My Cowboy WR Rankings

[Manster68]

I have been a Cowboy fan for 40 years now. I have seen all of my top TWENTY receivers play except for two (Frank Clarke & Lance Rentzel). My judgement on these two goes on what I heard or read other players (and fans secondarily) say along with the highlights. The others I have seen first hand.

Before I list them, here are some of the facets I made my decision on:

- Minimum of THREE years! (this excludes Bambi, sorry)
- Focal Point: Do opponents specially game plan for them.
- Leadership (Irvin is far and away the leader in this category.
- Uncanny Talent
- Make BIG Plays in BIG Games (Pearson, B. Johnson, and Harper move up the charts on this category)

My (Manster68's) top 20 Cowboy Wide Receivers:

1. Michael Irvin
2. Drew Pearson
3. Bob Hayes
4. Terrell Owens
5. Terry Glenn
6. Butch Johnson
7. Miles Austin
8. Alvin Harper
9. Frank Clarke
10. Tony Hill
11. Rocket Ismail
12. Joey Galloway
13. Golden Richards
14. Keyshawn Johnson
15. Patrick Crayton
16. Mike Renfro
17. Lance Rentzel
18. Kelvin Martin
19. Kevin Williams
20. Sam Hurd

Some of my own thoughts on this list:

- I get so ticked when others diss Irvin and tell me that he is not a Hall of Famer. His work ethic was just incredible, and only Jerry Rice had better post-season numbers in the 90s.

- I think many Cowboy fans do not realize just how good Butch Johnson really was. I always thought he sould have started ahead of Tony Hill in 1978 through 1981. That is no insult to Tony Hill either as I have him at #10.

- Am I being a bit pre-mature with Miles Austin so high? We will see next season, but boy I hope not! He really scored high in the Uncanny Talent facet.

- I do realize that the bottom three are just as good in special teams if not better.

- For some reason, there is a little birdie telling me to keep Deion off this list.

 

[casmith07]

wow, Sam Hurd makes the list?

Good company.

 

[Manster68]

wow, Sam Hurd makes the list?

Good company.

Have to admit, I was scratching my head on that one.

 

[rkell87]

31 recpetions and 2 TDs makes a top 20 list? antonio bryant has done more for us. ill go with it on everyone else though

 

[JPostSam]

this list just highlights that we have had better luck with running backs.

 

[JPostSam]

by the way, i know this is a receivers list and as such excludes tight ends, but i don't think you can do that anymore.

witten and novacek have done more as receivers than half the players on that list.

 

[Manster68]

this list just highlights that we have had better luck with running backs.

I think it depends on the angle you decide to look at it.

Throwing Hurd at #20 (now after I've had some sleep) is looking more and more like an unwise decision.

On the other hand, the Cowboys have been quite blessed in the receivers department. The Cowboys have two recivers in the Hall of Fame. The other two receivers in the top four are not there either due to the fact that he is still playing (Owens), or was just kept out for unknown reasons (Pearson).

Of course, not everybody can be a Hall of Famer. That said, if you look at the top 15 players I listed, that is an outstanding list. When Tony Hill is my #10 receiver, that says something to me.

Think of this also.

Dallas spent 1st round picks on Irvin and Harper (which paid off handsomely) but used three other 1st round picks on Galloway and Roy Williams unfortunately. However, Pearson, Austin, Butch Johnson, Frank Clark, Golden Richards, and even Sam Hurd were all undrafted free agents. These guys didn't cost the Cowboys a single draft pick. That is quite a bargain.

Now, Hayes was somewhere around a 7th round pick along with Crayton; Dallas traded a 6th round pick for Terry Glenn. Kelvin Martin was a late round pick also. Unsure what Dallas gave up for Mike Renfro and Lance Rentzel.

Tony Hill and Kevin Williams were 3rd and 2nd round picks respectively.

Owens, Keyshawn Johnson and Ismail were were acquired via free agency.

=================

So, if Dallas has had better luck with running backs, than we Cowboy fans have been truly blessed over the decade.

I am certainly proud of this group.

 

[Dawgs0916]

Um, can Ken-Yon Rambo get some love please?

 

[RS12]

Tony Hill number 10? Way too low.

Joey Galloway number 12?
Did he even see the field here?

Mike Renfro 16?
Wasnt his claim to fame being traded with Tody Smith for a pick that turned out to be Randy White?

 

[ShiningStar]

NO love for Randall Williams? Wasnt he the player with the fastest return? Come on, hes as good as any number 20 guy on that list.

I would love to see our TE list as well. I think we've been very very blessed with some good TE's.

 

[iceberg]

Tony Hill number 10? Way too low.

Joey Galloway number 12?
Did he even see the field here?

Mike Renfro 16?
Wasnt his claim to fame being traded with Tody Smith for a pick that turned out to be Randy White?

yea, i'd have to put hill ahead of austin. austin had a great career and we're all hopin, but hill did it.

 

[BubbleScreen]

Maybe this should have been a Top 10 list...

 

[jackrussell]

Mike Renfro 16?
Wasnt his claim to fame being traded with Tody Smith for a pick that turned out to be Randy White?

No.

Actually was traded to Dallas with a 5th round draft pick from Houston for Butch Johnson.

Johnson never seen the field for Houston and ended in Denver.

Renfro was actually a pretty dependable little receiver.

The 5th round pick was used to draft Herschel Walker.

And so on.

 

[RS12]

No.

Actually was traded to Dallas with a 5th round draft pick from Houston for Butch Johnson.

Johnson never seen the field for Houston and ended in Denver.

Renfro was actually a pretty dependable little receiver.

The 5th round pick was used to draft Herschel Walker.

And so on.

Is it Billy Parks I was thinking of?

 

[CowboyMike]

I think Alvin Harper is too high. I'd put Crayton above him. He's actually done more than Alvin numbers wise, I believe.

 

[Woods]

Tony Hill is definitely too low, imo.

 

[THUMPER]

My (Manster68's) top 20 Cowboy Wide Receivers:

1. Michael Irvin
2. Drew Pearson
3. Bob Hayes
4. Terrell Owens
5. Terry Glenn
6. Butch Johnson
7. Miles Austin
8. Alvin Harper
9. Frank Clarke
10. Tony Hill
11. Rocket Ismail
12. Joey Galloway
13. Golden Richards
14. Keyshawn Johnson
15. Patrick Crayton
16. Mike Renfro
17. Lance Rentzel
18. Kelvin Martin
19. Kevin Williams
20. Sam Hurd

Some comments:

1. Tony Hill is WAY too low, he should be in the top-5 IMO. The guy was our best WR for a number of years.

2. Butch Johnson made some big plays but was not consistent. He's too high IMO.

3. Frank Clarke was an outstanding receiver for us and should be higher.

4. Lance Rentzel gets shot down due to his off-field issues but as a player he was very productive for us and should be a LOT higher.

Here's how I would rank them:

1. Michael Irvin - HoFer, holds most of our receiving records.
2. Bob Hayes - HoFer, still holds TD record and changed the way the game is played.
3. Drew Pearson - Clutch receiver and very dependable.
4. Tony Hill - Outstanding threat anywhere on the field, very consistent.
5. Frank Clarke - Tough player who made a LOT of big plays for our early teams.
6. Terrell Owens - maybe the most talented of all of them but didn't play here long enough to surpass those above him.
7. Lance Rentzel - Was one of the best in the league for a few years.
8. Butch Johnson - More of a big play guy than a go to receiver.
9. Keyshawn Johnson - More of a go to guy than a big play receiver. Consistently converted 3rd downs.
10. Miles Austin - will move up this list if he keeps playing like he did this past season.
11. Alvin Harper - Big play guy opposite Irvin. Couldn't produce when he left here.
12. Terry Glenn - Good, solid deep threat. Too bad he hurt his knee or we would have gone further in 2007.

After that it really doesn't matter.

I would add Billy Howton in place of Hurd. Howton & Clarke were our best receivers in the early years.

It is always hard to make a "best ever" or "top - X" list because so many things are subjective. Do you look at the talent, the production, the stats, the overall contribution, the effect on the game, how long they played, etc. ?

Owens was probably the most talented WR we ever had but his overall contribution and production were less than some others and he did play here as long as most of them. Some might put him at the top because he had one of the best season's statistically but I like to look at as many factors as possible when comparing players, particularly when they are from different eras.

I also include how they fared against the competition they faced. Guys from the 60s & early 70s played under different rules that didn't favor the offense and were mugged all the way down the field so getting open and making plays was much more difficult for them than for the more recent receivers.

Again though, everything is subjective and my opinion is of no more value than anyone else's, I just include it here for discussion purposes not to tell you how wrong you are.

Good list Manster.

 

[jazzcat22]

Not a knock on Austin. If he has another few years like last, he will be up there. But you are basing this on 1 year starting. His other years should not really count, as his playing time was minimal.

 

[RS12]

Some comments:

1. Tony Hill is WAY too low, he should be in the top-5 IMO. The guy was our best WR for a number of years.

2. Butch Johnson made some big plays but was not consistent. He's too high IMO.

3. Frank Clarke was an outstanding receiver for us and should be higher.

4. Lance Rentzel gets shot down due to his off-field issues but as a player he was very productive for us and should be a LOT higher.

Here's how I would rank them:

1. Michael Irvin - HoFer, holds most of our receiving records.
2. Bob Hayes - HoFer, still holds TD record and changed the way the game is played.
3. Drew Pearson - Clutch receiver and very dependable.
4. Tony Hill - Outstanding threat anywhere on the field, very consistent.
5. Frank Clarke - Tough player who made a LOT of big plays for our early teams.
6. Terrell Owens - maybe the most talented of all of them but didn't play here long enough to surpass those above him.
7. Lance Rentzel - Was one of the best in the league for a few years.
8. Butch Johnson - More of a big play guy than a go to receiver.
9. Keyshawn Johnson - More of a go to guy than a big play receiver. Consistently converted 3rd downs.
10. Miles Austin - will move up this list if he keeps playing like he did this past season.
11. Alvin Harper - Big play guy opposite Irvin. Couldn't produce when he left here.
12. Terry Glenn - Good, solid deep threat. Too bad he hurt his knee or we would have gone further in 2007.

After that it really doesn't matter.

I would add Billy Howton in place of Hurd. Howton & Clarke were our best receivers in the early years.

It is always hard to make a "best ever" or "top - X" list because so many things are subjective. Do you look at the talent, the production, the stats, the overall contribution, the effect on the game, how long they played, etc. ?

Owens was probably the most talented WR we ever had but his overall contribution and production were less than some others and he did play here as long as most of them. Some might put him at the top because he had one of the best season's statistically but I like to look at as many factors as possible when comparing players, particularly when they are from different eras.

I also include how they fared against the competition they faced. Guys from the 60s & early 70s played under different rules that didn't favor the offense and were mugged all the way down the field so getting open and making plays was much more difficult for them than for the more recent receivers.

Again though, everything is subjective and my opinion is of no more value than anyone else's, I just include it here for discussion purposes not to tell you how wrong you are.

Good list Manster.

Kelvin Martin deserves to be on the list. Made alot of key plays while here and an important special teamer.

Kevin Williams just misses IMO.

 

[goshan]

Good thread.
Good initial list except for the already pointed out issues:

1. Bjohnson too high
2. Maustin too high.
3. Hill way too low.

Also, Hurd being on here is so silly.