Después de lo que fue una larga espera para muchos, la leyenda de los Raiders Cliff Branch por fin fue consagrado en el Salón de la Fama en Canton, Ohio.
El receptor fue presentado por su hermana Elaine Anderson y el dueño de los Raiders, Mark Davis.
"Aun en este día, me salen las lágrimas cuando veo una foto de Cliff corriendo a su esquina con el balón en alto después de anotar un touchdown... Cada equipo le temía a Cliff Branch y la velocidad que tenía," dijo Davis.
Seleccionado en la cuarta ronda en el NFL Draft de 1972, Branch estuvo su carrera de 14 temporadas con los Raiders acumulando 8,685 yardas en 501 recepciones con 67 touchdowns. Fue líder en recepciones de los Raiders en seis ocasiones y en anotaciones en cinco ocasiones. Es el tercer mejor receptor en la lista histórica de de la franquicia en recepciones, touchdowns y yardas, detrás de solo Tim Brown y Fred Biletnikoff, quienes también son miembros del Salón de la Fama.
La liga rápidamente notó de la amenaza que representaba al ser seleccionado a cuatro Pro Bowls (1975-78) y obtuvo honores All-Pro en tres temporadas (1974-76).
La explosividad de Branch fue aun mas evidente en la postemporada al acumular 1,289 yardas, el mejor total en la NFL al momento de su retiro y hoy en día el sextomejor total, con cinco touchdowns, tres de los cuales fueron en los Super Bowls XV and XVIII.
"Cliff parecia siempre tener una jugada importante en los partidos importantes," recordó Matt Millen, excompañero de Branch. "Siempre que era necesario: Clif Branch."
Sobretodo, Branch era conocido por su velocidad. De sus 72 anotaciones, 32 fueron de mas de 30 yardas, incluyendo su famosa recepción de 99 yardas lanzada por Jim Plunkett en 1983.
La consagración de Branch se da después de 37 años de que terminó su carrera con el Plata y Negro, un honor tardío pero bien merecido para uno de los mejores receptores en las historia del deporte.
Take a look at photos from The Canton Repository Grand Parade and Class of 2022 Enshrinement as Cliff Branch and Richard Seymour are inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour with his family during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour's family during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour's family during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's sister Elaine Anderson and Las Vegas Raiders Owner Mark Davis during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
Las Vegas Raiders Owner Mark Davis during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
Raiderette Kristina during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
Raiderette Taylor during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
Raiderette Camryn during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
Raiderette Maddie during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's family during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's sister Elaine Anderson during The Canton Repository Grand Parade.
The stage at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium before the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour's bust is covered before the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's bust is covered before the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
A view of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium before the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
A view of Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium before the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Las Vegas Raiders alumnus Jim Plunkett arrives for the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Las Vegas Raiders athletic trainer H. Rod Martin arrives for the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Las Vegas Raiders fans before the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Las Vegas Raiders fans before the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Fred Biletnikoff before the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Mike Haynes before the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Ted Hendricks before the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Charles Woodson before the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Marcus Allen before the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's sister Elaine Anderson before the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Charles Woodson before the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Charles Woodson before the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Broadcaster Chris Berman during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's sister Elaine Anderson during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's sister Elaine Anderson during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Marcus Allen during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Mike Haynes before the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Actor Keegan-Michael Key during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Chris Berman during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour speaks during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour unveils his bust during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour speaks during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour speaks during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour speaks during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour speaks during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour speaks during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour speaks during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour speaks during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour speaks during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour's bust during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Richard Seymour with his bust during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Chris Berman during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
A prerecorded message from Las Vegas Raiders Owner Mark Davis about Hall of Famer Cliff Branch plays during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Marcus Allen during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's sister Elaine Anderson and Las Vegas Raiders Owner Mark Davis unveil Branch's bust during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's sister Elaine Anderson speaks during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's sister Elaine Anderson speaks during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's sister Elaine Anderson speaks during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's sister Elaine Anderson speaks during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's bust during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's sister Elaine Anderson with Branch's bust during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Las Vegas Raiders Owner Mark Davis and Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's sister Elaine Anderson with Branch's bust during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Las Vegas Raiders Owner Mark Davis, Hall of Famer Richard Seymour and Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's sister Elaine Anderson with Branch's bust during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Las Vegas Raiders Owner Mark Davis and Hall of Famer Richard Seymour with Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's bust during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Las Vegas Raiders Owner Mark Davis with Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's bust during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
Las Vegas Raiders Owner Mark Davis with Hall of Famer Cliff Branch's bust during the Class of 2022 Enshrinement.
