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ROTB All-Cardinal Team: Wide Receivers

I'd like to start by giving a big thanks for everybody who voted in our first all-Cardinal poll for quarterbacks. Amazingly, we had over 500 votes with Kurt Warner taking over 300 of them. That's a genuine consensus that he is the greatest quarterback in Arizona Cardinals history. In only a couple seasons as a Cardinals starter, he gained the respect and attention of the fans. He will be listed as the all-time Cardinal quarterback, along with Jim Hart as the back up for his considerable amount of votes as well. A quarterback though, can't have great numbers without a great wide receiver...which brings us to the next position. The past few seasons have been highlighted by wide receivers with the likes of Fitzgerald, Boldin, Bryant Johnson, Steve Breaston, etc. Before them however, were some other wide outs that put their names in the Cardinal's record books. Here are the candidates for the all-time Cardinals wide receivers:Fitz2_medium

Larry Fitzgerald

  • 426 Receptions
  • 5975 Receiving Yards
  • 46 Touchdowns
  • 14.0 AVG
  • 3-Time Pro Bowl & 1x 1st Team All-Pro

Analysis: Larry Fitzgerald is still too young to have climbed up the franchise's leader board in most receiving categories, but he's already cemented himself into Cardinals lore by posting the best post-season in NFL history. He set all major post season records for a receiver, and anytime you break a record of Jerry Rice, you're something special. The Cardinals drafted Fitzgerald high, and he was expected to impact the receiving game immediately. He did just that and a little more as he is regarded as the best receiver in the NFL. Fitzgerald has stated that he wants to go down as the greatest wide receiver in Cardinals history, and that may happen as his receptions and yards per game are top three in franchise history, and if he plays here long enough he'll own every possible receiving record in the books.

Anquan Boldin -Boldin_medium

  • 502 Receptions
  • 6496 Receiving Yards
  • 40 Touchdowns
  • 12.9 AVG
  • 3-Time Pro Bowl 

Analysis: Boldin is possibly the most dominant receiver the Cardinals have ever had play for them. He reached 500 catches faster then any receiver in Cardinals history, and may keep that going if he stays on the team. Drafted in the 2nd round behind 1st-round pick, Bryant Johnson, nobody expected much from him. He jumped on the scene in his first ever game recording 10 catches for 217 yards and 2 TDs. Since then, he's been a steady force on offense, and one of the most exciting players to watch.

Star-divide

Roy Green2665606_medium

  • 522 Receptions
  • 8496 Receiving Yards
  • 66 Touchdowns
  • 16.3 AVG
  • Franchise leader in yards and TDs

Analysis: Green played in more Cardinals games than any receiver and he's got the stats to prove it. Most of his team records (yards and TDs) will fall in the next couple of seasons but he was a two time Pro Bowl and two time All-Pro in '83 and '84. It's a shame the leader in most Arizona Cardinal receiving stats isn't as popular as he should be. The fact that he was able to put up the numbers that he has should be proof enough that he was a great wide receiver.

Pat Tilley

  • 468 Receptions
  • 7005 Receiving YardsDa_medium
  • 37 Touchdowns
  • 15.0 AVG

Analysis: Tiley's a name that's going to get pushed further down the leader board in the next couple of seasons but his service to the Cardinals shouldn't be forgotten. He played his entire eleven-year career with the Cardinals and was voted to a Pro Bowl in 1980.

Mel Gray -

  • 351 Receptions
  • 6644  Receiving yards
  • 45 Touchdowns
  • 4 Time Pro Bowler
  • 1 1st team All-Pro

Analysis: Gray, originally a 6th round draft pick, was a receiver that the Cardinals could depend on. He played in 4 straight pro bowls and caught passes in 121 consecutive games in a 9-year span. Gray was Tiley's team mate for several years and even though he never totaled over 1,000 yards, he a bona-fide deep threat who averaged 18.9 yards per reception for his career and was voted to four pro bowls and one All-Pro team.

Sonny Randle - Nfl_sonnyrandle_medium

  • 328 Receptions
  • 5438 Receiving Yards
  • 60 Touchdowns
  • 4-Time Pro Bowler
  • 1 1st Team All-Pro

Analysis: Randle didn't let his 19th round draft status keep him from leading the league in touchdowns receptions in just his second season with 15. That's a pretty amazing number for 1960, especially considering that he only played in 12 games. He'd play for the Cardinals for eight seasons and would total over 5,400 yards and 60 touchdowns (16.6 yards per reception). At the time of his retirement he was the Cardinals' leader in single-season and career receiving yardage and touchdown receptions and he's still has the team record for most receptions in a game with 16 (set in 1962). Randle was a four time Pro Bowler and was selected to one All-Pro team. Since his retirement, Randle has held the head coaching spot at East Carolina, Virginia and Marshall.392468_medium

Frank Sanders

  • 507 Receptions
  • 6749 Receiving Yards
  • 24 Touchdowns
  • 13.3 AVG

Analysis: Frank Sanders wasn't the biggest receiver and didn't make the biggest plays, evidence being his TD total. But he was however, a solid/dependable receiver. Sanders is the beneficiary of playing nearly his entire career for bad franchise. He never caught more than six touchdowns in a season and averaged just 3 per year for his time in AZ. If he were on any other team, he probably wouldn't even be mentioned. 

Honorable Mentions: David Boston - 18 TDs, Ricky Proehl - 21 TDs, Rob Moore - 5110 yards

Poll
Who is the Cardinals All-time Wide Receiver?
Larry Fitzgerald
196 votes
Anquan Boldin
46 votes
Roy Green
63 votes
Mel Gray
11 votes
Pat Tilley
5 votes
Sonny Randle
5 votes
Frank Sanders
8 votes

334 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs  |  Comment 37 comments |

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Comments

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to be honest, if it’s not Roy Green, then these all time position things need to stop. That Kurt Warner was voted as the all time quarterback over Neil Lomax and Jim Hart was bad enough. Roy Green was for a long time the fastest man in the NFL. He also played both ways, he would often play cornerback against teams with a dominating receiver. I didn’t look this up at all, but I’m pretty sure he shagged kicks and punts. He also played on teams that were much more run oriented.
I have no doubt that Fitz will be end up being the greatest, but for now, it has to be Roy Green.

by KDean75 on Mar 27, 2009 5:55 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

To solidify your point...

The title of the poll is “Who is the Cardinals all-time wide receiver”. Not who will be the Cardinals all-time wide receiver. Fitz will most likely pass him at some point, but has a way to go.

I’m young and not going to pretend that I remember Green or Hart, but I can read the stat lines and appreciate what they’ve done for the franchise.

by AJ BirdWatcher on Mar 27, 2009 6:26 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Agree, and...

Warner deserves a lot of credit for getting the Cards to the SB. But Jim Hart should not be that far behind (or even behind at all). As for WRs, Pat Tilley (2 "L’s") and Frank Sanders don’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Mel Gray (Melvin???), and Roy Green…but Fitz and Q both deserve to be on this list. I wonder how much the voting is skewed by age…those that only followed the AZ Cards may not have the same perspective. Stat lines alone don’t tell the story. Mel Gray was awesome! Roy Green was a freak that played both offense and defense early in his career.

by RedbirdsRule on Mar 27, 2009 6:46 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

This is why I love stuff like this

To be honest, the only WRs on this list I’ve seen play (or at least remember) are Fitz, Q and Sanders, but it’s nice to hear about guys like Green, Grey, Tilley and Randle. Maybe some of our ‘more experienced’ members can give us youngsters some history lessons, especially from the days dating back to Chicago.

And just for the record, I voted for Green out of respect for our ROTB elders.

by Bezekira on Mar 27, 2009 8:15 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

i'm not that old

One more thing to add about Roy Green, his avg. yards per reception was 16.28 yds.

Also Mel Gray should get more love due to his being the greatest return man ever. Side note: It should be Devin Hester but he can’t figure out returning kicks and catching balls as a receiver at the same time. But then again, he was more known for that as an Oiler.

by KDean75 on Mar 27, 2009 8:43 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Correction

A point of clarification – Mel Grey the kick returning star and Mel Gray the Cards WR are two different players.

by RedbirdsRule on Mar 27, 2009 10:46 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

To address everything.

1st. Melvin is his full name, at least according to wikipedia.
2nd. I can’t control who votes for who.
3rd. Pat Tilley has over 7,000 yards which ranks 3rd on the Cardinals list so it would be hard to leave him off.
4th. It will be the top two vote getters that make the team.

Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Mar 27, 2009 9:13 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Oh yeah

And the fact that Fitzgerald or Boldin will break Green’s record in a lot less time either says a lot more about how good they are or how not so great Green was.

Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Mar 27, 2009 9:19 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ok, well just go by stats then, don’t take into account anything else or the context of when and how the stats were compiled.

by KDean75 on Mar 27, 2009 11:03 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Not so much stats

To say that Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are nowhere near Roy Green is an understatement. I would say that Fitzs stats were compiled at the right times in a a great mannor. Not to take anything from Green but he won’t be the leader in any stats very much longer.

Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Mar 27, 2009 11:24 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

My apologies

I didn’t mean to come across overly-critical…it’s all good. ;^)

by RedbirdsRule on Mar 27, 2009 10:47 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

wow, Frank Sanders got a vote

that’s more surprising than the month of January to me.

by Bezekira on Mar 27, 2009 9:26 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

lol

Was the 90’s that bad that nobody can make the list?

Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Mar 27, 2009 9:32 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

naw that they were that bad or anything

but who in their right mind would pick Frank Sanders as the best overall WR in franchise history? I’m betting a Seahawk fan found their way over here and voted for him.

by Bezekira on Mar 27, 2009 9:35 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah I know

But if you look at his stats, he’s up the list.

Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Mar 27, 2009 9:45 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

true but....

He had to play eight seasons to amass 6,500 yards and 24 TDs, which is fine and all, it’s just not the best in Cardinals history. and I’m arguing with you including him, I was just surprised that someone actually thinks he’s better than Fitz, Q, Grey, Green or anyone else on the list.

by Bezekira on Mar 27, 2009 10:01 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

He’s got 2 now. WOW

Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Mar 27, 2009 10:01 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ravens fans that actually remember he played for them.

We all leave footprints in the sands of time, just watch out for the discarded fish hooks!

by Hawkwind on Mar 27, 2009 3:41 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

What about Bryant Johnson!!!

I mean seriously, the guy was an animal! Get’s my vote any day…

Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!

by boogatt66 on Mar 27, 2009 9:59 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Rod Tidwell???

Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!

by boogatt66 on Mar 27, 2009 10:00 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!

Sadly he’s probably the best know Cardinals WR in history

by Bezekira on Mar 27, 2009 10:01 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

lol

Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Mar 27, 2009 10:02 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

They're all very good,

and Fitz could become the best(with all due respect to Q), but having seen every WR the Cardinals have had since the early 60s, I’m quite partial to Mel Gray. He was, and still is I think, very underrated and was never given his due.

by cfaddct on Mar 27, 2009 10:37 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

He was kick ass on Tecmo Super Bowl:-)

Who would win in a fight, Whisenhunt or a Hurricane?
Hold on, hold on, what if the Hurricanes name was Whisenhunt?
Daaaaaaaaaa Cards, Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards Da Cards!!!

by boogatt66 on Mar 27, 2009 10:39 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Missing the point

So Roy Green put up the great numbers, yet only went to 2 pro bowls… you are missing the point here, if being great is just about filling the stat sheet, then Dan Marino is the greatest QB of all time… and we know that is not true… of course Fitzgerald is the best, and last year team was the best we have ever had at least since the merger, his performance in the playoffs and his brilliant carrer put him above the rest… let me put it this way, how many more Jerry Rice’s records does Larry needs to break to be considered betther than Roy Green… give me a break, he was the best player in the best team we have ever had…one last thing I would like to know how many yards and touchdowns Roy Green had in the poststeason

paco cabrera

by pacocab on Mar 27, 2009 10:58 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

I see your point, but that's not really fair to a WR

Green not only played in a different era that wasn’t near as ‘passing friendly’ as today’s NFL but he played on some really bad Cardinals teams and one great receiver can’t turn a team around. For the record though, he played in one playoff game and caught nine balls for 113 yards.

by Bezekira on Mar 27, 2009 11:07 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Exactly.

I agree. And if it stays the same, the 2 WRs on the team will be Fitz and Green. Its hard to argue with the MVP of the playoffs that got us to the SB though.

Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Mar 27, 2009 11:31 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ok lets be fair

Was Roy Green considered the bast WR in his time? was he an all pro? if so then he has my vote, but if not, then Fitz is the best… one great can’t turn a team around, yet if it wasn’t by Fitz performance we wouldn’t have made the playoffs nor make it to the superbowl…GO CARDINALS…

paco cabrera

by pacocab on Mar 27, 2009 12:22 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Rob Moore over Sanders

The only (ok not the only but the main) reason Sanders was as effective as he was was because with Rob Moore. Moore made multiple Pro Bowls if I am not mistaken and was a complete class act on and off the field. Great competitor and great family man as well as still being a voice for the Cards. I used to LOVE Ricky Proehl, I had a major man crush on him growing up.

My top pick is Fitz. When he first came into the league I was high on his talent but thought he was kind of a whimp. Seeing him lower his shoulder as much as he did this last year makes him my number 1 (oh, and the amazing acrobatic catches in the SB run). CARDINALS FOR LIFE SON

Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.

by sc464 on Mar 27, 2009 12:39 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Never seen the movie.

Its making we want to now.

Hey, hey, hey hey hey, watch the language, ok? I have a family.
Revenge of the Birds

by Andrew602 on Mar 27, 2009 2:34 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

i dont think so

I only say that though because Moore never struck me as the type of guy who was all about ‘’makin it rain’’. In the movie he changed though if I remember right so maybe, but I still doubt it.

Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.

by sc464 on Mar 27, 2009 4:20 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Green went both ways

Remember, Roy Green started out playing on defense (cornerback), returning kickoffs and punt returns- on my 1984 Fantasy Team (won our league that year!) , scored 14 TD’s (led the NFL)! The game is MUCH more offensive friendly now. W/ that being said,
Boldin & Fitz are tremendous receivers.

http://vault.sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1125101/index.htm

by cvstlatl on Mar 27, 2009 3:07 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

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