By Joshua M. Boraz
Let's have a discussion about the top tight ends in the NFL right now. We're going to consider everything, blocking, pass catching, the works.... We're talking about all around great tight ends, not one dimensional kinds of individuals. The Tight Ends who make the biggest impact on their team, and ideally, experience counts because it means that they've consistently made an impact
1. Antonio Gates, anyone who argues with this is a moron
2. Alge Crumpler
3. Tony Gonzalez
4. Todd Heap
You can put the group of 2-4 in any order you want, but it's clear that these are the next three dudes on the list, after that you make a significant drop to players who can do one or the other. Remember, we're taking experience into account, so you've got to talk about players who've played long enough to have a track record.
This group includes
5.Jason Witten
6.Dallas Clark
7.Randy McMichael
The only other possibility to include in this group is Heath Miller of the Steelers, but I don't think he's had enough years in the league to be at this level. I feel you can order these three any which way you want depending on the preference, but I would happily argue McMichael over Jeremy Shockey or Daniel Graham or Reggie Kelly or Eric Johnson or any other tight end not listed above and would feel very confident in my arguments. Namely for three reasons.
#1- He plays. He starts. - When's the last time Randy McMichael missed a game. If you answered never, then you win the prize. McMichael has not missed a game in his entire NFL career. That he has started every game in his entire NFL career also shows that he's a competitive S.O.B. who wins his battles.
#2- He's got almost ideal height (6-3 is close enough to 6-5) and ideal weight (255) to continue to stay healthy- Because the worst kind of player is the one who gets injured when running into someone who you know is bigger and badder than him. Read Rich Gannon against Tony Siragusa.
#3- He's the third option on an offense and always produces consistent results- Look at his stats closely and you'll see consistency every year, when they throw to him more, he makes more catches. When they throw to him less, he still makes catches. What more do you want?
I could cite other reasons like that he's a great blocker, that he was one of two players on the Dolphins (the other is WR Chris Chambers) that the Patriots worried about on a game by game basis, that he's never complaining about contracts or having arguments or threatening to retire or concerning himself with what players are in the running for the Pro Bowl or defensive player of the year (like some other Dolphins I know who shall remain nameless), you don't hear him blasting the coach (like another NY Giant TE that I know), there are a lot of other reasons. I don't need to sit here and name them all.
The point that I'm getting to is that this is a Tier 2 Tight End, a great player who immediately provides consistency and quality to a position that everyone is in need of. Whoever signs this player immediately upgrades their entire team, right now he is the most important and talented free agent available.
Additional places to see/hear my work:
In the Magazine
The Sporting News (February 19th edition, page 10 by JMBoraz)
In the Newspaper:
The Colonnade- Milledgeville, Georgia
The Union Recorder - Milledgeville, Georgia
The Eatonton Messenger- Eatonton, Georgia
The Macon Telegraph - Macon, Georgia
On Radio:
WIFN 105.5 The Fan- Macon, GA
The Afternoon Sports Drive
Breaking News Correspondent
At least twice a week
WGUR 88.9 FM- Milledgeville, GA
The Joshua Boraz Radio Show
Host
Fridays from 12-2 P.M.
On the Internet:
http://www.unionrecorder.com
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/JMBoraz
http://www.sportscolumn.com/user/JMBoraz
http://www.soulcast.com/user/posts/65786
http://uwritesports.com
http://jmboraz.blogspot.com/index.html
Let's have a discussion about the top tight ends in the NFL right now. We're going to consider everything, blocking, pass catching, the works.... We're talking about all around great tight ends, not one dimensional kinds of individuals. The Tight Ends who make the biggest impact on their team, and ideally, experience counts because it means that they've consistently made an impact
1. Antonio Gates, anyone who argues with this is a moron
2. Alge Crumpler
3. Tony Gonzalez
4. Todd Heap
You can put the group of 2-4 in any order you want, but it's clear that these are the next three dudes on the list, after that you make a significant drop to players who can do one or the other. Remember, we're taking experience into account, so you've got to talk about players who've played long enough to have a track record.
This group includes
5.Jason Witten
6.Dallas Clark
7.Randy McMichael
The only other possibility to include in this group is Heath Miller of the Steelers, but I don't think he's had enough years in the league to be at this level. I feel you can order these three any which way you want depending on the preference, but I would happily argue McMichael over Jeremy Shockey or Daniel Graham or Reggie Kelly or Eric Johnson or any other tight end not listed above and would feel very confident in my arguments. Namely for three reasons.
#1- He plays. He starts. - When's the last time Randy McMichael missed a game. If you answered never, then you win the prize. McMichael has not missed a game in his entire NFL career. That he has started every game in his entire NFL career also shows that he's a competitive S.O.B. who wins his battles.
#2- He's got almost ideal height (6-3 is close enough to 6-5) and ideal weight (255) to continue to stay healthy- Because the worst kind of player is the one who gets injured when running into someone who you know is bigger and badder than him. Read Rich Gannon against Tony Siragusa.
#3- He's the third option on an offense and always produces consistent results- Look at his stats closely and you'll see consistency every year, when they throw to him more, he makes more catches. When they throw to him less, he still makes catches. What more do you want?
I could cite other reasons like that he's a great blocker, that he was one of two players on the Dolphins (the other is WR Chris Chambers) that the Patriots worried about on a game by game basis, that he's never complaining about contracts or having arguments or threatening to retire or concerning himself with what players are in the running for the Pro Bowl or defensive player of the year (like some other Dolphins I know who shall remain nameless), you don't hear him blasting the coach (like another NY Giant TE that I know), there are a lot of other reasons. I don't need to sit here and name them all.
The point that I'm getting to is that this is a Tier 2 Tight End, a great player who immediately provides consistency and quality to a position that everyone is in need of. Whoever signs this player immediately upgrades their entire team, right now he is the most important and talented free agent available.
Additional places to see/hear my work:
In the Magazine
The Sporting News (February 19th edition, page 10 by JMBoraz)
In the Newspaper:
The Colonnade- Milledgeville, Georgia
The Union Recorder - Milledgeville, Georgia
The Eatonton Messenger- Eatonton, Georgia
The Macon Telegraph - Macon, Georgia
On Radio:
WIFN 105.5 The Fan- Macon, GA
The Afternoon Sports Drive
Breaking News Correspondent
At least twice a week
WGUR 88.9 FM- Milledgeville, GA
The Joshua Boraz Radio Show
Host
Fridays from 12-2 P.M.
On the Internet:
http://www.unionrecorder.com
http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/JMBoraz
http://www.sportscolumn.com/user/JMBoraz
http://www.soulcast.com/user/posts/65786
http://uwritesports.com
http://jmboraz.blogspot.com/index.html
