Is it Burress? Sustained success would have to be Toomer, but Burress IMO was the most talented I've very seen play for the Giants. Granted I only started watching in 1993.
Homer Jones was better than Plax. Both of them made me nuts with lapses in effort and concentration. Cruz does not need to do much more than remain the same player he has been through the end of his current contract to own most of the Giant receiver records. Receiver has been a historically weak position for the Giants
Nicks definitely deserves some credit for being a very talented receiver. Wish he didn't develop the issues he did. It seems like (maybe because of injury? Who knows...) he just lost his desire.
Back in the day the WR's had nowhere near the athletic ability the WR's have now.
Id say Plaxico bc him and Eli were great together and he was very dominating. Anything in his area he was going up and coming down with the ball. Amazing catches. Great big target for Eli to just loft a pass his way, if he was one v one, Plax always won.
But for overall career...the well dressed Amani Toomer....didnt have to worry about him dropping a pass,was great at TD's, first down's, toe tapping. He was probably one of the best WR's to ever keep his feet in boundsalong with Chris Carter. He invented the toe drag(not really) but made it a common thing to do. Made it so that all WR's had to make that part of what they bring to a team, the ability to be able to do it every Sunday. Also a classy guy. Wouldnt sabotage a season by bringing a glock to a club either. Had to throw that in there bc that was a killer for our repeat chances in 08. AMANI TOOMER
It has to be a current WR
BillyBoy8384 : 10:57 am : link : reply
Back in the day the WR's had nowhere near the athletic ability the WR's have now
Many of the wr's who are successful in the NFL today would struggle mightily having to fight through all the grabs, bumps and hits in order to get open if they had to play when contact was allowed until the pass was in the air.
Obviously many would be successful in any era but for many others their game would shrink without being allowed to simply run free.
He had to carry the load during some very lean years without much talent around him and his stats and reputation probably suffered because of it. But I don't think he was as talented as some of the other WR's the Giants have had over the years. He certainly was the best during his tenure and was the one threat we had at the WR position during that time.
The list is not as short as some think it is. Del Shofner must be on this list, Homer Jones not only should be on this list, but an argument can be made that he should lead that list. Toomer is another player that makes the list, Lionel Manuel is a player that makes the list, Hakeem Nicks also a player that makes the list, Plaxico Burress is another guy that makes the list. Steve Smith and cruz also make it.
In my opinion, if I had to choose a starting lineup right now, I say Burress and Homer Jones are my wideouts, and Cruz would be my slot reciever, in the old days they were called Flanker backs. At tight end I would put Mark Bavaro, with Bob Tucker and Shockey as the back ups.
The second string would have Del Shofner and Amani Toomer as the wideouts and Steve Smith in the slot. Just one dummy's opinion. I would have Eli, YA Title and Simms as my 3 QB's. In the biggest game and on the biggest stage I have to put Eli as my starter, no doubt about that.
...would cast my ballot for Toomer if Gifford isn't going to be included in the WR group,otherwise Gifford. Aaron Thomas was underrated/Del Shofner may have been a better acquisition than Tittle - Shofner opened the playing field up which allowed Tittle to utilize all of his options. The Giants have had some very good WRs in their time. Homer Jones was a fun player,a speed demon with some ability - without him we don't acquire Ron Johnson. Walker Gillette and Jimmy Robinson played on bad teams but were talented guys. We are still leaving out a bunch of others. Cruz has a chance to be THAT guy. Beckham? Good topic,Dave.
better than Toomer, Burress, Gray, Jones, Shofner. I would rate Toomer second and Gray or Burress third. Simms said of Gray, "Nobody can get open like Ernest". Madden once said of Burress, "In one on one coverage, Plaxico Burress is open on every play."
To me, plays like these are underrated and remarkable (and I'm only referring to from a physical ability standpoint... I know no one underrates the importance of the first one). My answer to the OP's question stands because of moves like this.
We are talking about talent, right? You can not defend against that.
Honestly, I'd say Burress was the most talented, but Nicks was definitely had better production. Still, Plax's game in GB...ask Al Harris about that beatdown he gave him.
he didn't always bring his "A" game. Nicks was close but less physically imposing than Burress and, as we now know, he didn't always bring his "A" game either.
If you go back to the 1950s and 1960s, Homer Jones was physically dominant but not necessarily the most talented receiver (not good hands). Morrison was a grinder. Shofner was smooth but not physical. Gifford was very good and pretty talented but I have to go with Kyle Rote from that era. That guy was a great college RB who was robbed of his speed by injuries but he was as good a receiver as you will ever see. He was absolutely loved by his teammates as half the team named at least one of their kids after him.
If you believe in an efficient market, Plax and Ike have to rank high.
I believe Hilliard was the highest pick the Giants have ever spent on a WR. Although he may have been a slight reach at #7, he was enormously gifted. Unfortunately, the injury in his second game left a permanent mark. Plax was chosen #8, by the Steelers.
I hope Beckham earns a place on this list. As the #12 pick, he should.
Good gravy, when he was on, he was a joy to behold. Catches in traffic, sideline, could get some serious YAC , blessed with huge mitts. Awesome player. But then, the Bucs game fucked him up .
6'2', 215, ran a 9.2 100 yard dash, and had great hands. Tarkenton absolutely couldn't overthrow him, and he'd regularly split the safety and CB on short slants that he'd take in for long TDs. The most physically talented WR we've had in my time rooting for the team, and that goes back to the '50s.
Pure talent alone I still think Mario Manningham coming out of Michigan is most talented I've seen in a generation.
I would have loved to see a healthy, young Manningham in a single read offense. It's easy to say he wasn't smart enough for Gilbride's system which I think isn't true. Some guys can't do and think at the same time, which looked pretty obvious with him. Hell I can't walk and talk at the same time.
Those of us that saw Homer, knew he was not famous for running precise routes....he also had dropped a few....but what he had was flat out blazing speed.....if he caught a pass in stride, no one was going to catch him....
Shoftner, was an amazing talent.....from '61-'63, he was flat out unreal.....but I still haven't forgiven him for that dropped pass in the Bears game...
Amani holds most of the Giant receiving records, because he managed to hang around longer than most....while a number one on our team, he would have been a number two on most others....
Nicks looked like he could be something special....but every time he came down awkwardly, you wondered if he was going to get back up....injuries took their toll on him, and I think he reduced his play/effort, to protect himself, and extend his career...
Plax could have been even better, if not for the space between his ears.....
Gifford was a converted halfback, after the hit....I never saw him play when he was a two way player(running back and receiver)....he had just two good seasons as a receiver after the hit...
It's sad that, these are really, the only "great" receivers the Giants have ever had.....they were not known for drafting or trading for great receivers, from the mid 60's on....
"The hit"? Please elaborate for the uninitiated amongst us, if you would, Sir.
Plax made more big plays and he made some plays in huge spots but nicks was the more refined WR in my view.
Remember it was nicks who had the better overall postseason than plax. Plax had the big game in GB. Nicks had a big month.
Id say Plaxico bc him and Eli were great together and he was very dominating. Anything in his area he was going up and coming down with the ball. Amazing catches. Great big target for Eli to just loft a pass his way, if he was one v one, Plax always won.
But for overall career...the well dressed Amani Toomer....didnt have to worry about him dropping a pass,was great at TD's, first down's, toe tapping. He was probably one of the best WR's to ever keep his feet in boundsalong with Chris Carter. He invented the toe drag(not really) but made it a common thing to do. Made it so that all WR's had to make that part of what they bring to a team, the ability to be able to do it every Sunday. Also a classy guy. Wouldnt sabotage a season by bringing a glock to a club either. Had to throw that in there bc that was a killer for our repeat chances in 08. AMANI TOOMER
Ernest Gray was not as good as Burress. He was pretty good though.
BillyBoy8384 : 10:57 am : link : reply
Back in the day the WR's had nowhere near the athletic ability the WR's have now
Many of the wr's who are successful in the NFL today would struggle mightily having to fight through all the grabs, bumps and hits in order to get open if they had to play when contact was allowed until the pass was in the air.
Obviously many would be successful in any era but for many others their game would shrink without being allowed to simply run free.
In my opinion, if I had to choose a starting lineup right now, I say Burress and Homer Jones are my wideouts, and Cruz would be my slot reciever, in the old days they were called Flanker backs. At tight end I would put Mark Bavaro, with Bob Tucker and Shockey as the back ups.
The second string would have Del Shofner and Amani Toomer as the wideouts and Steve Smith in the slot. Just one dummy's opinion. I would have Eli, YA Title and Simms as my 3 QB's. In the biggest game and on the biggest stage I have to put Eli as my starter, no doubt about that.
Calloway! - ( New Window )
you left off kyle rote
and gifford is also one of only two players that was all pro offense and defense with ollie matson
CUT #2
To me, plays like these are underrated and remarkable (and I'm only referring to from a physical ability standpoint... I know no one underrates the importance of the first one). My answer to the OP's question stands because of moves like this.
We are talking about talent, right? You can not defend against that.
But, in my lifetime, I would probably be more inclined to go with Nicks as most talented.
This. Yes.
Homer Jones
Gifford
Plax
Shofner
and then a big drop. Not much talent at WR for the Giants since the 1960's.
Honestly, I'd say Burress was the most talented, but Nicks was definitely had better production. Still, Plax's game in GB...ask Al Harris about that beatdown he gave him.
But I think Nicks was the most physically talented WR I have ever seen in a NY uni, closely followed by Plax
If you go back to the 1950s and 1960s, Homer Jones was physically dominant but not necessarily the most talented receiver (not good hands). Morrison was a grinder. Shofner was smooth but not physical. Gifford was very good and pretty talented but I have to go with Kyle Rote from that era. That guy was a great college RB who was robbed of his speed by injuries but he was as good a receiver as you will ever see. He was absolutely loved by his teammates as half the team named at least one of their kids after him.
I hope Beckham earns a place on this list. As the #12 pick, he should.
I would have loved to see a healthy, young Manningham in a single read offense. It's easy to say he wasn't smart enough for Gilbride's system which I think isn't true. Some guys can't do and think at the same time, which looked pretty obvious with him. Hell I can't walk and talk at the same time.
Shoftner, was an amazing talent.....from '61-'63, he was flat out unreal.....but I still haven't forgiven him for that dropped pass in the Bears game...
Amani holds most of the Giant receiving records, because he managed to hang around longer than most....while a number one on our team, he would have been a number two on most others....
Nicks looked like he could be something special....but every time he came down awkwardly, you wondered if he was going to get back up....injuries took their toll on him, and I think he reduced his play/effort, to protect himself, and extend his career...
Plax could have been even better, if not for the space between his ears.....
Gifford was a converted halfback, after the hit....I never saw him play when he was a two way player(running back and receiver)....he had just two good seasons as a receiver after the hit...
It's sad that, these are really, the only "great" receivers the Giants have ever had.....they were not known for drafting or trading for great receivers, from the mid 60's on....
"The hit"? Please elaborate for the uninitiated amongst us, if you would, Sir.
Seriously? Chuck Bednarik ring a bell?