Keyshawn vs Playmaker

[Established1971]

I recall a few years ago Keyshawn "kidding" with Irvin saying he'll surpass him in stats and me thinking yeah right, only to check and think hmmm I didnt realize they were that good.

well heres the final comparison

Irvin
games 159
seasons 12
rec 750
rec per game 4.72
yds 11,904
avg 15.9
td 65
sb wins - 3

Keyshawn
games 167
seasons 11
rec 814
rec per game 4.87
yds 10,571
avg 13.00
td 64
sb wins - 1

pretty darn close, though Keyshawn will definitely not be a hall of famer

 

[Q_the_man]

stats can be decieving, Irvin dominanted and had to be accounted for. Key was your typicalthrow me the ball we losing.

U forgot to add probowl season......

 

[BouncingCheese]

I don't think there is any comparison in my mind about who was better...I know the stat lines are similar, but still.

Irvins avg. per catch is simply amazing since he didn't have blazing speed.

Irvin was so physical that the league essentially had to change the rules to accomodate and help the cornerbacks.

Keyshawn was an amazing posession reciever, maybe one of the last great ones... Keyshawn has the numbers but he is not on Irvins' level.

 

[Idgit]

Keyshawn's more of an Art Monk. Only he didn't have the good fortune to be a role player on as many SuperBowl teams.

 

[stealth]

I think key could play tightend in the league for another three years.

has nothing to do with the thread, but I was thinking about that.

 

[BouncingCheese]

Keyshawn's more of an Art Monk. Only he didn't have the good fortune to be a role player on as many SuperBowl teams.

Good Point.

 

[joseephuss]

Neat little number of 14.3 yards per reception was Keyshawn's best average in a single year and Irvin's worst average in a single year.

 

[NickZepp]

Irvin was on teams that ran it a lot more also. Keyshawn was on some teams with decent running backs. And I guess a really good one with Curtis Martin for some time. But none of those guys were Emmitt Smith. This era has teams that pass it a bit more then Dallas did in the 90s.

 

[flashback]

Wow, Keyshawn really only played 11 seasons? He's so old and slow.

 

[AbeBeta]

Yards per catch Key 13.0. Irvin 15.9

That's a major difference between them right there

 

[IndianaCowboyFan]

Sometimes stats are meaningless. You are building a team, who do you pick, Irvin or Johnson? What a nobrainer.

 

[smarta5150]

Not to mention the match-ups...

Who covered Key?

Irvin was going against a teams' best DB all his career.

THe "Primetime" vs "Playmaker" battles were classic.

 

[Future]

Not to mention the match-ups...

Who covered Key?

Irvin was going against a teams' best DB all his career.

THe "Primetime" vs "Playmaker" battles were classic.

Hard to prove that, say what you will but Key was a great receiver for a time being. I'm sure he was matched up against number 1s as well.

 

[NoLuv4Jerry]

Good Point.

I have said it a hundred times...if you think Art Monk is a HOFer...then Key is one. For all of us that are too young to remember the "dominance" of Arthur Monk...assess Key's career and you have got your guy. No one game planned for Key...and no one game planned for Art. In fact when you consider what they 2 of them brought to the game...defenese almost gave them what they got because they would rather give them that then give up a big play to someone else. Not knocking the production, professionalism, or longevity....but they belong in the Hall of very Good

 

[Billy Bullocks]

Keyshawn was pretty damn good for a time. Remember when he was in his prime with NY he was working with Chrebet who by no means was the guy you plotted against eiter.

The YPC average is a telling stat. And I'd like to see numbers of 3rd downs converted into 1st downs. Irvin was flat out dominant.

And lets not forget one big difference. Keyshawn retired because he was no longer wanted as a #1. Irvin was dominant to the day he was FORCED to retire. Irvin probably had 2 or 3 good years left.

 

[ThreeSportStar80]

Michael Irvin demanded double teams throughout his career, he and Jerry Rice were the two dominant WRs of their era. Keyshawn wasn't dominant, no comparison in my book.

 

[big dog cowboy]

A point everyone seems to overlook........Michael Irvin suffered a career ending injury. His career numbers would obviously be better otherwise.

Also keep in mind that Irvin was the emotional leader of our team. A role Key was never able to achieve with any of the teams he played for.

 

[AbeBeta]

I have said it a hundred times...if you think Art Monk is a HOFer...then Key is one.

Again and again I have to say this -- you don't say a guy should be in the HoF because he stacks up well against one of the WORST HoF players. That's just stupid logic.

 

[gbrittain]

May as well compare Tom Brady to Drew Bledsoe. Not even close.

 

[GlitzCowboy]

Yea, there's no comparisons, really. I mean how many "Dieon Sanders" were feeling their game was being elevated simply by practicing with a player like when Dieon and Michael started doing that. Todays equivelant would be Pac-Man or Champ literally running in circles around Keyshawn, not feeling as though they just came out of the fight of their life and we were only to Wednesday.

No premier defensive player has ever viewed Keyshawn in a league of any respectablity like they did #88, if they ever have at all. Not when he was the #1 overall pick, not halfway through his career as he started to hit his "prime", not ever. He just wasn't that kind of player. He was a move the chains, possession guy, period. A tight end in a wide recievers spot. Irvin made the postion what it is today and the great WRs of the league today respect that. Noone will ever view Keyshawn as anything wonderful. And especially now that his career is over, so is he. He should be lucky to even get a moments mention of getting on a HOF ballat, let alone actually getting on it.