Saw a tweet on Sunday regarding the Washington Commanders' career receiving leaders in yards.
Here it is, if you didn't happen to see it.
Stat lines such as this are great discussion starters. Many fans get so agitated because they think it 'proves' who the best players are. But actually, it raises all sorts of great topics for discussion because it prompts a look at the many variables present in such a 'debate'.
For instance, did you know Charley Taylor was first an NFL running back before being moved to receiver? That's right, in 1964, they traded their quarterback, Norm Snead, for an Eagles quarterback named Sonny Jurgensen. The Redskins also drafted Taylor in the first round that year.
How good an athlete was Charley Taylor? Well, in his rookie 1964 season, he rushed for 755 yards and had 814 receiving yards out of the backfield. By the way, that was in a 14-game regular-season schedule. The Redskins then drafted tight end Jerry Smith in 1965. Following the 1965 season, Washington's head coach thought that moving Charley Taylor to receiver might really pay off, as it would create a starting group of receivers that included Taylor, Bobby Mitchell, and tight end Jerry Smith. Otto Graham, a former Cleveland Browns quarterback, believed that Jurgensen's development would boost their offense. Smith retired with a then record for NFL tight ends of 60 touchdown receptions, which wasn't broken until Shannon Sharpe.
Here it is, if you didn't happen to see it.
Stat lines such as this are great discussion starters. Many fans get so agitated because they think it 'proves' who the best players are. But actually, it raises all sorts of great topics for discussion because it prompts a look at the many variables present in such a 'debate'.
For instance, did you know Charley Taylor was first an NFL running back before being moved to receiver? That's right, in 1964, they traded their quarterback, Norm Snead, for an Eagles quarterback named Sonny Jurgensen. The Redskins also drafted Taylor in the first round that year.
How good an athlete was Charley Taylor? Well, in his rookie 1964 season, he rushed for 755 yards and had 814 receiving yards out of the backfield. By the way, that was in a 14-game regular-season schedule. The Redskins then drafted tight end Jerry Smith in 1965. Following the 1965 season, Washington's head coach thought that moving Charley Taylor to receiver might really pay off, as it would create a starting group of receivers that included Taylor, Bobby Mitchell, and tight end Jerry Smith. Otto Graham, a former Cleveland Browns quarterback, believed that Jurgensen's development would boost their offense. Smith retired with a then record for NFL tight ends of 60 touchdown receptions, which wasn't broken until Shannon Sharpe.
4 months ago
