Who Is The 2nd Best WR Of All Time?

[Gameover]

The guy who doesn't get enough cred during the era Irvin played is Sterling Sharpe. Look at the two years you pointed out (92, 94) as an example. In 1992 Sharpe broke the NFL receiving record for receptions that had stood for 11 years. In 1994, he had 18 TD receptions that season (he exited the beginning of the 16th game) by the time his career ended with a neck injury

At that time, up through 1988-1984 it was a tossup who was the better WR at the time -- Irvin or Sharpe. Both were drafted in 1988 btw.

Sharpe
92 163 targets
93 188 targets(mike career high is 165)
94 166

Irvin
92 122 targets
93 143 targets
94 122 targets

Sharpe was targeted 130 more times than Irvin in those three seasons.

 

[jobberone]

The Commanders may have used Jerry Smith the same way back in the day.

I don't remember Jackie setting up wide much but that means nothing. Smith was a Cardinal then a Cowboy and retired after the 78 season IIRC.

 

[mrmojo]

I don't remember Jackie setting up wide much but that means nothing. Smith was a Cardinal then a Cowboy and retired after the 78 season IIRC.

No JERRY Smith the Commander TE that passed away from AIDS.

 

[landroverking]

Like to know the age of posters.
Seems to Most here can't remember any earlier then the 90s.
The rules where so different in the 60s 70's and early 80's IMO Moss wouldn't even lasted.

 

[TheFinisher]

Like to know the age of posters.
Seems to Most here can't remember any earlier then the 90s.
The rules where so different in the 60s 70's and early 80's IMO Moss wouldn't even lasted.

He's the most physically talented WR of all time, I think he would have been just fine man...

 

[jobberone]

No JERRY Smith the Commander TE that passed away from AIDS.

Sry, my bad.

 

[Sarge]

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

Pretty much. Irvin wouldn't even be in the top 10 IMO. Isaac Bruce should be mentioned as well.

 

[Gameover]

Pretty much. Irvin wouldn't even be in the top 10 IMO. Isaac Bruce should be mentioned as well.

You are a Haley fan?

 

[EST_1986]

Pretty much. Irvin wouldn't even be in the top 10 IMO. Isaac Bruce should be mentioned as well.

Issac Bruce is not a name that crosses my mind when I think of top WRs for some reason but you're right he deserves to be right up there. The guy was an absolute beast.

 

[cowboys1981]

Moss.

 

[Jarv]

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.

Nice list, funny my first thought was Steve Largent. I thought he held all of the "old days" records before Rice.

 

[NorthTexan95]

If we're talking about the second best receiver of all time I wouldn't put Irvin there. However, I don't any receiver in history was better at running the "Bang 8" route in the Coryell offense.

One name not mentioned yet is Wes Welker. He's not the second best receiver of all time but if you're building a team he would be awesome playing second fiddle to any of these top receivers. Put Rice on one side, Welker in the middle ... then you can put any receiver on the other side and have great success.

 

[BAT]

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...

Still say Don Hutson and Jerry Rice are 1A and 1B, flip a coin as to which is which. The difference is during Hutson's time, he was the BEST by light years (miles are too close) while during Jerry's heyday, his competitors were tight on his heels. There were some years where Irvin or Sharpe were clearly better.

 

[DOUBLE WING]

Randy Moss is the best receiver I've ever seen.

 

[Nirvana]

Jerry Rice is #2
Calvin Johnson is #1


If I am given the choice of the two, I am picking CJ. That's my rationale. I don't care about how many seasons it was done or how many rings they have. I see with my own eyes and that's who I want on my team.

I'll take Bo Jackson at RB too.

Give me Aaron Rodgers at QB and I'll play against your 3 and let's see who dominates.

 

[perrykemp]

Jerry Rice is #2
Calvin Johnson is #1


If I am given the choice of the two, I am picking CJ. That's my rationale. I don't care about how many seasons it was done or how many rings they have. I see with my own eyes and that's who I want on my team.

I'll take Bo Jackson at RB too.

Give me Aaron Rodgers at QB and I'll play against your 3 and let's see who dominates.

I love your enthusiasm for Calvin Johnson -- I can't fault you for it, HOWEVER

In my conscience football watching lifetime, Jerry Rice was the best PLAYER I have ever seen -- forget just WR.

He was that good.

At age 33 he put up 1848 yards. He scored 207 TDs. In the strike shortened season of 1987 he scored 22 TDs in 12 games. He had a 200 yard receiving game in the Superbowl.

The only thing Calvin Johnson is better at than Jerry Rice is being tall. That's my story and I am sticking to it.

 

[DogFace]

The guy who doesn't get enough cred during the era Irvin played is Sterling Sharpe. Look at the two years you pointed out (92, 94) as an example. In 1992 Sharpe broke the NFL receiving record for receptions that had stood for 11 years. In 1994, he had 18 TD receptions that season (he exited the beginning of the 16th game) by the time his career ended with a neck injury

At that time, up through 1988-1984 it was a tossup who was the better WR at the time -- Irvin or Sharpe. Both were drafted in 1988 btw.

Totally correct about sharpe being right there with playmaker. He was really good. Better than Moss and Carter.
1. Rice
2. Irvin
3. Sharpe
4. Moss
5. Carter (cris)

 

[lane]

Larry Fitzgerald here..

i'm over at lane's house..

just chiming in ..

how's everyone?

 

[Gameover]

I don't see it in Calvin Johnson.

 

[perrykemp]

Sharpe
92 163 targets
93 188 targets(mike career high is 165)
94 166

Irvin
92 122 targets
93 143 targets
94 122 targets

Sharpe was targeted 130 more times than Irvin in those three seasons.

I think you make a good point, however, I distinctly remember Sharpe passing the eyeball test as an amazing WR -- who seemed to be virtually unstoppable. I have a strong memory of Sharpe going off for 4 TDs against the Cowboys sometime in the Jimmy Johnson era and looking like Superman when he did it.

A quick look at his stats page and Sharpe was a 5 time pro-bowler an 3 time 1st-team All Pro during his 7 years career. Irvin was a 5 time bowler and a 1 time 1st-team All Pro. Yes, I realize Irvin didn't get as many targets.

My point in this is not to say Sharpe deserves to be ranked higher than Irvin in the 'All time great WRs' pecking order. Irvin is in the HoF and Sharpe will never be, however, I am indicating that back in the day when Irvin / Sharpe / Rice where all playing, most viewed the Sharpe / Irvin comparison as a toss-up.