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Well, I still don't have much to say about the last months transactions, but I'm going back a way on this post, like say 55 years.
Steve Tensi died yesterday, he was 81 years old. Only the long time Bronco fans can remember that name and wanting to forget his legacy, if you want to call it that.
He had a great college career. In his senior season he led Florida State to a 9-1-1 record, beating Oklahoma in the 1964 Gator Bowl 36-19. Tensi had solid stats, going 23 for 36 for 303 yqards and 5 touchdowns. Tensi had a pretty good receiver to help him at Florida State, a guy by the name of Fred Biletnikoff, who by the way caught 13 passes for 192 yards with 4 of those going for scores. In those days the AFL/NFL had a signing war that was getting pretty serious. How serious? The Raiders signed Biletnikoff to a contract on the fiels after the game was over. The Raiders and the Chargers sent their scouts out there for the game, and Steve eventually was drafted in the third round by San Diego. Though he had great size (6'5") he was not super athletic but he had a strong arm and could throw rainbows down the field. But he had a couple minuses that haunted him. He had very little peripheral vision and he did not react well under pressure. He also had problems with finding the second and third receivers unless they were wide open. Part of the problem there was Florida State had a great offensive line and the passing game was always clicking. He most likely didn't have the coaching needed in college to take care of those issues. And as his career went on with San Diego that it was clear when Sid Gilman saw that he won't be any threat to replace John Hadl as the starter for the Chargers.
Fast forward two years. Lou Saban conducted a house cleaning when he was named Bronco head coach in January of 1967 and the offensive line was replaced with the exception of Larry Kaminski. Two exhibition games in the 1967 season is the key here. The Broncos beat Detroit 13-7, the Broncos get Tensi in the trade for two #1 draft choices. Then Denver beats the Minnesota Vikings 14-9. and the Bronco fans were absolutely ecstatic over what they thought was going to be great season-a new beginning. By the seasons 2nd game they were brought down to earth when the Raiders crushed the Broncos 51-0. The Broncos lost 8 more in a row after that, and finished the season at 3-11. Denver went 5-9 the next season, their play at least showed improvement, if for nothing else playing competiively.
But Steve's downfall started in the third exhibition game against San Francisco 49ers as he broke his collarbone in the first quarter. He was out for six weeks, and was re-activated for week number four To his credit, he came back in the 4th quarter to beat the Cincinnati Bengals 10-7. Marlin Briscoe, the first black quarterback to start a pro football game, couldn't get anything going, Tensi replaced him and put 10 points up on the board to beat the Bengals 10-7. The Sunday after that the Broncos beat the Jets 21-13 as Tensi played a good game but it was the Broncos five interceptions that was the key. Three weeks after that Tensi led the Broncos to a 35-14 route of the Boston Patriots and the first time in years that Denver would actually steam roll the opponent. Three weeks later the Broncos lost to the Houston Oilers 38-17 and Tensi broke the right collarbone again, and was lost for the season. He never was the same quarterback after that.
After the season Marlin Briscoe was given his release and Saban brought in a quarterback by the name of Pete Liske. Both quarterbacks suffered from inconsistent play and if it wasn't for Floyd Little I believe they could only have won two games. By 1970 Tensi had played in only four games and retired after the season was over. His career had ended with a thud. It was sad because Saban honestly thought that Steve Tensi could be the answer. But Steve had little mobility and had suffered more injuries besides the two collarbones in 1968. In an interview Tensi gave to Dick Conner he remarked that he quit because he wanted Saban and the team to win, and that at best he could only throw the ball 30 yards-tops. He spent a year in the World Football League in 1974 and afterwards got into the construction business with his father in law and stayed with it for nearly four decades. During his entire career I felt bad for Steve, they didn't keep stats for certain things, quarterback sacks was one of them But I can tell you for the games he played that when the Broncos went up against the Raiders and Chiefs he was sacked a half dozen times-at least.
Saban learned his lesson when he went back to Buffalo in 1972 and built up that offensive line for Buffalo's OJ Simpson-they called the O line 'the Electric Company." For years the Bronco faithful just shook their heads over the Tensi trade, coughing up two number one graft choices for a 4 year career wracked with injuries, indifferent fans, and insults. Sad. But Tensi rooted for Denver all those years later but didn't care to come back to any Bronco functions. His name will always be linked to Lou Saban, sad to say.
Broncos to land Tua in trade? Hmmm, with rcvr Hill? Doubt the 2nd part for sure, that would be a bridge too far, but the first part has come up on social media.
Zach Wilson from Jets to Broncos, or is this more click bait?
Zach Wilson from Jets to Broncos, or is this more click bait?
It's legit. Not sure what they're thinking; although it's a really low-risk, high-reward move. They gave up very little to get him, and he was the #2 overall pick 3 years ago. Jets did him a favor. He doesn't have to play for a perennially trash organization or back up a washed-up wackadoodle QB anymore.
It's legit. Not sure what they're thinking; although it's a really low-risk, high-reward move. They gave up very little to get him, and he was the #2 overall pick 3 years ago. Jets did him a favor. He doesn't have to play for a perennially trash organization or back up a washed-up wackadoodle QB anymore.
Yeah, didn't give up much, but I guess not much love for their backup? Forget his name already.
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