July 31st 2024.
John Madden compared Broncos cornerback Louis Wright to a rattlesnake on the Devil's Backbone trail - a creature to be approached with caution and respect. Wright was a force to be reckoned with, and anyone who underestimated him risked getting bit. Even his own teammates knew to give him space, with Broncos legend Randy Gradishar recalling a time when Tom Jackson taunted the Raiders' coach, John Madden, during a game. Wright's speed and agility on the field were unmatched, and he was a key player in the Broncos' rise as a franchise in the late 1970s.
Now, at the age of 72, Gradishar is being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame - the first member of the iconic '77 Orange Crush defense to receive this honor. But he believes that Wright should not be the last. The Steel Curtain and the Purple People Eaters have already received recognition, and it's time for the Orange Crush to get its due. Gradishar is proud of the legacy that their defense started for the Broncos, paving the way for the John Elway era and beyond. And he's grateful to finally receive some attention for their accomplishments.
But the conversation shouldn't stop there. With Gradishar's induction, the next logical step is for Wright to be the next member of the Orange Crush to receive a gold jacket. Gradishar remembers Wright as a shutdown cornerback, a player who never received the recognition he deserved. He was the Deion Sanders, Champ Bailey, and Pat Surtain II of his time, able to erase half the field and neutralize an offense's top receiver. Even Madden himself admitted that he wouldn't dare to mess with Wright on the field.
Drafted in 1975, Wright's arrival coincided with the Broncos' transformation from a struggling team to a winning franchise. In his 12 seasons with the team, they had a winning record nine times - a vast improvement from just two winning seasons in the previous 15 years. Wright's speed was legendary, as he had been a track star at San Jose State and was once clocked at 9.6 seconds in the 100-meter dash. And despite only having 26 career interceptions, it was because opposing teams rarely threw his way - a testament to his skill and reputation on the field.
One of the most notable examples of Wright's speed and talent can be seen in a 1978 game against the Bears, where he manages to outrun both Walter Payton and a blocker, forcing the legendary running back to change direction. And this is the same Payton who allegedly ran a 4.2 in the 40-yard dash. Wright's speed was unmatched, and he consistently shut down some of the league's top receivers.
Despite his impressive resume, Wright has often been overlooked for the Hall of Fame. Some have argued that his interception numbers were not high enough, but as we've seen with current Broncos cornerback, it's because he was simply that good. And Gradishar believes that Wright's reputation alone should be enough to warrant consideration for the Hall of Fame. After all, even the great John Madden had to learn to tread carefully around him.
As Gradishar prepares to receive his well-deserved recognition, he hopes that Wright will not be far behind. The Orange Crush defense set a standard for the Broncos and left a lasting legacy for future generations. And it's time for that legacy to be properly honored. So as Gradishar takes his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, let's hope that Wright will soon join him.
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