A Good List. But...

...is it really the list former NFL receiver Bucky Brooks was trying to make in this surprisingly solid SI.Com article?

After all, the article's title and byline read:

Ranking the top 25 receivers

Well-rounded game trumps flashiness on this list

and the first paragraph reads as follows:

While receiver is one of the most glamorous positions in the NFL, these rankings are not based on the best highlight reel players and end-zone dancers. In taking the entire game into account -- route running, hands, run-after-catch ability, blocking and overall impact on the game

As you can imagine, my lunchpail alert was at dark orange. Would we see a list replete with Joe Jurevicious, Ed McCaffrey, Bill Schroeder, and a posthumous (career-wise) tribute to Don Beebee?Can't you just see this being a list filled with people who just plain suck but have "intangibles" like leadership, stick-to-it-iveness, and such and such?

Nope. Here's the top five:

1. Rod Smith
2. Chad Johnson
3. Roy Williams
4. Marvin Harrisson
5. Terrell Owens.

Yeah...I don't think "big play" at all when I think about those dudes....

Rounding out the top 10 are other big-play receivers like Andre Johnson, Donald Driver, Javon Walker, Anquan Boldin, and Randy Moss.

All great choices, but considering the headline, WTF? Yeah...I think of blocking and short slant routes when I think of those dudes....

Oh and who rounds out the rest of the list, just to find maybe one non-flashy, fundamentals dude?

Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt, Lee Evans, Plaxico Burress, Larry Fitzgerald, Santana Moss, TJ Housmanzadah, Deion Branch, Lavearneus Coles, Calvin Johnson, Mark Clayton, Reggie Brown, Hines Ward, Darrel Jackson and Marques Colstom.


Despite a totally lame title and first paragraph, this list ended up being, like, 100% right on.