Calvin Johnson or Dez Bryant?

[Eskimo]

The better player is Calvin Johnson still.

If you look at his past 3 seasons it is hard to argue he is in any decline with almost 1500 yards last year. He is still only 29 years old and makes a lot of plays due to his size and physicality so speed really isn't his only or even his best weapon. I suspect he will continue to be very productive for a long time so long as he remains healthy even if he loses some of that elite big play ability.

He has been hurt this year and may not be at his best. So Dez may be the better player this Saturday and he is certainly put in a more favorable position to succeed but I wouldn't say he is the better player yet.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

The better player is Calvin Johnson still.

If you look at his past 3 seasons it is hard to argue he is in any decline with almost 1500 yards last year. He is still only 29 years old and makes a lot of plays due to his size and physicality so speed really isn't his only or even his best weapon. I suspect he will continue to be very productive for a long time so long as he remains healthy even if he loses some of that elite big play ability.

He has been hurt this year and may not be at his best. So Dez may be the better player this Saturday and he is certainly put in a more favorable position to succeed but I wouldn't say he is the better player yet.

The Detroit writers think Bryant right now is better. And they see CJohnson every day. Dallas writers still think CJ has his 4.3 speed, which he doesn't.

 

[pugilist]

imagine Romo throwing to Calvin

a lot of it depends on who is getting the ball to the WR, so as it stands currently and all else being equal. Give me Dez

 

[Eskimo]

The Detroit writers think Bryant right now is better. And they see CJohnson every day.

Yes, but there is a lot of recency bias there. There is also the fact that he gets more attention than any other player at WR and this will affect his productivity.

Maybe Dez is better but he has to prove he is better over a longer period of time. Remember how the Skins beat us in week 8 with all those Cover 0's manned up outside with Amerson. Do you think there is any chance in the world that Stafford and CJ don't pulverize that?

I would say call me back when Dez has his first 1500 yard season as CJ just put up back-to-back-to-back years with that level of productivity. It is way too early to say Dez has risen to that level.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Yes, but there is a lot of recency bias there. There is also the fact that he gets more attention than any other player at WR and this will affect his productivity.

Maybe Dez is better but he has to prove he is better over a longer period of time. Remember how the Skins beat us in week 8 with all those Cover 0's manned up outside with Amerson. Do you think there is any chance in the world that Stafford and CJ don't pulverize that?

I would say call me back when Dez has his first 1500 yard season as CJ just put up back-to-back-to-back years with that level of productivity. It is way too early to say Dez has risen to that level.

This is Dez's 5th year in the league, pretty sure that is enough time to prove what his talent is. Why are you bringing up the past for CJ's production. People are talking about this year and beyond. Not what CJ has done in the past. Injuries are a part of the game. CJ isn't the same player as he was last year or before.

 

[Eskimo]

This is Dez's 5th year in the league, pretty sure that is enough time to prove what his talent is. Why are you bringing up the past for CJ's production. People are talking about this year and beyond. Not what CJ has done in the past. Injuries are a part of the game. CJ isn't the same player as he was last year or before.

It's too early to say he won't be that same player next year. One down year riddled with injuries doesn't mean a player is done at age 29 when his main strength is size and length which aren't going to go away with age.

Last year he looked pretty dominant at times. I see no reason to say he cannot be that player next year. Really only him and his doctors know if he has really permanently lost anything. Just look at the year Gronk just put up after having a couple of down years with injury.

Anyhow, I'm not really disparaging Dez. He just has never reached the peak that Calvin has and so I have a hard time concluding he is a better player because he has been more productive.

We'll just have agree to disagree on this one because I think my line of reasoning is pretty darn clear. You may either accept or reject it but there is nothing more for me to add on this subject.

 

[perrykemp]

Surprised we've made it this far into the thread and discussed other WRs such as Green and Brown and not mentioned Jordy Nelson.

Jordy had more receptions, yards, RAC, and a higher ypr than Dez. Nelson had 13 TDs (3 less than Dez) however had to contend with Cobb being the Packer's main redzone target -- Cobb had 12 TDs.

Beyond that Nelson broke the all time NFL record with 7 TDs of 40+ yards -- breaking the 3 way tie between Jerry Rice, Bob Hayes, and Crazy Legs Hirsh.

I don't think he is better than Dez, however, I think Nelson is a bit under-rated.

 

[Dale]

It's too early to say he won't be that same player next year. One down year riddled with injuries doesn't mean a player is done at age 29 when his main strength is size and length which aren't going to go away with age.

Last year he looked pretty dominant at times. I see no reason to say he cannot be that player next year. Really only him and his doctors know if he has really permanently lost anything. Just look at the year Gronk just put up after having a couple of down years with injury.

Anyhow, I'm not really disparaging Dez. He just has never reached the peak that Calvin has and so I have a hard time concluding he is a better player because he has been more productive.

We'll just have agree to disagree on this one because I think my line of reasoning is pretty darn clear. You may either accept or reject it but there is nothing more for me to add on this subject.

Calvin's peak was higher, but his floor has also been significantly lower. And he's also never been a tremendous TD scorer for whatever reason.

In four of his nine seasons he has failed to score double-digit TDs. And in three of those seasons he didn't even manage more than five scores. He has also been held to fewer than 1,200 yards four times.

 

[dstovall5]

Is this a trick question? Of course the obvious answer here is Dwayne Harris.

 

[TwoDeep3]

The question I have is who is throwing the passes to these guys?

Tony and Dez? Then I'm taking Dez.

 

[Frozen700]

Surprised we've made it this far into the thread and discussed other WRs such as Green and Brown and not mentioned Jordy Nelson.

Jordy had more receptions, yards, RAC, and a higher ypr than Dez. Nelson had 13 TDs (3 less than Dez) however had to contend with Cobb being the Packer's main redzone target -- Cobb had 12 TDs.

Beyond that Nelson broke the all time NFL record with 7 TDs of 40+ yards -- breaking the 3 way tie between Jerry Rice, Bob Hayes, and Crazy Legs Hirsh.

I don't think he is better than Dez, however, I think Nelson is a bit under-rated.

He is, he's just not in the same league as Calvin, Dez, AJ and guys like Marshall. He can moss his opponent from time to time, but if Jordy is covered, he is not trampoline jumping over DB's heads consistently. He can, but not at the rate these guys do it. Which gives them a severe edge.

 

[JDSTAR]

Dez....without a second thought.

 

[TwentyOne]

Johnson and it aint no competition.

 

[PJTHEDOORS]

Johnson and it aint no competition.

Right now his teammate, GTate had a better season than CJ. (yes CJ has been injured, but still it is what it is)

 

[Danger]

Johnson and it aint no competition.

I don't know how anyone can say after watching Dez play and how he has better stats than CJ in several categories over the past few years.

 

[MrPeanutbutter]

CJ. But that doesn't really matter.

 

[Gameover]

I'll take antonio brown.

Give me 122+ and 1700 everyday of the week.

 

[gimmesix]

I only ask this question, because today I was super shocked. In this sports group that I'm apart of that is huge, full of fans from every team. Somebody asked the question. I clicked on it, ready to see a bunch of Megatron, Megatron, Megatron ect ect......No lie, the first whole page said Dez Bryant. 2 guys on this first page, said megatron, then went and changed their opinion because of a few points others made. Then I only saw a few Calvin's but overall by a landslide it was Dez.

I know this has been discussed on here, but I'm interested in getting your take. Think outside of being a Cowboys fan.

Me personally I still feel like Dez has to catch up to Tron. I feel like he is still the better player. I was shocked to see so many Dez's. Especially with the ton of cowboys hate they get in this group I'm part of.

Here's what 1 guy said, that got the most likes

Robert Comer-"Dez is a better route runner, he fights for everything, he wears his heart on his shoulder, crazy hops, shifty and strong. And he's more consistent"

All previous years Dez has been in the league: Calvin Johnson. This year: Dez Bryant. ... And it was close last year.

 

[Thomas82]

Dez...he does have more TD's...CJ may have more highlights...AND..he is pumped up by the media more than Dez is....so people will go with what they hear and are shown. If they don't follow either team as much, they will go with the hyped player more.

I don't mean to bring this up, but this situation looks a lot like Emmitt Smith/Barry Sanders all over again.........20 years later.

 

[Thomas82]

I'd take Johnson over Dez. Dez gets better separation and beats the double teams better than anybody in the league, but CJ is just too big and jumps too high and essentially catches it over the double team. I do think Dez is the 2nd best WR in the league though.





YR

I believe that Dez is the best receiver in the NFL with the ball in his hands.