Who Is The 2nd Best WR Of All Time?

NeonDeion21

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Assuming Jerry Rice is first, who would you take second? Michael Irvin? Randy Moss? Someone else?

I am working on a survey and trying to get over 1,000 responses. Thanks guys.
 

perrykemp

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Great question. There is no clear cut #2 due to the absolutely massive differences in WRs stats over the eras.

Don Hutson was pretty consistently considered the #1 WR of all time up until the point Jerry Rice showed up. Still, he played in an era with the NFL passing game was fairly primitive.

I want to say Randy Moss, however, he never help a team win a Superbowl and in some cases was a distraction. He definitely didn't always consistently bring his 'A' game.

Marvin Harrison put up MASSIVE stats while he played. Lofton was very good for a long long time....

TO had the potential to be the clear cut #2 WR in NFL history, but his antics really hurt his case.

Irvin was an incredible all-around HoF WR who's stats would have been much much better on a more passing dominated team...

Man, it's tough...
 

Manwiththeplan

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I'd have a hard time putting Irvin number 2. Lots of injuries early in his career and a career cut short due to injury. When he hit his stride around 91' he was the 2nd best WR, but of all time, I wouldn't say
 

perrykemp

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I'd have a hard time putting Irvin number 2. Lots of injuries early in his career and a career cut short due to injury. When he hit his stride around 91' he was the 2nd best WR, but of all time, I wouldn't say

I don't think you can put Irvin at #2 for the simple reason he just didn't play enough.

Statistically, someone like Derrick Mason, who I don't think is on anyone's HoF shortlist, had more yards and TDs than Irvin. Why? Because as your mentioned Irvin was injured earlier in his career and didn't have a 15-18 year career like some of the other guys higher on the list like Tim Brown, James Lofton, Isaac Bruce, etc etc

When you are talking the best players of all time, longevity is a key part of the equation.
 

mrmojo

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Lance Alwiorth...Randy Moss....Michael Irvin...Tim Brown....Paul Warfield....Charlie Taylor.... a few choices
 

tm1119

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We would probably be talking about Moss and TO as #2 and #3 all time, but I feel both shortened their careers by 2 or 3 years with their attitudes. But going by pure statistics it's hard to put either over Chris Carter.

I'd probably go....
Rice
CC
Moss
TO
 

tyke1doe

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I'm sorry, but as talented as Randy Moss was, I can't rank him No. 2. He didn't like to run across the middle. Imagine if he had augmented his game running both deep routes and across-the-middle routes?
And I think he gave up on too many routes. I'm convinced had Randy Moss kept running on that last pass Brady threw in the first Pats-Giants Super Bowl, the Pats would have won. If you look at the play, it looks as if he gave up. Maybe I'm reading something more into the play, but that's the perception I have - which seems to fit.
But deciding who is the second best receiver? I can't say, but I'm surprised Cris Carter hasn't been mentioned to this point.
 

perrykemp

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I'm sorry, but as talented as Randy Moss was, I can't rank him No. 2. He didn't like to run across the middle. Imagine if he had augmented his game running both deep routes and across-the-middle routes?
And I think he gave up on too many routes. I'm convinced had Randy Moss kept running on that last pass Brady threw in the first Pats-Giants Super Bowl, the Pats would have won. If you look at the play, it looks as if he gave up. Maybe I'm reading something more into the play, but that's the perception I have - which seems to fit.
But deciding who is the second best receiver? I can't say, but I'm surprised Cris Carter hasn't been mentioned to this point.

This is the basic problem I have with Moss. Moss was a GREAT player when things were going well, however, he was a drag on the teams he played for when those teams were struggling. Same story with TO.

The #2 spot behind Jerry Rice belongs to a transcendent player who uplifted his team at all times.

I think a case could be made for Chris Carter.
 

TimHortons

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If he gets healthy again (which might not be the case considering some of the things coming out of Detroit) I think CJ could be at 2 by the end of his career. Right now, probably Moss
 

EST_1986

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I'd put T.O. #2 with an easy argument for Randy Moss there
 

jazzcat22

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Are you looking from a pure statistical view, or taking other things into it?
Such as what they meant to the teams overall performance, SB wins, playoffs as well as willingness to block, etc.

#2 would be a hard choice no matter what. I will need time to think about that.
 

LeonDixson

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Moss was the best pure pass catcher I remember seeing play, but I wouldn't put him at #2 because of his deficiencies in other areas that have already been mentioned. I think Chris Carter or one of the old guys like Hutson or Raymond Berry.
 

big dog cowboy

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Don Hutson
James Lofton
Steve Largent
Marvin Harrison
Calvin Johnson
Chris Carter
Michael Irvin
Randy Moss
Terrell Owens
Lance Alworth

There are 10 names and depending on your criteria you could just about pick any one of them.
 

cej757

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Randy Moss is #2. The years with the Patriots solidified that spot even without a Superbowl win.
 

xwalker

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Assuming Jerry Rice is first, who would you take second? Michael Irvin? Randy Moss? Someone else?

I am working on a survey and trying to get over 1,000 responses. Thanks guys.

Irvin - He was money in big games and was the #1 WR on 3 Super Bowl teams. I remember him having the best game that I've seen against Deion back when Deion was in Atlanta.

Randy Moss - He could beat a CB anytime he was in the mood.
 

perrykemp

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Irvin - He was money in big games and was the #1 WR on 3 Super Bowl teams. I remember him having the best game that I've seen against Deion back when Deion was in Atlanta.

Couldn't the same be said for Lynn Swan? #1 WR on 4 Superbowl teams. Money in big games.

The problem is that Swan's individual stats doesn't measure up compared to the other guys. I think Irvin has that same problem to an extent -- at least when talking about the #2 spot overall.
 
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