Pete Prisco's Top 50 NFL Players

[SultanOfSix]

Look at TO's performance over the last few years. That "top three" status hasn't been justified since 2004.

Last season, he COULD have jumped back there but as we all know, he dropped far too many balls in key situations to earn "top three" love.

Uhh...didn't he have the highest number of TDs in the NFC, maybe even the league? That would make him "top three" in at least one category. The year before, he was out more than half the season because of the fiasco in Philly. And the year before that, he was outstanding.

The only reason drops are being taken into account is because it's TO who did the dropping.

I'm willing to bet if TO was considered an angel on and off the field, he would be considered the top receiver in the league.

 

[AbeBeta]

Uhh...didn't he have the highest number of TDs in the NFC, maybe even the league? That would make him "top three" in at least one category. The year before, he was out more than half the season because of the fiasco in Philly. And the year before that, he was outstanding.

The only reason drops are being taken into account is because it's TO who did the dropping.

I'm willing to bet if TO was considered an angel on and off the field, he would be considered the top receiver in the league.

Yes, he had the most TDs last year. I didn't refer to top 3 statistically.

Let me ask this -- are there only two other WRs who you think are better than TO right now? That is what top three means.

Can you honestly tell me you would prefer TO to all but two of the WRs on that list?

 

[SultanOfSix]

Yes, he had the most TDs last year. I didn't refer to top 3 statistically.

Let me ask this -- are there only two other WRs who you think are better than TO right now? That is what top three means.

Can you honestly tell me you would prefer TO to all but two of the WRs on that list?

Yes I would.

 

[ethiostar]

Anyone who ranks DeAngelo Hall as the second-best cornerback in the NFL and Sean Taylor as the third-best safety either doesn't pay close attention or doesn't care about actual performance. Both of those guys have immense talent but haven't come close to playing up to their potential.

i just flat out can not stand the guy. Too much mouth and not enough production on the field.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Yes, he had the most TDs last year. I didn't refer to top 3 statistically.

Let me ask this -- are there only two other WRs who you think are better than TO right now? That is what top three means.

Can you honestly tell me you would prefer TO to all but two of the WRs on that list?

Yes I would.

TO will never get the respect he deserves cause of off the field stuff, no matter what he does on the field.

An argument can be made for him against any WR in the league, put him with Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, and such. Healthy this year, Romo will feed him, lets see what happens. In the immortal words of Buddy Ryan, "All he does is catch touchdowns".

 

[AbeBeta]

Yes I would.

I'd love to see your ranking then.

I'm no TO hater but I'd far rather have Chad Johnson, Steve Smith, Andre Johnson, and about 5 or 6 other guys over TO.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

I'd love to see your ranking then.

I'm no TO hater but I'd far rather have Chad Johnson, Steve Smith, Andre Johnson, and about 5 or 6 other guys over TO.

Chad Johnson is nothing without Carson.
Andre Johnson has all the tools, but none of the numbers.
Steve Smith is good, I'm just not into midgets.

Next...

 

[Crown Royal]

I was laughing after the first three. Really? Prisco, do you REALLY think that everyone thinks Manning is number one? Because I think that most people don't. I still think most would take Brady over Manning, and I would take LT over both of them. To me, he completely inverted them.

 

[AbeBeta]

Chad Johnson is nothing without Carson.
Andre Johnson has all the tools, but none of the numbers.
Steve Smith is good, I'm just not into midgets.

Next...

Hold on now. Johnson isn't any good because his QB is so good. Johnson isn't any good because he hasn't put up the numbers. Of course, Johnson has been catching balls from a flat-out bust. But you won't take that into consideration.

So QB quality only comes into play when it fits your argument?

So a WR is only good if he puts up great #s catching balls from a crap QB? Is that it?

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Hold on now. Johnson isn't any good because his QB is so good. Johnson isn't any good because he hasn't put up the numbers. Of course, Johnson has been catching balls from a flat-out bust. But you won't take that into consideration.

So QB quality only comes into play when it fits your argument?

So a WR is only good if he puts up great #s catching balls from a crap QB? Is that it?

All I'm saying is a great and accurate QB does help a WR, I believe that goes without question. When you think about Chad and for that matter Marvin, you also have to consider who they have throwing them the ball and the team they have around them.

You are trying to take the extreme approach, which isn't what I meant. You also have to take their individual situations into account.

 

[tomson75]

I'd love to see your ranking then.

I'm no TO hater but I'd far rather have Chad Johnson, Steve Smith, Andre Johnson, and about 5 or 6 other guys over TO.

I'd take three or four guys before TO as well, but Smith isn't one of them. Why would you dump on TO for his drops, then put Smith in front of him when Smith had what, only one or two less drops...and far fewer TD's? Just curious...

 

[AbeBeta]

I'd take three or four guys before TO as well, but Smith isn't one of them. Why would you dump on TO for his drops, then put Smith in front of him when Smith had what, only one or two less drops...and far fewer TD's? Just curious...

Because I see Smith at this point of his career as a bigger threat than TO. I didn't dump on TO b/c of drops. I did point out that his numbers could have warranted top 3 status if he held on to a few of those balls. Let's also keep in mind that Smith doesn't have a great #2 guy -- in 2005 the #2 WR caught 25 balls. In 2006 Key got 70, then retired. Pretty much the only reason Key caught that many balls was b/c he'd always face a single team. Carolina's running game sucks. Quick who is Carolina's starting TE?

Smith has been a top performer despite being his teams only weapon.

That's why.

 

[DallasEast]

+

=Top 50 lists

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Because I see Smith at this point of his career as a bigger threat than TO. I didn't dump on TO b/c of drops. I did point out that his numbers could have warranted top 3 status if he held on to a few of those balls. Let's also keep in mind that Smith doesn't have a great #2 guy -- in 2005 the #2 WR caught 25 balls. In 2006 Key got 70, then retired. Pretty much the only reason Key caught that many balls was b/c he'd always face a single team. Carolina's running game sucks. Quick who is Carolina's starting TE?

Smith has been a top performer despite being his teams only weapon.

That's why.

At this point in his career Steve is a bigger threat, nice. Helps your argument a bit, but seeing that Steve Smith had one great season, and then his numbers were below TO last year. Meanwhile, TO has had how many great seasons on worse teams than Steve could ever dream of.

Sure, Steve is younger, which the "at this point in this career" helps Steve cause he is 6 years younger than TO. But he hasn't done what TO has done consistently over a long period of time. And really doesn't belong in the same discussion if you can remember back more than 2 years.

 

[stilltheguru]

Steve Smith and Torry Holt are the only wr's better than TO. Just my opinion.

 

[AbeBeta]

At this point in his career Steve is a bigger threat, nice. Helps your argument a bit, but seeing that Steve Smith had one great season, and then his numbers were below TO last year. Meanwhile, TO has had how many great seasons on worse teams than Steve could ever dream of.

Sure, Steve is younger, which the "at this point in this career" helps Steve cause he is 6 years younger than TO. But he hasn't done what TO has done consistently over a long period of time. And really doesn't belong in the same discussion if you can remember back more than 2 years.

TO has been on a losing team 3 times (if you don't count Philly in 2005).

In 1999, SF went 4-12. He was 60-754-4 - pretty pedestrian numbers
In 2000, SF went 6-10. He was 97-1451-13 - a great year
In 2003, SF went 7-9. He was 80-1102-9. So good that SF made no effort to re-sign him.
In each year SF had a 1000 yard runner. Jerry Rice was the other WR in 1999-2000.

How exactly did those teams have less around TO than Smith has now?

 

[Deep_Freeze]

TO has been on a losing team 3 times (if you don't count Philly in 2005).

In 1999, SF went 4-12. He was 60-754-4 - pretty pedestrian numbers
In 2000, SF went 6-10. He was 97-1451-13 - a great year
In 2003, SF went 7-9. He was 80-1102-9. So good that SF made no effort to re-sign him.
In each year SF had a 1000 yard runner. Jerry Rice was the other WR in 1999-2000.

How exactly did those teams have less around TO than Smith has now?

Cause there is such a thing as a whole team. Carolina has always had one of the best defenses in the league. Those SF teams didn't have that kind of D and really played a whole different game on the field.

You are still looking at the trees without seeing the forest. Help can include the QB, defense, or even head coach. It took TO a while to develop as a player, and so has it taken Steve.

I will say this, counting off the field stuff, Steve is the better ticket cause of the media and fans always dogging TO. But from a talent standpoint on Sunday at gametime, I would rather have TO. Sometimes it is hard to judge things like this, you can't with just numbers. Throw out numbers all you want, but the game isn't played in stats cause football is too much of a team game to be broken down like that. It is more of who you want in your foxhole when the bullets are flying.

When the bullets are flying on Sunday, TO is definitely top 3, but who you would take first is just your own personal judgement.

 

[Concord]

29. Steven Jackson, RB, St. Louis Rams: He had his breakout season in 2006 and the Rams expect even more. He's also a great pass-catcher out of the backfield.


Anyone what to put Jones in this slot?

Or anywhere close for that matter?

 

[AbeBeta]

When the bullets are flying on Sunday, TO is definitely top 3, but who you would take first is just your own personal judgement.

Used to be a top 3.....

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Used to be a top 3.....

You seem caught up in the Philly thing and the injury last year, along with the circus that comes with TO. Comparing him to guys 6 years younger is a bit unfair as to who you would want on your team, cause of course people will always pick the younger guy.

But right now, without thinking about age, and just potential production for this year, there are few that can hold a candle to TO.