Every Franchise's Greatest Receiver

[old1r1sh]

It's the offseason, and because of this there's not much good stuff to talk about outside of draft talk. For me to temper this void, I like to rank teams or players to pass the time until the season starts back up.

Marques Colston was recently released by the New Orleans Saints. I believe him to be the greatest at his position in the franchise's history. That got me wondering who the greatest receivers are for every franchise. This list can include Tight Ends or Wide Receivers. The following is my list. The toughest ones to decide on are in bold:

49ers - Jerry Rice
Bears - Mike Ditka
Bengals - Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson
Bills - Andre Reed
Broncos - Rod Smith
Browns - Ozzie Newsome
Bucaneers - Jimmie Giles
Cardinals - Larry Fitzgerald
Chargers - Lance Alworth
Cheifs - Tony Gonzalez
Colts - Marvin Harrison
Cowboys - Michael Irvin
Dolphins - Mark Clayton
Eagles - Harold Carmichael
Falcons - Roddy White
Giants - Amani Toomer
Jaguars - Jimmy Smith
Jets - Don Maynard
Lions - Calvin Johnson
Packers - Don Hutson
Panthers - Steve Smith Sr.
Patriots - Stanley Morgan
Raiders - Fred Biletnikoff
Rams - Isaac Bruce
Ravens - Todd Heap
Redskins - Art Monk
Saints - Marques Colston
Seahawks - Steve Largent
Steelers - Hines Ward
Texans - Andre Johnson
Titans - Derrick Mason
Vikings - Cris Carter

I'm no Football historian and I don't follow every team, so if I got some wrong, sorry.

 

[Fencer]

For the Patriots it depends on your criteria for greatness, notably peak vs. career/longevity.

• Moss probably had the one best season.
• Welker probably made and deserved the most Pro Bowl nods, Gronk aside.
• Many fans would say Troy Brown, for his long career, and for the fact that he was probably overall postseason MVP in the most important postseason in franchise history.
• Of course, that's counting ST play for Brown. He basically was responsible for 2 ST TDs in an AFCC that thePats won by 7 points.

Overall, I think Morgan would be the plurality choice, followed closely by Brown.

 

[Iggloo]

For the Eagles, it is probably Tommy McDonald, who is a Hall of Fame player.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

I might be inclined to take Tim Brown over Biletnikoff.

 

[flyerhawk]

Bears - Mike Ditka - Hmm. Wasn't he more of a TE?
Bengals - Chad "Ochocinco" Johnson - Collinsworth was pretty badass back in the day.
Falcons - Roddy White - I'd say Julio is already better.
Giants - Amani Toomer - I know I'm starting to display a recency bias but ODB has already been more productive.
Raiders - Fred Biletnikoff - Tim Brown versus Fred B is a good debate.
Rams - Isaac Bruce - I liked Holt better but Bruce makes sense. Have to be some old timers on this list as well.
Ravens - Todd Heap - Wow. Yuck
Steelers - Hines Ward - Swann and Stallworth would say no.
Vikings - Cris Carter - Have to go with Moss who is one of the 4 or 5 best WRs of all time.

 

[Rex Racer]

Morgan is the correct choice for New England.

 

[Fountain City Blues]

If we're including TE's, then the Chiefs' best receiver is obviously Tony Gonzalez. If it's just WR's, it'd almost certainly be Otis Taylor.

 

[NCChiFan]

Well, it say's "greatest receiver". If that is the case, wouldn't anyone who ever caught a pass be considered a receiver, since Wr wasn't specified. So in the Bears case, Walter Payton.

 

[Clayton]

Adding TEs makes this list weird.

Also not having Randy Moss or TO on the list is weird.

 

[The Derski]

I would put Donald Driver over Hutson.

 

[packfancjh]

I would have put Randy Moss over Cris Carter for the Queens and like Derski said one could argue Driver over Hutson even though Hutson helped revolutionize the wr position

 

[Hank Kingsley]

I would have put Randy Moss over Cris Carter for the Queens and like Derski said one could argue Driver over Hutson even though Hutson helped revolutionize the wr position

For a guy that supposedly all he did is catch touchdowns, Carter is pipped in his Minny career by Moss in TD's per game (.82 to .59) and Moss was there long enough to warrant the status.

 

[Tainthappening]

I would put Donald Driver over Hutson.

You lack serious Packers history knowledge for that statement... hell... Driver is not even top 3.

 

[The Derski]

You lack serious Packers history knowledge for that statement... hell... Driver is not even top 3.

Driver played 3 more seasons than Hutson with GB, had like 250 more catches, and over 2,000 more yards. Hutson had more TDs, but in an NFL that was basically white players with a skill level not even close to Driver's era.

 

[Tainthappening]

I would have put Randy Moss over Cris Carter for the Queens and like Derski said one could argue Driver over Hutson even though Hutson helped revolutionize the wr position

How? Driver will not even make NFL HOF where Hutson and Lofton currently reside. Hutson redefined position and even Jerry Rice stated he is one of the greatest WRs all time... Lofton was 4 time All Pro, 7 time Pro Bowler and named to 1980s all decade team.

Driver is better.. why, because he played in the age where they pass the ball more and it favors WRs?

 

[Tainthappening]

Driver played 3 more seasons than Hutson with GB, had like 250 more catches, and over 2,000 more yards. Hutson had more TDs, but in an NFL that was basically white players with a skill level not even close to Driver's era.

Put Driver back in the 1940s NFL.. he would have to work for a living outside the season.. would not have all the supplements, coaches, strength training and conditioning athletes have now.

Compare what Hutson did vs his peers and what Driver did vs his.. not even close.

 

[The Derski]

Put Driver back in the 1940s NFL.. he would have to work for a living outside the season.. would not have all the supplements, coaches, strength training and conditioning athletes have now.

Compare what Hutson did vs his peers and what Driver did vs his.. not even close.

Driver back in the 1940's would still be begging for civil rights. Like I said, Hutson's era of football was filled with white players not even close to the talent level of today.

 

[SonnyCID]

Driver played 3 more seasons than Hutson with GB, had like 250 more catches, and over 2,000 more yards. Hutson had more TDs, but in an NFL that was basically white players with a skill level not even close to Driver's era.

Yea, but Hutson was white too...

And he probably had a job at a car lot in the off season.

 

[Clayton]

I would put Donald Driver over Hutson.

Id take Sterling Sharpe over Driver since we are in bizarro hypothetical territory.

Hutson is a top 10 WR of all time as far as I can tell

 

[Tainthappening]

Driver back in the 1940's would still be begging for civil rights. Like I said, Hutson's era of football was filled with white players not even close to the talent level of today.

Looks like I hurt the 12 year old Packers fans feelings with the history comment... need to live through some decades like the 70s and 80s so you toughen up there kid