It's 2020 and in this fantasy land scenario, Dave Gettleman has been fired and you have been brought in to interview with Mara and Tisch based on your legendary career as internet poster on The Corner Forum at BBI (all the blood, sweat and tendinitis finally paying off).
You meet the two owners separately. Tisch keeps it simple; you can have one WR in their prime from the list below, who are you choosing?
Mara takes it a step further - of the WR's listed below, all in their prime, who are you picking to be your two outside WR's and who are you picking for the slot?
And the contenders are.....
Amani Toomer
Prime Season: 2002
Stats: 82 catches, 1,343 yards, 8 TDs
Plaxico Burress
Prime Season: 2005
Stats: 76 catches, 1,214 yards, 7 TDs
Steve Smith
Prime Season: 2009
Stats: 107 catches, 1,220 yards, 7 TDs
Hakeem Nicks
Prime Season: 2011
Stats: 76 catches, 1,192 yards, 7 TDs
Victor Cruz
Prime Season: 2011
Stats: 82 catches, 1,536 yards, 9 TDs
Odell Beckham Jr.
Prime Season: 2015
Stats: 96 catches, 1,450 yards, 13 TDs
The Giants future rests in your hands.
2. Nicks
3. Odell
4. Plax
5. Toomer
6. Smith
OBJ
Plax as your outside WR
Cruz in the slot.
That would be an unstoppable Corp and all would compliment each other so well.
At first I think the same, Cruz did most of his damage in 2011 from the slot and had an insane YPC. However, with Odell's speed/quickness combo and RAC ability, I could see him being just as deadly from the slot.
Plax as your outside WR
Cruz in the slot.
Beckham commanded double and triple teams at all times. His combination of catlike quickness, explosive speed and insane hands are above and beyond anything the NFL ever saw.
It's a shame that he's got an ego, that he can be a jerk, can be embarrassing, can be a dirty player, but NONE of that takes away his greatness in his prime.
I hate the Browns for the dirty hit that wrecked his career, and I loved the irony in sending him there.
Toomer
Nicks
Beckham commanded double and triple teams at all times. His combination of catlike quickness, explosive speed and insane hands are above and beyond anything the NFL ever saw.
It's a shame that he's got an ego, that he can be a jerk, can be embarrassing, can be a dirty player, but NONE of that takes away his greatness in his prime.
I hate the Browns for the dirty hit that wrecked his career, and I loved the irony in sending him there.
Beckham better than Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson? Antonio Brown more recently put together some insane seasons.
I'm not sure if Beckham is done just yet, the slant against the Jets looked like the same Odell we are used to seeing. I'm hoping more of his downfall is a result of the dysfunction in Cleveland than the damage from injuries.
Nick's and Toomey outside
Cruz in the slot.
For pure on the field dominance, Odell, Plax, Cruz.
+1 amazingly strong hands. Never forgot when he caught that ball over Charles Woodson and he patted him on the butt and basically said you got me. That’s a hall of famer showing a ton of respect to young WR. Nicks was a stud and a true number 1 WR. Shame be played through the injury vs the Bucs in 2012
Nicks was the real deal too, hell, I thought he looked like a Hall of Famer after 2011, set the playoff yardage receiving record, an absolute gazelle, quick, phenomenal hands. All you need to know about him was in San Francisco, 2011. He and Cruz both, great games... and Manningham with the big TD. One of the best games in Giant history, Nicks was phenomenal.
Half of Cruz's big year frankly, was surprise. He was NOBODY, and suddenly nobody was turning 8 yard throws into 50+ yard TD's. His productivity was so monstrous it seemed impossible, unsustainable... and it was.
Amani Toomer was Mr. Giant. He slowly eased into the #1 receiver role, was dependable and we were blown away - first legitimate Giant WR threat since freakin' Homer Jones. Toomer was possibly the best sideline possession receiver I ever saw - how many times, falling face first, just getting the toes inbounds? A MASTER of the slant and go too.
They were all great. Injuries killed 3 of those careers, one shot himself in the ass. Only Toomer cleared his hundred-thousand-mile warranty.
Amazing we get to even have this conversation. I spent 20 years as a Giant fan without a single dangerous receiver to enjoy. (OK, Mike Sherrard for about 15 minutes...)
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...in his prime, it's an absolute insult to list the others with him.
Beckham commanded double and triple teams at all times. His combination of catlike quickness, explosive speed and insane hands are above and beyond anything the NFL ever saw.
It's a shame that he's got an ego, that he can be a jerk, can be embarrassing, can be a dirty player, but NONE of that takes away his greatness in his prime.
I hate the Browns for the dirty hit that wrecked his career, and I loved the irony in sending him there.
Beckham better than Jerry Rice, Randy Moss, Calvin Johnson? Antonio Brown more recently put together some insane seasons.
I'm not sure if Beckham is done just yet, the slant against the Jets looked like the same Odell we are used to seeing. I'm hoping more of his downfall is a result of the dysfunction in Cleveland than the damage from injuries.
I would go Plex and Nicks wide w/ OBJ in the slot.
Nicks was the real deal too, hell, I thought he looked like a Hall of Famer after 2011, set the playoff yardage receiving record, an absolute gazelle, quick, phenomenal hands. All you need to know about him was in San Francisco, 2011. He and Cruz both, great games... and Manningham with the big TD. One of the best games in Giant history, Nicks was phenomenal.
Half of Cruz's big year frankly, was surprise. He was NOBODY, and suddenly nobody was turning 8 yard throws into 50+ yard TD's. His productivity was so monstrous it seemed impossible, unsustainable... and it was.
Amani Toomer was Mr. Giant. He slowly eased into the #1 receiver role, was dependable and we were blown away - first legitimate Giant WR threat since freakin' Homer Jones. Toomer was possibly the best sideline possession receiver I ever saw - how many times, falling face first, just getting the toes inbounds? A MASTER of the slant and go too.
They were all great. Injuries killed 3 of those careers, one shot himself in the ass. Only Toomer cleared his hundred-thousand-mile warranty.
Amazing we get to even have this conversation. I spent 20 years as a Giant fan without a single dangerous receiver to enjoy. (OK, Mike Sherrard for about 15 minutes...)
Post of the month, slow clap...
Nicks was the real deal too, hell, I thought he looked like a Hall of Famer after 2011, set the playoff yardage receiving record, an absolute gazelle, quick, phenomenal hands. All you need to know about him was in San Francisco, 2011. He and Cruz both, great games... and Manningham with the big TD. One of the best games in Giant history, Nicks was phenomenal.
Half of Cruz's big year frankly, was surprise. He was NOBODY, and suddenly nobody was turning 8 yard throws into 50+ yard TD's. His productivity was so monstrous it seemed impossible, unsustainable... and it was.
Amani Toomer was Mr. Giant. He slowly eased into the #1 receiver role, was dependable and we were blown away - first legitimate Giant WR threat since freakin' Homer Jones. Toomer was possibly the best sideline possession receiver I ever saw - how many times, falling face first, just getting the toes inbounds? A MASTER of the slant and go too.
They were all great. Injuries killed 3 of those careers, one shot himself in the ass. Only Toomer cleared his hundred-thousand-mile warranty.
Amazing we get to even have this conversation. I spent 20 years as a Giant fan without a single dangerous receiver to enjoy. (OK, Mike Sherrard for about 15 minutes...)
When I started watching Chris Calloway was my favorite receiver. Thomas Lewis came in the picture with some hype that never materialized. Amani Toomer looked like a punt returner and nothing more until a few years in to his career when he finally showed me what it was like to have a good receiver on your team. Now it looks like we are churning them out one after the other. Maybe Slayton can be next, wishful thinking.
If it's a crew, give me Nicks, Cruz, Manningham. That group complimented each other so well.
In the slot, I'm picking Cruz over OBJ only because he was more of a team player. OBJ could never be happy sharing the limelight with Plax & Nicks. Plus, I loved Cruz salsa dancing to NY Groove!!!
For an added bonus, give me 2002 Jeremy Shockey at TE!
This.
Prime Season 1967 (14 games)
Stats: 49 catches, 1,209 yards, 13 TDs.
Nicks
Cruz (these two are close to call, but if I could have one, it'd be Nicks)
Plax
Toomer
Smith
OBJ is clearly the best, but Nicks and Plax are the type that physically demand double coverage. Cruz is someone I view as a 1A - he's better when he has someone else on the outside.
Smith is the one who I included on this list because you can't deny his stats, but I don't think he has the kind of ability and impact on defenses that the other guys do.
I'd be interested to hear the case of Smith over Cruz in the slot.
Cruz - Slot
Plax - Outside
Outside, give me Burress and Toomer.
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Smith in the slot. Of all the receivers we had over those years Smith was my favorite to watch.
Smith is the one who I included on this list because you can't deny his stats, but I don't think he has the kind of ability and impact on defenses that the other guys do.
I'd be interested to hear the case of Smith over Cruz in the slot.
I'd also love to hear Terps' argument for Smith. I'll start with one point: Smith was a terrific blocker out of the slot, an extremely under-rated tool among the tools who opine here. He was a first down machine, I believe, and had more reliable hands than Cruz for the typical play, if not the spectacular catch ability of OBJ or Cruz...
He was the best route runner of the bunch, but the worst run after catch guy. He had trouble tracking and catching balls over the shoulder.
But his blocking was unmatched until Shepard showed up here.
With Saquon on the roster, the blocking increases in value.
Plax has the obvious height advantage, but Nicks is better after the catch. If off the field factors play a role in the decision, it sways in Nicks favor, but even if sticking to strictly on the football field, I can't decide between the two.
Cruz slot
I know he was a pain in the ass here but the guy was ridiculously good for 3-4 years. No other wr here can say that. Cruz was awesome 1-2 years. Nicks was good to great 3 years. Toomer had the long good career. Plax was nicks but different style. Beckham was ridiculous.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Glyscx2J54 - ( New Window )
Bottom line is, if the giants were a better team from 2014-2018 beckham would be deified here and for good reason. He’d also still be playing here. Make no mistake, Beckham did his part to help this team win.
Bottom line is, if the giants were a better team from 2014-2018 beckham would be deified here and for good reason... Make no mistake, Beckham did his part to help this team win.
But you can't and shouldn't nevermind the off the field drama. nor can you ignore that he shit the bed in the playoffs following an ill-advised boat excursion!
You can't and shouldn't ignore those aspects of his tenure with the Giants.
Do so at your own peril. Just ask John Dorsey...
Give me Plaxico and Nicks on the outside and Cruz or Steve Smith in the slot.
Cruz in the Slot..
DONE..
damn.. that video hurt... we had SO many good WR's who got hurt...
One thing Reese COULD do... find WR's
Slot: Cruz - easy pick
Outside2: Homer Jones - okay, I guess you are talking about this century.
Outside2: Plax [pre-gun shot] - very difficult pick. Nicks was tough as hell and Toomer was clutch, nifty, and fast.
Good luck defending that.
I will say this tough...I think Toomer is a vastly underrated WR. He took a couple of years to really take off, but he was a very nice PR early on. Then the knock was that he didn't have the burner speed, but he had a knack for getting behind DBs. He had some excellent years here late in his career and he was the absolute best at body control to stay inbounds.