there was fast. Cliff Branch was that guy. He was a football player; showed that he was a football player and showed that he could overcome adversity and mistakes.”
Former Hall-of-Fame voter Nick Canepa, columnist for the San Diego Union-Tribune, covered the Chargers for years and saw plenty of Branch. And he said there was no one the Air Coryell club of the early 1980s feared more.
Flores understood.
“Ninety-nine yards he could go,” he said.
In fact, he did in October, 1983, pulling down a Plunkett pass vs. Washington and taking it 99 yards for a score. What Cliff Branch couldn’t do, however, was crack the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He’s been a semifinalist twice and was one of 20 senior finalists for the Hall’s Centennial Class of 2020.
But he failed to make the final cut to 10.
-
Ep 171: Discussing The Career Of George Kunz With Son Mattby Full Press Coverage on September 23, 2023 at 2:30 pm
Clark and Ira are joined by Matt Kunz, son of former Colts lineman George […]
-
Ep 170: The 1986 Giants With Gary Myersby Full Press Coverage on September 15, 2023 at 9:44 pm
HOF voter and author Gary Myers joins Clark and Ira to discuss his new […]
-
Ep 169: Discussing Art Powell and the AFL With Historian Todd Tobiasby Full Press Coverage on September 3, 2023 at 3:04 pm
AFL historian Todd Tobias joins Clark and Ira to talk Art Powell and the […]
-
Ep 168: Hall of Fame Finalist Randy Gradishar Joins The Showby Full Press Coverage on August 24, 2023 at 8:44 pm
Former Broncos linebacker and member of the Orange Crush Defense, Randy […]
-
Breaking down the Good & Bad of Coaching Decisions in week 3 of NFLby LandryFootball.com on September 27, 2023 at 11:00 pm
There were multiple analytically interesting decisions made in Week 3. […]
-
Is this Penn State team ready to challenge Ohio St. & Michigan ?by LandryFootball.com on September 27, 2023 at 10:00 am
Look through the list of Big Ten East Division champions and it’s easy […]
-
Ep 307: FAAB Talk and Taylor Swiftby Full Press Coverage on September 27, 2023 at 1:55 am
-
Ep 306: Week 2 Fantasy Football Previewby Full Press Coverage on September 14, 2023 at 3:06 am
-
Ep 305: TE Target Totals from Week 1by Full Press Coverage on September 12, 2023 at 2:28 am
-
Ep 304: The NFL Season Is Hereby Full Press Coverage on September 7, 2023 at 3:13 am
-
Ep 185: Week 4 Preview vs Lionsby Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 12:36 am
A solo Senra show. For this episode, Kyle Senra previews the upcoming […]
-
Ep 184: Week 3 Instant Reactionby Full Press Coverage on September 25, 2023 at 12:47 am
The Green Bay Packers were in another 1-point game, this time a 18-17 win […]
-
Full Press Islanders - 9-27 - Recap of Preseason openerby Full Press Coverage on September 27, 2023 at 3:15 pm
We talk about last nights loss in the Preseason opener to the Rangers and […]
-
Full Press Wild - 9-27 - Recapping the Wild’s preseason loss to Dallas.by Full Press Coverage on September 27, 2023 at 2:00 pm
Preseason, Stars, Wild Learn more about your ad choices. Visit […]
-
Renegades Of Puck Ep 797by Charlie Saunier on September 27, 2023 at 5:01 am
Renegades Of Puck Ep 797 The Renegades Of Puck Recap Last Season, […]
-
Full Press Kraken - 9-26 - Preseason games, numbers, notes.by Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 10:15 pm
Reviewing the split squad games and numbers Learn more about your ad […]
-
Full Press Blackhawks - 9-26 - Connor Bedard & Lucas Reichel stealing the show in training campby Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 3:30 pm
Blackhawks’ front office changing up and takeaways from Blackhawks’ […]
-
Full Press Hurricanes - 9-26 - Hockey is Finally Back!!!!by Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 2:00 pm
The preseason for the Carolina Hurricanes begins today which means hockey […]
-
9/26 - Eagles/Bengals Win On MNF, Mac Jones, and Much Moreby Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 2:04 pm
Ian and John discuss the Eagles and Bengals wins on Monday Night Football, […]
-
9/25 - Week 3 Reactions, Dolphins Hang 70, Biggest Disappointmentsby Full Press Coverage on September 25, 2023 at 1:46 pm
Ian and John react to a fascinating Week 3 in the NFL and talk about some […]
-
9/22 - 49ers Move To 3-0, Week 2 Picks and Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on September 22, 2023 at 1:58 pm
Ian and John discuss the 49ers win over the Giants on Thursday Night […]
-
9/21 - Thursday Night Football Preview; NFL MVP Talkby Full Press Coverage on September 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm
Ian and John preview Thursday Night Football between the Giants and 49ers […]
-
9/19 - Monday Night Recap, State of Quarterback Play, 2-0 Teamsby Full Press Coverage on September 19, 2023 at 2:08 pm
Ian and John discuss MNF and talk about the state of quarterback play. […]
-
9/18 - Week 2 Headlines; Monday Night Football Predictionsby Full Press Coverage on September 18, 2023 at 2:05 pm
Ian and John discuss some of the headlines from Sunday's action, some […]
-
Ep 2: Top 5 Super Bowls Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on February 7, 2023 at 3:26 pm
Ian Glendon and John Sapochetti give their Top 5 Super Bowls of all time. […]
-
Ep 1: The Top 10 Quarterbacks Of All Timeby Full Press Coverage on January 12, 2023 at 8:42 pm
On the first episode of 'According To Who?', host Ian Glendon and John […]
-
Episode 114: The Bears Are Who We Thought They Wereby Full Press Coverage on September 28, 2023 at 3:07 am
-
Broncos at Bears - Buccaneers at Saints - Ravens at Brownsby Broken Controller Media on September 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Full Press MMA - 9-27 - Dana White speaks to Adesanya’s drinking & driving caseby Full Press Coverage on September 27, 2023 at 4:00 pm
-
Falcons at Jaguars - Rams at Colts - Commanders at Eaglesby Broken Controller Media on September 27, 2023 at 2:50 pm
-
Ep 307: FAAB Talk and Taylor Swiftby Full Press Coverage on September 27, 2023 at 1:55 am
-
EP 136: Week 3 Studs and Dudsby Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 7:01 pm
-
Lions at Packersby Broken Controller Media on September 26, 2023 at 3:15 pm
-
Sacramento Kings Previewby Broken Controller Media on September 26, 2023 at 3:00 pm
-
9/26 - Eagles/Bengals Win On MNF, Mac Jones, and Much Moreby Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 2:04 pm
-
Hang Ten and Bali - Sep. 25, 2023by Full Press Coverage on September 26, 2023 at 6:00 am
-
Boot 2 The Face "The Rock Says..."by Boot 2 The Face on September 24, 2023 at 3:12 pm
On this episode of B2TF we talk AEW, WWE, NXT, Becky Lynch, Jey Uso, Raw, […]
-
Boot 2 The Face "She Was Portly"by Boot 2 The Face on September 14, 2023 at 11:57 pm
In the latest episode we talk Jey Uso and his move to Monday Night Raw. We […]
-
Shock Waves in Pro Wrestling: A McMahon No Longer Owns WWEby Full Press Coverage on September 27, 2023 at 12:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again as he discusses the history made as Vince […]
-
Wrestling World is Changing: From CM Punk To Vince McMahon to LA Knightby Full Press Coverage on September 14, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Jim Biringer is back once again joined by Justin Starr as they break the […]
-
Ep 183: The Sandmanby Full Press Coverage on September 23, 2023 at 2:00 pm
This week we're diving back into the extreme and looking at the career of […]