Highlighted Year: Al Denson, 1967

Flanker, Denver Broncos

Age: 25

4^th season in pro football & with Broncos

College: Florida A & M

Height: 6’2”   Weight: 208

Prelude:

Denson starred as a wide receiver in college, catching 68 passes for 1420 yards and 18 touchdowns. He was chosen by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 1964 AFL draft (the Philadelphia Eagles picked him in the NFL draft, also in the sixth round).and caught 25 passes as a rookie flanker. However, he was shifted to backup tight end and his productivity dropped to nine receptions in ’65, but moving into a starting role he had 36 catches for 725 yards (20.1 avg.) and three touchdowns in 1966. Denson returned to flanker, his natural position, in ’67.

1967 Season Summary

Appeared in all 14 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Pass Receiving

Receptions – 46 [8, tied with Eric Crabtree & Mike Garrett]     

Most receptions, game – 7 (for 134 yds.) vs. NY Jets 9/24, (for 102 yds.) at Buffalo 11/19, (for 97 yds.) at San Diego 11/23

Yards – 899 [6]

Most yards, game – 134 (on 7 catches) vs. NY Jets 9/24

Average gain – 19.5 [4]

TDs – 11 [1, tied with Otis Taylor]

100-yard receiving games – 4

Rushing

Attempts – 1

Yards – -2

TDs – 0

Scoring

TDs – 11 [3]

Points – 66 [10]

Awards & Honors:

1^st team All-AFL: NEA

2^nd team All-AFL: AP, UPI, NY Daily News

2^nd team All-Western Division: Sporting News

AFL All-Star Game

Broncos went 3-11 to finish fourth in the AFL Western Division.

Aftermath:

Denson was injured in the first week of the 1968 season and appeared in just eight games, but still caught a respectable 34 passes for 586 yards (17.2 avg.) and five touchdowns. He followed up with 53 catches for 809 yards (15.3 avg.) and 10 TDs in ’69, and received some second-team All-AFL recognition as well as selection to the last AFL All-Star Game. Following a 47-catch, 646-yard season in 1970, Denson was traded to Minnesota but was little used and left the team, bringing his career to an end. Overall, he caught 260 passes for 4275 yards (16.4 avg.) and 32 touchdowns, with 250 for 4150 yards and all of the TDs coming with the Broncos. Denson received first-team All-AFL recognition from the NEA after one season, was a second-team choice three times, and was selected to two AFL All-Star Games.

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Highlighted Years features players who were consensus first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970