Raiders shut out of Hall of Fame Centennial slate as WR Cliff Branch also denied induction

Raiders shut out of Hall of Fame Centennial slate as Cliff Branch also denied induction

Earlier this week we learned that the Pro Football Hall of Fame committee didn’t deem 2-time Super Bowl-winning head coach Tom Flores worthy of induction. Today it was revealed they didn’t deem 3-time Super Bowl-winning wide receiver Cliff Branch worthy either.

This was supposed to be the year both longtime wrongs were made right. That the trailblazing Tom Flores and the game-changing Cliff Branch would finally be enshrined. But in the end, it was the same old crap as both were left out.

I mean what else could they have done to earn their rightful place in Canton?

Flores has two Super Bowl rings as a head coach, was the first Hispanic American head coach in NFL history, and the first minority head coach to win a Super Bowl. Let alone two of them. And he was passed over for Bill Cowher? This after having been passed over by several other less worthy head coaches including Tony Dungy.

Branch was the original speed burning deep threat receiver. He was on all three of the Raiders Super Bowl-winning teams and was the NFL’s all-time leader in postseason catches and yards at the time of his retirement. A record that stood until Jerry Rice broke it several years later. And yet Branch has been passed over for 30 years. He passed away last year.

What once seemed like a solid bet the wait was finally over for Flores and Branch, was not to be. Branch has passed on and Flores is approaching 83 years of age. Shame on you, Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Somewhat off-topic, but Paul Tagliabue? Really??

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