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Thread: Endzones and Antics. Are these players worth it?

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    Default Endzones and Antics. Are these players worth it?

    Every time an owner or general manager drafts a wide receiver you know they are holding their breath. They hope they get superstar production without what now seems to be the gold standard for all wideouts; off the field problems and huge egos.

    It seems almost mandatory that touchdown receptions and first downs are accompanied by legal problems and character issues. Many people are left wondering if it is worth it to have players like that on their football team.

    Randy Moss and Terrell Owens are both examples of players who are great on the field and horrible off it. Everyone remembers Randy Moss bumping a meter maid with his car. Moss is also known for staring down a camera and exclaiming “Straight cash homie!” in regards to his $10,000 fine he received for fake mooning Packer fans during a playoff game in 2005. Terrell Owens’ actions are not far from memory either. The way he left San Francisco and Philadelphia has tarnished an otherwise tremendous career. Owens once went as far to imply that his former quarterback, Jeff Garcia, was gay. Though their production on the field beats out the majority of other players, you have to wonder if stars like these do more harm than good.

    For a less extreme example you have to go no further than Chad Ocho Cinco. When Chad Ocho Cinco was coming up as a player he was loved by fans all across the NFL. People cited him as an example of how a player can celebrate and still be good for his team. The issue was debatable; while many felt he was just a harmless goofball, he has rubbed many fans and sportswriters the wrong way with his celebrations and boasting. On the field Ocho Cinco led the AFC in receiving yards for a record four straight seasons. Recently, his trade demands and lack of current production have led many to believe that he is not worth the hassle.

    The wideout plague has even hit the once infallible New York Giants. Plaxico Burress, the player who caught the game winning touchdown in last year’s Superbowl, was once famous for being a team player and producing on the gridiron while being injured. Now he is famous for being late for meetings, felony gun charges, and shooting himself in the leg. The Giants’ offense has not been the same since Burress’ legal issues have surfaced. It appears that his distractions are worth enduring.

    Big named wide receivers aren’t the only ones with issues. Brandon Marshall has had several brushes with the law in his life. The most recent accusations are domestic abuse and a DUI charge. On the field Marshall has a reputation for being an aggressive wideout who loves contact. A dominant force at his position, he demands double teams and still manages to put up impressive numbers. He is still a younger person, and many hope that he can clean up his act.

    Santonio Holmes has added an explosive element to what used to be a run only Pittsburgh Steeler offense. Like the rest of these players, Holmes play has come at a price. Marijuana and domestic abuse charges have plagued Holmes’ early career. Still, he gives Big Ben another viable receiving target. Like Brandon Marshall, Holmes is in his early twenties and some feel that he can change as a human being.

    Each player on this list is at tremendous talent. They all have the ability to change the game with one crisp route. They also have the ability to hurt their team by being arrested, suspended, bringing negative press to their franchise, and some of them have been known to take plays off. If the question being asked is are they worth it? The answer is a resounding yes. Terrell Owens was a coveted by the Eagles and Ravens when he was up for trade. Randy Moss had not produced for several seasons and was traded away to the no nonsense Patriots. Chad Johnson had several suitors this past offseason. The fact of the matter is that while Holmes and Marshall are still slightly unproven, they are needed on their teams. The only player on this list that has actually received any real punishment from their team is Plaxico Burress.

    I think the question that should be asked is this; can we blame teams for wanting to win so badly that they put a malcontent wideout on their team?
    Last edited by Poet; 12-17-2008 at 04:07 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jaded View Post
    Y’all know I’m an OL Groupie but I think Jeudy is going to be worth missing out on a T, knock on wood.


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    Nice piece. I think the answer is a resounding NO. They are simply not worth the headaches and bad Karma they seem to bring with them. Ocho Cinco has done more than his share to ruin this season for Cincy, though he is by no means the only problem. TO is IMO worse than useless.

    Marshall? We'll see. I hope he can learn to conduct himself as a grownup and a professional. He may be the most gifted of the whole bunch when all is said and done.
    “What fresh hell is this?”

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    For this reason I really like Andre Johnson. He seems to go unrecognized sometimes.
    Maybe it's for his lack of antics.
    In Elway We Trust

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    Quote Originally Posted by Dreadnought View Post
    Nice piece. I think the answer is a resounding NO. They are simply not worth the headaches and bad Karma they seem to bring with them. Ocho Cinco has done more than his share to ruin this season for Cincy, though he is by no means the only problem. TO is IMO worse than useless.

    Marshall? We'll see. I hope he can learn to conduct himself as a grownup and a professional. He may be the most gifted of the whole bunch when all is said and done.
    Chad's antics are not why we are losing. The only way that is the case is if Brat really is attempting to keep the ball away from him to "teach him a lesson." His lack of production is hurting, not the things he said in the offseason.

    CrazyHorse... Andre goes unrecognized so much because of his injury history, just as much for his behavior. He has only played more than 13 games twice in his career (besides this year) if I remember correctly, so many people overlook him, and many others overrate him.




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    Dread I have to disagree. Look what Moss meant to the Patriots. Almost half of Brady's touchdowns were thrown to him.

    TO is one of the most dominant football players ever. He just takes over games, and to top it all off the SOB does everything right. He blocks out of vanity, but he blocks. He runs hard out of vanity, but he runs hard. In fact, the Eagles only made the Superbowl when he got there. Yes, he was hurt in the playoffs, but he was honestly their best player by far. He helped them get home field advantage, was their only relevant offensive player in the SB, played hurt for them.

    Chad Johnson is a headache. Until his trade demands almost all his criticism was too harsh. He also is a potential hall of famer. The Bengals certainly would not have had a real chance to turn anything around without him. His production is a bit splotchy, but he was great. I don't think his great production is over. Palmer got hurt this year, Chad had a torn Labrum, and an ankle that needed surgery. I think he can keep going.

    It would be nice if he did shut the hell up for once, I won't lie.

    Burress seems to be more and more important for the Giants. Let's be honest, Toomer is average, Steve Smith is having a hard time getting open without a big time wideout to open up his game, and after those two the Giants have only an overrated TE to throw the ball too. You have to be able to throw the ball well to progress in the playoffs. At some point the top defenses are going to be the teams you play in the postseason. And, you can only beat a stacked box so many times.

    Holmes is a big deal for his team's offense. He adds a big play spark. However, he is the most expandable by far, in my opinion. Ward still gets it done late in the game and on third down. Nate Washington is a guy who makes a lot of big plays for the Steelers. They also have a more versatile TE to throw the ball to in Heath Miller. Their running game is not where it needs to be though. Moore is just another Steeler system back. Parker is a system back to a less degree who happens to be fragile.


    Now we get to the meat and potatoes for this website. Brandon Marshall. Let me start by saying that the way a lot of people defend Marshall reminds me of how many Bengals fans defended a young Chad Johnson. I can actually hear Dreadnought getting a stomach ulcer. He is just as important to your offense as Jay Cutler is. Eddie Royal is becoming a fine wideout, but the day he has to carry your team as your number one wideout is the day you start to agree with my article. Stokely is a nice player out of the slot. BUt he certainly is getting older and is not a guy who want to be your number two wideout. Your running game is more and more system guys. It is productive, but at the same point no one here trusts it. You take Marshall off this team and you probably are trailing San Diego for the division.


    Are these guys jerks? It kind of seems so. Can they hurt a team? They sure can. But, they keep doing well, their teams keep doing well, and they always are employed.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jaded View Post
    Y’all know I’m an OL Groupie but I think Jeudy is going to be worth missing out on a T, knock on wood.

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    Very good points King. TO is a training monster, he is always ready to play and always looking for any advantage he can get. I used to play corner and have seen TO in practice and I'm glad my livelyhood does not depend on being able to cover this guy! Say what you want but, TO is a gamer (unlike Moss, who does not quite get what he has) and will make you pay for the slightest mistake.

    TD was one of those guys like like LT, drag a bag of sand up and down the hills and dunes around San Diego and see if everyone else is able to keep up. Rod Smith is like Jimmy Stewart in that Christmas movie, a throw back, players are not like that now.

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    TO is a workhorse but he is FAR from being the consumate player. He isnt much different than Moss. When TO wants to play, he will play. But if things dont go his way he becomes a media nightmare.

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    Maybe you find a guy like Hillis here and there, great. Most are goimg to be selfish, self centered individuals, and they probably should be. The old days of your local construction company owning the team are long gone, I bet the Phipps brothers wish they'd held out a little longer.

    The "thrill of victory, the agony of defeat" are barely relevant; sucks, but that's how it is, give me the $$$$.

    Are those guys worth it, hell yeah, if you want to compete.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Northman View Post
    TO is a workhorse but he is FAR from being the consumate player. He isnt much different than Moss. When TO wants to play, he will play. But if things dont go his way he becomes a media nightmare.
    From everything I have ever seen out of him I disagree completely. On the field he is a beast and never quits. A few weeks ago a commentator said that they found it funny that TO was getting credit for doing the little things and blocking. He pointed out (may have been Kornheiser) that TO always does the little things like blocking and running down a DB who intercepted the ball.

    Yes, he is a media nightmare. He also is a first ballot player who is as dominant as damn near any wideout ever.

    As far as Moss goes, his numbers do all the talking. The guy may be the second greatest wideout of all time. I know he is definitely a top five guy at his position.
    Quote Originally Posted by Jaded View Post
    Y’all know I’m an OL Groupie but I think Jeudy is going to be worth missing out on a T, knock on wood.

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    Screw the media Northman, we could use as little around here. When Elway and TD were going on 14 and 0 nobody but the booth team covering the games cared. East coast crapola.

    I digress, yeah, give me Rod and Eddie Mac and I'll be pretty happy with Cutler throwing to them and Scheffler behind this Oline. God, just give me some hope on D (like Woodyard and Larsen).

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    Quote Originally Posted by King87 View Post
    From everything I have ever seen out of him I disagree completely. On the field he is a beast and never quits. A few weeks ago a commentator said that they found it funny that TO was getting credit for doing the little things and blocking. He pointed out (may have been Kornheiser) that TO always does the little things like blocking and running down a DB who intercepted the ball.

    Yes, he is a media nightmare. He also is a first ballot player who is as dominant as damn near any wideout ever.

    As far as Moss goes, his numbers do all the talking. The guy may be the second greatest wideout of all time. I know he is definitely a top five guy at his position.
    No doubt about it but all of them have hurt their teams with their off the field antics and carrying on. It cant be denied.

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    Quote Originally Posted by horsepig View Post
    Screw the media Northman, we could use as little around here. When Elway and TD were going on 14 and 0 nobody but the booth team covering the games cared. East coast crapola.

    I digress, yeah, give me Rod and Eddie Mac and I'll be pretty happy with Cutler throwing to them and Scheffler behind this Oline. God, just give me some hope on D (like Woodyard and Larsen).

    Nah, i dont want a media nightmare. I would rather have a player who just shuts up and plays.

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    Yo, King, I hear ya. TO and Moss are athletic freaks. We were very lucky to have Elway and TD together, along with some great "players" like Romo, Neil Smith (NU guy), and freaking Atwater. Man, those were the days.

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    Geeze North, you're giving props to Kornheiser?

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    I mean King.

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