GIF's Top Ten Best Wide Receivers Not In The Hall Of Fame

Let's compile a list, in your opinion, of the top ten greatest wide receivers who has yet to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame that are eligible (retired at least five years).

The format for each post should contain the following:

Player Pic
Name
Team(s)
Seasons of Service
Notable Achievements/Accolades
Biography (optional)

After the list is complied, we will have a healthy debate if you disagree with anyone on the list. If you want, you can make an honorable mention iyo who should be on this list.


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Tim Brown
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1988-2004
9× Pro Bowl Selection (1988,1991,1993,1994,1995,1996,1997,1999,2001)
1x Second Team All-Selection (1997)
Pro Football Weekly First Team All-Conference (1988)
Pro Football Writers First Team All-NFL (1988)
Pro Football Weekly First Team All-NFL (1988)
Sporting News First Team All-NFL (1988)
Pro Football Weekly First Team All-Conference (1991)
Pro Football Weekly First Team All-Conference (1991)
UPI First Team All-Conference (1991)
Pro Football Weekly First Team All-Conference (1994)
UPI Second Team All-Conference (1994)
Pro Football Weekly First Team All-Conference (1995)
UPI First Team All-Conference (1995)
UPI Second Team All-Conference (1996)
Pro Football Weekly First Team All-Conference (1997)
Sporting News First Team All-NFL (1997)
First Wide Receiver to win the Heisman Trophy (1987)
College Football Hall of Fame (2009)
NFL 1990's All-Decade Team
Super Bowl XXXVII Appearance vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (48-21 Tampa Bay)
1,094 Receptions (Fourth All-Time)
14,934 Receiving Yards (Third All-Time)
100 Receiving Touchdowns (Tied for sixth-all time with Steve Largent)
13.7 Yards Per Catch
50 Carries
190 Rushing Yards
1 Rushing Touchdown
3.8 Yards Per Carry
15,124 Yards from Scrimmage (Receiving & Rushing)
326 Punt Returns
3,320 Punt Return Yards
3 Punt Return Touchdowns
10.2 Yards Per Return
49 Kickoff Returns
1,235 Kickoff Return Yards
1 Kickoff Return Touchdown
25.2 Yards Per Return
3 Fumble Return Yards
19,682 All-Purpose Yards (Fifth All-Time)
Led NFL in Receptions in 1997 with 104
Led NFL in All-Purpose Yards in 1988 (2,317)
Led NFL in Kickoff Return Yards in 1988 (1,098)
Led NFL in Yards Per Kickoff Return in 1988 (26.8)
Led NFL in Punt Return Yards in 1994 (487)
Led NFL in Total Returns (Kickoff & Punts) in 1988 (90)
Led NFL in Total Kickoff & Punt Return Yards (1,542)
Set NFL record for most all-purpose yards in a rookie season (2,317 yards in 1988)
Set NFL record for 10 consecutive seasons with at least 75 receptions
Set NFL record for 225 consecutive games with at least 10 all purpose yards
Set NFL record for 235 consecutive games with at least 9 all purpose yards
Set NFL record for 243 consecutive games with at least 7 all purpose yards
Shares NFL record for consecutive seasons with at least 5 touchdown receptions with 11 (tied with Marvin Harrison, Don Hutson, Cris Carter, & Jerry Rice)
Set NFL record for being the oldest player ever to return a punt for a touchdown (35 years, 140 days old)
Set NFL record for being the oldest player with 12+ receptions in a single game (36 years, 97 days old) - October 27, 2002 @ Kansas City Chiefs (13 receptions, 144 receiving yards)
Only player to have 1,600 receiving yards against four different teams (Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Seattle Seahawks)
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders all-time leader in games played (240)
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders all-time leader in Seasons of Service (16)
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders all-time leader in Total Touchdowns scored (104)
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders all-time leader in Receiving Yards (14,734)
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders all-time leader in Receptions (1,070)
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders all-time leader in Receiving Touchdowns (99)
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders all-time leader in Punt Return Yards (3,272)
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders all-time leader in Punt Returns (320)
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders all-time leader in Punt Return Touchdowns (3)
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders all-time leader in Yards from Scrimmage (14,924)
Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders all-time leader in All-Purpose Yards (19,431)
Second all-time for games with at least 1 reception: 240
Second all-time for games with at least 2 receptions: 212
Second all-time for games with at least 3 receptions: 181
Second all-time for games with at least 4 receptions: 146
Caught his 1,000th career reception as a member of the Oakland Raiders (vs. New York Jets - December 2nd, 2002)
Caught his 100th career touchdown as a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. Oakland Raiders - September 26th, 2004)
Missed just 17 games in 16 NFL seasons
Played in 255 out a possible 272 games in 16 NFL seasons

 

Cris Carter



* Philadelphia Eagles (1987–1989)
* Minnesota Vikings (1990–2001)
* Miami Dolphins (2002)


Receptions 1,101
Receiving yards 13,899
Touchdowns 130

* 8× Pro Bowl selection (1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000)
* 2× First-team All-Pro selection (1994, 1999)
* 1× Second-team All-Pro selection (1995)
* NFL 1990s All-Decade Team
* Bart Starr Man of the Year (1994)
* "Whizzer" White Man of the Year (1998)
* Walter Payton Man of the Year (1999)
* Minnesota Vikings #80 Retired

* Only player to record 120+ receptions in a season twice, 1994 and 1995.
* Most touchdown receptions on Thursday games (9)
* Most 12+ reception games in a single season (4) in 1995
* One of 3 players (Clarke Gaines and Jerry Rice) to record 12+ receptions in back to back games
* Most consecutive games with at least 3 receptions (58)
* Most 1-yard touchdown receptions in NFL history (9)
* Most touchdown receptions 2 yards or less in NFL history (16) - tied with Jerry Rice
* Most touchdown receptions 4 yards or less in NFL history (28)
* Most touchdown receptions 5 yards or less in NFL history (36) - tied with Jerry Rice
* Most touchdown receptions 6 yards or less in NFL history (44)
* Most touchdown receptions 7 yards or less in NFL history (48)
* Most consecutive games with 2 touchdown receptions (4)
* Most consecutive seasons with 3+ touchdown receptions (14) - tied with Andre Reed and Terrell Owens
* First player to record a 150 yard receiving game in 3 different decades (Jerry Rice is the only other player to do so)
* Longest gap between a QB to WR touchdown combination - 7 years & 362 days, Randall Cunningham to Cris Carter
* Most touchdown receptions from African American passers (73) - Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, Daunte Culpepper

 

I can think of a lot at this postion. The first one to come to mind:



Cliff Branch
Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders (1972-1985)
14 Years

Career stats:
Receptions 501
Receiving Yards 8,685
Touchdowns 67

Career highlights and awards

• 4× Pro Bowl selection (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977)
• 4× All-Pro selection (1974, 1975, 1976, 1977)
• 3× Super Bowl champion (XI, XV, XVIII)

Branch graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1972 and spent his entire 14-year professional career with the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders, winning three Super Bowl rings in Super Bowl XI, Super Bowl XV and Super Bowl XVIII. Branch caught 3 passes for 20 yards in Super Bowl XI, 5 passes for 62 yards and 2 touchdowns in Super Bowl XV, and 6 passes for 94 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl XVIII. Cliff was voted All-Pro in three consecutive seasons (1974–1976) and had 46 receptions in 1976 for 1,111 yards and 12 TDs, averaging 24.2 yards per catch. Branch was named to four consecutive Pro Bowls (1974–1977). In 1974, Branch led the National Football League in both receiving yards (1,092) and receiving touchdowns (13).

Cliff Branch - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



​

 

Bit of a homer pick but I feel he is vastly underrated.

Mark Gregory Clayton
A favorite target of Dan Marino, he paired with Mark Duper to form the popular "Marks Brothers". He was a five time Pro Bowl player in 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1991. Clayton finished his 11 year career with 582 receptions for 8,974 yards, along with 108 rushing yards, 40 kickoff return yards, and 485 punt return yards. He also scored 88 total touchdowns (87 receiving and 1 punt return)
He is in the NFL top 50 in receiving yards (tied for 39th) and receiving TDs (tied for 13th). He holds Dolphins records for career pass receptions and TDs, as well as receiving yards in a single season.

Receptions 582 Receiving yards 8,974 Touchdowns 84

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Clayton_(American_football,_born_1961)

 

Clayton is a good nomination....

The Marks Brothers were the most prolific wide receiver tandem throughout the 1980's. Clayton has the numbers and individual recognition to make a case for enshrinement. Also elected to five Pro Bowls (1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1991).

 

I mentioned the pro bowl part.:icon_cheesygrin:

 

Coolness...:icon_cool:

Probably missed it while I was reading...or trying to read your post. :icon_cheesygrin:

jk

 

Harold Carmichael
590 receptions
8,985 recieving yards
79 touchdowns
15.2 ypc
Philadelphia Eagles 1971-1983
Dallas Cowboys 1984
4x pro bowl 1973,1978,1979,1980
2x AP second team all pro 1973,1979
1970's all decade team

 

Andre Reed
Bills, Redskins
1985-2000

Quote:
Reed ranks near the top in nearly all NFL career statistical receiving categories. He went over 1000 yards four times in a 16 year career, is eighth in NFL history in total career receptions with 951 (behind only Jerry Rice, Cris Carter, Tim Brown, Issac Bruce, Tony Gonzalez, Terrell Owens, and Marvin Harrison), ninth in NFL history in total career receiving yards with 13,198. Reed is also eleventh in NFL history in total career touchdown receptions with 87.

He also rushed for 500 yards and a touchdown on 75 carries. With the Bills, Reed played in four consecutive Super Bowls (1991–1994) and was selected to the Pro Bowl in seven consecutive seasons (1988–1994).
Andre Reed - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Harold Jackson
Los Angeles Rams, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks
1968-1983, *1987
5x Pro Bowl Selection (1969, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977)
1x First Team All-Pro (1973)
2x Second Team All-Pro (1972, 1977)
3x All-NFC First Team (1972, 1973, 1977)
1x All-NFC Second Team (1976)
579 Receptions
10,372 Receiving Yards
76 Receiving Touchdowns
17.9 Yards Per Catch
33 Carries
181 Rushing Yards
5.5 Yards Per Carry
2 Kickoff Returns
48 Kickoff Return Yards
24 Yards Per Return
2 Completions
4 Attempts
35 Passing Yards
10,601 All-Purpose Yards
NFL all-time leader in receptions during the 1970's (432)
NFL all-time leader in receiving yards during the 1970's (7,724)
NFL all-time leader in receiving touchdowns during the 1970's (61)
Led NFL in Receiving Yards in 1969 (1,116)
Led NFL in Receiving Yards in 1972 (1,048)
Led NFL in Receptions in 1972 (62)
Led NFL in Receiving Touchdowns in 1973 (13)
Led NFL in Receiving Yards per game in 1969 (79.1)
Led NFL in Receiving Yards per game in 1972 (74.9)
Recorded 29 career 100 yard games
Recorded 3 career 1,000 yard seasons

* Returned to the NFL with the Patriots in 1987 during the Players Strike and suited up for two games but didn't play.

 

Irving Fryar
Years of Service: 17
Teams: New England Patriots (1984-92), Miami Dolphins (1993-95), Philadelphia Eagles (1996-98), Washington Redskins (1999-2000)
Notable Achievements:
-5 time Pro-Bowler
-1985 Associated Press: 2nd Team All-NFL
-1994 UPI: 1st Team All-Conf
-1994 Associated Press: 2nd Team All-NFL
-Touchdown receptions from 19 different passers
-Consecutive seasons with 10+ receptions - 17 (1984–2000)
-Consecutive seasons with 150+ receiving yards - 17 (1984–2000)
-Consecutive seasons with 2+ touchdown receptions - 16 (1985–2000)
-Consecutive seasons with 2+ touchdowns - 16 (1985–2000) - tied with Marcus Allen
-1st player to record a touchdown reception in 17 consecutive seasons (1984–2000) - (broken by Jerry Rice who ended up with 20 consecutive seasons with a TD reception)
-Oldest player to score 4 touchdowns (all receptions) in a single game (10/20/1996) - 34 years, 22 days
Statistics (All-Time Rank):
Receptions: 851 (17th)
Receiving Yards: 12785 (13th)
Receiving TDs: 84 (14th)
Total TDs: 88 (33rd)

 

It pains me as a saints fan to say it....but I totally agree :)

 

Sterling Sharpe
Green Bay Packers
1988-1994*
5× Pro Bowl Selection (1989,1990,1992,1993,1994)
3× First Team All-Pro Selection (1989,1992,1993)
2× Second Team All-Pro Selection (1990,1994)
Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame (2002)
South Carolina #2 Jersey Retired
Pro Football Weekly First Team All-Conference (1989)
UPI First Team All-Conference (1989)
Pro Football Writers First Team All-NFL (1989)
Newspaper Ent. Assoc. First Team All-NFL (1989)
Pro Football Weekly First Team All-NFL (1989)
Sporting News First Team All-NFL (1989)
UPI Second Team All-Conference (1990)
Newspaper Ent. Assoc. Second Team All-NFL (1990)
Pro Football Weekly First Team All-Conference (1992)
UPI First Team All-Conference (1992)
Pro Football Writers First Team All-NFL (1992)
Newspaper Ent. Assoc. First Team All-NFL (1992)
Sporting News First Team All-NFL (1992)
Pro Football Weekly First Team All-Conference (1993)
UPI First Team All-Conference (1993)
Pro Football Writers First Team All-NFL (1993)
Sporting News First Team All-NFL (1993)
UPI Second Team All-Conference (1994)
595 Receptions
8,134 Receiving Yards
65 Receiving Touchdowns
13.7 Yards Per Catch
Led NFL in Receptions in 1989 (90)
Led NFL in Receptions in 1992 (108)
Led NFL in Receptions in 1993 (112)
Led NFL in Receiving Yards in 1992 (1,461)
Led NFL in Receiving Touchdowns in 1992 (13)
Led NFL in Receiving Touchdowns in 1994 (18)
Led NFL in Receiving Yards per game (91.3)
NFL Wide Receiver Triple Crown Winner in 1992 (Leader in Receptions, Receiving Yards & Receiving Touchdowns)
One of seven players in NFL History to win the Wide Receiver Triple Crown
Broke Art Monk's NFL record for most Receptions in a season in 1992 (Broke own mark next season in 1993 with 112 receptions)
18 Touchdown Receptions in 1994 were second all-time in a single season at the time of his retirement (now third all time behind Randy Moss & Jerry Rice)
First player in NFL History to record back-to-back 100 Reception seasons
Set NFL record for consecutive games with at least 4 receptions (34)
Set NFL record for games with at least 4 Touchdown Receptions (2 - Tied with Jerry Rice & Bob Shaw)
Green Bay Packers all-time single season leader in Receptions (112 - 1993)
Green Bay Packers all-time single season leader in Receiving Touchdowns (18 - 1994)
Green Bay Packers all-time leader in Receptions (595)
Never missed a game/start in his seven seasons
Recorded 9 receptions for 132 yards and 3 Touchdowns in his final game on Christmas Eve against Tampa Bay in 1994

* Was forced to retire in 1995 at the age of 29 due to a neck injury he suffered during the 1994 season.

Shannon Sharpe on his brother Sterling:

"The two people who influenced me the most, good or bad, are Sterling and my grandmother. Everything I know about being a man, about football, everything I know about sports, pretty much in life, is because of those two people."

Sterling was also given a Super Bowl ring from Shannon since he was not with the Packers when they defeated New England in Super Bowl XXXI.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Qrcj1w7nw"]YouTube - NFL Top 10 Greatest Hands - Sterling Sharpe and Jerry Rice[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_8uql9-1IA"]YouTube - Dennis Hopper Nike Commercial W/Sterling Sharpe[/ame]


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GIF's Top Ten WR's Not In The Hall OF Fame:

Tim Brown
Cris Carter
Cliff Branch
Mark Clayton
Harold Carmichael
Andre Reed
Drew Pearson
Harold Jackson
Irving Fryar
Sterling Sharpe

Discuss!

If anyone disagrees with any selection...state your case and feel free to make an honorable mention.

 

It's hard to argue against that group. Amazing players and hard to believe they aren't in the Hall. Several of them changed the way the game was played and I had forgotten about Sterling SHarpe's career being shortened. Kinda like Bo Jackson and Gale Sayers....Imagine if Sharpe had played 15-20 years.

 

I agree with Dougerrrr. It's hard to debate that list...however, I'd like to see Henry Ellard on that list...maybe above Irving Fryar?

 

Sharpe would get at least one Super Bowl ring with Green Bay against New England and maybe they would've denied John Elway in Super Bowl XXXII and repeat. I had to make a third nomination and vote for Sterling...he has been left out of the cold too long.

If Sharpe played that long, he would have seriously threaten Jerry Rice's receiving records and we would possibly be talking about Sterling the way we do about Jerry....the greatest receiver and the greatest player in NFL history.

This is a well stocked list from top to bottom. Probably the best list we've done so far. I actually don't really have a problem with Fryar being on this list.

He had some nice numbers and went to five pro bowls....maybe my only knock against him is that it took him 17 seasons to record over 12,000 yards and didn't record his first 1,000 season until 1991, his seventh season in the league. But he also made some significant contributions to the league so its also hard to discount him.

There is a current log-jam in the HOF with great receivers not getting in and that holds true here as well. But Ellard definitely gets an honorable mention. As well as Charlie Hennigan.

 

Yeah...I don't have a problem with the list either. It's a great list. I was just looking for someone to take off the list to put Ellard on.

Ellard had some alright numbers. Very similiar to Fryar:

Career stats
Receptions 814
Receiving yards 13,777
Touchdowns 65

Career highlights and awards

• 3× Pro Bowl selection (1984, 1988, 1989)
• 2× First-team All-Pro selection (1984, 1988)
• 1988 Rams MVP

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I think once guys like Tim Brown, Cris Carter & Andre Reed get in....guys like Fryar & Ellard won't have to wait much longer.

Hennigan put up some numbers during his era in the AFL with the Oilers. Only played seven seasons but is still the all time single season leader in receiving yards per game with 124.7 in 1961. Don't see that falling anytime soon....maybe ever. He had over 1,700 yards that season while averaging 21.3 YPC. Went to five pro bowls and was a four time all-pro.



410 Receptions
6,823 Receiving Yards
51 Receiving Touchdowns
16.6 Yards Per Catch


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Best of the Rest:

Henry Ellard
Charlie Hennigan
Stanley Morgan

 

needs moar Stanley Morgan:


4x Pro Bowler (1979, 80, 86, 87)
2x All Pro (1980, 86)

13 seasons (1977-1990)
*557 Receptions
*10,716 yards
* 72 touchdowns

and a guady 19.2 yards per reception average. All better numbers than HOFers John Stallworth and Lynn Swann,

*Lead the NFL in ypr 3 straight seasons.
*6 straight seasons with a yard per reception average of at least 20

was a key member of the Patriots first SB team and was one of the leagues fastest deep threats, even during the later part of his career.

I could be completely wrong about this, but I'm pretty sure he was in the top 10 or top 5 in receiving yards at the time of his retirement