Goombah ,
Interesting comparison.Since Shannon Sharpe this modern TE s are almost a different class athletically than the older guys.

That is a great point Getthesenets. Tony Gonzalez & Shannon Sharpe did a lot to revolutionize the position with their combination of size, speed, and athleticism.

Yes. Gonzalez is always used as the turning point..and he was a phenomenal athlete....he was on the Cal basketball team that Jason Kidd led to the ncaa run in 93...but Sharpe, his skillset and how he was used in Denver, Elway being the QB is what really opened up the Tight End position.

The NFL rules about what defenses can and cannot do , have led to more prolific offenses in the modern era.

Marino and Fouts were the rare QBs who were throwing for the kinds of numbers back then that average QBs throw for today. Tight End used to be a blocking position mainly..but now the value of TE's come from their ability to catch passes and blocking is secondary.


Mark Bavarro was a great blocker and had great receiver instincts/athleticism and hands..and TOUGH as nails...but a little ahead of his time. Kellen Winslow too.

Getthesenets, are you old enough to remember Winslow's tour de force performance in the 1982 OT playoff game? He had 13 catches for 166 yds and at least one (possibly two) blocked FGs. To this day, I still contend it is the best NFL game I have ever watched. SD was up 24-0 at the end of the 1st quarter, Miami had its backup QB Don Strock, the hook & ladder play, and so much more.

[video:youtube]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-SdBOT_FTio[/video]

Goombah,

didn't see it live but have seen and read about that game.
He did all that in the Miami heat..and the image and footage of him being carried off the field is one of the most memorable in sports history.

Winslow was great.

I see Sharpe and Gonzales as having more impact because teams started drafting more athletic guys to play TE...and revamped their offensive playbooks because of those guys.

When OSU played Miami in the 2002 Nat'l Championship game, Kellen Winslow II was incredible. I remember thinking the Browns needed to do whatever they could to draft K2. I was so pumped when they did two years later. But his career was over after he tore his knee trying to imitate Evil Kneivel.

He arrived in Cleveland at a bad time. You can correct me but I read that the franchise was in disarray in SEVERAL ways....and that a few athletes , including K2, caught staph infections in the locker room.

I remember that part of the story because recently a Giants player got a staph infection that effectively ended his career.


Billion dollar organization, million dollar franchises....and athletes get staph infections? pathetic

That happened in 2006. It was Winslow, Jurevicus, & LeCharles Bentley. The Browns have been in disarray since the '95 move & have not recovered. Bentley's infection was so bad that he almost lost his leg.

I'm hearing rumors that they may be sold to the Apple CEO, Cook, and then relocated.

grand opening....grand closing for Chip Kelly

fired from the Eagles

The Eagle fans are ecstatic. Their patience for a winner lasts about one week.

Steelers are goin' to the Superbowl...I gotta feelin'!

good luck to fans of teams that made playoffs


i say steelers/seahawks superbowl

How 'bout them Steelers!

It was the Burfict ending to a game.

The Bengals had it won then they f'd it up.

The Bears are my favorite team , however, I consider Cincinnati my second.

Very bad showing, Bengals. I think it's time that Mike Brown reconsiders Marvin Lewis' employment status... not your finest hour.

The tragic life of Lawrence Phillips has come to an tragic end.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced Wednesday that Phillips -- a former college star at Nebraska whose NFL career was derailed by off-the-field issues -- was found unresponsive in his cell at Kern Valley State Prison early Wednesday morning. He was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Phillips was 40. Prison officials are investigating the death as a possible suicide.

I expect to see a member, from MO to join here soon named "Get These Rams". "Get These Chargers" in about a year.
heeheheheheh

L.A. big city of dreams, but everything in L.A. ain't always what it seems

I told everyone about that clown, johhny manziel, well, Cleveland cant wait to dump the bum.

big mistake Cleveland made.

BC,

I think the Browns picked him to sell tickets and jerseys.He's on a self destructive path that he won't get off until maybe he's injured and can't make money playing sports anymore.

I remember they were selling his jerseys before he played game one with the Browns. I thought WTF!!

Mig,

If I remember correctly. The DAY after he was picked, the Browns season tickets were sold out for the year.

Browns organization not committed to winning, just to making money.

That's pitiful. Die hard Browns fans keep getting disappointed year after year. Me for one.

Would have been better if they let him in earlier.

rest in Peace to Buddy Ryan

An innovator. Of the modern era, the '85 Bears are often considered to be the best defensive team. They should have had more than one title, but I think egos got in the way.

I still remember watching their only loss in '85. It was against the Marino-led Dolphins on Monday Night Football. That Super Bowl thrashing of New England was one in a string that were highly non-competitive. The only exception was the '88 game between SF & Cincy.

Gronk out for rest of season(2 months). Is this just a nagging chronic problem or is him getting hurt this time a function of where they have him running routes?


Also, I caught a podcast of the show Sharpe does with Skip Bayless and was shocked to hear that his playing weight was 228.

At my heaviest, I've gotten up to 210 and it's hard for me to beleive that Sharpe was only 228 when he played.