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Legend and Legacy: Charley Johnson, the quarterbacking chemist

As we head into the 2015 NFL season, the Denver Broncos are viewed by all observers as an outstanding team with legitimate championship aspirations.

Of course, it was not always that way, particularly in the team's first 13 seasons.

Denver did not have a winning season in that time, reaching that benchmark in 1973, and the quarterback for that first-ever winning campaign was future Ring of Famer Charley Johnson, one of the great Renaissance men in pro football history.

The Broncos acquired Johnson in 1972 for a third round draft choice the following year, and he shared playing time in the losing 1972 campaign.