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Let's see what people on here think. I've watched the Packers since 1975, so I can't really rank the guys before that, but I did take some liberties and still rank Don Hutson because he may have been one of the most important players in NFL history in terms of how he changed the perception of what WRs could do.

Best WRs in Packers history

1. Don Hutson

2. James Lofton - the best combination of speed, hands, and route running I've seen from a Packers player. Imagine if he'd have played under the modern rules where you couldn't maul guys running routes.

3. Davante Adams - Sterling Sharpe with longevity.

4. Sterling Sharpe

5. Donald Driver - never really a top 5 NFL receiver in any year, but a long sustained string of excellent seasons.

6. Greg Jennings - his peak was higher than Driver, but it was only for 2-3 years.

7. Jordy Nelson - really only 4 good years, but those years were great. Made only 1 Pro Bowl.

8. Antonio Freeman - only ever made one Pro Bowler. He was a good, but not great, WR who peak Favre made look a lot better than he really was. Made only 1 Pro Bowl.

9. Robert Brooks - one great year, better than Freeman, but the ACL ruined him

10. Max McGee/Boyd Dowler - not sure where the rank them.

There is not a single current WR on the roster than will ever break into this type of top 10 ranking. Even if they stayed healthy for 10 years, it wouldn't be close. Watson was the only one even in the conversation.

All different era's. Receivers could get mugged in the old days and a lot of them didn't have to worry about Jack Tatum or Ronnie Lott.



I always felt the receiver matched with the QB.  Starr with Dowler and Dale, Dickey with Lofton , Coffman and Jefferson, Favor with Brooks and Freeman and Rodgers with Gerg, Jones, Driver, Jordy and later Devante

It's a good list, but I think it's way too early to say "there is not a single current WR on the roster than will ever break into this type of top 10 ranking. Even if they stayed healthy for 10 years, it wouldn't be close. Watson was the only one even in the conversation."



We have to remember that Watson, Doubs, Wicks, and even Heath have only been in the league for two or three years.  Look at Driver's first three years - his numbers aren't close to any of those guys' except Malik Heath.  Beyond that, Driver didn't get in the league until he was 24 years old.  The same age these guys are now.  If you want to say you don't think the current guys will end up having as good a career, that's fair, but let's not completely write them off just yet.   

@Packiderm posted:

All different era's. Receivers could get mugged in the old days and a lot of them didn't have to worry about Jack Tatum or Ronnie Lott.



I always felt the receiver matched with the QB.  Starr with Dowler and Dale, Dickey with Lofton , Coffman and Jefferson, Favor with Brooks and Freeman and Rodgers with Gerg, Jones, Driver, Jordy and later Devante

So Sterling Sharpe didn’t exist in Packerdermland then?

Last edited by YooperPackfan
@Pikes Peak posted:

John Jefferson was pretty good.  Overshadowed by Lofton tho.

Nobody was more excited to see JJ come to GB than this kid.

Unfortunately, he arrived fat and slow and never really put up the numbers he had in SD.  I remember him making a few of those Swann like catches he was known for but he was past his prime in GB.

I mean something happened on his way from SD to GB that offseason.  He was still only 25:

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Last edited by DH13
@DH13 posted:


...I mean something happened on his way from SD to GB that offseason.  He was still only 25:



If memory serves, JJ found himself in the doghouse for whatever reason.
Gregg really developed a hard-on for him, and didn't treat JJ very well.

FWIW, Gregg and Glanville were similar with their approach to 'disciplining' players. Either would put a guy on the bench just to 'teach him a lesson', even if it was ultimately detrimental to the team.

@Timmy! posted:

If memory serves, JJ found himself in the doghouse for whatever reason.
Gregg really developed a hard-on for him, and didn't treat JJ very well.

FWIW, Gregg and Glanville were similar with their approach to 'disciplining' players. Either would put a guy on the bench just to 'teach him a lesson', even if it was ultimately detrimental to the team.

I remember hating the Gregg hiring, and one big reason was Gregg still thought it was 1960 for disciplining players. And that was one reason the Bengals allowed him out of his contract, so that the Packers could hire him, [Bengals] players were tired of him.

Previously, the Browns fired him for the same reason:

According to Dave Logan, safety Thom Darden and Gregg once had a fist fight after a game. Darden has explained that the 1977 Cleveland Browns did not respond to Gregg's coaching style, which contributed to his firing with one game remaining.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forrest_Gregg

Last edited by D J
@Timmy! posted:

If memory serves, JJ found himself in the doghouse for whatever reason.
Gregg really developed a hard-on for him, and didn't treat JJ very well.

FWIW, Gregg and Glanville were similar with their approach to 'disciplining' players. Either would put a guy on the bench just to 'teach him a lesson', even if it was ultimately detrimental to the team.

The story was JJ came into camp overweight and "slow".  There was a huge statistical drop off from his last year in SD to his first year in GB.  He peaked his last year in SD - wonder why they dealt him.   I don't have the snap count numbers to compare and do not recall if JJ's stats were limited because his snaps were limited.  If that is what you meant by "in the doghouse".

Last edited by DH13
@michiganjoe posted:

Probably my favorite Sharpe moment.

Here's a 9:00 highlights video from the way back machine.  Lots o' fun, vintage shots of 3 Favre/Sharpe TD's.

Favre with an early pick-6.

Rookie Teague with a 101yd pick-6.  Buckley with a pick in DET EZ.

Derrell Thompson with some yardage.  That dude was so stiff.

Barry Sanders doing what he did, Perriman going off bc Fritz was shutting Herman Moore down.

@DH13 posted:

Here's a 9:00 highlights video from the way back machine.  Lots o' fun, vintage shots of 3 Favre/Sharpe TD's.

Favre with an early pick-6.

Rookie Teague with a 101yd pick-6.  Buckley with a pick in DET EZ.

Derrell Thompson with some yardage.  That dude was so stiff.

Barry Sanders doing what he did, Perriman going off bc Fritz was shutting Herman Moore down.

Fun to see. What strikes me is how big the shoulder pads were back in the day! That, and how Sharpe wore his helmet; he looked like a little kid with it tipped back and showing more of his forehead. And dang, Barry... *phew* that dude was slipperier than a greased pig in a mud pit, but so much fun to watch him. No one could stick a foot into the turf and change direction like he could.

Career highlights here.  I completely forgot Randy Wright ever threw to Sharpe.  He is best known for his strength and ability to run through or drag tacklers but he also had enough speed to run away from guys.  I think people often forget that along with the fact he never missed a game until the first neck injury.  He was a complete player. 

Wasn't he also the 4th string emergency QB or am I misremembering that?  I thought he even saw a few snaps once.

Last edited by DH13

Route success/separation

Catch radius

50/50 ball winner

Speed

Ran through contact

Blocked

Always available

That's pretty complete.  It's tough to put others in his category.  Not just in receptions and TD totals, but when it comes to his physicality. While they were playing I recall comparisons to him from Anquon Boldin, Hines Ward, Marty Booker, Deebo Samuel.  None of which were at Sharpe's level.  If you combine all those traits along with stats, I would look at Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, Terrell Owens, all of whom were much bigger than SS.  Sterling was only 6'-0".

@DH13 posted:

Here's a 9:00 highlights video from the way back machine.  Lots o' fun, vintage shots of 3 Favre/Sharpe TD's.

Favre with an early pick-6.

Rookie Teague with a 101yd pick-6.  Buckley with a pick in DET EZ.

Derrell Thompson with some yardage.  That dude was so stiff.

Barry Sanders doing what he did, Perriman going off bc Fritz was shutting Herman Moore down.

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