What NFL Receiver Is Like Irvin?

[Idgit]

Wow it seems as if this is a hot topic. Ha.

I could probably think of five WRs that are currently in their prime or just entering their prime that I believe to be better overall players than Michael Irvin was in his prime. And that means no Randy Moss or Owens, cause they are out of their primes.

Michael Irvin is my favorite WR of all time.

It shows the passion of a cowboys fan when you start arguing on the spelling of Anquan Boldin's name. Ha.

We're just playing around. I think. I'm not arguing about the spelling, though. I concede I spelled the name wrong. I just don't care.

You seriously think there are 5 HoF WRs active right now, not including Moss or Owens? Not just HoF players, but HoF players better than Irvin? I'd say *maybe* Fitzgerald has a shot. I guess Calvin Johnson could, too, though he's stuck in Detroit. Who else?

 

[casmith07]

Oh boy..

Fitz..FAIL

Boldin..FAIL

They are awsome WR's but arn't even close to Irvins passion and leadership. Fitz reminds me of Marion Barber and Boldin is just a cry baby. Zero leadership.

You didn't say specifics. You said leadership, passion for the game, and competitive drive. All of those are manifested to the fullest in Larry Fitzgerald. How many times did TO go up in triple coverage to snag TD passes at their highest point?

 

[DallasDW00ds0n]

so if we cant name one or no other WR is like Irvin that means we cant say we still need another Irvin?

 

[Temo]

Not quite.

Both strong possession guys who can run block. Both leaders of their teams. Ward is 6' 205, Irvin is 6'2 207.

The comment about Hines just being consistant is laughable. He put up 112 catches for 1329 yards and 12 TD's in 2002 and Mikes best year was 111 for 1603 and 10 TD in 1995.

In 12 seasons Mike has 50 fewer catches and 7 less TD's than Ward has in 11 seasons. Put down the Steeler hatorade and notice that Ward is a baller.

Hines Ward is probably the closest thing you're going to find to Michael Irvin in today's NFL.

I'm sorry... Hines Ward? Please, he doesn't even compare.

Irvin is an all-time great receiver, check it out: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/?p=257

And good job pointing out the only two statistics where Ward beats Irvin. Sure Ward has more catches, he played in a more pass-oriented time and Irvin played on a run-first team. Same with the TDs... as soon as the Cowboys got into the Red Zone, they handed off to Emmit to finish it off.

Check out their other stats:

Yards per game
Irvin - 75
Ward- 58

Yards per catch
Irvin- 15.9
Ward- 12.2

Total Yardage
Irvin- 11904
Ward- 9780

And of course, where Irvin excelled the most: getting first downs. He had 165 first down catches on third or fourth down in his last 121 games and 185 after returning from the knee injury in 1990. According to footballoutsiders.com, Irvin's '95 season grades out the best WR season in the past 15 years-- because an astonishing 80% of his 111 catches went for first down.

 

[juck]

You didn't say specifics. You said leadership, passion for the game, and competitive drive. All of those are manifested to the fullest in Larry Fitzgerald. How many times did TO go up in triple coverage to snag TD passes at their highest point?

FINALLY we agree!

 

[Temo]

By the way, want more?

Ward has placed in the top 10 in receiving yards twice, in 2002 (4th) and 2003 (9th).

Irvin... 6 times 1991 (1st), 1992 (2nd), 1993 (2nd), '94 (8th), '95 (4th), '97 (8th)

Ward has placed in the top 10 in receiving touchdowns 3 times: '02(2nd), '03(4th), '05(3rd).

Irvin... 5 times-- '91(8th), '92(7th), '93(9th), '95(10th), '97 (6th)

Without bothering, I can tell you that it looks the same if you look at yards per catch, first down, yards per game, you name it and Irvin dominated it.

Conclusion here is that Irvin was consistently dominant from '91-'97, whereas Ward had 1 definite dominant season in '02, and MAYBE in '03. He hasn't been dominant in a long time, and did not enjoy the same longevity of domination as Irvin.

 

[Four]

6 minute mark, from the horses mouth.



[youtube]59DJH8kogw0[/youtube]


in conclusion Slate=fail

 

[casmith07]

FINALLY we agree!

If I were starting a football team, I would want 22 Larry Fitzgeralds. One to play each position.

Minus kicker. That's reserved for David Beuhler :

 

[casmith07]

in conclusion Slate=fail

not the first time

 

[Switz]

I always hear "We need a reciever like Irvin who was the heart and soul of the football team"

It's just laughable. Go throughout the NFL and find a reciever that has the skill AND passion that Irvin had, not to mention the competitive nature. There is none. He was just one of kind. You can even go back 5 years if you want. Find me a reciever who was the leader by voice and production. Sorry, but those guys are just obsolete these days.

If you can think of any, please let me know.

who rerally cares?

Irvin hasnt played since 99...

time to move on the NFL is a much different game today than it was 10 years ago.

 

[juck]

If I were starting a football team, I would want 22 Larry Fitzgeralds. One to play each position.

Minus kicker. That's reserved for David Beuhler :

Everyone is gonna be a Buehler groupie by game 2.

 

[Dawgs0916]

Why do I have to be the first and only one to say it?


MICHAEL CRABTREE!


(I do this with caution since someone once told me sarcasm doesn't work over a message board.)

 

[DallasEast]

What NFL Receiver Is Like Irvin?

Michael Irvin.

 

[Jon88]

Michael Irvin.

No he's not.

 

[TellerMorrow34]

The whole package...probably no one. The closest thing to him in various areas would be Ward and Boldin.

Of course the whole determination, competive desire, and passion thing is nearly impossible to debate or prove who does or doesn't. Everyone assumes you have to be out spoken, fiery, and all that to prove you want to win badly, to have a lot of passion, and that simply isn't the case.

There are probably loads of people who have just as much passion, desire, and competitiveness as Irvin they just don't show it in the same ways he did so people assume they don't care as much as he did.

I mean Jerry Rice didn't do a lot of the things that Irvin did, to outwardly show his emotion and passion, but I'll laugh in the face of anyone who actually believes that anyone wanted to win anymore than Jerry Rice did.

 

[DallasEast]

No he's not.

If Irvin's not Irvin, who the heck is he?

 

[NextGenBoys]

I'm sorry... Hines Ward? Please, he doesn't even compare.

Irvin is an all-time great receiver,

You're seriously believe they dont even compare? I'm not trying to say that Ward is better - he's not. But to say he doesnt even compare is crazy talk.

And no where in my original post did I say or imply Irvin is not an all time great receiver. He's my favorite player in the history of the Cowboys.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Michael Irvin.

Best response I've seen in this whole thread. This was the answer I was looking for. The point was that there will never be a Michael Irvin again in the NFL. Well not for awhile.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

not the first time

Don't be bitter because I beat you. Just because no one likes you on here doesn't mean you have to pile on and be a complete peanut gallery.

 

[Temo]

You're seriously believe they dont even compare? I'm not trying to say that Ward is better - he's not. But to say he doesnt even compare is crazy talk.

And no where in my original post did I say or imply Irvin is not an all time great receiver. He's my favorite player in the history of the Cowboys.

I'm saying one guy was a dominant force over several years, and the other guy had 1 or 2 seasons where he was a top receiver.