"Imagine growing up with a hall of fame qb as your dad and playing football? For Washington in the '80s and early '90s, that was Gary Clark, not Monk. But I believe it shows that even looking only at his best seasons, Moore is not strongly distinguished at least not statistically from other great receivers yet to be enshrined in Canton, most of whom had longer careers and more good seasons. Kansas City Chiefs running back Dante Hall (82) is chased by Oakland Raiders defenders Keyon Nash (42) and David Terrell (35 . A score of 100 is around the average modern-era inductee. These NFL wide receivers do not count toward our list of 10 worthy Hall of Famers. 4. That's obviously good, but it doesn't blow you away. In the '70s, Jackson gained 7,724 receiving yards, far ahead of 2nd-place Ken Burrough (6,343), and even farther ahead of celebrated players like Harold Carmichael (6,080), Drew Pearson (5,713), Cliff Branch (5,520), and Lynn Swann (3,982). Comparing Smith to Keenan McCardell is just silly, which I guess leaves Herman Moore and maybe Rod Smith. He fell just short of 600 receptions, 9,000 yards, and 80 touchdowns. Branch, Carmichael, and Pearson were all very good receivers, and all had great seasons and unbelievable moments. The expanded 16-game season and increased offensive levels also made Branchs 46-to-60 catch stat lines look like something any receiver could accomplish. 4. Sharpe was one of the best players in the NFL from 1992 to 1994. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1970s Choosing between the two, I'd go with Ellard. 1970-79: n/a So now that I have my benchmark down, here are the wide receivers that I think only need a couple more seasons to potentially be considered for the HOF. But I think the voters have been reluctant to enshrine him partly for the same reason Art Monk had to wait so long. He played his entire career for the Colts, retiring after the 2008 season with 1,102 receptions, 14,580 receiving yards, and 128 touchdowns. Who is the best wide receiver eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but not yet enshrined? The argument against Brown is that he was consistent rather than exceptional. That averages out to about 14th. According to the True Receiving Yards metric I created with Chase Stuart of FootballPerspective.com which adjusts a receivers stats for era, schedule length and team passing volume only Harrison (8,311 TRY) was more productive over that span than Smith (8,271). His achievement is still an unbroken record, thanks to his productivity and longevity during 20 NFL seasons. 1985-94: Jerry Rice Congratulations on your retirement, Julian Edelman. 10 Hall of Fame-Worthy NFL Wide Receivers (not named Julian Edelman) Wide Receivers (14) Brian Branch, S, Alabama. Here's someone who would fit there perfectly. Here's my list of 25, ranked by the number of times they were among the top 10 in their league in receiving yards: Seven: Powell Antonio Brown: Hes clearly a Hall of Famer, but I dont feel like dealing with his whole thing. When football fans cry "snub", there's a good chance they're talking about a wide receiver. That shifted with the end of the decade. He led the NFL in yards per reception for three straight years from 1979 through 1981. The committees of the late 1980s and 1990s got a little carried away with making sure every Lombardi Packer and Steel Curtain Steeler who ever buckled a chinstrap got enshrined. When Philadelphia traded Jackson to Los Angeles in 1973, the 6-7-1 Rams improved to 12-2. 1,094 receptions, 14,934 yards, 100 TD. Harold Carmichael finished his career with 590 receptions and 79 touchdowns. Rison, in his third-best season, was 2nd in the NFL in both receptions and receiving TDs. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1960s He signed for 1995 and spent the season working his way up the new teams depth chart. Top 20 Receivers | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site Going by career numbers, Branch has a far stronger case: 501 receptions, 8,685 yards, 67 TD. Andre Rison Touchdown machine in the early '90s who revived his career with a 54-yard TD in the Super Bowl and a Pro Bowl with the Chiefs. A wide receiver who was the 5th- or 6th-best of his generation is a player I'm okay leaving out of Canton. Aggie Football: Chiefs to induct Dante Hall into their Hall of Fame Please note that WRs of the late '80s and early '90s, like Reed and Sharpe, are in next week's column. Although Rice played in only five seasons during the decade of the 1980s, he was regarded by many to be on the path to be called the greatest receiver of all-time. The Cowboys now have 20 Hall of Fame members, thanks to three more additions last weekend. Smith led the NFL in receptions in 1999 (116), then the highest total in history outside the whacked '94-'95 seasons. By the end of Rice's 20-year career, he had obliterated every receiving record imaginable. Below, I've organized HOF receivers by the decade in which they most established their greatness. He caught two touchdowns in Super Bowl XV and could easily have been named the games MVP. All rights reserved. http://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-TPSWill he or won't he get into. HOF Qualifications: EXCELLENT. Harold Carmichael Drew Pearson (part of the 2021 class) was a great player, and I grew up worshipping Harold Carmichael (2020 Centennial class), but Branch is more qualified than either of them. He probably doesn't need to be in. Instead of ripping Edelman, however, lets celebrate ten NFL wide receivers of the last 50 years or so who really do deserve Hall of Fame consideration. More, Subscribe to the Sports Central Feed Follow Sports Central on Twitter, "There is a reason he is a two-time MVP, a Finals MVP, because he pushes us over the top in moments like this. Look at that empty 1970s slot in the list of Hall of Fame receivers. By the fall of 1994, he had been cut by Dallas and also the Philadelphia Eagles, leading to a year out of football. Today's wide receivers play 16-game schedules. Moore didn't. In his 11-year career, Pearson led the Cowboys in receiving TDs only twice (1975-76). Fourth all-time in both receptions and receiving TDs, Carter joined Jerry Rice as the starting wide receivers on the 1990s NFL All-Decade team. How does a guy who didn't stand out in his own era deserve Hall of Fame recognition? In that seasons signature win a playoff upset at the heavily favored Denver Broncos Smith had 71 yards and scored the eventual game-winning touchdown. If you really want to include '83, the Cliff Branch-Era Raiders, who won three Super Bowls, have twice as many HOFers as the 1980s 49ers, who won four. I don't buy that, for either one. Four time pro bowler and 3 time 2nd team all-pro. I love stat geeks, and on some level I'm one of them, so let's review Moore's qualifications. Receiving statistics are exploding, and their numbers don't look as glorious now that guys like Marvin Harrison, Randy Moss, and Terrell Owens have played full careers. Some of those assignments are close calls. He has also been shunted behind Holt and Wayne in the wide receiver queue and Alan Faneca in the ex-Steelers queue. He played his entire career for the. Frankly, Smith has one of the weakest cases on this list. Jerry Rice in the '90s and Jackson in the '70s are the only Modern Era players to lead any decade in every major receiving category. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1950s (Hill, Howton, Speedie, Hugh Taylor, Wilson), Cliff Branch Stats again: The interesting thing about this list is that many of these players need to be evaluated with serious consideration of their postseason accomplishments. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1950s. The way the receiving game is today, I think we're going to see a lot of players string 1,000-yard seasons together, some of them as many as Smith. Here's a look at some of the best prospects available for teams drafting in the early part of the second round: Jordan Porter Jr., CB, Penn State. Well popularity rings and of course the team. Who scored more TDs in the '90s, Michael Irvin or Herman Moore? Putting numbers in context, how do Moore's best seasons look? Their quarterbacks are protected in ways Y.A. Of course, Rison doesn't nearly equal Irvin in the postseason, but that's a gap of opportunity as much as talent. But few are outright forgotten in the way that former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith has been since his retirement in 2006. It's difficult to compare players across eras at any position, and this is particularly true in the passing game, because the rules and statistics have changed so much. Smith was inducted into the Jaguars ring of honor known as the Pride of the Jaguars in 2016, and he has appeared at various team events in the years since. A first-team All-Pro in 1990 and a five-time Pro Bowler, Rison had five 1,000-yard seasons and in 1993 tied Jerry Rice for the most receiving TDs in the NFL (15). He played for four teams in three years, his girlfriend alleged that he was abusive, he went to the Raiders of course he went to the Raiders and Rison even played for the Toronto Argonauts after his NFL career ended (winning a Grey Cup in 2004). Anyway, three All-Pro berths and four 100-yard seasons form the backbone of what is becoming an impressive Hall of Fame rsum for Hopkins. Eagles great Harold Carmichael finally gets his Hall of Fame enshrinement The wide receiver won three Super Bowls and was selected to five Pro Bowls. He was voted to the 1970s All-Decade Team as a backup and was second-team All-Pro twice. Rice had a three-time Super Bowl Champion. He has a well-deserved tough-guy personality, a high television profile (all voters try to tune that sort of thing out, and a few succeed), and several signature plays, including the broken-arm catch and some unforgettable playoff performances. Ellard had four seasons among the top four in receiving yards, Fryar none. No, it was Carter." He probably shouldn't be in. HOF Qualifications: FAIR. For years, it was Lynn Swann or Art Monk. 1960-69: Lance Alworth, Don Maynard They force some of us to denigrate a player like Edelmans legacy because other folks are either just praising a local hero or advancing a bad-faith or ill-informed talking point. Let's break this down a little more, looking at both the Hall of Famers and the contenders we've examined. Only cause you have to look a one member of the hall of fame who went in soon as eligible. Jimmy Smith is a harder case. It's useful to me, in thinking about these issues, to break them down by era. But he was never a guy we thought of as the best at his position. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1950s, Tim Brown Now that we shooed in the shoo-ins, lets sink our teeth into some of the tougher cases. Brown made nine Pro Bowls and was a second-team selection to the 1990s NFL All-Decade team. Carter last led the Vikings in receiving yards in 1995. He is one of only five receivers with nine or more 1,000-yard seasons (Tim Brown, Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Rice), and one of five with six straight 1,100-yard seasons (Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, Moss, Rice). However, no player may have a more unique path to enshrinement than former Chiefs returner and wide receiver Dante Hall. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1950s (Hill, Howton, Speedie, Hugh Taylor, Wilson) Cliff Branch 1972-85, Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders 501 receptions, 8,685 yards, 67 TD. His detractors would point out that while Smith did have exceptional years, and did play well in several others, he had so few seasons on the field that his overall statistics don't measure up to the best players of his generation. But thats a topic for another column. NFL News and Rumors: Dalvin Cook to Dolphins, C.J. Here are the 25 best undrafted free agents (UDFAs) in NFL history. NFL Draft Rumors: Latest on Cardinals, Titans, DeAndre Hopkins, and Potential Trade. Jackson's accomplishments he retired with the most receptions and receiving yards of anyone who played his whole career in the NFL were quickly overshadowed by Steve Largent, James Lofton, and Air Coryell. February 14, 2012 by Brad Oremland Print Story. He's here for the statheads. This doesn't apply to Jackson. 1980-89: James Lofton, Art Monk Draymond Green, Sports Central / Original Sports Fan Commentary Since 1998, Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1990s, Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1980s, Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1960s, Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1950s, Risers, Fallers of the 2022-23 NFL Season. July 16, 2020 8:00 am ET. HOF Qualifications: POOR. He may be over-qualified, but Sharpe is not the most overqualified receiver on our list. Smith was a star from 1996-2005. [Related: The Football Hall Of Fame Has A Receiver Problem]. 30, 2023, 5:11 p.m. Kansas State wide receiver Kade Warner (85) carries the ball as Alabama . Morgan was one of the greatest deep threats in NFL history. Mark Clayton and Mark Duper NFL Draft: Clayton was the 223rd selection in the 8th round of the 1983 Draft. Morgans career was in decline by the time the Patriots got hammered by the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX. My silly side is insisting that Jimmy Smith should obviously make the Hall of Fame, because he's incomparable! The Best Wide Receivers Of All Time In NFL History [2023 Updated] Moore had three seasons of 100 receptions, trailing only Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison, and Wes Welker (4 each). Why did they change their minds? Weve written before that the Pro Football Hall of Fame has a receiver problem. Andre Rison "Flash 80" is the best WR of all time in NFL history. In his prime, Smith was a receiving machine, easily the most important part of a Jaguars team that won the NFLs seventh-most games from 1996 through Smiths retirement after the 2005 season. Holt still has better numbers, but he played on a wild offense. Whom you ask why stats or ok not great nothing like carters or Tim brown who enter the league same year and was so far ahead and higher in stats and records even with horrible qbs and team. Harrison is in the Hall of Fame, along with a number of Smith's other receiving peers: Randy Moss, Terrell Owens, Isaac Bruce, Tim Brown, Cris Carter and, of course, Jerry Rice. This affected Hennigan, Howton, Speedie, Hugh Taylor, and Wilson, once each. Zac Brown Band . 1990-99: Michael Irvin. Joiner's best seasons came in the early '80s and the others all reached stardom in the '60s, whereas Jackson's career is truly centered in the '70s. Both the Eagles and Rams improved dramatically when they acquired Jackson. The 10 Best Wide Receivers Not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Dean Hybl June 21, 2009 Best of the Rest 1 of 11 10. Keeanu Benton, DT, Wisconsin J.Smith: 862 rec, 12,287 yds, 67 TD Best Wide Receivers Not in the HOF: 1990s - Sports Central Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1950s (Hill, Howton, Speedie, Hugh Taylor, Wilson) Charley Hennigan 1960-66, Houston Oilers 410 receptions, 6,823 yards, 51 TD Probably no one's HOF case is more hindered by disrespect for the early AFL than Charley Hennigan. The players listed below are the top 250 HOFm-rated players who played WR starting in 1955 or later for at least 50 career games. Cris Carter | Pro Football Hall of Fame - pfhof Go back and look at the tape, % of run/pass ratio for the era, and the fact he was on bad teams until Dick Vermiel took over in Philly. But he was a heck of a player. 501 receptions, 8,685 yards, 67 TD. HOF absurd. Those are 16-game seasons, after the Mel Blount Rule and the changes that opened up pass blocking. 1992-2005, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars The Pro Football Hall of Fame voters are the same people who select All-Decade Teams. That hurts Brown, who was a dazzling punt returner (3,320 yds, 10.2 avg, 3 TDs). Everyone else on this list has a strong case, though some are stronger than others. Rison was a great player basically all the same years as Irvin, and if touchdowns are a big deal to you, you could easily regard them as more or less equal. Holt and Wayne are still log-jammed ahead of him, and Steve Smith has a slightly better overall portfolio. But let's review each player's rsum, beginning this week with receivers of the 1990s. During that period, he ranked second (behind Marvin Harrison) in total catches, first in receiving yards and seventh in touchdown receptions. Branch made four Pro Bowls, was four times first-team All-Pro, and played on three Super Bowl winners. Keep in mind, this was during the career of Jerry Rice as well. Edelmans strongest Hall of Fame argument his only Hall of Fame argument, really is that he ranks second to Jerry Rice on the all-time lists of both playoff receptions (118) and yards (1,442). The Best Wide Receivers in Los Angeles Rams Franchise History I view Fryar much the same way I viewed Rafael Palmeiro (before the positive test for PEDs). Hall of Fame Case: Point #1- Dominance While he only played for seven seasons, Sterling Sharpe was, undoubtedly, one of the best (if not THE best) wide receiver in the game during his career. NFL's top 20 players not in the Hall of Fame: Torry Holt, Zach Thomas THE 2,000-YARD CHALLENGE FOR A WIDE RECEIVER. But he was an effective player for something like 15 years, and he was an impact performer on special teams. But you can't compare Smith to the guys who played most of their careers in the 2000s, because Smith was already in his 30s then. That said, Hopkins may have to wait in line behind another recent Houston Texans receiver and former teammate. Theres no reason to belabor the arguments for them. Ranking Tom Brady's 41 best receivers during his 18-year, 9-Super Bowl He had nine consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons and ranks 4th all-time in receiving yards. But Smiths Canton case hasnt gotten much more traction than making the preliminary lists of candidates. Moss? Anything that causes a player's career to be broken up usually dampens the perception of his greatness. Projecting his '82 season to 16 games, Carmichael reaches 618 catches, 9,405 yards, and 81 TDs. Brown caught 90 passes for 1,344 yards. Now, it's guys like Cris Carter and Tim Brown. Mel Gray was certainly a fine player. Next Article: Julian Edelman Retires: Looking back at his 12-year career with the Patriots. Sharpe simply got lost in the shuffle. All Rights Reserved. Grays not in the same statistical neighborhood as anyone except Swann, who was perhaps the most graceful and visually stunning receiver in history, a clutch legend and playoff hero, and who is widely regarded as a poor choice for Canton (see Tims comment above). Sharpe, unfortunately, suffered a neck injury at the end of the 1994 season, and that was that. 579 receptions, 10,372 yards, 76 TD. I have a strange theory: the 1982 strike kept Carmichael out of Canton. And Smiths best set of seven straight seasons (1996 through 2002) earns him sole possession of seventh place since 1960, trailing only Rice, Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Michael Irvin, Alworth and Moss. Two: Carmichael. But Branch was only an exceptional player for those three seasons. These NFL wide receivers, Hopkins, like Edelman, made a little news on Monday when the folks at the MIT Sloan Analytics Conference named Hopkins acquisition by the Arizona Cardinals as the, Smith, like Andre Johnson, becomes Hall of Fame eligible next season. Jerry Rice, Marvin Harrison, and Carter are the only players in history with five straight years of double-digit receiving touchdowns. HOF Qualifications: FAIR. HOF Qualifications: EXCELLENT. Tittle and Roger Staubach never dreamed of. Tyreek's 2K Target; He's Not Playing Around Or Is He? He made five Pro Bowls and led the NFL in a major receiving category four times more than Biletnikoff, Joiner, Irvin, Lavelli, Lofton, Monk, Stallworth, and Swann combined.
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