Reggie Wayne is Very, Very Good, but Not the Best Receiver in Football
1-liner, NFL November 6th. 2009, 11:30amReggie Wayne isn’t the best receiver in football: One-time TBL interview subject Bob Kravitz makes a compelling argument that Reggie Wayne of the Colts is the best receiver in football. He’s wrong. Wayne is outstanding. Tremendous hands. Exceptional route runner. But stats don’t make him the best receiver in football. Our top five, mostly based on ability, production, and the all-important eye-test (no order): Larry Fitzgerald, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, Hines Ward, and Andre Johnson. Guys that could be in the mix to replace Ward and Moss as they creep into their mid-30s – DeSean Jackson, Vincent Jackson, Brandon Marshall and Calvin Johnson. Guy who could be in the mix in five years – NFL-bound Dez Bryant. [Indy Star]
122 Responses to “Reggie Wayne is Very, Very Good, but Not the Best Receiver in Football”
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November 6th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Heh.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:32 am
Could be the next Limas Sweed. His ceiling is that high.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Megatron.
And Sidney Rice of course.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:33 am
What–No Roy Williams?
November 6th, 2009 at 11:34 am
Hines Ward? Way to fail, way.to.fail.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:36 am
Hines Ward isn’t even the best receiver on his own team
November 6th, 2009 at 11:37 am
mohammed massaquoi
November 6th, 2009 at 11:37 am
hines ward isnt even the best wr on his on team. he is if i need someone to break someones jaw or block a db..now im starting to feel like spencer does with pryor. this andre johnson lack of respect is pissing me off
November 6th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Colts are dropping like flies, Gonzalez still out, Marlin Jackson done for year, Bob Sanders (shocking, right?) seeing Dr James Andres (dun dun duuunnnnn).
November 6th, 2009 at 11:37 am
Hines Ward is a black Wes Welker. Or maybe Wes Welker is a white Hines Ward. Either way, it’s not racist.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:38 am
If it’s a discussion about statistics, no, Ward isn’t there. But, if you’re having a discussion about WRs who are most valuable to their teams, it is absolutely appropriate to include Ward. And, Santonio Holmes hasn’t been the same since his Super Bowl heroics. I’m hopeful that performance wasn’t a mirage and he’s just off to a slow start.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:40 am
He’s got some big shoes to fill, but his innate ability to drop the ball means he should be able to pick up right where Braylon left off.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:40 am
What he said. He’s a better blocker than a receiver.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:40 am
This was an easy post, because Bob Kravitz sucks.
I think the answer is Fitzgerald in a landslide, but I sure wouldn’t kick Reggie Wayne out of my huddle.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:40 am
if we are talking value to the team then megatron is still on this list as the only player of any value on the lions
November 6th, 2009 at 11:41 am
uh Bear, Hines Ward isn’t black.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Could be the next Limas Sweed. His ceiling is that high.
Ha!
Hines Ward
Heh.
What he said. He’s a better blocker than a receiver.
He scored high on the all-important eye test.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Reggine Wayne and Calvin Johnson are better players than him. bar none. TBL says you can’t look at stats, but then says “production.” What the fuck does that mean? You want to use the eye test, yep, they are better there too.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:41 am
412, when Pittsburgh comes up, they should just let a robot auto post for you. Homer, homer, homer.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:41 am
LOL! wait..hes asian?
November 6th, 2009 at 11:41 am
Exactly my point. If the discussion is “WRs who are most valuable to their teams” then Wes Welker is in the discussion, and if that happens my computer monitor would melt from all the hatred that would spew forth.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Stats can be overrated. But don’t act like he’s some scrub scoring 20 points a night for the Grizzlies.
And the “eye test?” Give me a break. You could use the eye test to argue that Drew Brees is the worst quarterback in the NFL.
Now Matthew Stafford? That looks like an NFL quarterback to me!
November 6th, 2009 at 11:42 am
uh Bear, Hines Ward isn’t black. Beadle
I never thought I’d get so much enjoyment on a throwaway post about WRs.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:42 am
No love for Marty Booker or Tom Waddell?
November 6th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Hines Ward is a black Wes Welker. Or maybe Wes Welker is a white Hines Ward. Either way, it’s not racist.
You’re half a racist, Bear, because Ward is half Korean.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Would you accept “brack”?
/KSK’d
November 6th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Korean, black, non-white. When you’re from NH they’re all the same.
/I did say it wasn’t racist
November 6th, 2009 at 11:43 am
Guy who could be in the mix in five years – NFL-bound Dez Bryant.
Riiight. because predicting WRs NFL success is easy.
Megatron HAS to be in the top 5.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:44 am
Blarean? Korack?
November 6th, 2009 at 11:44 am
I’m a homer for defending Hines Ward?
Okay, I apologize. Hines Ward isn’t a good WR. Ben is an inept QB. Harrison is an overrated LB. The team really isn’t that good, despite the two SB championships in the past 4 years.
Happy?
November 6th, 2009 at 11:44 am
hines ward is no where near the level of the others in that list.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:44 am
in terms of game changing, absolute physical freaks of nature, game play making ability, can be transplanted to any team and still make the jawdropping play seem routine, there’s only four, in no order.
Moss, Larry Fitz, Andre Johnson, Calvin Johnson
if you look at stats in terms of fantasy value, sure, there’s lots of guys that sure look pretty close to the top.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:45 am
I’d take Fitz, Andre Johnson and Wayne as my top 3 and be very happy. Calvin Johnson in a year or two to replace Wayne.
Braylon is again leading the NFL in drops this year with 16. He has a seemingly insurmountable lead over TO, who “only” has 7.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:45 am
I remember the game in Denver a few years ago when they needed a touchdown in the final minutes to win, and Manning threw like 6 passes to Wayne, including the touchdown. The late Darrent Williams couldn’t touch him. That’s the only test I need.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:45 am
Id go with ko-black so it’s like ko-jack
November 6th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Darrius Heyward-Bey? Maybe not.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:46 am
That’s fine. If it’s all about stats, feel free to exclude Hines. I was just saying it’s wrongheaded for people to shit on the notion that Ward isn’t one of the best WRs in the game.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:47 am
Happy?
You’re an unabashed homer…and Hines Ward doesn’t need you to defend him. What you did was change the argument from best to most value, and built a straw platform to argue from.
Everybody here thinks Hines Ward is a badass, to a man. He’s just not “the best receiver in all of football.”
That’s not a dig at him.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:47 am
except that he is obviously not
November 6th, 2009 at 11:47 am
1. andre johnson. has great hands. hes bigger, stronger and faster than 2. larry fitzgerald. can catch anything thrown to him.
3. reggie wayne. great route runner, great hands
4. Randy Moss.
5. Calvin Johnson.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:48 am
ha, lower case-upper case
November 6th, 2009 at 11:48 am
its not, because he isnt
November 6th, 2009 at 11:49 am
But he scored high on the eye test!
/Al Davis’d
November 6th, 2009 at 11:49 am
No particular order.
Johnson
Johnson
Wayne
Fitzgerald
B. Marshall
Moss is great when he shows up to play.
I don’t think DeSean Jackson is ever going to be in the discussion for top 5 receiver in the league.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:50 am
all desean jackson has to do is sprint and he’ll get open. the guys gonna have a ton of 50 plus yard touchdowns
November 6th, 2009 at 11:50 am
B. Marshall
That headcase is really good at his job
November 6th, 2009 at 11:51 am
this is so contradicting. TBL, wtf?
November 6th, 2009 at 11:51 am
oh doctor, great minds think alike haha
November 6th, 2009 at 11:51 am
but he hasn’t dropped the ball before the endzone once this year
November 6th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Hines Ward plays football the way every dude should play it. That said, he isn’t a top 5er in the NFL based on anything tangible.
Good list. I’d like to think Chad OchoCinco could be a top 5er but nobody would agree with that and its based solely off of me liking the way he talks smack and backs it up (mostly).
November 6th, 2009 at 11:51 am
I happen to have Moss and Fitz on my fantasy squad!
/7-1′d
November 6th, 2009 at 11:51 am
where is bsanders for this?
November 6th, 2009 at 11:52 am
And you’re the unemployed guy who spends his days and nights posting comments to a sports blog. Let’s get personal. Or not. I would choose the former, but you are the lord over TBL comments so do what you wish. I care little either way.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:52 am
hahaha seriously?!
November 6th, 2009 at 11:52 am
See–this is the one I don’t get.
People say “stats don’t matter.” But then they pick the stat guy who plays for a team that doesn’t make the playoffs ahead of Wayne. Didn’t they play a game earlier this year where they kicked someone’s ass and he didn’t catch a pass?
/Not a personal swipe at Texansfan–sincere
November 6th, 2009 at 11:52 am
where is bsanders for this?
emergency room, with an exploded head.
I was actually about to ask where you were, to tell us that the five best receivers in football were Manningham, Smith, Hixon, et al.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:53 am
he had shit to do sparty
November 6th, 2009 at 11:54 am
smith has more fantasy points than andre johnson and larry fitzgerald
/my 3 WRs
November 6th, 2009 at 11:54 am
dirtheavy- always trying to antagonize, aren’t you?
November 6th, 2009 at 11:54 am
Here, sparty.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:54 am
threadjack:
Twins maybe possibly trade Carlos Gomez to Brewers for JJ Hardy
November 6th, 2009 at 11:55 am
412, unabashed homer is not a personal attack. You root, root, root for the home team, all the time. I didn’t meant that as a dig. I mean you’ve got the Steelers blinders on.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:55 am
ha! nice.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:56 am
the astros need to sign more of mike hampton, aaron boone, pude rodriguez types to 1 year contracts. FML
November 6th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Calvin Johnson’s still in the potential stage, guys. having a dreadful season so far. top 10, i’d say.
laugh at Hines Ward all you want. great hands. runs great routes. almost always comes through in the clutch. smart player. great blocker. never takes a play off. goes over the middle. good on YAC. what’s not to like?
November 6th, 2009 at 11:56 am
Fantastic List. It’s amazing that Megatron can be on these lists with Stafford, Culpepper, and Orlovsky as his QB’s since he has been in the NFL. Compare Megatron’s QB’s to Manning, Brady, Warner, Schaub, Ben, Rivers, McNabb, and Cutler, its not even close.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:57 am
Wes Welker Wes Welker Wes Welker Wes Welker
November 6th, 2009 at 11:57 am
wow he actually took offense to being called a homer? wasnt that clown arguing that roethlisberger was better than manning. what a joke.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:57 am
dirtheavy- always trying to antagonize, aren’t you?
You, sparty, yes. Because that’s fun.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:58 am
It’s Andre Johnson or Larry Fitz, no question.
November 6th, 2009 at 11:58 am
um, 70 comments and no Miles Austin?
/shows self out
November 6th, 2009 at 11:59 am
I honest to God don’t think the 412 knows what unabashed means, or he jumped to a conclusion about what it means.
And if I were the Lord of all Comments, I’d have banned whoever the fuck Erich is already.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
you can be honest. i know it may be hard, but you can.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
I don’t think Welker is among the best WRs in the league. I’m only pointing out how ridiculous you guys are in qualifying Ward.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Me > Miles Austin
/Roy Willaims
//no one else
November 6th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
Maverick, you know that Culpepper once threw to Moss right? Not sure if its the QB that makes the receiver as much as it may be the receiver making the QB.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
i tried to find out who erich was and i never saw him
November 6th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
@TBL: Most of the stuff you mentioned aren’t measurable. The ones that are, most of the guys mentioned throughout comments stack up as good or better than Ward.
I like the guy A LOT too, I think the WAY he plays football is just perfect given his position. If I had a son and he was a WR, I’d want him to model how he plays after Hines Ward. Still don’t think he measures up to most of the other players talent wise.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
412 is a homer, so is everyone on here. hines isn’t top 5, love him as i may. TBL put him on that list to stir the pot.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
great hands. runs great routes. almost always comes through in the clutch.
I’d beg to differ. His fumble on the 5yd line week one resulted in Pitt not covering. He also dropped a pass two weeks ago (vikings) that would have cost the cover if the Steelers Def didn’t score 2 tds.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Still not as clutch as Jeter.
/Yanks won the World Series.
//after 9 long years.
///I’ll never let it die. GO YANKS!
November 6th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
you can be honest. i know it may be hard, but you can.
how about almost everyone. I avoid a few people, just like a few people avoid me.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
of course, but at least he could have not made himself look completely foolish for saying everything that is great about Wayne and then giving the exact same qualifications for his top 5.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
1. Fitz
2. Moss
3. Andre Johnson
4. Ochocinco
5. Reggie Wayne
Call me when Calvin Johnson puts up Ochocinco numbers for 6-8 years.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
i dont think ochocinco is on pace for even a thousand yards
November 6th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
Yes I do know this, I’m actually Minnesotan. But Culpepper circa 2003-2004 was a different QB than he is now.
The answer to the whole QB-making-the-WR or WR-making-the-QB argument is endless, but I’m sure both matter to an extent. Regardless, the point I was making is that Megtron is doing this with shitty QB’s.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
this isnt the emmys and he isnt susan lucci
November 6th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
in 7 games has over 500 yards.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
andre johnson put up some numbers with david carr as his qb
November 6th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
can’t believe someone put dez bryant’s name in the same sentence as limas sweed. one is a super elite pro prospect with an accomplished college career … the other is limas sweed
November 6th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
my fault sparty
November 6th, 2009 at 12:08 pm
crabtree has looked good so far
November 6th, 2009 at 12:11 pm
When you come on to the scene and make Anquan Boldin the number two receiver on your team you’re damn good.
Fitzgerald is the best receiver in the league. No question.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Agreed. He has all the earmarks of a guy who will be a much better fantasy producer than actual player. I just don’t see him as a guy who will make big catches late in games.
And fetch…you might not have been totally serious when you said Sidney Rice, but I am…the dude, on pure skill, is already top 10…and pretty soon, that will be a consensus opinion.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Fitz, Moss, Andre Johnson, Wayne, MegaTron.
another WR that is better than Ward, Boldin!
November 6th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
Career college stats:
Limas: 101 1,652 16.4 20
Dez: 147 2,425 16.5 29
Texas has always run the ball a lot more than OkSU, and B12 defenses have never been worse than the past few years, so I’d say they aren’t that far off. Sweed also a few inches taller.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
Hello God? It’s me, HawkEye
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE LET THIS HAPPEN!!!!
Thanks. Love your work.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
douchiest fans in america
back after 9 long years
November 6th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
i think this makes a case of why he isnt number 1. boldin is a damn good wr. what kind of receiver would fitzgerald be without him?
November 6th, 2009 at 12:16 pm
uh, Coop … look at the # of games played between Bryant and Sweed (i dont have the answer) bryant has played just 2.5 seasons.
sweed, who i think was injured a bit, played 3.5, if memory serves.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
Hell, Moss made a washed up Randall Cunningham look all world back in 1998.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Twins maybe possibly trade Carlos Gomez to Brewers for JJ Hardy
Hello God? It’s me, Billy. I beat the Rock at Summerslam. But there’s one problem. Everybody still thinks I absolutely suck.
/I did’t think this is all that exciting, but then I remembered the Twins middle infield.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Considering the numbers Larry Fitz put up with Boldin out last year a damn, damn good one.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:20 pm
This broke my brain. I trust it was roundly mocked, and if it was not you have all failed me.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I dont know man, I see the same soft B12 receiver in both of them, never really got hit, never ran a route tree, just outran and overpowered shitty DB’s. I’m not saying Dez will suck, but I’d put his bust potential percentage pretty high.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Dez Bryant is Charles Rogers?
November 6th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
Ted Ginn! He’s Jebus!
November 6th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
WOW. It got even better than I thought. And I’m only halfway through. He insulted Dirt (ohhhhhhh)!
November 6th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Dez Bryant is Charles Rogers?
maybe more like Mike Williams, from USC, and Mel Kiper Jr’s wettest dreams
November 6th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
he’s a pothead? because he sure isn’t as talented as Rogers was.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
Very ballsy by Bill Smith, pretty much admitting that he fucked up the Santana trade. Love this trade, Span-Hardy-Mauer-Morneau-Kubel is an excellent 1-5 for years to come.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
It’s official, via the Twins website.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Ask Timmy L.
I agree on the talent comparison I was comparing more along the lines of panning out in the NFL.
Mike Williams was good too. (comparison that is)
I still think Rejus Benn will make a good pro, pending on the team drafting him.
I am a Illinois homer too. So take that FWIW.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Carlos Gomez seems like a lot for a guy who might not have been even offered arbitration.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Woo hoo!!
November 6th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Marques Colston wants to know why he’s not in the mix.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
Marques Colston deserves to be mentioned in the top 5 or 10 receivers in the league. Runs good routes and has excellent hands.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
i hate my life.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
sooo to recap. we lose Hardy’s top notch defense and semi productive bat, and trade Camerons strikeouts and HR production for Gomez’s poor OBP and next to nothing HR production…sounds like a win Doug Melvin.
November 6th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
I’ve been a Yankees fan all along but whatever. I think the batteries in your sarcasm detector could probably use replacement.
November 6th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
Andre Reed
November 6th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Bob Sanders DOES have to have surgery on his elbow, ouch. But, no surprise.