ROTB All-Cardinal Team: Tight Ends

by Andrew602 on Mar 30, 2009 11:01 AM MDT in Arizona Cardinals History

Two new members of the All-Cardinal team have been added in receivers, Larry Fitzgerald, and Roy Green. They took a commanding lead and only Anquan Boldin came close. Moving on from wide receivers, brings us to tight ends. When I started the All-Cardinal team, I wanted it to be a team created by ROTB members. I was considering making the tight end position into a vote, but I realized that there really wouldn't be a point. The Cardinals had one of the greatest tight ends in history during their time in St. Louis and there's never been anyone to come close since. That man is Jackie Smith. Smith was a Cardinal for his entire career until he played in Dallas for his final season. Smith played 15 seasons with the Cardinals and was the best tight end in their history. He was a dominant threat as a receiver, a punishing run blocker, had a great work ethic, and ran his routes and yards after the catch like no other. He was one of the most dependable players on the team while playing in 121 straight games and 198 overall. He was a dependable receiver as well, because he put together a run of 45 games with at least 1 catch. He was your prototypical hard-nosed tight end. One day the Cardinals may have a tight end who can compare to Jackie, but for now, he's the top-dog.

480 Catches
7918 Yards
40 Touchdowns
16.5 AVG
327 Rush Yards 3 TDs
5x Pro Bowler
Hall of Famer

There's no denying that he is the greatest tight end in Arizona Cardinals history. He doesn't need a popular vote from ROTB and will be the tight end on the All-Cardinal team. Is there anybody you think should be a tight end on the All-Cardinal team? Leonard Pope? We'll move on to the running backs later this week.

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Comments

Can't disagree...

Jackie Smith is a great pick. But I can’t help but think about Jay Novacek when I think of Cardinals TEs who later went on to become Cowboys. Everyone thinks of Novacek as a Cowboy, well, maybe everyone but me. Yes, I’m still bitter.

by mike42 on Mar 30, 2009 11:12 AM MDT reply actions

+1

Completely agree that Novacek could have been and he did put up some good numbers as a Card. I was very mad at him for going to the Cowboys. Anyone but the Cowboys.

by KDean75 on Mar 30, 2009 12:49 PM MDT up reply actions

+2

But then so did Jackie Smith.

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

by Hawkwind on Mar 30, 2009 2:16 PM MDT up reply actions

J.V. Cain

J.V. Cain deserves honorable mention. His career was tragically cut short, so we were denied seeing what he was ultimately capable of. A 1st round draft pick in 1974, he was coming into his own when he died in training camp.

by RedbirdsRule on Mar 30, 2009 2:25 PM MDT reply actions

Sucks that Smith is known best for dropping a pass in the Super Bowl

He was a great Cardinal and by far the best TE in franchise history. It’s hard to believe that he was a 10th round pick in 1963.

by Bezekira on Mar 31, 2009 6:20 AM MDT reply actions

A 10th Rounder in '63 is the equivelant of a 5th rounder now? Late 4th? 14 teams vs. 32

So Ben Patrick would have been the same as an 18th round pick in ’63?

by Cardinal_Fang on Mar 31, 2009 7:27 AM MDT up reply actions

Good point

But the AFL was going on at the same time right? Did some college prospects commit eligability to one league and not the other? Not sure how that worked.

by AJ BirdWatcher on Mar 31, 2009 5:25 PM MDT up reply actions