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With Antonio Brown trying to escape from Pittsburgh, and Odell Beckham continually on this special we are not-actively-shopping-
In case you need to remember, here are the last 18 years as leading receivers of championship teams …
2000: Ravens – Shannon Sharpe (TE), 67 catches, 810 yards, five touchdowns.
2001: Patriots – Troy Brown, 101 catches, 1,199 yards, five touchdowns.
2002: Buccaneers – Keyshawn Johnson, 76 catches, 1,088 yards, five touchdowns
2003: Patriots – Deion Branch, 57 catches, 803 yards, three touchdowns
2004: Patriots – David Givens, 56 catches, 874 yards, three touchdowns
2005: Steelers – Hines Ward, 69 catches, 975 yards, 11 touchdowns
2006: Colts – Marvin Harrison, 95 catches, 1,366 yards, 12 touchdowns
2007: Giants – Plaxico Burress, 70 catches, 1,025 yards, 12 touchdowns
2008: Steelers – Hines Ward, 81 catches, 1,043 yards, seven touchdowns.
2009: Saints – Colston Brands, 70 catches, 1,074 yards, nine touchdowns
2010: Packers – Greg Jennings, 76 catches, 1,265 yards, 12 touchdowns
2011: Giants – Victor Cruz, 82 catches, 1,536 yards, nine touchdowns
2012: Ravens – Anquan Boldin, 65 catches, 921 yards, four touchdowns
2013: Seahawks – Golden Tate, 64 catches, 898 yards, five touchdowns
2014: Patriots – Rob Gronkowski (TE), 82 catches, 1,124 yards, 12 touchdowns
2015: Broncos – Demaryius Thomas, 105 catches, 1,304 yards, six touchdowns
2016: Patriots – Julian Edelman, 98 catches, 1106 yards, three touchdowns
2017: Eagles – Zach Ertz (TE), 74 catches, 824 yards, eight touchdowns
2018: Patriots – Julian Edelman, 74 catches, 850 yards, six touchdowns
The conventional wisdom is that almost none of these teams needed a large tempo effect (the type of receiver that needs 10 targets per game, the one whose atmosphere is attached to the effect that he could have on the game). It is much more cost-effective to use the basic characteristics of a receiver to manipulate the defenses. In addition, you can find the speed, strength and precision of a relatively inexpensive road race. It's when these elements are brought together in the same package that a player is expensive.
Here's what makes the Beckham and Brown situations so interesting. Not only are they extremely talented, but they exist in teams at a specific and problematic time: the precious remaining years of a quarter of franchise.
If the Giants negotiate Beckham, they will almost certainly give up on the last relevant season (or both) left by Eli Manning. They will also engrave one of the few precious seasons of Saquon Barkley's sporting season, a different and more exclusive time window in which the Giants have the pressure to succeed.
Similarly, the Steelers are dealing with Ben Roethlisberger, 37, who has been openly discussing retirement in recent years. Their additional window is on the front, with an offensive line once a decade also approaching the end of its collective run. Trading Brown undoubtedly considers the receiver the most difficult to handle against the ploy, and all of a sudden, everyone must redouble their efforts to make the offense work perfectly.
This is a fascinating case study of how franchises perceive their ability to acquire good quarterbacks and what they feel is a good enough match to compete at the Super Bowl. See where Beckham and Brown end up telling a lot, not only about themselves, but also about the people who paid to evaluate them and those who throw the ball at them.
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HOT READINGS
Now on the MMQB: Gary Gramling Sunday Freakout on John Elway, much discussed. … Michael McCann on the legal importance of Colin Kaepernick's deal with the NFL. … The latest free stock watch: Landon Collins.
What you may have missed: The last shot of Bill Belichick. … Your franchise tag primer for Tuesday. … Rank the most needy teams in the NFL that go into free agency.
PRESS COVER
1. Derrius Guice comes back stronger.
2. Calais Campbell will be back for another season in Jacksonville.
3. Josh Allen wonders if Jalen Ramsey thinks he's still in shit (hint: Ramsey always does, yes).
4. Could Marshawn Lynch produce for an NFL team in 2019?
5. Nick Foles and the ultimate dilemma: tag or not?
The kicker
A hot and controversial subject: SNL always has, and it's one of the best cast in years.
Question? Comment? An idea of history? Inform the team at [email protected]
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