Charles Woodson: Put Raiders’ Great Cliff Branch In The Hall

(EDITOR’S NOTE: To access the Charles Woodson interview, click on the following attachment: Ep 52: Pro Football HOFer Charles Woodson Joins The Show | Spreaker)

Add Hall-of-Famer Charles Woodson to the chorus calling for former Raiders’ receiver Cliff Branch’s entry to Canton.

A member of the Hall’s Class of 2021, Woodson joined the latest “Eye Test for Two” broadcast and was asked a question posed to previous guests on the podcast – namely, if you could induct someone today who’s not in the Hall, who would it be?

Woodson thought for a moment, trying to narrow the field, before he found his answer. Remarkably, it wasn’t anyone of his era.

“I go with Cliff Branch,” he said. “You look at his career and what he did … Super Bowls, yardage … he was just as feared as any receiver in the history of this game. And I know he’s got a lot of respect around the league.”

That he does. In fact, Woodson was the latest guest on the “Eye Test for Two” calling for Branch’s election, with Drew Pearson – a member of the Hall’s Centennial Class of 2020 – among the others. And they may get their wish.

Branch has been close to gaining a nomination from the Hall’s senior subcommittee in previous years and was among 20 finalists when the Hall convened its Centennial Class board of 25 voters. He wasn’t chosen, but those close to the situation believe he will be in the foreseeable future.

“You look at his body of work,” said Woodson, “and I think you can put it up pretty much against anybody and it’s going to hold up.”

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Branch led the league in receiving yards in 1974. He twice led it in receiving touchdowns, including 1976 when he averaged a staggering 24.2 yards per catch and 79.4 yards per game. He held the NFL playoff record for receiving yards and TDs until they were broken by Jerry Rice. He was a three-time Super Bowl champion, a four-time Pro Bowler, and a three-time first-team All-Pro. Plus, his 67 career TD catches are more than Michael Irvin, Charlie Joiner, Bobby Mitchell, John Stallworth, Lynn Swannand Pearson.

All are in the Hall. Branch is not. Sadly, he passed away in 2019 shortly after his 71st birthday.

“I just wish he would be alive when his name is called for the Hall of Fame,” said Woodson.