Long-time scout Gil Brandt has been revealing his Best... lists on NFL.com. I've posted a few of those lists in recent weeks. Here's one more. The Best Receivers that he's ever seen.
32. Tory Holt
31. Lynn Swann
30. John Stallworth
29. Fred Biletnikoff
28. Art Monk
27. Mac Speedie
26. Steve Largent
25. Hines Ward
24. Charley Taylor
23. Reggie Wayne
22. Charlie Joiner
21. Michael Irvin
20. Rod Smith
19. Drew Pearson
18. Andre Johnson
17. Isaac Bruce
16. Tom Fears
15. Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch
14. James Lofton
13. Tim Brown
12. Lance Alworth
11. Paul Warfield
10. Raymond Berry
9. Cris Carter
8. Calvin Johnson
7. Larry Fitzgerald
6. Bob Hayes
5. Marvin Harrison
4. Terrell Owens
3. Randy Moss
2. Don Hutson
1. Jerry Rice
It's ridiculous to get too riled up over lists such as these. They are one person's opinion. In this case, the opinion is that of Gil Brandt. He's probably seen more football than nearly anyone walking the earth today. If you don't agree with him it's still probably best to respect his picks. That being said, I don't agree with his ranking of Terrell Owens at #4. I just have a hard time praising a receiver that made the simple act of catching a football look like such a challenge. He had too many drops and when he did manage to catch the football he did so as if he was afraid of it. Every pass was a struggle. It doesn't matter how physically gifted a receiver is if he's dropping the football. He had terrible hands. Great receivers shouldn't have terrible hands. Owens is having difficulty gaining induction into the Pro Football of Fame. Most people think that that voters are making him wait because of his on- and off-the-field antics. I'd make him wait because he had terrible hands.
I like that Mac Speedie made Brandt's list. It's a damn shame that he's not honored in Canton. He should've made it long ago. Not only was Speedie a terrific receiver he has a Hall of Fame name for his position.
I shouldn't be surprised that Brandt has Drew Pearson at #19 since he scouted him. He didn't draft Pearson but he signed him as an undrafted free agent. I'm still surprised that Brandt has him in the top-20. That probably has more to do with some still sensitive issues with a particular catch that Pearson didn't make fairly in the 1975 playoffs.
Speaking of the Minnesota Vikings, it's great to see Cris Carter and Randy Moss in the top-9. If Owens had hands like Carter he would've been inducted already. If Carter had to wait six years, Owens should wait 12. Not really, but he should wait a little longer and cry a little less about it.
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