At . But seven players had more (Brown, Carter, Ellard, Fryar, Irvin, Rice, Rison), and so far only two of them are in the Hall of Fame. If that whole period had fallen into a single decade, how differently might he be viewed? 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). Pro Football Network, LLC. Pearson: 489 rec, 7,822 yds, 48 TD Smith, like Andre Johnson, becomes Hall of Fame eligible next season. James Jones: Julian Edelman had a very good career, but there's no way he belongs in the Hall of Fame. Branch is almost obscenely overqualified for the Hall of Fame. 743 receptions, 10,205 yards, 84 TD. 1955-64: Raymond Berry, Tommy McDonald, Bobby Mitchell We'll expand on this next week, but how would Rison's career look different without Rice in the landscape? Comparing Smith to Keenan McCardell is just silly, which I guess leaves Herman Moore and maybe Rod Smith. And yet, half his production came after '95: five of his eight 1,000-yard seasons, four of his six double-digit TD years, overall about 47% of his statistical value. Harold Jackson Five-time Pro Bowler, first player to amass 10,000 receiving yards in the NFL. 600-700 receptions At least 5 Pro Bowls At least 2 all pros Or 1 all pro and a Superbowl MVP All this just to be considered. But debates that take place the moment a good-not-great player retires are not really healthy. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After looking over all the stats for these great receivers, Ive come to the conclusion that Lynn Swan should not be in the HOF before quite a few of these other receivers. This is a Game 7 I will forever remember as the Steph Curry game." His 1995 season ranks among the most impressive statistical seasons of all time: 123 rec, 1686 yds, 14 TD. But thats a topic for another column. The late '80s and early '90s, meanwhile, have no one but Jerry Rice in the Hall of Fame. Here's someone who would fit there perfectly. During that period, he ranked second (behind Marvin Harrison) in total catches, first in receiving yards and seventh in touchdown receptions. Fred Taylor, who rushed for over 11,000 yards, is unlikely to receive serious consideration. That set off a stretch of peak seasons for Smith that few other wideouts can top. 10 Biggest Pro Football Hall of Fame snubs in NHL history. He lacks Johnsons best seasons and Smiths image. His Hall of Fame candidacy came up just as the committee was flailing to clear an embarrassing Art Monk-Andre Reed-Tim Brown logjam. 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. That player would be michael irving popular has rings and of course on the cowboys. There's a bevy of top-end defensive players sitting atop the draft board Friday night. He played his entire career for the Colts, retiring after the 2008 season with 1,102 receptions, 14,580 receiving yards, and 128 touchdowns. Ten Worthy Hall of Fame Receivers (Not Named Julian Edelman) He didn't live up to his contract in Cleveland, he got a bad reputation, Left Eye burned his house down, and he played for seven teams, eight if you count the Argos. He probably shouldn't be in. In his 11-year career, Pearson led the Cowboys in receiving TDs only twice (1975-76). 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. Gray: 351 rec, 6,644 yds, 45 TD Their quarterbacks are protected in ways Y.A. Morgans career was in decline by the time the Patriots got hammered by the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XX. Projecting his '82 season to 16 games, Carmichael reaches 618 catches, 9,405 yards, and 81 TDs. Three: Chandler, Hill, Morgan, Reed, Rison, Hugh Taylor Maybe it's a by-product of Irvin's fame and flamboyance, but Carter isn't exactly low-profile, either. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1980s They were drafted just one year apart, both were great punt returners early in their careers, both had most of their best seasons in the '90s, both had career numbers that looked exceptional before the explosion of receiving stats in the last decade or so. I guess you could argue that Bruce spent a lot of time as the number two guy behind Holt. Looking just at the 70s, Gray ranks 17th in receptions, 9th in yardage, and 11th in TDs. 4. To me, no one from that group left a Hall of Fame legacy. So this is really a list of 15. If there's another receiver of this era who's worthy of HOF consideration, I suppose it might be John Gilliam, or Gene Washington of the 49ers, maybe Ken Burrough or Carmichael, if you count him here instead of 1975-84. I was surprised when Carter didn't get elected to Canton in either of his first two years of eligibility. When they needed the key first down, who did they go to? Defenses fear the deep threat, the guy who can burn you on any given play. Please note that WRs of the late '80s and early '90s, like Reed and Sharpe, are in next week's column. Fryar never caught 90 passes in a season, was never first-team All-Pro, only caught double-digit TD passes once. He was a four-time Pro Bowler and made three All-Pro teams as a starter (more than Cris Carter and Tim Brown combined). Smith was a star from 1996-2005. 13. He didn't play at all the next two years. Four: Branch, Ellard, Fryar, Hennigan, Howton, Moore, Sharpe, Otis Taylor In the '90s, who besides Jerry Rice did what Brown and Carter did? Statistically, hes far behind his contemporaries, and thats probably why hes never been taken seriously as a Hall of Fame candidate. During that three-year stretch, Branch caught 157 passes for 3,096 yards and 34 TDs. 1960-69: Lance Alworth, Don Maynard Choosing between the two, I'd go with Ellard. He should be in. Frankly, Smith has one of the weakest cases on this list. Drew Pearson Had five standout seasons and played in seven NFC Championship Games. But he was a heck of a player. 1965-74: Fred Biletnikoff, Bob Hayes, Charley Taylor, Paul Warfield Andre Reed is mentioned eight times. 1965-74: Fred Biletnikoff, Bob Hayes, Charley Taylor, Paul Warfield Top 20 Receivers | Pro Football Hall of Fame Official Site He has been stuck in Hall of Fame semifinalist purgatory for five years, unable to advance to the finalist stage. 1987-2002, Philadelphia Eagles, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins 1975-84: Charlie Joiner, Steve Largent, John Stallworth, Lynn Swann He's ahead in every major category, way ahead in touchdowns. Players active in 2005 who rank closest to a Top 20 ranking: TERRELL OWENS (716), ERIC MOULDS (675), RICKY PROEHL (666), TONY GONZALEZ (648), MUHSIN MUHAMMAD . 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). Charley Taylor. Fryar was a late bloomer. Boldin is yet another receiver who becomes a Hall of Fame nominee this year. The Hall of Fame wideout finished his career as the NFL's all-time leading receiver and was a staple of the Redskins offense for 14 years. Tittle and Roger Staubach never dreamed of. Let's break this down a little more, looking at both the Hall of Famers and the contenders we've examined. Three: Chandler, Hill, Morgan, Reed, Rison, Hugh Taylor This doesn't really tell you anything. 1985-94: Jerry Rice Branch is not a member of any NFL All-Decade team, receiving only one vote for the All-70s Team. 25 Best Undrafted NFL Players of All Time - AthlonSports.com Jimmy Smith Made five Pro Bowls, gained 1,000 yards in every full season as a starter, caught 110 passes twice. I understand why Brown and Carter haven't been enshrined yet. Jackson made five Pro Bowls and was remarkably steady, with over 500 receiving yards for 13 consecutive seasons, breaking Raymond Berry's record of 11. Charley Taylor<br>1964-1975, 1977. . Dante Hall to Be Inducted Into Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame That means he will probably fall well short of enshrinement, which is just another indicator of how high the bar to Canton is. If a guy was the best receiver besides Jerry Rice, that's the sort of player I feel is a legitimate snub. NFL's All-Decade Team of the 1980s - Pro Football Hall of Fame Mel Gray was certainly a fine player. Some of those assignments are close calls. He played his entire career for the. A wide receiver who was the 5th- or 6th-best of his generation is a player I'm okay leaving out of Canton. Looking at the 1990s as a whole, Moore had more receptions than Andre Reed, more yardage than Henry Ellard, and more touchdowns than Michael Irvin. He was the Megatron of the time and his stats blow away the similar era receivers who are in the HOF. But he was a heck of a player. Newest Colts WR Josh Downs is excited to work with WRs coach Reggie Sharpe was better than any of them, but the others had long careers and lots of postseason glory. In 1974, Pearson set career-highs in a 14-game season, no less for receptions and receiving yards. Herman Moore When he's in the zone like that, you try to just get him in his spots, get him the ball and get out of the way. When he's in the zone like that, you try to just get him in his spots, get him the ball and get out of the way. A guy's career looks fragmented when he moves around so often, hard to view as a whole. 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. Rison played for seven NFL teams. 1980-89: James Lofton, Art Monk NFL's top 20 players not in the Hall of Fame: Torry Holt, Zach Thomas 2023 NFL Draft: Pro comparisons and analytical team fits for top wide Who is the best wide receiver eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but not yet enshrined? The 1970s Raiders have eight players in the Hall of Fame. Julio Jones: Hes a Hall of Fame lock. Their stats in the decade are comparable, but Pearson found the postseason glory that eluded Branch until the 1980s, and teammates called him Mr. The wide receiver won three Super Bowls and was selected to five Pro Bowls. He made two Pro Bowls as a returner, in 1988 and '91, and in 2001 became the oldest NFL player (35) to return a punt for a TD. Both players also have to fight the perception that they were good for a long time without being true standouts. Best Wide Receivers Not in The Hall of Fame - YouTube 1990-99: Michael Irvin. Andre Rison Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1960s Both years, he caught just two TDs. For this project, we'll examine in depth 25 eligible wide receivers with strong backing for the Hall of Fame: Cliff Branch, Tim Brown, Harold Carmichael, Cris Carter, Wes Chandler, Gary Clark, Henry Ellard, Irving Fryar, Charley Hennigan, Harlon Hill, Billy Howton, Harold Jackson, Herman Moore, Stanley Morgan, Drew Pearson, Art Powell, Andre Reed, Andre Rison, Sterling Sharpe, Del Shofner, Jimmy Smith, Mac Speedie, Hugh Taylor, Otis Taylor, and Billy Wilson. Top 25 Best NFL Wide Receivers of All Time . HOF Qualifications: POOR. (In fact, Smith remains the Jags all-time franchise leader in AV to this day.). How does a guy who didn't stand out in his own era deserve Hall of Fame recognition? [Related: The Football Hall Of Fame Has A Receiver Problem]. Branch and Sharpe belong in the Hall of Fame by any standard. 1980-89: James Lofton, Art Monk 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. Can a guy be a Hall of Famer even if he was never the best at his own position? He led the league in receptions once, never in yards or TDs. You can easily look at player like Art Monk or the 2 pass on this year TIm Brown and Chris Carter whom at a time or 1 and 2 on record books or right behind Jerry Rice. The two who stand out on the list, obviously, are Powell and Carmichael. Hill is an instant-impact player, and voters typically prefer that sort of player to someone who just accumulates lots of stats by being a cog in a machine. Visit Canton Logo. Lets start by running through five obvious cases of overly-qualified receivers who have not yet been enshrined. He is ranked 15th in NFL history with 13,777 yards, but he is not in the Hall of Fame, though he was nominated in . In most eras, there are 2-4 wide receivers honored with Hall of Fame recognition. Im scared as hell. 1968-83, Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks In 2007, though, they elected Irvin to Canton, and in each of the next five seasons, they've passed on Carter. 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. There really aren't any Hall of Famers whose careers match up chronologically with Harold Jackson's. Smith in 2004 gained the third-most receiving yards ever by a 35-year-old (1,172), and he and Rice are the only players ever to gain over 1,000 yards in a full season after turning 36. He finished his 234-game career as the NFL's second all-time leading receiver with 1,101 receptions for 13,899 yards. The next step for Smith could be Canton, though he appears to have been swept aside in the wave of modern stat-stuffing wideouts who have inflated the statistical requirements for Hall of Fame entry. 5. They all had about three really good years, plus some others when they were above average. But what a force at his best. Maybe. They can't be bumped more than five yards downfield. Were we awed by their stats because they were truly great, or largely because of when they played and how the game is changing? Sharpe, unfortunately, suffered a neck injury at the end of the 1994 season, and that was that. 2. Smith was only the third player with multiple seasons catching 110 or more passes, the first two being Jerry Rice and Cris Carter from 1994-95. 862 receptions, 12,287 yards, 67 TD. Aggie Football: Chiefs to induct Dante Hall into their Hall of Fame When you think about his numbers in the context of 14-game seasons and the defense-dominated '70s, they're nothing short of remarkable. Projecting the Jets' depth chart after the NFL Draft, Aaron Rodgers The only wide receiver from Carmichael's era who had more TD catches was Paul Warfield, who had 85. All rights reserved. Mark Clayton and Mark Duper NFL Draft: Clayton was the 223rd selection in the 8th round of the 1983 Draft. Well this days i think so. From 1996 through 2002, Smith may have been the best receiver in football. But that would result in a Pro Football Hall of Fame teeming with hundreds of players at various positions. HOF Qualifications: EXCELLENT. These NFL wide receivers do not count toward our list of 10 worthy Hall of Famers. During the 1970s, Carmichael ranked 2nd in receptions, tied for 2nd in receiving TDs, and 4th in receiving yardage. Jimmy Smith was drafted in 1992. NFL News and Rumors: Dalvin Cook to Dolphins, C.J. The 2023 NFL Draft has wrapped -- but the team-building process continues with the signing of undrafted rookie free agents. We all believe that Calvin Johnson is one of the greatest of all time. How many Pro Football Hall of Fame players went to Ohio State? Effectively, Jackson stands alone atop his era, leading all players in the '70s in every major receiving category receptions, yards, and TDs. Four: Branch, Ellard, Fryar, Hennigan, Howton, Moore, Sharpe, Otis Taylor The argument against Brown is that he was consistent rather than exceptional. 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 Best Sports Transaction of the Year.