But few are outright forgotten in the way that former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jimmy Smith has been since his retirement in 2006. Sports Central is the longest-running independent sports fan publication online, established in 1998 and featured by the BBC, NY Times, Chicago Tribune, and more. Many fans identify the HOF plights of Cliff Branch and Pearson together. Drew Pearson But in looking at the early '90s, I don't think Fryar and Rison are as strong as some of the candidates I'll write about next week: Gary Clark, Henry Ellard, Andre Reed, and Sterling Sharpe. Smith retired when he was still a good player; his final season yielded 70 catches, 1023 yards, and 6 TDs. 1950-59: n/a Yet Jackson wasn't chosen to the All-70s Team, and he has never been a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Essentially, Carter is battling the notion that he usually wasn't even the best receiver on his own team, that he was a system player who seldom had to deal with double-teams and caught a bunch of short passes. (In fact, Smith remains the Jags all-time franchise leader in AV to this day.). Late in his career, he was suspended under the NFLs substance-abuse policy; after retiring, he went through even more cycles of rehab, sobriety and relapse, even serving prison time in 2013. There will be about half a dozen who have great seasons like Smith in '99, and about half of those will excel even further, push the records set by superstars like Moss and Owens and Harrison. Wards Hall of Fame candidacy is held back by unimpressive statistics and a lack of All-Pro appearances. Jimmy Smith So this is really a list of 15. Best Wide Receivers Not in the Hall of Fame: 1950s (Hill, Howton, Speedie, Hugh Taylor, Wilson) Charley Hennigan 1960-66, Houston Oilers 410 receptions, 6,823 yards, 51 TD Probably no one's HOF case is more hindered by disrespect for the early AFL than Charley Hennigan. Based in Charlotte, NC, we specialize in intelligent sports fan commentary and colorful interpretation. Cause is stats cant be the reason. 1945-54: Tom Fears, Elroy Hirsch, Dante Lavelli, Pete Pihos One is that his production was largely limited to seven seasons. HOF Qualifications: POOR. Rison signed a big free agent contract with the Browns, then publicly cursed at the Cleveland fans. I know you probably don't think Moore belongs on this list. There's a bevy of top-end defensive players sitting atop the draft board Friday night. . In 2007, though, they elected Irvin to Canton, and in each of the next five seasons, they've passed on Carter. Below is a positional ranking of the best remaining undrafted prospects . He was a showboat in Atlanta, but you can get away with that when you're performing at a high level. Harold Carmichael finished his career with 590 receptions and 79 touchdowns. What To Do About A Problem Like Dianne Feinstein? By and large, Smith who retired as the seventh-most-prolific pass-catcher ever was at the vanguard of the productive receivers who would follow, not the other way around. Jun. Work at the Hall; Buy Tickets; FAQs; He remained a good player for years afterwards, but there are lots of good receivers. Pearson caught the pass that gave the play now known as a "Hail Mary" its name. The 10 Best Wide Receivers Not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame And if nothing else, the Hall of Pretty Damn Good is all about keeping great players like him from slipping through the cracks of history. His 1995 season ranks among the most impressive statistical seasons of all time: 123 rec, 1686 yds, 14 TD. 1984-2000, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins How many Pro Football Hall of Fame players went to Ohio State? Of course, Brown is most remembered as a receiver who was among the best at his position for a decade. Top 10 Wide Receivers Not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame And then theres Jimmy Smith, a five-time Pro Bowler who led the NFL with 116 receptions in 1999. He's also a victim of timing. July 16, 2020 8:00 am ET. 13. I guess you could argue that Bruce spent a lot of time as the number two guy behind Holt. But Branch was only an exceptional player for those three seasons. But you can't really compare Jimmy Smith to Rison, because Rison was basically finished by the time Smith became a starter. Jackson's accomplishments he retired with the most receptions and receiving yards of anyone who played his whole career in the NFL were quickly overshadowed by Steve Largent, James Lofton, and Air Coryell. Torry Holt and Reggie Wayne: Each was a HOF Finalist last year, so each is on the doorstep of Canton. Between playing in one of the NFLs smallest markets during his career and fighting a tough battle with addiction afterwards both of which likely prevented him from the kind of second act in broadcasting enjoyed by many of his receiving contemporaries most fans dont remember just how great Smith was in his prime. Sharpe was better than any of them, but the others had long careers and lots of postseason glory. Carter was more productive in the 1980s, and Irvin didn't even play in the 2000s, so if Carter was even close in the '90s, it stands to reason he's ahead for their careers. Moore didn't. In his 17-year career, Brown made the Associated Press All-Pro team just once, as a second-team selection in 1997. Wide Receivers (14) That means he will probably fall well short of enshrinement, which is just another indicator of how high the bar to Canton is. They all had about three really good years, plus some others when they were above average. OG Bill Willis (1942-44, Hall of Fame class of 1977) A three-year starter for Ohio State from 1942-44, Bill Willis was a Buckeye All-American in 1943 and 1944 Ohio State's first Black honoree . Comparing Smith to Keenan McCardell is just silly, which I guess leaves Herman Moore and maybe Rod Smith. But hes no Hall of Famer. Hall of Fame Wide Receivers. Those same seasons, he placed 23rd, 1st, 2nd, tied for 1st, and 8th in receptions an average of 7th. Just play along. 743 receptions, 10,205 yards, 84 TD.