RIP Cliff Branch

[AtlantaDan]

Cliff Branch, a four-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro receiver with the Raiders, has died, the team announced Saturday. Branch turned 71 on Thursday....

Branch led the NFL with 1,092 receiving yards and 13 touchdown receptions in 1974, and his 12 TD catches paced the league in 1976, when he averaged 24.2 yards per catch. His 99-yard catch-and-run TD at Washington in 1983 is tied for the longest in league history.

In a career that ended after the 1985 season, Branch caught 501 passes for 8,685 yards (17.3 yards per catch) and 67 touchdowns. He was one of only six players to play on all three Raiders Super Bowl championship teams (1976, 1980 and 1983)

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/...ch-dies-age-71

A receiver with excellent career stats for his era who IMO is HOF worthy.

Had some memorable battles with Mel Blount during the peak of the Steelers-Raiders rivalry.

Drove Mel to the bench in the 1974 Raiders-Steelers AFC championship game.

But Mel gave as good as he got.

[FrancoLambert]

Mel was confused on that play. He thought he was rustling cattle on his ranch instead of tackling a WR.
It happens.

[Butch]

RIP Cliff Branch

[silver & black]

It's sad that he isn't in the HOF. Just like Snake, he will get in when it no longer matters.

I have a picture of my youngest daughter with cliff wearing one of his Super Bowl rings. He was a true gentleman and a wonderful man to talk with.

His stats are actually better than Swan's, but one Super Bowl short. He should have been in the HOF years ago. The NFL... and everyone else hates the Raiders. F*** em' all.

[86WARD]

Should be a HoFer. RIP!

[Crow-Magnon]

I always liked Cliff Branch (and the Raiders) back in the day. He was an excellent receiver and should have been in the HOF years ago.

RIP, Cliff.

[tube517]

RIP Clifford Branch.

The trio of Branch/Biletnikoff/Casper is highly underrated in terms of WR/WR/TE combos of all time