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East Coast Fan
02-11-2009, 04:15 PM
I don't know if this thread will be popular or not, and it is similiar BUT different from Denver Native's thread, but I thought we could post each player from that magical 1977 season and discuss any memories or thoughts about them. Let's start with Louie Wright and see what happens. I remember him coming in in the John Ralston era (boy that guy had an eye for talent) and became an outstanding cornerback that teams would shy away from throwing at. So tall and graceful. I have a book from 1976 that said "the jury is still out on Wright", but he certainly did become a star and its too bad that he couldn't win a Super Bowl either on that magical '77 team or with the Elway era in '86.


Your turn! :D

TXBRONC
02-11-2009, 05:05 PM
I think Louis Wright belongs on the Hall of Fame because he was one of the dominate corners of his era.

Denver Native (Carol)
02-11-2009, 05:40 PM
Some great pictures of Louie in the following link:
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/3rdStoneFromTheSun/164059

Louis Wright
6'2" 200
Cornerback
Denver Broncos
1975 - 1986 12 Seasons
166 Games Played
26 Interceptions
11 Fumble Recoveries
512 Return Yards
4 Touchdowns
5 Pro Bowls

Louis Donnel Wright was drafted in the first round of the 1975 draft by the Denver Broncos. He was the 17th player picked overall. Wright first went to college at Arizona State University, but then transferred to San Jose State University. Wright was also a noted track star at SJSU. The long jump was his best event. Wright's San Jose State best of 25-feet-7 ranks in the top-five in school history. He also won two letters in track and once ran the 100 in 9.6 seconds. Wright started at Cornerback in his two years at SJSU, and intercepted 3 passes in his career there. After he finished his San Jose State career, he played in the 1974 East-West Shrine Game and 1974 Senior Bowl. Louis Wright is a member of the San Jose State University Hall of Fame.


Wright started all 11 games that he played in his rookie year. He intercepted 2 passes and recovered one fumble. In 1977, he had 3 interceptions for 128 yards. He also scored the first touchdown of his career. Wright was a key member of the "Orange Crush" defense that went to Super Bowl XII. Wright would garner his first Pro Bowl nod that year as well. Wright would make the Pro Bowl in each of the next 2 seasons as well. In 1979, Wright took a fumble 82 yards for a touchdown. In 1980, Wright was named to the UPI All-Conference Second Team. He ended up missing half on 1981 due to an injury, but still was named to the UPI All-Conference Second Team. Wright came back at full health for 1982 with 2 interceptions. Wright snared a career high 6 interceptions in 1983, and was named to the Pro Bowl team. In 1984, Wright would return a fumble for a touchdown and was named to The Sporting News All-NFL First Team, Pro Football Weekly All-NFL First Team, Pro Football Weekly All-Conference First Team, UPI All-Conference Second Team, and Newspaper Ent. Association All-Conference Second Team. 1985 saw him intercept 5 passes, and score the last touchdown of his career. Wright also made his last Pro Bowl team that year as well. Wright played his last season in 1986. He picked off 3 balls, and helped lead the Broncos to Super Bowl XXI. Louis Wright is a member of the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame.


Louis Wright was a shutdown Cornerback the day he walked onto an NFL field. Teams would hardly throw the ball to his side of the field. Wright was also a hard hitter, and was one of best run supporting Cornerbacks of his era. He was vital to the "Orange Crush" defense. Hall of Famer Stan Jones coached a line that featured Lyle Alzado and Rubin Carter. Tom Jackson and Randy Gradishar were top notch Linebackers. Strong Safety Billy Thompson was also great. The Broncos were #1 in the NFL against the run in 1977. Louis Wright was consistently excellent. His 163 starts rank seventh on All-Time in Broncos history. Opponents feared him. He is the greatest defensive back in the history of the Denver Broncos. Many of his contemporaries feel he was the best Cornerback in the AFC, if not the entire NFL, during his career. He was big, and fast. He wasn't one to blow his own horn, and has flown under the radar of the Hall of Fame voters since he has retired. Recreational football fans may look at his stats and not be impressed, but tackles were not a recorded statistic throughout much of Wrights career. He was always amongst the teams leaders in tackles, which is impressive when you consider how much teams tried to avoid him. If you were blessed enough to have seen Louis Wright play, then you would agree he deserves induction into Canton.

TXBRONC
02-11-2009, 06:07 PM
Some great pictures of Louie in the following link:
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/3rdStoneFromTheSun/164059

Louis Wright
6'2" 200
Cornerback
Denver Broncos
1975 - 1986 12 Seasons
166 Games Played
26 Interceptions
11 Fumble Recoveries
512 Return Yards
4 Touchdowns
5 Pro Bowls

Louis Donnel Wright was drafted in the first round of the 1975 draft by the Denver Broncos. He was the 17th player picked overall. Wright first went to college at Arizona State University, but then transferred to San Jose State University. Wright was also a noted track star at SJSU. The long jump was his best event. Wright's San Jose State best of 25-feet-7 ranks in the top-five in school history. He also won two letters in track and once ran the 100 in 9.6 seconds. Wright started at Cornerback in his two years at SJSU, and intercepted 3 passes in his career there. After he finished his San Jose State career, he played in the 1974 East-West Shrine Game and 1974 Senior Bowl. Louis Wright is a member of the San Jose State University Hall of Fame.


Wright started all 11 games that he played in his rookie year. He intercepted 2 passes and recovered one fumble. In 1977, he had 3 interceptions for 128 yards. He also scored the first touchdown of his career. Wright was a key member of the "Orange Crush" defense that went to Super Bowl XII. Wright would garner his first Pro Bowl nod that year as well. Wright would make the Pro Bowl in each of the next 2 seasons as well. In 1979, Wright took a fumble 82 yards for a touchdown. In 1980, Wright was named to the UPI All-Conference Second Team. He ended up missing half on 1981 due to an injury, but still was named to the UPI All-Conference Second Team. Wright came back at full health for 1982 with 2 interceptions. Wright snared a career high 6 interceptions in 1983, and was named to the Pro Bowl team. In 1984, Wright would return a fumble for a touchdown and was named to The Sporting News All-NFL First Team, Pro Football Weekly All-NFL First Team, Pro Football Weekly All-Conference First Team, UPI All-Conference Second Team, and Newspaper Ent. Association All-Conference Second Team. 1985 saw him intercept 5 passes, and score the last touchdown of his career. Wright also made his last Pro Bowl team that year as well. Wright played his last season in 1986. He picked off 3 balls, and helped lead the Broncos to Super Bowl XXI. Louis Wright is a member of the Denver Broncos Ring of Fame.


Louis Wright was a shutdown Cornerback the day he walked onto an NFL field. Teams would hardly throw the ball to his side of the field. Wright was also a hard hitter, and was one of best run supporting Cornerbacks of his era. He was vital to the "Orange Crush" defense. Hall of Famer Stan Jones coached a line that featured Lyle Alzado and Rubin Carter. Tom Jackson and Randy Gradishar were top notch Linebackers. Strong Safety Billy Thompson was also great. The Broncos were #1 in the NFL against the run in 1977. Louis Wright was consistently excellent. His 163 starts rank seventh on All-Time in Broncos history. Opponents feared him. He is the greatest defensive back in the history of the Denver Broncos. Many of his contemporaries feel he was the best Cornerback in the AFC, if not the entire NFL, during his career. He was big, and fast. He wasn't one to blow his own horn, and has flown under the radar of the Hall of Fame voters since he has retired. Recreational football fans may look at his stats and not be impressed, but tackles were not a recorded statistic throughout much of Wrights career. He was always amongst the teams leaders in tackles, which is impressive when you consider how much teams tried to avoid him. If you were blessed enough to have seen Louis Wright play, then you would agree he deserves induction into Canton.

I was blessed to watch him play just as you were Carol. :salute:

What I think stinks most is that critics seem to agree that Wright one best corner backs of his era yet he can't get into the Hall of Fame. To say the least, that really blows. :tsk:

Superchop 7
02-12-2009, 12:50 AM
Louie was the Walter Payton of CB's.

A pleasure to watch, and a guy that understood sportsmanship and honor.

Dirk
02-12-2009, 07:28 AM
Oh those were the days...I have great memories of the Orange Crush defense. Wright was a phenom in his day.

Of course the bias towards the Broncos players getting into the HOF continues.

TXBRONC
02-12-2009, 10:09 AM
It seems that Hall of Fame selectors will always find some poor excuse to keep deserving ex-Broncos from getting into the Hall of Fame. :tsk:

eessydo
02-12-2009, 10:25 AM
I'll never forget when Dennis smith blocked those two consecutivecharger field goals and louie wright returned the second for a touchdown in overtime. I remember our whole family jumping up and down screaming. We couldn't believe it. Pretty awesome.

We still talk about that play, and how incredibly dominant Louie Wright was at his position. Then we had Smith and Atwater and lets not forget Mecklenberg.

Boy I miss the days of that defense.

broncofaninfla
02-13-2009, 09:49 AM
No doubt about it. He belongs in the HOF.

East Coast Fan
02-13-2009, 04:01 PM
I think Louie made Steve Foley a better player; teams shyed away from Wright and tried to pick on Foley and more times than not that didn't work!:

1977 ORANGE CRUSH :defense: