I was thinking the other day that with the History Green Bay has had, we've had the privilege of having two legendary QBs in Starr and Favre, but except for the current roster, I cannot name one wide receiver that I would say was above and beyond the rest. The only name that comes close is Ole Sterling Sharpe, so Figured I ask some of you that perhaps know the packers history who would you say were the 5 best WRs that Green Bay has fielded?
Who are the top-5 all time great Packer WRs?
- Thread starter Veretax
- Start date
Pack93z
You retired too? .... Not me. I'm in my prime
Boyd Dowler
James Lofton
Sterling Sharpe
John Jefferson
Max McGee (at the time considered an End)
Don Hutson (at the time considered an End)
Just a few.
James Lofton
Sterling Sharpe
John Jefferson
Max McGee (at the time considered an End)
Don Hutson (at the time considered an End)
Just a few.
Zombieslayer
Cheesehead
We have 2 in the Hall of Fame, and one that would be if he had not gotten a bad neck injury.
I'm too old to remember Don Hutson, but wasn't he hands down the best player of his day?
James Lofton would own the record book if he had not been on such crappy teams his whole career. He wasn't on a good team besides '82 and in the early 90s (late in his career) with the Buffalo Bills. Lofton was tall, and was simply faster than any CB. He was one of the greatest, or perhaps the greatest, deep threat of all-time. Even in his last years, they sent him deep often and if he wasn't double covered, you had a 50+ yard completion.
Sterling Sharpe was the best WR Favre ever had to throw to. Sharpe not only ran perfect routes, but he knew EXACTLY what to do when a play was broken. He was stronger than a TE with the speed of a fast WR and when the ball was up for grabs, Sterling Sharpe came down with it. He'd own a few records had his career not been cut short. He's definitely better than Art Monk, who recently joined the Hall.
I'm too old to remember Don Hutson, but wasn't he hands down the best player of his day?
James Lofton would own the record book if he had not been on such crappy teams his whole career. He wasn't on a good team besides '82 and in the early 90s (late in his career) with the Buffalo Bills. Lofton was tall, and was simply faster than any CB. He was one of the greatest, or perhaps the greatest, deep threat of all-time. Even in his last years, they sent him deep often and if he wasn't double covered, you had a 50+ yard completion.
Sterling Sharpe was the best WR Favre ever had to throw to. Sharpe not only ran perfect routes, but he knew EXACTLY what to do when a play was broken. He was stronger than a TE with the speed of a fast WR and when the ball was up for grabs, Sterling Sharpe came down with it. He'd own a few records had his career not been cut short. He's definitely better than Art Monk, who recently joined the Hall.
Zombieslayer
Cheesehead
Some older folks say he was the best PLAYER of all-time.
Pack93z
You retired too? .... Not me. I'm in my prime
As much as I liked Lofton.. Boyd was a heck of a player.. #2 or # 3.. didn't see him live but everything about his time here has been under-rated in my opinion.
IronMan
Cheesehead
What about Taco Wallace? And Robert Ferguson?
digsthepack
Cheesehead
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Hutson - Redefined the position and his records stood the test of time. He ushered in the era of the modern WR.
Lofton - Finest athlete to ever play the position for the G&G. Instant impact as soon as the ball hit his hands.
Sharpe - Overpowered DBs and had rare athleticism for such a powerful, compact player. The numbers speak for themself....imagine if injuries had not derailed his career.
Freeman - Underappreciated by the masses, but had the sweetest arsenal of double moves to consistently get open with marginal athleticism. The heart and courage of a mama lion protecting her den as demonstrated by playing with a wired jaw and broken forearm. And then there are the numbers......
Driver/Brooks - Hard call with similar players. Unersized, courageous over the middle, dangerous after the catch....they did it all very well.
Lofton - Finest athlete to ever play the position for the G&G. Instant impact as soon as the ball hit his hands.
Sharpe - Overpowered DBs and had rare athleticism for such a powerful, compact player. The numbers speak for themself....imagine if injuries had not derailed his career.
Freeman - Underappreciated by the masses, but had the sweetest arsenal of double moves to consistently get open with marginal athleticism. The heart and courage of a mama lion protecting her den as demonstrated by playing with a wired jaw and broken forearm. And then there are the numbers......
Driver/Brooks - Hard call with similar players. Unersized, courageous over the middle, dangerous after the catch....they did it all very well.
NDPackerFan
Cheesehead
Bill Schroeder and Antonio Chatman look like Randy Moss and Jerry Rice next to those fools...
johnny_blood
Cheesehead
Don Hutson is #1. Definitely Sharpe and Lofton are top 5. Then I would suppose Dowler and McGee, but I never saw them play, except highlight reels.
I love Brooks and Freeman and Driver, but I don't think they are top 5. The case for Freeman is probably the best here: the 61 TDs, the crazy and memorable catches, being so valuable during the Super Bowl run while playing with a cast. I think Sharpe is the only truly great receiver of the Favre era.
I love Brooks and Freeman and Driver, but I don't think they are top 5. The case for Freeman is probably the best here: the 61 TDs, the crazy and memorable catches, being so valuable during the Super Bowl run while playing with a cast. I think Sharpe is the only truly great receiver of the Favre era.
djcubez
Cheesehead
I barely remember seeing Sharpe play so my young mind probably isn't good for this thread but if I had to pick it'd be, in no specific order, Hutson, McGee, Sharpe, Lofton and Driver. You might hate me for picking DD over Brooks or Freeman but the guy's been around for a while now, he's been consistent, and he's extremely underrated. He's always played second fiddle on a team with Favre, or Javon Walker, or Ahman Green and everyone says he's not a true number 1 but he is in my eyes.
Green_Bay_Packers
Cheesehead
1. Greg Jennings
2. Greg Jennings
3. Greg Jennings
4. Greg Jennings
5. Greg Jennings
2. Greg Jennings
3. Greg Jennings
4. Greg Jennings
5. Greg Jennings
Alan
Shouldnt this be in the smack section or at least the Jennings section
Touche~
no harm intended!
Greg C.
Cheesehead
1. Don Hutson--easy choice.
2. James Lofton--easy choice, except you could make an argument for switching him with #3.
3. Sterling Sharpe--may have been the best ever if not for a career-ending injury when he was in his prime.
4. Boyd Dowler--a very good receiver in a run-oriented era. Take a look at this consistent production: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DowlBo00.htm
5. Antonio Freeman--productive and made lots of big catches.
Donald Driver is knocking on the door and has a chance to move past Freeman and Dowler if he continues to play well for two or three more years. Robert Brooks was very good but was done in by injuries. John Jefferson was great for the Chargers, but his production as a Packer was pretty ordinary, unfortunately.
2. James Lofton--easy choice, except you could make an argument for switching him with #3.
3. Sterling Sharpe--may have been the best ever if not for a career-ending injury when he was in his prime.
4. Boyd Dowler--a very good receiver in a run-oriented era. Take a look at this consistent production: http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/D/DowlBo00.htm
5. Antonio Freeman--productive and made lots of big catches.
Donald Driver is knocking on the door and has a chance to move past Freeman and Dowler if he continues to play well for two or three more years. Robert Brooks was very good but was done in by injuries. John Jefferson was great for the Chargers, but his production as a Packer was pretty ordinary, unfortunately.
Is this strictly for WR?
Had some mighty good TE as well
I think Hutson is probably 1st
Stelring-- would be #1 I think if it not ended so fast.
Lofton, just was a favorite of mine watching him run past people
Freeman #4
Not to sure who I would put at #5 right now..Have to think
Had some mighty good TE as well
I think Hutson is probably 1st
Stelring-- would be #1 I think if it not ended so fast.
Lofton, just was a favorite of mine watching him run past people
Freeman #4
Not to sure who I would put at #5 right now..Have to think
1. Hutson/Sharpe-DOMINATED the position... Absolute best in their time, Hutson may have been the Michael Jordan/Wayne Gretzky of football.
2. Lofton for all the reason already mentioned
3. Bobby Dillon-May be the ONLY Packer Star of the 50's
4. Boyd Dowler/Greg Jennings-I know its early to rate Jennings with the elite but I have a great feeling about this kid.
2. Lofton for all the reason already mentioned
3. Bobby Dillon-May be the ONLY Packer Star of the 50's
4. Boyd Dowler/Greg Jennings-I know its early to rate Jennings with the elite but I have a great feeling about this kid.
PWT36
Cheesehead
Obil posted" Bobby Dillon-May be the ONLY Packer Star of the 50's"
Bobby Dan Dillion was great defensive back for the Packers . Billy Howton was a great pass receiver from 1952-1958. Howton rookie year (1952) still stands as the most pass receiving yards of rookie Packer pass receiver . And in 1952 the NFL regular season was 12 games unlike today in the NFL is 16 regular game season.
End Billy Howton-(1952-1958)-6'2"- 185 lbs- Rice U-2nd round 1952 draft choice-
No. pass receptions 53- Yards 1,251-Average 23.2-Long t90-TD 13
Unfortunately Billy Howton played on "lousy" losing teams from 1952-1958. In 1952 & 1955 were best seasons (6-6) the Green bay Packers would have during's Howton's career at Green bay..
In 1959, new Packer head Coach Vince Lombardi traded Billy Howton to the Clevelend Browns, and so Howton missed the Green Bay Packer great years of 1960's. Vince did not like Billy Howton's attitude in Lombardi's tough training camp training camp . Lombardi delivered a message to his 1959 Packer squad. If you didn't go along with his program, no matter who you were, you would be gone from Green Bay. Even if you were the great Packer receiver Billy Howton.
The 1950's Packers had many future great players on their roster. players like HOF Center Jim Ringo drafted in 1953. WR End Max McGee drafted in 1954,.DT Forrest Gregg & OT Bob Skoronski , QB Bart Starr drafted in 1956. RB Paul Hornung and End Ron Kramer drafted in 1957. And in the great draft of 1958, Lb Dan Currie, LB Ray Nitschke, Fb Jim Taylor and G Jerry Kramer were drafted.
And other good players just waiting for Packer head Coach and General Manager Vince Lombardi to take over this team in 1959. He motivated this team, made great trades with other NFL teams for G "Fuzzy " Thurston, DE Willie Davis and LB Henry Jordan. Signed S Willie Wood as a key FA. Lombardi whipped this team into a great football team. And the Packers became the team of the 1960's.
The man who disconvered and acquired all these future great players in the 1950's was Packer Chief Talent scout and Business Manager Jack Vanisi (1950-1960). Jack Vanisi
died of Rheumatic Fever in 1960 at the age of 33. Jack Vanisi would die before all the players he drafted in the 1950s, would become the great Packer star players of the 1960's. The Packer would win 5 NFL Championships including Super Bowl I and Super Bowl
II in 8 years.
However the Packers could not find replacements for these great players drafted in the 1950's when they all retired one by one. And mostly losing Packer teams occurred in the '70's and 80's. Until 1992 when that losing trend was reversed by the new Packer GM Ron Wolf, new packer head Coach Mike Holmgren ,Quarterback Brett Favre and excellent Packer player that followed.. . The Packers now have had the best winning percentage of any team in NFL since 1993.
I will say only about all the great Packer receivers named in this topic. They all all excellent wide receivers. but I will not rank them. it is impossible to rank players from other eras. Because of all the changes in NFL football since 1935, when Don Hutson began his career with the packers... You do an injustice to each one of them, when you attempt to do it. They were all great in their eras.
But Don Hutson dominated his era. Don Hutson was the first Packer's franchise player. He was savior of the Green Bay Packers.. Huitson played in era , when the tickets sold, was the only income that NFL teams had. And the Packers were always a poor franchise and the team needed the income from the fans that came to see Packer's end Don Hutson work "his magic" on the NFL playing fields through out the league in those years.
End of Packer history 101 by Pf.com historian PWT36. Are you still awake? Hope I didn't bore you too much. But I wanted younger Packer fans to understand what really went on in '50's, 60's, 70's and 80's through the eyes of a Green Bay born and raised Packer fan of over 60 years who witnessed all the great Green Bay Packer wide receivers with exception of End Don Hutson. I was 10 years old when Don Hutson retired in 1945. I only have seen small clips of film of Don Hutson in action...
Bobby Dan Dillion was great defensive back for the Packers . Billy Howton was a great pass receiver from 1952-1958. Howton rookie year (1952) still stands as the most pass receiving yards of rookie Packer pass receiver . And in 1952 the NFL regular season was 12 games unlike today in the NFL is 16 regular game season.
End Billy Howton-(1952-1958)-6'2"- 185 lbs- Rice U-2nd round 1952 draft choice-
No. pass receptions 53- Yards 1,251-Average 23.2-Long t90-TD 13
Unfortunately Billy Howton played on "lousy" losing teams from 1952-1958. In 1952 & 1955 were best seasons (6-6) the Green bay Packers would have during's Howton's career at Green bay..
In 1959, new Packer head Coach Vince Lombardi traded Billy Howton to the Clevelend Browns, and so Howton missed the Green Bay Packer great years of 1960's. Vince did not like Billy Howton's attitude in Lombardi's tough training camp training camp . Lombardi delivered a message to his 1959 Packer squad. If you didn't go along with his program, no matter who you were, you would be gone from Green Bay. Even if you were the great Packer receiver Billy Howton.
The 1950's Packers had many future great players on their roster. players like HOF Center Jim Ringo drafted in 1953. WR End Max McGee drafted in 1954,.DT Forrest Gregg & OT Bob Skoronski , QB Bart Starr drafted in 1956. RB Paul Hornung and End Ron Kramer drafted in 1957. And in the great draft of 1958, Lb Dan Currie, LB Ray Nitschke, Fb Jim Taylor and G Jerry Kramer were drafted.
And other good players just waiting for Packer head Coach and General Manager Vince Lombardi to take over this team in 1959. He motivated this team, made great trades with other NFL teams for G "Fuzzy " Thurston, DE Willie Davis and LB Henry Jordan. Signed S Willie Wood as a key FA. Lombardi whipped this team into a great football team. And the Packers became the team of the 1960's.
The man who disconvered and acquired all these future great players in the 1950's was Packer Chief Talent scout and Business Manager Jack Vanisi (1950-1960). Jack Vanisi
died of Rheumatic Fever in 1960 at the age of 33. Jack Vanisi would die before all the players he drafted in the 1950s, would become the great Packer star players of the 1960's. The Packer would win 5 NFL Championships including Super Bowl I and Super Bowl
II in 8 years.
However the Packers could not find replacements for these great players drafted in the 1950's when they all retired one by one. And mostly losing Packer teams occurred in the '70's and 80's. Until 1992 when that losing trend was reversed by the new Packer GM Ron Wolf, new packer head Coach Mike Holmgren ,Quarterback Brett Favre and excellent Packer player that followed.. . The Packers now have had the best winning percentage of any team in NFL since 1993.
I will say only about all the great Packer receivers named in this topic. They all all excellent wide receivers. but I will not rank them. it is impossible to rank players from other eras. Because of all the changes in NFL football since 1935, when Don Hutson began his career with the packers... You do an injustice to each one of them, when you attempt to do it. They were all great in their eras.
But Don Hutson dominated his era. Don Hutson was the first Packer's franchise player. He was savior of the Green Bay Packers.. Huitson played in era , when the tickets sold, was the only income that NFL teams had. And the Packers were always a poor franchise and the team needed the income from the fans that came to see Packer's end Don Hutson work "his magic" on the NFL playing fields through out the league in those years.
End of Packer history 101 by Pf.com historian PWT36. Are you still awake? Hope I didn't bore you too much. But I wanted younger Packer fans to understand what really went on in '50's, 60's, 70's and 80's through the eyes of a Green Bay born and raised Packer fan of over 60 years who witnessed all the great Green Bay Packer wide receivers with exception of End Don Hutson. I was 10 years old when Don Hutson retired in 1945. I only have seen small clips of film of Don Hutson in action...
IronMan
Cheesehead
Thanks for the history lesson Phil. 8) :beer: :towel:
Zombieslayer
Cheesehead
johnny_blood said:
Driver is one of my all-time favorite players, but he simply does not have the physical gifts Sharpe and Lofton did. Freeman is better as well.
As a person, I'd take Driver over just about anyone. He's a class act with a heart of gold. But as a player, I'd probably rank them Hutson, Lofton, Sharpe, Freeman, Brooks, Driver.
Note that I didn't mention anyone from the 60s. It is not a slight - I wasn't there. But I did throw in Hutson because pretty much everyone who knows football will tell you he was the best PLAYER of his time and his talents changed the way the game was played.
CalifPacker
Cheesehead
I'll buy that.
That Top 5 and Honorable Mention look great to me!
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